This will transform our global coverage says Alex Gough
By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor
The PSA have heralded a major new agreement with Eurosport as a move that will “transform the face of the sport’s global broadcast presentation,” according to CEO Alex Gough.
The agreement will result in a major increase in the amount of live coverage of major tournaments throughout the European broadcasting region, plus an extended package of highlights programmes.
Following on from a domestic partnership announced earlier this year with UK broadcaster BT Sport, this move illustrates the PSA’s commitment to raising the sport’s profile, generating commercial opportunities and increasing visibility for sponsors through an increase in television coverage.
The PSA described the move as “a groundbreaking, long-term partnership with the major multiplatform sports destination Eurosport that will transform the sport’s visibility and profile across Europe”.
Under the five-year agreement Eurosport will become the new home of SQUASHTV in Europe, through their online on-demand channel Eurosport Player. They have agreed to broadcast close to 500 hours of world-class squash action on the OTT platform per year.
From the start of January 2016, all SQUASHTV tournaments will be shown live and exclusively in their entirety throughout Europe via Eurosport Player while selected highlights from major tournaments such as the British Open, U.S. Open, PSA World Series Finals and PSA World Championship will be broadcast throughout Europe via the network’s mainstream linear channels.
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Eurosport and feel certain that this is the beginning of a partnership that will be of huge benefit to squash not just in Europe but all around the world,” said PSA Chief Executive Alex Gough.
“Since taking responsibility for TV rights ‘in-house’ in January our global television reach has more than doubled as we have added major networks such as beIN Sport, BT Sport, Super Sports, Ten Sports, Tennis Channel and more to our portfolio.
“Eurosport is the latest top-class network to join this growing list and the agreement will take our product and the exploits of our players into millions of new homes. It will expose the sport to an entirely new audience across Europe in what is a massive moment in the history of squash broadcasting.
“Eurosport’s investment in the future of SQUASHTV in Europe, via the Eurosport Player, will help even further to increase squash’s visibility and profile across the continent in what is a very exciting time for the sport. Our ambition is to make squash one of the most accessible sports in the world, and we will continue to strive towards that ambition over the coming months and years.”
Peter Hutton, Chief Executive Officer of Eurosport, said: “This deal with the PSA is a step forward in our ambition to be the leading sports destination and a sign of our willingness to invest in content specifically for Eurosport Player.
“Eurosport is committed to fuel fans’ passion everywhere by delivering the best sport’s experience all year round and Eurosport Player is the perfect platform to deliver on this commitment to squash fans across Europe.
“We’re delighted to sign with the PSA, who have impressed us with their professionalism and their vision to grow the sport.”
Existing SQUASHTV customers will receive complimentary access to Eurosport Player until the end of their current subscriptions. They will also be able to watch a range of top-class sporting action live and on-demand across a range of devices including tennis Grand Slams, Tour de France, top football leagues, motor sports and much more.
To subscribe to Eurosport Player go to
http://www.eurosportplayer.co.uk/squash/squash-tournaments_sto5029571/event.shtml
About Eurosport
Eurosport, the Discovery-owned sports broadcaster, connects fans and athletes around the greatest sports events. Its channels, Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2 and Eurosportnews, reach 243 million cumulative subscribers across 99 countries in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.
Eurosport.com is Europe’s No.1 online sports news website with up to 23 million visitors each month. Eurosport Player is an all-access pass to the greatest events on the calendar, available anytime and on any device in 52 countries. Eurosport Events specialises in the management and promotion of international sporting events. More information is available by visiting corporate.eurosport.com
About SQUASHTV
Launched by the PSA in 2010, SQUASHTV is the official home of live and on-demand squash, providing fans across the world with unrivalled access to the world’s best squash action with more than 400 matches shown live and exclusively every year.
As of January 1, 2016 SQUASHTV will be the only place where European subscribers can watch full replays, extended highlights, behind the scenes features with the favourite players and historic squash action.