DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS CONTINUES OLYMPIC GAMES MOMENTUM WITH TELEWIZJA POLSKA PARTNERSHIP IN POLAND

The developments continue Discovery’s drive to establish the broadest possible access and audience to upcoming Olympic Games and further contribute to its ambition to share the Games with more people, on more screens, than ever before.  They complement a strategy which will see Eurosport present the ultimate Games experience in Europe, engaging millions of people with every minute of the action presented using innovative technologies and analysis from the best sports talent.

The agreements cover free-to-air audio-visual rights for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Poland, as well as in Estonia (Eesti Meedia), Georgia (Georgian Public Broadcasting), Iceland (RÚV), Latvia (Latvijas Televīzija) and Lithuania (Lietuvos Olimpinis Fondas).  To supplement the partnership previously confirmed with Ceska Televize, an agreement regarding non-exclusive radio rights have also been established with Czech Radio in the Czech Republic.

Peter Hutton, CEO of Eurosport, said: “We are excited and proud to work with partners that value the Olympic Games as much as we do, and help us achieve our ambition to bring the Games to more people on more screens than ever before.  When you consider alongside our decision for Eurosport to retain the exclusive rights in Germany and our preparations for extensive coverage in Norway and Sweden, these new agreements are a further sign that we are well on track to delivering the ultimate Olympic Games experience.”

“Our collaboration with Lietuvos Olimpinis Fondas, managed by the Lithuanian Olympic Committee, is an example of how we are seeking and open to innovative partnerships which can best engage people in each market with the inspiration of the Games,” he added.

Kasia Kieli, President of Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “The new agreements are great news for everyone who is passionate about the Olympic Games, helping even more people to follow their heroes and immerse themselves in the heart of the action.  We look forward to working with all our new partners and delivering the ultimate Games experience for every viewer in the region.”

Michael Lang, President, International Development, Digital & Discovery Nordics, commenting on the news in Iceland, said: “Our agreement with RUV is a win for everyone in Iceland. Fans will have an outstanding choice of free-to-air coverage and every moment available on Eurosport’s platforms on air and digital.”

“When viewed alongside the exclusive coverage, powered by Eurosport, on Discovery-owned platforms in Norway and Sweden, fans in the Nordics will experience the Olympic Games to the very highest standard,” he added.

Adam Widomski, Eurosport Channel Director, Poland, commenting on the new agreement in Poland, said: “People across Poland are hugely passionate about the Olympic Games and the new agreement with Telewizja Polska will form part of an outstanding variety of coverage across free-tv, dedicated sports programming and digital platforms.  For fans wanting to follow every minute of their hero’s quest for gold, there is no better time to go on their Olympic Games journey.”

Within each specific territory, Discovery Communications has sub-licensed to Eesti Meedia, Georgian Public Broadcasting, RÚV, Latvijas Televīzija and Lietuvos Olimpinis Fondas exclusive free-to-air audio visual rights for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and 2020 Olympic Games.  The national free-to-air broadcasters will hold select digital rights for the content they broadcast on their linear television channels and select clip rights following the live events.  Eurosport maintains rights to air every moment on pay-TV and through its digital and mobile services.

Discovery Communications holds 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.  It has now concluded eighteen Olympic Games sublicensing agreements, following partnership deals with national broadcasters in Austria (ORF), Belarus (Belarus National State Broadcasting), Croatia (HRT), the Czech Republic (Ceska Televize), Finland (YLE), Hungary (MTVA), Ireland (RTE), Netherlands (NOS), Slovenia (RTV Slovenija), Slovakia (RTVS), Switzerland (SRG SSR) and UK (BBC).

ENDS.