EUROSPORT TO BE EXCLUSIVE NHL™ BROADCAST PARTNER IN RUSSIA FOR NEXT THREE SEASONS
The National Hockey League (NHL™) will be shown exclusively on Eurosport, the number one sports destination in Europe, to fans in Russia for the next three seasons. The announcement follows a new agreement between the NHL™, Eurosport and IMG, and marks the first time NHL™ matches will be presented live on Eurosport.
The three-year agreement begins with the 2016/2017 season which kicks off in October 2016 and will run through to the 2018/2019 season. The deal includes all broadcast and select multiplatform rights, which will allow fans to watch some of the best NHL™ matches live on Eurosport and the Eurosport Player, the leading live and on-demand digital sport platform.
Peter Hutton, Eurosport CEO, said: “It is hugely exciting to announce Eurosport’s first ever deal with the NHL, proving yet another example of our renewed focus of offering premium and must-have sport content to fans. Russian Ice Hockey fans are some of the most passionate in the world and we’re looking forward to helping fuel their passion throughout the next three seasons of live NHL action.”
David Proper, NHL Executive Vice President of Media Distribution & Strategy, added: “This agreement with Eurosport will come as great news to NHL fans in Russia. Our global strategy and commitment is to bring the biggest stars in the NHL into homes around the world and to inspire the future generation of NHL players.”
The addition of the world’s premier Ice Hockey league emphasises Eurosport’s position as the Home of Winter Sport in Europe, with all major winter sports now being showcased on its platforms.
Eurosport has an unrivalled legacy in winter sports. Today, the sport destination features live coverage of every season and all World Championships, World Cups and European Championships from twelve winter sport disciplines. These include alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding and speed skating.
Eurosport’s depth of world-class coverage will help deliver a compelling and sustained narrative for winter sport. It will enable Eurosport to build the stories of local heroes on their path to glory at the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, following last year’s announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirming the award of TV and multiplatform rights in Europe to Discovery and Eurosport for the 2018-2024 Olympic Games.
ENDS.
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