DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS AND ARD/ZDF TO SHOWCASE ULTIMATE OLYMPIC GAMES VIEWER EXPERIENCE IN GERMANY

This new partnership has been agreed for the next four Olympic Games. Fans will be able to enjoy free-to-air coverage – alternating daily between ARD and ZDF - via the country’s leading national broadcasters, as well as comprehensive German-produced coverage from Eurosport on free-to-air, TV and streaming on mobile devices, bringing the stories that matter to life with expert German talent providing the very best insight and analysis.

Discovery Communications has sublicensed to ARD/ZDF free-to-air audio visual-rights for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and 2024, for which the Host City is to be confirmed.  The agreement will further contribute to its ambition of sharing the Games with more people, on more screens and services than ever before through free-to-air, pay-TV, digital and mobile.

Peter Hutton, CEO, Eurosport, said, “This long-term commitment between Discovery and ARD/ZDF is another example of our game-changing approach to premium live sport, empowering viewers to watch the biggest moments in sport whenever and however they choose.  For the Olympic Games, our ambition is to share the world’s greatest event with more people, on more screens, than ever before.  Establishing free-to-air partnerships with the best national broadcasters across Europe, such as ARD/ZDF, will enable us to fulfil this transformational goal.”

Susanne Aigner-Drews, Managing Director Discovery Networks Germany, said: “We have discussed a partnership with ARD/ZDF for some time and our new collaboration, for the Olympic Games until 2024 shows our desire to put viewers first.  They will enjoy unrivalled coverage and have the chance to follow every moment, through more than 100 events, for the first time with Eurosport.”  

For Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, German viewers will be able to watch more of the Olympic Winter Games than ever before.  ARD/ZDF will present a wide selection of free-to-air coverage on television and digital simulcast, as well as three additional feeds of live sport action, enabling viewers to follow every German medal hopeful as they strive to win gold.   Eurosport, the Home of the Olympics in Europe, will show free-to-air coverage on Eurosport 1 as a dedicated Olympic Games channel during Games-time and holds rights to air every moment – with live feeds of all sports - on TV or streaming on mobile, tablet or online with Eurosport Player.

Eurosport will retain PyeongChang 2018 exclusivity for German prime time (Olympic Games highlights programming) on Eurosport 1. Snowboard, Short Track, Figure Skating and Ice Hockey (excluding German team matches and finals) will also be live and exclusive on Eurosport.

Discovery has already struck free-to-air agreements with twenty of the biggest national broadcasters in Europe and launched the world’s first ever Olympic Mobile Broadcaster service with TIM, Italy’s biggest telco operator, the first such partner.  Offering exclusive content to mobile operators across Europe, the “Official Mobile Broadcaster” designation allows telcos to co-brand with the Olympic Rings and offer their customers a differentiated viewing experience, enabling them to follow their sports heroes at home, online and on the go.

ENDS.

* Excludes German ice hockey matches and ice hockey finals, which will be available on Eurosport and ARD/ZDF platforms.