Eurosport Continues Continental Dominance

By Kevin Hilton

Eurosport has consolidated its position as the leading sports
broadcaster across Europe, according to recent analysis. The EMS
European Media and Marketing 2008 Summer Survey shows the France-based
group topping all television genres, with the main Eurosport channel
taking the number one position for the 13th year running.

The
pan-Europe service, which now has a HD simulcast, specialises in live
sport and has enjoyed a three percent jump in year-on-year viewing
figures, the highest so far. The EMS surveys are published twice a year
and look at viewing habits across all types of programming, including
documentaries, news and entertainment as well as sport.

Eurosport
2, a channel aimed at a younger audience, has been recorded in only the
last two studies but it has seen a 12 percent rise in its weekly
figures year-on-year. The influence of new technology is regarded as
key to the growth in popularity of television in general and sports
broadcasting in particular.

“Sports, especially live, keep TV
viewers on the edge of their seats, often for hours until the final
result,” commented Jacques Raynaud, vice-chairman of the Eurosport
group. “It’s great entertainment and because it touches the core of
their emotions sports fans are a highly engaged audience.” The group’s
chairman, Laurent-Eric Le Lay, added, “2008 is a year of major sporting
events on Eurosport so we expect the EMS 2009 results to be even
better.”