WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY PUTS REAL-TIME RIDER DATA AND INSIGHTS AT THE HEART OF CYCLING COVERAGE THROUGH EXPANDED WHOOP PARTNERSHIP

Warner Bros. Discovery has secured a new commercial partnership with WHOOP, the most advanced health and fitness wearable on the market, that will see the continued use of WHOOP data as part of Eurosport and GCN’s cycling coverage in more than 200 markets globally.

The new agreement means:

• Cycling fans will better understand what it takes to perform at the highest level 
• Real-time rider data will be presented on screen during the Giro d’Italia and in Eurosport and GCN’s post-race shows for other races via WHOOP Live
• Riders’ biometric insights such as heart rate, sleep performance, recovery, and strain are tracked with WHOOP 4.0 and now integrated as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s coverage of the Giro d’Italia
• Eurosport and GCN’s commentary teams and experts will provide an even deeper level of analysis to tell viewers how the riders are performing within the peloton

As part of the partnership, Warner Bros. Discovery will provide additional insight to the largest cycling audience globally by using athlete data captured by WHOOP for editorial integrations during live races and for localised post-race analysis shows in key markets. Through discovery+, Eurosport and GCN, real-time physiological data such as heart rate is overlaid on live broadcast with WHOOP Live to enhance the viewing experience.

WHOOP will also benefit from a premium partnership position as the sponsor of Warner Bros. Discovery’s coverage of the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France along with other major cycling races throughout the season. 

Scott Young, SVP Content and Production at Warner Bros. Discovery Sports, said: “Our pioneering approach to harnessing real-time athlete data during the Giro d’Italia is game changing and brings an even deeper level of storytelling for our viewers all around the world. 

“By partnering with a true innovator in WHOOP, we have been able to help fans understand the effort that goes into performing at the highest level, increasing their engagement with our live event coverage further. This is just the beginning and our new partnership with WHOOP will mean even more on-screen innovations will be part of our world-class sports coverage in future.”   

Chris Voigt, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at WHOOP, said: “WHOOP empowers cyclists with personalised, actionable feedback and coaching so they can optimise their performance on and off the bike.”

“Through our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and real-time broadcast integrations like WHOOP Live, WHOOP is uncovering new, data-driven insights and delivering them to fans all over the world for an enhanced viewing experience.”

Warner Bros. Discovery’s innovative coverage of the Giro d’Italia has helped it to grow its audience further with video views across all platforms rising by 13% year-on-year at the half-way point*. Warner Bros. Discovery’s key cycling markets including the Netherlands (+64%), Spain (+27%) and Italy (+24%) have also reported growth in its subscription streaming audiences for its uninterrupted coverage of the Giro d’Italia.

The new partnership follows the use of WHOOP wearable technology and data for the inaugural series of the UCI Track Champions League which not only provided viewers with live insights into rider performance, but also helped to inform riders’ of how to optimise their training and recovery to deliver an even higher standard of competition.