EBU teams up with UEC to develop cycling in Europe
14 March 2016
The Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have reached an agreement to broadcast the European Cycling Championships from 2016 onwards.
This agreement, a first between the parties, grants the EBU exclusive worldwide broadcast rights on all platforms for the following competitions:
- Road European Championships
- Track European Championships
- Mountain Bike European Championships
- BMX European Championships
- Cyclo-Cross European Championships
The Road, Track, Mountain Bike and BMX European Championships in 2018 are part of the European Championships 2018 for which the EBU has already acquired the broadcast rights and are therefore not included. The Cyclo-Cross European Championships in 2018 are part of the agreement.
The 2016 edition of the Road European Championships will be held in Nice (FRA) and Monaco from 14 to 18 September with the involvement of France Televisions in the television production. It will be the first time that the elite cyclists, both women and men, take part in this competition, bringing together the best European riders of the international peloton.
This agreement confirms the ambition of both the UEC and the EBU to propose extensive coverage of the various disciplines to the widest possible audience. EBU Members such as France Television, NOS (Netherlands), TV2 (Denmark) and NRK (Norway) among others will be providing live coverage of these events, complemented by Eurosport coverage in 54 countries throughout Europe. This increased visibility through television, radio and digital platforms will bring these events to the forefront of cycling events in Europe.
"The EBU is delighted to start a partnership with the UEC and to provide extensive free-to-air exposure of European Cycling Championships throughout Europe . This deal is a perfect complement to the existing agreement for the European Championships 2018,” declared Stefan Kürten, EBU Director of Eurovision Services & Sports Rights.
UEC President David Lappartient added: “We are thrilled to announce this historic agreement with the EBU, which will provide exceptional coverage of the European Cycling Championships for the next years. This is an important step forward for the promotion of cycling throughout Europe.”
Julien Ternisien, Head of Sports Rights - Summer Sports at the EBU, expressed his satisfaction of the new agreement with the UEC which “reinforces the unrivaled cycling portfolio of the EBU and its Members and confirms our commitment to the development of cycling”.