Eurosport has just launched the Eurosport Player application, the sports channel’s online simulcast streaming service on VIERA Connect, Panasonic Smart VIERA’s cloud-based connected TV platform. The launch of the app[1] coincides with the start of Roland Garros, the French Tennis Open Grand Slam this week, enabling fans to select live action from up to seven different courts depending on the schedule of play.
The Smart VIERA app will give its pay subscribers access to live streaming from Eurosport, Eurosport 2 and bonus channel content for other significant sporting events such as snooker, World Superbikes and wintersports, and feature a full seven day EPG schedule.
The launch consolidates Eurosport’s position as a multi-screen broadcaster with the channel’s content now extensively available beyond television on PC, Mobile, Tablet and now Smart TV.
The Eurosport Player app operates as a subscription service and will be pre-installed on all 2012 Panasonic Smart VIERA models and is also compatible with all VIERA TV models from 2010 onwards.
Sports fans in 23 countries* will be able to access the Eurosport Player app and enjoy commentary in their local language. This summer, Panasonic Smart VIERA customers who will subscribe to the Eurosport Player application, will also be able to enjoy the Tour de France and London 2012 Olympic Games[2] via the app.
Fabien Roth, Director TV Group at Panasonic Marketing Europe said: “We are delighted to be the first to offer the Eurosport Player application via Smart VIERA. The app showcases the possibilities of Smart TV, providing great interactive and personalised experiences. For Roland Garros, subscribers can now choose the courts they would like to watch the match on – putting them in the director’s chair. With the Eurosport Player we further strengthening our VIERA Connect eco-system of innovative and benefit-oriented applications. It supports our Smart VIERA strategy to provide easy-to-use networking functionality, allowing the user to enjoy interactive functionality that goes far beyond traditional broadcast experiences.”
Arnaud Maillard, Eurosport’s New Media Director said: “Eurosport continues to develop innovative ways for sports fans to access its great content. This launch with Panasonic opens up new opportunities for fans to experience our Eurosport Player service which is at the forefront of our multi-screen offer. It is timely that the first event to be accessible is Roland Garros which really complements the Eurosport Player’s multi-court coverage offer.”
*Andorra; Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Ireland; Italy; Latvia, Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Russia; San Marino; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Ukraine; Vatican and the UK.
ABOUT EUROSPORT GROUP
The Eurosport Group is Europe’s leading sports entertainment group. Eurosport, the n°1 pan-European TV channel, broadcasts in 20 languages and reaches 129 million homes across 59 countries. Eurosport HD is the high definition simulcast of Eurosport. Eurosport 2 broadcasts to 59 million households in 18 languages across 47 countries. Eurosport 2 HD was launched in August 2009. Eurosport Asia-Pacific reaches 17 countries in the region and launched an HD channel in September 2011. Eurosportnews is the sports news channel transmitted worldwide. Eurosport.com, Europe’s n°1 online sports destination, has up to 19 million unique users per month (comScore) across an international network of sports websites in 11 languages, including Yahoo! co-branded sites in Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. The Eurosport.com free mobile applications are available in 10 languages. Eurosport Player, Eurosport’s web TV service, provides LIVE and on-demand sports to fans’ PCs in 52 countries and the Player mobile application is available in up to 18 countries. Eurosport Events is the group’s expert division in the management and promotion of international sporting events.