About Eurosport

Eurosport stands as the premier sports destination across Europe, consistently pushing the boundaries of sports broadcasting by delivering localised content from some of the world's most prestigious sporting events. As a key player in sports media, Eurosport has cemented its status not only as the "Home of the Olympic Games" in Europe but also as a major broadcaster for cycling, Grand Slam tennis, and winter sports. Its television channels, Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2, reach an impressive 246 million cumulative subscribers spread across 75 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Beyond traditional broadcasting, Eurosport’s digital presence is equally formidable, with Eurosport.com ranked as Europe’s number one online sports news website, attracting an average of 30 million unique users per month.

In recent years, Eurosport has adapted to the evolving media landscape by integrating its offerings with discovery+, Discovery Inc.’s real-life direct-to-consumer streaming service. This strategic move reflects Eurosport's commitment to expanding its digital footprint and reaching a broader audience through new media channels. Eurosport Events, a specialised division within the company, manages and promotes international sporting events, further enhancing Eurosport’s influence and reach within the global sports community.

Meeting the Challenge: The 2018 Winter Olympics

A Complex Task: Delivering Multilingual Video Content

The 2018 Winter Olympics presented Eurosport with a significant challenge: delivering high-quality, multilingual video content—including both live events and on-demand clips—across its digital platforms to 28 countries. Covering 102 events across 15 sports disciplines, Eurosport needed to manage and distribute a dynamic schedule of video content in real-time, supporting 17 languages and multiple regional variations.

Unlike traditional broadcasting, OTT and digital publishing required Eurosport to implement a sophisticated infrastructure capable of handling massive amounts of video data. This was critical in an environment where live streaming and video-on-demand (VOD) needed to be instantly accessible, with content tailored to viewers' specific languages and preferences. The need for real-time accuracy was paramount, as the Olympics is a fast-paced event with frequent schedule changes that demanded immediate updates across all digital platforms.

The Solution: A Cloud-Based Metadata Platform

Building a Robust Digital Infrastructure

To overcome these challenges, Eurosport developed a cloud-hosted metadata processing platform designed specifically for OTT and digital publishing. This platform was built to ingest, process, and distribute video metadata from a central source, ensuring that content was delivered across Eurosport's various digital platforms, including websites, mobile apps, and smart TV applications. The solution was capable of handling the substantial volume of video data generated during the Olympics, processing over 1.5 million records throughout the three-week event.

Real-Time Content Management and Localisation

Key to the platform’s success was its ability to process and monitor changes across all digital touchpoints in real-time. This ensured that updates to event schedules, live streams, and the availability of on-demand clips were immediately reflected across all platforms. The platform's advanced localisation tools allowed Eurosport to tailor content for specific markets, utilising complex whitelisting and blacklisting mechanisms to ensure viewers in different regions received the most relevant video content, whether live or on-demand, in their preferred language.

Scalability and Flexibility with Cloud Technology

The cloud-based architecture provided the necessary scalability to manage the high traffic volumes associated with a major event like the Olympics. Its flexibility enabled Eurosport to adapt quickly to real-time changes, maintaining a consistent and seamless user experience across all digital platforms. The platform’s reliability was proven by its ability to operate without any downtime or interruptions throughout the Games, a critical factor in ensuring viewer satisfaction during such a high-profile event.

The Impact: Enhanced Digital Experience for Millions

Delivering Seamless OTT Video Coverage

The successful deployment of this OTT-focused solution had a profound impact on Eurosport's ability to deliver high-quality, localised video content to millions of viewers across Europe and beyond. By ensuring real-time processing and distribution of live and on-demand videos, Eurosport provided a seamless digital experience that kept viewers engaged with the Olympics, regardless of their location or language preference.

Operational Efficiency and Accuracy

The solution also significantly improved Eurosport's operational efficiency by automating content updates across its platforms. This automation not only reduced the workload on Eurosport's staff but also minimised the risk of errors, ensuring that all video content presented to viewers was accurate and up-to-date. The success of this digital-first project reinforced Eurosport's position as a leader in the OTT sports streaming space, showcasing its ability to meet the demands of delivering major international sporting events through digital platforms.

Future-Ready: Scaling for Upcoming Events

Applying the Model to Future Sporting Events

The experience gained from the 2018 Winter Olympics has provided Eurosport with a scalable and adaptable model that can be applied to future sporting events, including other multi-sport events and annual fixtures such as the Grand Slam tennis tournaments and the Tour de France. This positions Eurosport to continue delivering exceptional OTT video coverage to its audiences while expanding its reach through digital platforms like discovery+.

Navigating the Challenges of OTT Sports Streaming

Managing Real-Time Content Delivery

The challenges Eurosport faced during the 2018 Winter Olympics are reflective of the broader issues within the OTT sports streaming industry. One of the most significant challenges is managing and delivering real-time video content to a global audience via digital platforms. Given the unpredictable nature of sports events, OTT platforms must be equipped with systems that can adapt quickly, ensuring viewers receive accurate information and instant access to live streams or on-demand clips.

Localisation and Customisation

Localisation presents another major challenge in OTT sports streaming. With a global audience that speaks different languages and has varying cultural preferences, OTT platforms must not only translate content but also customise the user experience to meet the specific needs of different regions. This often involves complex content rights management and the delivery of tailored content to different markets.

Handling Vast Amounts of Video Data

Finally, the sheer volume of video data involved in streaming major sports events is a significant challenge. From live video feeds to on-demand clips, OTT platforms must manage and distribute vast amounts of data with minimal room for error. This requires a robust technical infrastructure and effective data management strategies to ensure that all video content is delivered accurately and efficiently across multiple digital platforms.

Eurosport's Digital Success Story

Eurosport's experience during the 2018 Winter Olympics provides valuable insights into how these challenges can be effectively addressed, demonstrating the importance of scalable, flexible solutions in the fast-paced world of OTT sports streaming. Through innovation and strategic use of technology, Eurosport has set a new standard for digital sports content delivery, ensuring that viewers across the globe have access to the very best in live and on-demand sports coverage.