Pan-European broadcaster Eurosport has revealed a significant increase in digital viewership for its coverage of the recent 2019 French Open tennis tournament.
The Discovery-owned brand recorded a 31 per cent year-on-year increase in unique views of the clay-court Grand Slam on Eurosport Player, the company’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming service, and its official app.
In addition, average viewing time of the Roland Garros tournament on Eurosport Player was up on 2018, with users tuning in for 45 per cent longer than last year.
Eurosport, which broadcast the French Open in more than 50 countries, also clocked viewership increases across its TV coverage in markets throughout Europe.
Eurosport 2 enjoyed a 15 per cent growth in average live audience overall, with the local channel in the Netherlands experiencing a whopping 213 per cent year-on-year increase compared to 2018.
Meanwhile, Eurosport 1 recorded double-digit audience growth in France (21 per cent) and the UK (17 per cent).
Commenting on the figures, Dave Schafer, senior vice president of sports content, operations and planning at Discovery, said: “Our multi-screen content strategy is driving video and streaming growth but our short-formats are also translating to TV and entertaining traditional audiences.
“Year-on-year growth in key markets, on both digital and linear, underlines that Discovery and Eurosport is committed to engaging and growing audiences on all platforms and all screens. Discovery and Eurosport combined have the unique ability to optimise distribution and live sports coverage across all platforms – free-to-air, pay, OTT and digital – and can deliver the biggest and most engaged audiences.”
Spain’s Rafael Nadal secured his 12th French Open title at this year’s tournament, while Ashleigh Barty of Australia won the women’s competition for the first time.
Pan-European broadcaster Eurosport has revealed a significant increase in digital viewership for its coverage of the recent 2019 French Open tennis tournament.
The Discovery-owned brand recorded a 31 per cent year-on-year increase in unique views of the clay-court Grand Slam on Eurosport Player, the company’s over-the-top (OTT) streaming service, and its official app.
In addition, average viewing time of the Roland Garros tournament on Eurosport Player was up on 2018, with users tuning in for 45 per cent longer than last year.
Eurosport, which broadcast the French Open in more than 50 countries, also clocked viewership increases across its TV coverage in markets throughout Europe.
Eurosport 2 enjoyed a 15 per cent growth in average live audience overall, with the local channel in the Netherlands experiencing a whopping 213 per cent year-on-year increase compared to 2018.
Meanwhile, Eurosport 1 recorded double-digit audience growth in France (21 per cent) and the UK (17 per cent).
Commenting on the figures, Dave Schafer, senior vice president of sports content, operations and planning at Discovery, said: “Our multi-screen content strategy is driving video and streaming growth but our short-formats are also translating to TV and entertaining traditional audiences.
“Year-on-year growth in key markets, on both digital and linear, underlines that Discovery and Eurosport is committed to engaging and growing audiences on all platforms and all screens. Discovery and Eurosport combined have the unique ability to optimise distribution and live sports coverage across all platforms – free-to-air, pay, OTT and digital – and can deliver the biggest and most engaged audiences.”
Spain’s Rafael Nadal secured his 12th French Open title at this year’s tournament, while Ashleigh Barty of Australia won the women’s competition for the first time.
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