Starter Pistol Fired On Paris Olympics Plans for Eurosport, Max and Discovery+

Warner Bros. Discovery’s plans for the 2024 Paris Olympics are gaining momentum.

WBD has unveiled plans for “wall-to-wall” coverage of the Olympic Games, which begin in the French capital later this month. Eurosport will broadcast the games in 47 markets in 19 languages ​​via Max and Discovery+ and on most of its television channels.

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This will total 3,800 hours, with every moment of the events streamed – including all 329 medal ceremonies and the opening and closing ceremonies offered in HDR. WBD has held the international rights to the Olympic Games since the 2018 Games and sublicenses feeds to public and commercial broadcasters in local areas, due to the International Olympic Committee’s insistence that they be shown on free-to-air TV around the world.

A host line-up of TV talent and sports stars includes Germany’s Boris Becker, Fabien Hambüchen and Fanny Rinne; Britain’s Laura Woods, Ugo Moyne, James Cracknell and Tom Daley; and Sweden’s Carolina Klüft. Others include France’s Arnaud Tournant and Alain Bernard, Spain’s Lydia Valentin and Carla Suárez Navarro, Romania’s Catalina Ponor, the Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Italy’s Hugo Sconochini.

They will report from a WBD House rooftop studio on top of a hotel near the Eiffel Tower, alongside local market studios. There will be a total of 400 commentators on WBD’s coverage.

On the streaming side, all 32 Olympic sports will get their own dedicated page where specific events can be added via Max. Gold medal alerts will keep viewers informed of upcoming events. Fifteen sports will also get timeline markers, allowing users to quickly navigate to key moments, while a curated mix of live events, highlights and additional coverage will be offered on Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 simulcasts via the apps.

Snapchat content takes viewers behind the scenes, with a free daily show available to viewers in the UK and France. Looney Tunes characters explain what performances are needed to win in Looney Tunes: Sports Made Easy shorts.

There will also be a documentary produced by Eurosport, August 4 – An Olympic Odyssey Starting today, Eurosport, Max and Discovery+ will broadcast key moments from this period in Olympic history, including Jesse Owens humiliating Hitler in 1936 and the ‘Super Saturday’ that saw the British team win multiple gold medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Scott Young, Group SVP Content, Production and Business Operations at WBD Sports Europe, said: “As the home of the Olympic Games and powered by the world’s best storytelling engine, Team Eurosport is unrivalled in terms of Olympic expertise and experience. We’ve assembled an incredible cast of over 100 of the best Olympians from across Europe to deliver world-class insight, analysis and entertainment across 19 thrilling days of competition. Drawing on their own personal Olympic journeys, they will bring all the moments that matter to life for millions of fans across the continent.

“Bringing audiences closer to the action and stories, fans will have access to the ultimate and unmissable Olympic companion experience on Max and discovery+. Fueled by new in-app enhancements, customizable features and exciting original content, these platforms will be the only place to enjoy every moment of the Olympic Games and will drive even more fandom, entertainment and passion as they ignite the Olympic Games like never before.”

During the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, more than 175 million people watched Discovery’s Olympic coverage on digital and TV, 13 times more than the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang two years earlier, according to WBD. Another 200 million people watched on channels with sublicensing agreements, including 45 national broadcasters in Europe.

The Olympic Games in Paris begin on July 26 and last until August 11.

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