Discovery

UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has agreed a deal with US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications under which it will give up exclusive rights to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games in return for free-to-air rights to the 2022 and 2024 editions of the multi-sport event.

Discovery Communications’ ambition to strengthen its market position in the Nordics helped Norway’s football league defy all expectations in the sale of its media rights last week.

Many of Europe’s public-service broadcasters are likely to provide a similar amount of linear coverage of the Olympic Games from 2018 compared to previous editions, despite having lost out on the rights to Discovery Communications.

Pan-regional broadcaster Eurosport has unveiled a new brand identity following its takeover by US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications.

The European Broadcasting Union’s chances of winning the rights to the Olympic Games from 2018 to 2024 were undermined by two internal splits, TV Sports Markets understands.

Eurosport has paid a significant increase to retain long-term exclusivity over Australian Open rights in Europe.

Media and entertainment company Discovery Networks has acquired rights for Norway's top handball league and the national handball team in the country.

US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has struck a deal with Russia’s National Media Group to form a new company that will allow it to distribute pan-regional sports broadcaster Eurosport in the country.

US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has said it will take full ownership of pan-regional sports broadcaster Eurosport through a €491m ($541m) deal with French commercial broadcaster TF1 Group.

Audiences for the Olympic Games will not fall across Europe following the new long-term deal with the Discovery Communications media group, the International Olympic Committee told TV Sports Markets this week.

The Italian rugby federation said this week its recent deals covering domestic and international rights will help the game continue to develop at home and abroad, while providing financial security for the sport in Italy.

Interview with Alfredo Gavazzi, president of the Federazione Italiana Rugby, on the Italian rugby federation’s recent domestic and international rights deals.

Interview with Timo Lumme, managing director of television and marketing services for the IOC, on the committee’s €1.3bn pan-European deal with Discovery Communications.

Media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has appointed Arthur Bastings as the new head of its Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific regional division.

The International Olympic Committee has said it received more than 10 bids in the auction that resulted in US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications and its pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport acquiring television and multi-platform rights in a host of European markets for four editions of the Olympic Games, from 2018 to 2024.

US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications and its pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport have acquired television and multi-platform rights in a host of European markets for four editions of the Olympic Games, from 2018 to 2024, in a deal valued at €1.3bn ($1.46bn).

Discovery Communications last week acquired Setanta Sports Asia in an attempt to grow its sport business in the region.

The Discovery Italia division of media and entertainment company Discovery Communications has agreed a four-year deal with the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR) for the rights to the national team’s autumn Test matches.