The UK (+16%), Norway (+52%), Denmark (+10%), Spain (+51%), the Netherlands (+14%), Poland (13%) and Romania (+18%) – all reported double-digit growth for April compared with 12 months ago while Eurosport also revealed it reached 55.8m fans on its social platforms, an increase of 18% versus the same period last year.

Eurosport’s approach to storytelling and driving the cycling news agenda, whether through digital coverage or popular podcasts such as The Bradley Wiggins Show in the UK,  appears to have paid dividends with the media company reporting an increase of 9% across Europe for its coverage of the Spring Classics that included the Amstel Gold Race, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.

Eurosport’s coverage of snooker also played a significant role in a strong month, with a 9% uplift* watching the World Championship across Europe. The numbers recorded on Eurosport in the UK, Spain and Norway made the sport’s blue-riband event the most-watched over the past 10 years.

Seven markets, Romania (+54%), Spain (+29%), Denmark (+24%), Sweden (+19%), Poland (+13%) and France (+13%) and the UK (+10%) all registered double-digit growth for the World Championship on Eurosport 1, with three markets – Denmark (+171%), Spain (+143%) and France (+114%) - reporting sizable growth on Eurosport 2. The tournament was the first that the iconic Ronnie O’Sullivan was a member of Eurosport’s pan-Euro coverage since it was announced he had joined on a three-year deal.

Emir Osmanbegovic, Eurosport SVP Sports Content and Production, said: “Our mission is to power people’s passions and we are thrilled that millions of sports fans across Europe are enjoying the stories we at Eurosport tell week in, week out on whatever platform they choose.

“We continue to localise our production and centre our storytelling on the heroes that matter in our key markets, underpinned by unrivalled expertise, insight and analysis. We have a strong heritage in cycling and snooker and have made significant long-term investments in both from an editorial and production standpoint. It is hugely satisfying to see our strategy pay off.”

Eurosport will screen the Giro d’Italia, the first Grand Tour of the 2019 cycling season from this Saturday and has committed to showing over 100 hours of coverage from live cycling to post-race analysis. Eurosport announced last week it will be working with some of the biggest names from the world of cycling throughout the Giro including Juan Antonio Flecha, Alberto Contador and Bradley Wiggins.

*Eurosport’s top markets are listed as: UK, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Germany, Romania.

Sources: TNS Gallup Denmark, TNS Gallup Norway, AGF, Stichting KijkOnderzoek, Nielsen Audience Measurement Polska, ARMADATA, KANTAR Media Spain, MMS, BARB, AUDITEL, Mediametrie, TNS Gallup Media/ TechEdge, AdvantEdge, All Individuals 3+, All TV Homes, 9h-25h CET.