Discovery Communications has won European media rights to the Olympic Games through 2024. In other news, ESPN will debut a new awards show this year, and several MLS matches have moved from ESPN2 to ESPN.
Discovery Locks Up European Olympic Rights
- Discovery Communications, which owns the Eurosport channel, has won European media rights to the Olympic Games through 2024, Sports Business Daily reported Monday. The deal does not include rights in France and Britain until 2022, as broadcasters in those respective nations already locked up rights through 2020. Discovery plans to keep all cable television rights to the Olympics, but has agreed to air hundreds of hours on over-the-air television — likely through sub-licensing deals with broadcasters such as the BBC. (Sports Business Daily, Hollywood Reporter via SBD)
ESPN to Launch New Awards Show
- ESPN has announced the launch of a new awards show that will honor societal contributions by members of the sports industry. The Sports Humanitarian of the Year awards will tape on July 14, the night before the ESPY Awards, and air as an edited 30-minute special on ESPN July 23. Among the awards is one named for the late SportsCenter anchor Stuart Scott. (ESPN Media Zone)
Several MLS Matches Move From ESPN2 to ESPN
- Last Sunday’s New York City FC/New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer match was the first of seven to move from ESPN2 to ESPN. Among the six remaining matches to make the switch are New York City FC/Toronto FC on July 12, Sounders/Timbers on August 30, and a flex schedule match on October 18. As was the case this past week, the Sounders/Timbers match will have a half-hour prematch show. (ESPN Media Zone via Awful Announcing)
