Paris, 13 October 2015 – At the inaugural TV Sports Awards held yesterday evening in Monaco at SPORTEL, the leading convention for sports media industry leaders, Eurosport picked up the awards in all three nominated categories, concluding a stellar month for the channel in which it was also awarded ‘Channel of the Year’ at the Content Innovation Awards. The TV Sports Awards were voted for by the attendees at SPORTEL.
Peter Hutton, Chief Executive Officer, Eurosport said: “It was a fantastic surprise and achievement to go home with three awards at the TV Sports Awards yesterday evening. It is great to be recognised in the Best TV Rights Deal and Best Broadcaster categories in a year in which we have been investing heavily at Eurosport to enhance the viewing experience for sports fans. Not only have we demonstrated a commitment to secure some of the best sports properties, like the Olympic Games in Europe for Eurosport and Discovery from 2018, but then delivering the most compelling experience to the viewer. This year, we have had more prime time shows, better on-site production and great on-screen talent that have all helped deliver record breaking ratings around flagship events and I’m delighted this has been recognised by our peers at SPORTEL.
“Being named Media Executive of the Year is the icing on the cake but I am fortunate to be able to represent a fantastic and talented team of colleagues at Eurosport and Discovery. All three of these awards are for them and for all their hard work throughout this transformative year.”
In June this year, the IOC awarded all TV and multiplatform broadcast rights in 50 countries across Europe to Discovery and Eurosport from 2018-2024. With an average of 10 channels in every market and the #1 European online and OTT sports offering, Discovery and Eurosport will deliver more coverage across more screens than ever before to over 700 million people across Europe. The agreement ensures comprehensive coverage of the Olympic Games, including the guarantee to provide extensive free-to-air television coverage in all territories.
Since Eurosport became a Discovery company in May 2014, the channel has acquired more than 8,000 hours of coverage – with more than 4,000 of that live – per year across more than 50 properties with the ambition to strengthen Eurosport as a premier sports destination with the most compelling, premium sporting events shared with local fans. In addition to the Olympic Games, new rights acquired this year include the Champions League in Singapore, F1 in Portugal, Wimbledon in Belgium and Serie A and Ligue 1 in the Netherlands.
Partly as a result of significant investment in production and on-air talent and expertise, the channel has achieved record breaking ratings for many major events such as the tennis US Open and cycling’s Vuelta a España, for which the 2015 editions were the best ever on Eurosport. Eurosport 2 has also seen an uplift of ratings across Europe by approximately 20 percent this year.
The TV Sports Awards is a new awards ceremony created to honour some of the biggest brands and most influential figures in the global sports media industry, coinciding with the annual SPORTEL Monaco convention and featuring an array of sporting legends and high-profile guests from the world of sport, entertainment and media including football superstars Rio Ferdinand and Luis Figo.
Co-organised by SPORTEL and global sports charity Play for Change, the event is set up to raise valuable funds in support of the charity’s initiatives around the globe dedicated to the provision of life changing opportunities for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The 2015 shortlist included:
Best TV Rights Deal:
Discovery and Eurosport agreement for European rights of the Olympic Games
WTA agreement with Perform for global media rights
The Bundesliga’s betting rights deal with Sportsman Media Group
Best Sports Broadcaster:
Eurosport
BT Sports
Le TV Sports
Media Executive of the Year:
Peter Hutton, CEO, Eurosport
Joerg Daubitzer Managing Director, DFL Sports Enterprises
Javier Tebas, President, La Liga