SBS adds Euro 2016 to football rights portfolio

Public-service broadcaster SBS has acquired exclusive free-to-air rights in Australia to the Uefa Euro 2016 national team football tournament.

The broadcaster’s coverage of Euro 2016, which takes place in France from June 10 to July 10, will include eight live matches from the knockout stages, including the final on SBS and SBS HD.

A daily highlights show will also be broadcast on SBS 2, while daily news and video highlights will be provided on The World Game website.

SBS and telecommunications company Optus last week agreed sublicensing deals covering football’s English Premier League and 2018 Fifa World Cup.

Optus will sublicense on to SBS exclusive free-to-air rights for one Premier League match per round for three seasons, from 2016-17 to 2018-19. Under the arrangement for coverage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Optus will offer the whole tournament across multiple platforms, including 39 matches on an exclusive basis, while SBS will retain simultaneous free-to-air rights for 25 of the games.

SBS will have first pick of the matches, including the opening contest and all Australia national team games. The deal also secures the free-to-air coverage of four matches from the round of 16, two quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final. SBS will retain daily highlights rights.