DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS AGREEMENTS WITH NATIONAL BROADCASTERS IN SLOVAKIA AND SLOVENIA GUARANTEE WIDESPREAD OLYMPIC GAMES COVERAGE

The long-term partnerships for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have been agreed with Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), in Slovakia, and Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV Slovenija), in Slovenia. As well as making the Olympic Games available to viewers on RTVS and RTV Slovenija, every moment of the Games will be available on air, online, over the top and on the go through Eurosport and the Eurosport Player.

The plans will help ensure passionate fans in both Slovakia and Slovenia will be captivated by the Games. They build on Discovery Communication’s promise to offer audiences an enhanced viewing experience and the ability to follow the action in the way that suits them best, through a full mix of free-to-air, pay-TV and digital coverage.

RTVS and RTV Slovenija will sub-license from Discovery Communications exclusive free-to-air audio visual and non-exclusive radio rights for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and 2020 Olympic Games in each territory.  Both broadcasters have been granted select digital rights for the content they broadcast on their linear television channels and clip rights for news-specific programs which follow the live events.  In both markets, Eurosport will continue to holds rights to air every moment of the Olympic Games on pay-TV and through its digital services.

Kasia Kieli, President of Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are striving to bring the Olympic Games to more people on more screens than ever before and the agreements with RTVS and RTV Slovenija for PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 are a significant step forward in achieving this goal in Slovakia and Slovenia.  Fans will enjoy unprecedented access to the Games, with every moment available on Eurosport platforms and coverage on their traditional national broadcasters giving them the chance to enjoy the Games as they desire.”

Václav Mika, Director General of RTVS, said: “I am delighted that following Rio 2016 we are able to continue offering high quality coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, including ice hockey games which are particularly popular in Slovakia, as well as the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Sport plays a key role in the programme strategy of the Slovakian public broadcaster and our primary focus is to bring the most important events to our viewers and listeners.”

Marko Filli, MSc, RTV Slovenija Acting Director-General, said: “The agreement between RTV Slovenija and Discovery Communications for the live broadcast of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games represents a continuation of the stated goals and mission set by RTV Slovenija to create and provide outstanding content for our viewers, listeners and website users. The Olympic Games are undoubtedly a great example of such content and I am sure our heritage in covering the Games in previous years will help us provide the best experience possible for our audiences moving forward.”

Jean-Thierry Augustin, President, Sports and Olympic Development at Discovery Networks International said: “We are proud that Eurosport is the natural home of the Olympic Games in Europe, already devoting half of its schedule to Olympic sports.  We are now going even further by establishing fair partnerships in our markets across Europe.  This offers fans watching the Olympic Games a combination of their national broadcaster’s commitment to excellent Games coverage, as well as the year-round storytelling of the leading sports destination in Europe.

“Through partnerships such as with RTVS and RTV Slovenija for PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020, we are again demonstrating the ability to work with best-in-class broadcasters in each market and offer unparalleled Olympic Games coverage.”

Victoria Davies, Country Manager Central & Eastern Europe at Discovery Communications, said: “We know fans in Slovakia and Slovenia are passionate about following their heroes and supporting their drive to win Olympic medals for their country.  Thanks to the new agreements, fans can get even closer to their favorite athletes and follow every step of their Olympic journey through high quality RTVS and RTV Slovenija coverage and on every screen with Eurosport all year-round.”

The partnership follows Discovery Communications securing the exclusive multimedia rights for 50 countries and territories in Europe for the 2018 through the 2024 Olympic Games, announced with the International Olympic Committee in June 2015.

Discovery has now concluded eleven Olympic Games sublicensing agreements, following partnership deals with national broadcasters in Austria (ORF), Croatia (HRT), the Czech Republic (Ceska Televize), Finland (YLE), Hungary (MTVA), Ireland (RTE), Netherlands (NOS), Switzerland (SRG SSR) and UK (BBC). The partnerships are specifically designed to suit each particular broadcast market.