Eurosport
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Eurosport follows ESPN in airing an esports racing championship
Eurosport has signed a deal to air Torque Esports' The Race All-Star Series now that conventional sports aren't available.
Facebook hires TV network CEO to land worldwide sports deals
It's clearer than ever that Facebook wants to become a leader in live sports streaming. Variety and the Guardian have learned that Facebook has hired Peter Hutton, the CEO of Discovery-owned TV network Eurosport, to lead its negotiations for worldwide live sports streams. He'll work out of Facebook's home turf in Silicon Valley, and this will definitely be a step down the corporate ladder -- he'll report to Facebook's global sports partnership leader, Dan Reed. Hutton will formally switch roles after the Winter Olympics finish in February.
Snapchat will offer European users exclusive Olympics content
Snap is clearly hungry for original and exclusive web content for Snapchat's Discover platform. Yesterday, the company announced it was forming a studio in partnership with NBCUniversal. Then, this morning, Snap revealed that it's partnering with Eurosport, which is owned by Discovery Communications, to bring exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the Olympics Winter Games, which will be held in PyeongChang, South Korea, in 2018. This content appears to be limited to Snapchat's European users.
Discovery likely to pull its TV channels from Sky next month
Discovery's 12 UK channels are likely to disappear from Sky and its Now TV service at the beginning of next month, as negotiations between the two for a new carriage deal have broken down. Discovery has threatened to pull all programming, including its two Eurosport channels, if Sky isn't willing to meet the financial terms of its offer before the end of January. Similar situations arise in the US from time to time, but are relatively rare in the UK. And what's even more uncommon is how publicly the dispute is playing out.
BBC loses the rights to the Olympics
Think of the Olympics and you'll likely remember catching some action on the BBC. The Beeb has helped televise the Games since 1948 and delivered more coverage than ever before in 2012, but from 2020, it may no longer be involved. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today that it has struck a £922 million deal with Discovery for the rights to the 2018-2024 Summer and Winter Games, meaning Eurosport will become the default place for all things Olympics related.
Deezer, Eurosport and Napster coming later this month to LG Smart TVs in the UK
Over the past few months, we have seen LG slowly but surely increase the amount of entertainment content in its Smart TV platform, with apps such as Verizon FiOS (in the US) and Disney rentals among the latest inclusions. Today, the Korean outfit announced there are more of applications coming to its 2012-range television ecosystem, although these newcomers won't be available worldwide -- that said, owners in the UK will soon be able to enjoy what Napster, Deezer and Eurosport have to offer from the comfort of their own couch, which should make a nice addition to LG's current app repertoire. All three new applications are said to be available in "mid-December," so you should expect 'em to show up on that sleek TV of yours any moment now.
LG's Smart TV alliance grows, promises first cross-platform HDTV apps in September
The Smart TV Alliance consisting of LG and TP Vision (Philips) is still hammering away at its dream of platform-independent Smart TV apps, and as IFA 2012 gets under way it has a few new announcements. After promising Japanese manufacturers would join back in June it has welcomed Toshiba to the fold, as well as other supporters like Qualcomm, Mstar, Onigo and YuMe. At IFA 2012, LG is showing off the first apps built to the original SDK 1.0 spec built by Accuweather, Eurosport, online music channel Vilanoise and others. It's not stopping there however, as the SDK 2.0 we'd heard about is still due before 2012 is out, and has been built to take advantage of the new more powerful SoCs that companies like Qualcomm (the S4 family) and Mstar can provide to HDTV manufacturers.
Samsung Galaxy S III owners to get free Olympics livestream from Eurosport
New owners of the Olympic's official smartphone that missed out on Samsung's initial ticket giveaway still have a chance to catch plenty of the action live. Eurosport has announced that it'll be offering a free month of access to its streaming app for Galaxy S III owners -- as long as you're a resident in one of the participating European countries. (Hint: it's most of 'em, aside from Italy). Free access can be activated from July 14th and will last through August 12th. You can, however, grab the Eurosport app before the Olympics kick off by hitting the source below.
London 2012 Olympics to get live 3D coverage from Eurosport and Sky 3D
Didn't score a ticket to the 2012 Olympics in London this summer? If you're in the UK at least you can still catch the games live and in 3D, since even though the BBC is tape delaying its 3D coverage, there will be live action available on the dedicated Sky 3D channel from Eurosport. There's no word on what other carriers or regions may have access, but those two are promising over 100 hours of 3D action over the course of the games, with eight hours of live coverage alongside four hours of highlights. That's enough to cover events including the opening and closing ceremonies, men's 100m dash final, gymnastics, swimming, basketball and more. Also, Sky plans to open up the channel to all of its current HD subscribers during the Games instead of just the current 250,000 subscribers, so all you'll need to bring is a 3D-ready HDTV and glasses (maybe). There's a press release after the break with all the details currently available, and also Stephen Fry's introduction to the channel for no reason other than that it's Stephen Fry.
3DS to receive video content from EuroSport, Aardman, Sky in Europe
At the 3DS live event in Europe, Nintendo has just revealed that the 3DS will feature 3D video content from several different partners, including the EuroSport network, Sky and Aardman Animations. Sky will be providing "short form" 3D content for the device, while Eurosport will provide sports content (obviously). Animation studio Aardman -- known for the Wallace & Gromit series -- will create short episodes of Shaun the Sheep that will be exclusive to 3DS. Nintendo announced that it's also in talks with other partners for special video content.
International HD news roundup
Here at Engadget HD, we'd prefer not to just focus on high-def happenings in the US of A. Thus, we round up the best of the best from the international front each week and present it here, bundled together in a single, easy to digest list. If something went down in your corner of the globe over the past seven days, let the rest of the world know it in comments. 'Til next week, Até a vista! Read - HD Version of TV3+ Launches (Sweden) Read - Eurosport to launch HD channel on Virgin Media (UK) Read - Taiwan market: CHT to offer 3D content at MOD in 3Q10 Read - Canada backyard Olympics coverage gears up Read - Sporting Germany Goes HD Read - KUAM broadcasting Super Bowl 44 in HD (Guam) Read - Kathrein update offers HD for CI boxes (Germany) Read - Shaw Direct Adds V HD to Lineup, Offers Exclusive Programming (Canada)
Numericable brings Ushuaia HD / Eurosport HD to French subscribers
We heard that Numericable was planning to deliver a few new high-def channels to its lineup late last year, and while it has definitely taken longer than locals would have liked, it's hard to complain with new HD channels in Europe -- belated or otherwise. Effective immediately, subscribers interested in watching Ushuaia HD and / or Eurosport HD can select the Premium package in order to tune in, and we're also told that SciFi HD and 13th Street HD should join the party in the near future. In related news, a multi-year agreement between the cable carrier and TF1 will give customers access to TF1 HD, so yeah, even more reason for applause.Read - Ushuaia HD additionRead - Eurosport HD additionRead - TF1 agreement
Eurosport HD floats to France on CanalSat
Since launching back in May, Eurosport HD has found its way onto quite a few European carriers. Now, it can safely say it has found a home in France, as CanalSat has decided it best for this network to join TF1, France 2, Arte, Canal+ and M6 as the available high-definition options. We're told that the channel will provide some 2,000 hours of HD content to French viewers over the next year, and it seems things are already underway. Watch out, Europe -- France is quickly becoming to one the follow in the HD realm.
Eurosport HD arrives on Sky+ HD in the UK
It's arriving a little later than in other parts of the world, but Eurosport HD has finally launched on Sky+ HD in the UK. The station is exclusively available as part of a high-def subscription package on slot 412, and should provide HD coverage of the Beijing Olympics and all sorts of other sporting events here in the near future. The addition brings the carrier's total HD lineup to 19, which isn't too shabby for that part of the globe.
Antenna Hugria launches high-def packs in Hungary, Olympics are a go
Although Hungarians have tasted HD in their homeland before, we're pretty sure having a full platter is much preferred. National broadcaster Antenna Hugária has just announced that it will be launching HDTV services via its Antenna Digital cable platform at the close of this month. Reportedly, the service will be available initially in Budapest and surrounding locales, though we aren't told if plans are in place to spread it elsewhere. Two new packages are slated to become available, the first of which includes National Geographic HD, Eurosport HD and m2; as for the second, you'll find HBO HD. Better still, those who subscribe to m2 HD will already have a ticket to the televised version of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing (in HD, of course). Prospective consumers will be asked to upgrade to an HD-capable set-top-box as well as hand over HU 990 per month ($6.16) for the first HD tier and HU 799 per month ($5.50) for HBO HD.
YouSee / Com Hem expand HD lineups abroad
Despite the lingering feeling that Europe just isn't digging HD, two major cable providers across the pond have just added a dash of high-def to their lineups. Up first is Danish carrier YouSee, which has introduced Eurosport HD just as the French Open Tennis championships got underway. Next up is Sweden's own Com Hem, which has inserted Eurosport HD and National Geographic HD into its HD tier. There's no word on future expansion for either operator, but we're thrilled to see progress being made -- even if it's relatively minor.Read - YouSee expansionRead - Com Hem expansion
Poland's Cyfra+ to pick up Eurosport HD
We already knew that Eurosport HD would be making the rounds in various parts of Europe, but now we've got confirmation that the forthcoming high-def version will also be carried in Poland. Cyfra+ (a Polish digital satellite platform) will begin offering the channel as soon as it goes live on May 25th. The network will join Canal+ Film HD, Canal+ Sport HD and National Geographic HD as the only HD stations available on said carrier, though Eurosport HD will purportedly cost around €1.44 ($2.24) per month to enjoy.[Via Broadband TV News]
Eurosport going HD on May 25
Not quite two years after we wondered when HDTV would ever make its way across the pond -- and not even two weeks since we found that barely 5-percent of European HDTV owners even watch HD programming -- along comes news that yet another channel is slated to go high-def in Europe. And for what it's worth, we've all ideas this one will get some attention. Eurosport is getting set to launch an HD simulcast channel on May 25th, just in time for the start of the French Open-Roland Garros tennis Grand Slam. Additionally, viewers can count on seeing content from the Tour de France and the Beijing Olympics, and for folks stuck watching SD, at least that version will be morphing from 4:3 to 16:9. As of now, carriage agreements have been landed on "platforms in Israel, Turkey, Portugal and the Nordic countries, where Canal Digital will deliver the channel."
