bt Sport & Eurosport Rebrand As TNT Sports
BT Sport and Eurosport are set to officially merge their broadcast offerings by rebranding as TNT Sports.
The move follows the formation of a joint venture between US media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery and BT Group in September 2022.
From July 2023, TNT Sports will replace the BT Sport name, but Eurosport will continue to be known by its current brand in the UK and Ireland until after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Before July 2023, BT Sport customers will continue to access content in the same way that they do now. After that, discovery+ will become the streaming destination for what will then be called TNT Sports, while linear channels will stay in the same places with the new brand.
This will mark the end of the BT Sport brand, which was launched in 2013 as the UK telecommunications business created the pay-television sports channel to stem customer losses to Sky.
The TNT brand will bring together an extensive selection of sports rights. This includes the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Europa League football, the Olympic Games, cycling, rugby, MotoGP, UFC, boxing, WWE, tennis Grand Slams and winter sports.
Andrew Georgiou, President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said,“Today is another important step towards the launch of a simpler and even more compelling offering for sports fans in the UK & Ireland. The TNT Sports name is already synonymous with premium live sport in a number of countries around the world and a further sign of the global scale and expertise that Warner Bros. Discovery brings to its partnership with BT.
“While Warner Bros. Discovery is excited to contribute its global scale and capabilities, together with its growing portfolio of premium entertainment, we are also determined to ensure we don’t compromise on the inimitable, local style that is at the heart of the way BT Sport has connected with fans over the past decade. Remaining authentically local will remain key to our success.”
Marc Allera, CEO BT Consumer Division, added, “We’re delighted with the progress being made on the joint venture. This change marks the next logical step for BT Sport as well as the broader transformation of our Consumer business. Once launched this will become a hugely exciting new premium sports offering for customers in the UK and Ireland.”
The TNT Sports name is already in use by Warner Bros. Discovery across the US, where it has the rights to NBA, NHL and NCAA, and Latin America, where it airs top level European and domestic football. The UK and Ireland brand will be separate from these offerings.
The 50:50 BT and Warner Bros. Discovery joint venture was formed on 1st September 2022. Warner Bros. Discovery now manages the operation of the joint venture with the production and operational assets of BT Sport having transferred to the company.
