February 22 – The UK sports broadcast landscape is changing with BT Sports channels changing their name to TNT Sports in July 2023 for the start of the new football season.
The rebranding is part of the new joint venture announced between BT Group and Warner Bros. Discovery that will eventually see the Eurosport TV channels combined under the same title for the UK and Ireland, though that is not expected to take place until afte rhte paris Olympics in 2024.
The TNT Sports name is used by Warner Bros. Discovery across the US, where it has the rights to NBA, NHL and NCAA, and in Latin America, where it airs top level European and domestic football.
The move of the brand name into Europe expands its global reach, not least into association with premium Premier League and Champions League broadcast rights, the main drivers of subscriptions.
Before July 2023, BT Sport customers will continue to access content as they do now. After that, discovery+ will become the streaming destination for TNT Sports, while linear channels will stay in the same places but with the new brand.
BT Sport subscribers already have complimentary access to discovery+, which includes Eurosport’s streaming offer and entertainment programming.
Andrew Georgiou, board member of the joint venture and 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 U.K & 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.”
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