EBU secures new gymnastics deal

George Guelzec, UEG President and Ingolfur Hannesson, EBU Head of Indoor Sports

The EBU has struck a new four-year agreement with the European Union of Gymnastics for exclusive worldwide media rights on all platforms – radio, television and digital – as well as a services partnership.

The deal prolongs the current UEG/EBU agreement, for the period 2017-2020, covering 10 championships and including all Men’s and Women’s European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships. The UEG 2018 European Artistic Championships will also be integrated in the European Sports Championships.

Eurovision, the EBU’s operational arm, will be the UEG’s exclusive service provider for worldwide distribution as well as the main sponsor for all the UEG European Championships.

This deal also includes the live broadband streaming of all European Artistic and Rhythmic Championships. This initiative is part of an agreement with the UEG to further develop its digital strategy and increase the visibility of Gymnastics.

According to the EBU, the agreement contemplates developments and future changes in the competition format to adapt to the viewers requirements.

EBU director sports and business Stefan Kürten said: “The extension of our relationship with the UEG is great news for our viewers. This global partnership enables the EBU, its gymnastics Members and Rights Holders around the world to bring European gymnastics to an enlarged audience and to serve the best interests of the sport and of our partner, the UEG.”

EBU head of sports rights, indoor sports, Ingolfur Hannesson, said: “This partnership renewal is based on a global multi-services approach from content creation to worldwide distribution. Through the EBU viewers are guaranteed maximum free-to-air access and increased visibility of the sport. Through the development of our digital partnership, both the EBU and the UEG are enabling this powerful and at the same time graceful sport to reach new and younger audiences.”

UEG president George Guelzec said: “We are delighted with the renewal of this contract. It highlights the trust and dialogue that have characterized our relationship for the three past decades. It fully meets with our will to build relationships between real partners, merging our skills to common goals and in the long term. Gymnastics, a true telegenic sport, will meet the challenges of a dynamic sports market and the audiovisual revolution in full.”