DISCOVERY PARTNERSHIP WITH RAI GUARANTEES VIEWERS MORE OF THE OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, ENGAGING MORE PEOPLE, ON MORE SCREENS

The development sees Discovery Communications, the Home of the Olympics in Europe**, sublicense to RAI free-to-air audio-visual rights for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 on DTT and on satellite platform Tivusat.  RAI will present a wide selection of free-to-air coverage - up to 100 hours - on up to two television channels and digital simulcast, ensuring the widest possible audiences can follow every Italian medal hopeful in their pursuit to win gold. 

In addition to comprehensive round-the-clock coverage on Eurosport’s TV channels, the interactive Eurosport Player will be the only place for fans to watch every minute, every athlete and every sport - online, on mobile, tablet devices or connected TVs.  As part of the first fully digital Games for Europe, more than 4,000 hours of coverage and 100 events will be available, including 900 hours of live action.  Fans will have the chance to personalise and define their own Olympic experience - choosing what they watch, when they watch and how they watch.

Peter Hutton, Eurosport CEO, said: “In another ground-breaking Olympic-first, our partnership with RAI and national broadcasters across Europe means Discovery is well on track to engage more people, on more screens, with the Olympic Winter Games than ever before.  With the foundation of offering every minute for Europe for the first time, our all-screen strategy across our digital services and social media platforms will see us go even further and reach new and younger audiences.”

Alessandro Araimo, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Italy, Discovery Networks International, said: “Thanks to the coverage of premium live sport events, Eurosport keeps growing in Italy. We are working hard to ensure we meet the high expectations of viewers every day and it is therefore a particular privilege to offer more comprehensive coverage of the Olympic Winter Games in Italy than ever before.  We are sure the new agreement is a big win for the viewer and look forward to collaborating with RAI for the Games.”

Eurosport’s coverage will follow all the stories that matter, told by world class Italian experts. Its team includes Giorgio Rocca, three cross-country skiing Olympic gold medal winners - Fulvio Valbusa, Gabriella Paruzzi and Marco Albarello - and alpine skiing Olympic bronze medallist, Karen Putzer.  Offering deep analysis and the best insights, Eurosport’s full and unprecedented line-up currently features more than 150 winter sports expert talent and commentators, including 58 Olympians, with 151 Olympic Games, 75 Olympic Games medals and 28 Olympic Gold medals among them.

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.

To keep up to date across all the Olympic Winter Games news visit www.eurosport.com/olympics

ENDS.

* Within Italy, both RAI and Eurosport will show semi-finals, finals and medal events where an Italian athlete(s) or team is competing for a medal.

**Eurosport is Home of the Olympics in Europe. Excludes France 2018-2020.  Excludes Russia. Eurosport will be an Official Broadcaster in the UK 2018 and 2020.