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Eurosport to stop broadcasting on Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV

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The news that those of us who are sad (like me), and actually read the JV documents and transcripts of investor calls, knew, is now official, Eurosport ceases broadcasting at the end of February with content moving into TNT Sports.

Story here (plenty to choose from if you use Google and prefer a different source): https://rxtvinfo.com/2025/eurosport-to-stop-broadcasting-on-sky-virgin-media-and-ee-tv/ 

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has confirmed it is taking the axe to Eurosport in the UK and Ireland, 35 years after the sports broadcaster first made its debut.

Eurosport’s coverage of events including the Tour de France, Australian Open and the Olympics will switch to TNT Sports. Eurosport 1 and 2 will cease to broadcast on TV platforms including Sky, Virgin Media and EE TV after 28th February 2025.

WBD is yet to clarify if TNT Sports will gain additional linear channels to absorb the extra content, or whether it will be making more output streaming only, initially via discovery+ until replacement streaming service Max launches at the beginning of 2026.

Changes to Eurosport in the UK and Ireland had been expected following owner WBD’s launch of TNT Sports in 2023, when it started a joint venture with BT to replace BT Sport. This left WBD operating two different sports brands in the UK at a time when the business has sought to reduce its brands. WBD had already axed Eurosport’s standalone streaming service in favour of creating a single streaming destination.

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Weerab2024
Scholarly Contributor
Scholarly Contributor

I wasn't the biggest Eurosport fan to be honest apart from the tennis, but even less channels now on EE TV. 

Channel numbers have been stagnant with no new additions in free to air or entertainment categories in recent years. Quite poor in my opinion.

It's only the price of an apple TV box combined with a now subscription as well as the pain of changing my setup over a couple of quid a month in saving, that is potentially leaving me open to renewal thus far. 

EE Apple TV box, EE mini box, Full Fibre 900, Sky Stream
zulu17
Prodigious Contributor
Prodigious Contributor

A question - will existing recordings on EETV Boxes from the current Eurosport1&2 (SD/HD) channels still be viewable to EETV customers post 28th February ?

How will series recording set up for programming currently on Eurosport channels on EETV be impacted post 28th February - will the series automatically be picked up on its new channel or will it need to be setup afresh ?

bristolian
EE Community Star
EE Community Star

This is probably shooting the messenger a little, but I very much doubt any of Eurosport's content will go online-only.

I'd be amazed if the media rights contracts don't have clauses covering the technical standards for broadcast, and provision for linear vs streaming. Thus I would be extremely surprised if any specific sport allows themselves to be relegated online-only unless it's not been accounted for in their rights agreements.

I suspect at least one additional linear channel may be needed on busy weekends, but the commercials of TNT being premium versus Eurosport being "basic" (wrong word but you get the gist!) might be interesting.

Disclaimer, I'm not an EE-TV customer but do subscribe to Eurosport & TNT via another platform.

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@zulu17 wrote:

A question - will existing recordings on EETV Boxes from the current Eurosport1&2 (SD/HD) channels still be viewable to EETV customers post 28th February ?

How will series recording set up for programming currently on Eurosport channels on EETV be impacted post 28th February - will the series automatically be picked up on its new channel or will it need to be setup afresh ?


Doesn’t impact me but customers do need this information from EE now this change is confirmed.

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@bristolian wrote:

I suspect at least one additional linear channel may be needed on busy weekends, but the commercials of TNT being premium versus Eurosport being "basic" (wrong word but you get the gist!) might be interesting.


We might see TNT Sports 5 - 10 getting a proper workout!

I have a suspicion that Quest will also start getting some coverage to allay any “free to air” concerns, as WBD have secured the Tour de France from itv and (deep breath), I believe the 6 nations from 2026… 😮


@bristolian wrote:

I'd be amazed if the media rights contracts don't have clauses covering the technical standards for broadcast, and provision for linear vs streaming. Thus I would be extremely surprised if any specific sport allows themselves to be relegated online-only unless it's not been accounted for in their rights agreements.

 You say that, but ITV seemingly had no problem not using their rights to NFL highlights this year and the NFL are probably the most savvy and/or greedy when it comes to media rights.

nfl.com pointed to ITV as the place to get them in the UK, but The NFL Show simply didn't exist this season.

 

 


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@bristolian wrote:

I suspect at least one additional linear channel may be needed on busy weekends, but the commercials of TNT being premium versus Eurosport being "basic" (wrong word but you get the gist!) might be interesting.


We might see TNT Sports 5 - 10 getting a proper workout!

I have a suspicion that Quest will also start getting some coverage to allay any “free to air” concerns, as WBD have secured the Tour de France from itv and (deep breath), I believe the 6 nations from 2026… 😮


The Six Nations is a whole other can of worms, but TNT could adopt a very similar approach as they did for the November internationals last year - one channel all but dedicated. If they do win a FTA-share rights deal, it'll be partnered with BBC or most likely ITV.

Quest could indeed be used for some FTA stuff, they certainly have HD availability on Sky & Virgin.

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@bristolian wrote:  Quest could indeed be used for some FTA stuff, they certainly have HD availability on Sky & Virgin.

And HD on Freesat and SD on Freeview, which is not only FTA but FTV.

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@zulu17 wrote:

A question - will existing recordings on EETV Boxes from the current Eurosport1&2 (SD/HD) channels still be viewable to EETV customers post 28th February ?


Until the 28th March according to the official post: https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/TV/Eurosport-moves-home-to-TNT-Sports/td-p/1500898