EXCLUSIVE: How Eurosport Merging Into TNT Sports Affects British Tennis Fans  - UBITENNIS

EXCLUSIVE: How Eurosport Merging Into TNT Sports Affects British Tennis Fans 

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read
Kia Arena, Melbourne Park - Australian Open 2024 (Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA)

Sports broadcasting in the UK is about to undergo a major shake-up. Two out of the four Grand Slam events are being moved to another channel, which will not provide fans with an option to buy passes just for those events.

Eurosport UK will cease broadcasting on February 28th after more than 30 years. Its content will be merged into the paid broadcaster TNT Sports in a strategic move by Warner Bros’ Discovery, which owns both parties. Discovery bought Eurosport in 2015 before merging it into Warner Media in 2022.

The change is of high significance for British tennis fans, who will have to subscribe to TNT Sports to watch the Australian Open and French Open. As pointed out by Tennis on telly, Discovery+ is no longer offering its standard plan, and subscribers will be downgraded to the basic plan upon renewal. However, a premier plan is required to watch sports content, which is currently priced at £30:99 per month.

“Roland-Garros and the Australian Open moving forward will be on TNT Sports and Discovery+ in the UK and Ireland. Also, TNT Sports will show the singles finals at Wimbledon in the UK and Ireland (as Eurosport did),” TNT Sports UK confirmed to Ubitennis via email. 

Given the cost, some might have hoped there would be some sort of compromise in which tennis fans can watch just these two majors via a pass or something similar. However, it has been confirmed to Ubitennis that this will not be the case.

“Much like other sports subscription services, there won’t be the chance to just purchase a single-sport package,” a spokesperson said. 

“Where TNT Sports is offered in the UK and Ireland through other retailers and affiliates, these distribution partners are responsible for the pricing and packaging of their own bundles. Purchasing a discovery+ Premium pass will cost £30.99 a month.”

TNT Sports UK does not have TV rights for ATP and WTA events which are owned exclusively by Sky TV until 2028 (apart from UK-based events). Sky Sports, whose monthly cost starts from £22 for subscribers, is also home to the US Open and has its own designated channel. Wimbledon is the only major event currently on free-to-air TV.

Whilst there might be some backlash from sports fans, TNT says their approach is in line with their goal of delivering world-class sports content in one place. 

“By integrating all Eurosport’s live and non-live content into TNT Sports, this change will ultimately create an even more compelling and valuable sport proposition for fans and simplifies our offer in the market. We know consumers want fewer subscriptions and this is part of our long-term plan to deliver more world-class sports content in one place,” they said. 

TNT confirmed to Ubitennis that over 50% of their viewers for this year’s Australian Open already had a subscription to TNT Sports’ premium tier. Therefore arguing that the disappearance of Eurosport doesn’t impact all British viewers. 

Looking ahead to 2026, there will be more changes with the launch of MAX in the UK. A streamng service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is understood that MAX isn’t a rebrand of Discovery Plus and the platform will ‘house premium entertainment and sports content.’ It will become the streaming home for TNT Sports, which will no longer be on Discovery+. An exact date for the launch is yet to be announced. 

TAGGED:
Leave a comment