Discovery strikes new long-term multi-platform rights agreement with the Federation Francaise de Tennis to scale world-class coverage to millions across Europe
Partnership extends Eurosport's association with Roland-Garros beyond 35 years and solidifies its standing as the Home of Tennis
Andrew Georgiou: We have consistently delivered ever increasing viewership and engagement as the trusted partner of the FFT
Discovery, the global leader in real-life entertainment, and the Federation Francaise de Tennis (FFT) today announced a new agreement that will see Roland-Garros brought to millions of fans across Europe* for a further five years. This new deal will leverage Discovery's unique assets across Eurosport, discovery+ and its broad network of free-to-air channels throughout Europe, to ensure Roland-Garros continues to grow its audience in the world's most important tennis markets.
Commencing 2022, the renewal of the multi-platform rights will extend the FFT's partnership with Discovery's premium sports brand Eurosport to over 35 years having delivered every Roland-Garros tournament since 1989.
The long-term partnership deepens its association with the FFT, enabling Discovery to tell the key stories from Roland-Garros, offering unrivalled expertise, analysis and storytelling from the best experts across a multitude of platforms on both linear and digital.
Andrew Georgiou, President, Eurosport and Global Sports Rights & Sports Marketing Services, said: "Our relationship with Roland-Garros spans many years and during that time we have consistently delivered ever increasing viewership and engagement as the trusted partner of the FFT.
"Our coverage is recognised for reaching the widest audience by harnessing the greatest expertise and the most innovative technology, and by committing to a renewed long-term partnership with the FFT, we will continue to bring world-class tennis from Roland-Garros to millions of fans each year across Europe."
Gilles Moretton, President of the FFT, said: "Our Grand Slam teaming up with Discovery, a company with such extensive reach, illustrates how Roland-Garros has stepped up its ambitions on the international stage. With this partnership, our shared aim is to offer a unique experience to all of Roland-Garros' European fans."
Eurosport's commitment to original content, live action and unrivalled analysis has boosted its digital audiences during this year's Roland-Garros across Europe. Earlier this week, Eurosport reported significant year-on-year growth of its audience on its digital platforms across Europe (through the first eight days) with double-digit increases in streaming numbers in a host of countries, including Poland (+122%), Spain (+58%), Russia (+35%) the UK (+24%), Italy (+23%) and the Netherlands (+12%).
In 2021, Roland-Garros is available to watch in Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway and Sweden on streaming platform discovery+ for the first time as Discovery looks to further expand the sport's reach. Eurosport or discovery+ will also screen this year's The Championships from Wimbledon in 11 markets** as well as the final Grand Slam of the year from New York - the US Open - on a pan-European basis***.
*Excluding France
**Discovery holds the rights to The Championships - Wimbledon in Belgium, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden
***Excluding the UK
About Discovery:
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as discovery+, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery's portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Network, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms
About Roland-Garros:
In the eyes of sports fans, and indeed the general public, Roland-Garros is an unmissable event. The 2020 edition of Roland-Garros was broadcast in 222 countries worldwide, confirming the tournament's status as a first-class international sporting event. Organised by the French Tennis Federation, Roland-Garros is the only Grand Slam tournament to be played on clay, one of the oldest and most noble surfaces in the history of tennis.
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