Agreements Include Rights for X Games Oslo, Aspen and Austin Events
As a continuation of longstanding relationships between ESPN Media Distribution and the Scandinavian broadcast networks, X Games Oslo has reached agreements with DR (Denmark), SVT (Sweden) and YLE (Finland) to deliver live coverage of X Games Oslo. The agreements will also include multi-year coverage of X Games Aspen and X Games Austin events. This first group of Scandinavian television partners will be joined by other broadcasters around the world in coming months, as ESPN continues discussions with potential distributors.
DR, SVT and YLE will each deliver a combination of live and highlight coverage of X Games Oslo on Feb 24 – 28. X Games Oslo will feature Snowboard, Ski and Skateboard competitions – the first time both summer and winter sports will be contested internationally in the same city at an X Games event. The oldest and largest media outlet in Denmark, DR will provide coverage to fans throughout Denmark on DR3. One of Sweden’s leading national media outlets, SVT, will provide live coverage of X Games Oslo on both SVT and SVT Play. The Saturday and Sunday broadcasts will also be integrated within the flagship SVT Vinterstudion. Finland’s most popular network, YLE, will provide a minimum of 10 hours of live X Games Oslo coverage on YLE2 and will stream all event coverage live on Yle.fi.
“It is fantastic to realize the consistent global appetite for X Games content through these agreements with the Nordic networks, as well as many more networks around the globe to be announced in the lead up to the event,” said Tim Reed, vice president, X Games. “We look forward to sharing the first-ever X Games Oslo event with fans around the world.”
“This distribution agreement gives us the opportunity to show our most important winter markets that we are the world winter capital,” said Bente Holm, CEO of Visit Oslo. “ESPN also gives us fantastic exposure and a great opportunity to do tactic marketing at the same time in the same markets. This means a lot for us.”
Vice president of communications for TV 2 Norway, Jan-Petter Dahl added, “The fact that the main TV channels in the Nordic countries choose to cover X Games Oslo is another confirmation of how popular this event is. We at TV 2 Norway cannot wait to bring this spectacular event to viewers in neighboring countries.”
“It will be a lot of fun broadcasting X Games in Oslo – a new, big event with a broadcasting schedule well-adapted to Swedish hours,” said Tobias Alsing, Head of X Games at SVT. “It will be a great addition to the events in Aspen and Austin.”
“It’s cool that such a large snowboard event is coming to Norway,” said defending X Games Aspen Slopestyle bronze medalist Sven Thorgren. “X Games Oslo is going to inspire many and increase interest in our sport in Sweden and the other Nordic countries. I’m also looking forward to competing close to home.”
“YLE is very satisfied to have secured a continued contract for the X Games,” said Robert Portman, head of sports rights at YLE. “Finnish athletes participating in the X Games consider it to be the highlight of the season and so do we. The coverage and production provided by ESPN is first-class television and we will do our best to provide the Finnish audience with a great local adaptation.”
“X Games has always been a big thing in snowboarding, everyone is so excited to compete there that the level just goes up a notch,” said two-time X Games Slopestyle medalist Peetu Piiroinen. “Having it so close to home in Norway, it feels like it’s almost on my home turf and its epic that people can actually see the event in Finland, too.”
“The X Games are very important to DR. As well the competitions as the TV coverage are top class and the young viewers of DR3 love these games,” said Head of Sports Rights for DR, Jan Rosendal.
In addition to these partners, ESPN and TV 2 Norway will each distribute 21 hours of live coverage. TV 2 Norway will air the competitions live in Norway, while ESPN’s coverage will be distributed live on ESPN3 and as part of its World of X Games series on ABC. Scheduling details vary by region and by event, and fans should see local listings in the weeks and months ahead for details.
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Contact:
Danny Chi ESPN X Games +1 213 405 4400 or danny.c.chi@espn.com
Grace Coryell ESPN X Games +1 213 405 4402 or grace.s.coryell@espn.com
Paul Melvin ESPN International +44 (0)208 222 2104 or paul.melvin@espn.com