Eurosport to rethink rights acquisition with discovery+ launch

The international launch of Discovery’s streaming service discovery+ will cause the company to rethink its sport content acquisitions for Eurosport.

The service initially rolled out in the UK last month, and will expand into more than 25 key markets including the Nordics, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain in 2021. European customers will have access to Eurosport content via discovery+, with the service also serving as the streaming home of the Olympics.

Speaking to SportsPro Media, Eurosport President Andrew Georgiou said that the company will change how it acquires sports rights as the Eurosport Player is eventually folded into discovery+ and discontinued as a standalone product. Eurosport’s linear channels will continue to operate, and standalone networks GolfTV and Global Cycling Networks will remain individual.

He said that the new SVOD “allows us to do is to think more on a market-by-market basis about what sports assets and rights can help complement our platform in that market.”

The exec added that the streamer will have an overlapping audience “between more general entertainment” and the “sports-specific audience.”

This, Georgiou said, will translate into “leaning more into” content like “the documentaries, behind-the-scenes, the deeper look at athletes.”

The company separately said that pricing will vary from market-to-market in Europe, with those which feature live sports likely costing more.