Telecoms operator Vodafone has directly incorporated Eurosport Player, the OTT streaming service of the Discovery-owned sports broadcaster Eurosport, into its broadcast offering in Spain.
Discovery said that its deal with the telco marks the first time that Eurosport Player has been “integrated into an operator’s TV experience in Spain” and that viewers will able to watch the output on a big screen by using a set-top box and multi-screen from any device.
Subscribers to Vodafone TV’s sports package, which already includes the linear Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 channels, will be able to access Eurosport Player at no extra cost.
The sports package costs €5 ($5.73) per month and also includes the club channels of LaLiga sides Barcelona, Real Betis and Sevilla, along with Extreme Sports Channel, Fight Sports, Garage TV and Surf Channel.
Sports properties to which Eurosport holds broadcast rights in Spain include tennis’ Australian Open, French Open and US Open, cycling’s Tour de France and La Vuelta a España, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Olympics up until the Paris 2024 games.
On the addition of the Eurosport Player service, Discovery said: “Customers will be able to choose how to enjoy every second of their favourite sports with the ability to customise and personalise their viewing experience, such as choosing which court to follow all the action during a Grand Slam, selecting from multiple-camera option during big events and much more.
“In addition, Eurosport Player will make available to users a multitude of thematic channels with exclusive content around each discipline, as well as specific pop-up channels during the main events, ensuring fans do not miss a second of what happens on each track, court or during a race.”
The Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 channels were added to Vodafone TV in 2016 after a distribution deal was struck by Discovery.
Antonio Ruiz, senior vice-president and general manager of Discovery for Spain and Portugal, remarked: “With the integration of our premium multi-sport platform into their offering, Discovery continues to expand the distribution of their services and platforms to bring more people and more homes than ever an innovative and immersive way of living sports offering viewers a deeper experience.”
Ignacio García-Legaz, director of Vodafone TV, said that the integration of Eurosport Player would “offer sports fans a new way to enjoy their favourite competitions, in a more immersive way, and allowing the viewer to have total control of the display, with live content and on demand”.