Discovery renews ASO deal, announces cycling OTT for 2021

Discovery has extended its rights deal with the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO).

The deal will see Eurosport continue to provide coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta cycling tours until 2025 and 2026, two- and five-year extensions to its existing deals respectively.

Eurosport will exclusively broadcast the Tour de France in 38 European markets, except for France where the rights will be sold separately. The Spanish La Vuelta deal runs through to 2026, with Eurosport broadcasting coverage in 50 markets.

The broadcaster also acquired the rights for the Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Flèche Wallonne women’s races from 2020. This will be the first time the races are produced for live broadcast.

Coinciding with these announcements was the news that Global Cycling Network – acquired by Discovery in 2019 – will launch an OTT platform in 2021.

The new streamer will offer live grand tour coverage along with a wide range of content for cycling fans.

Andrew Georgiou, Eurosport president, global sports rights, said: “Our world-class digital and production set-up enables us to bring fans to the heart of the action, while offering multiple ways to consume, interact and engage with the best quality premium cycling content in the way fans chose on any screen, anytime, anywhere.

“We are constantly innovating – such as introducing Bradley Wiggins reporting live from a bike in the heart of the peloton last year – which makes us the go-to destination for cycling fans and we can’t wait to bring the action back to screens this year.”