ONE of the biggest sports broadcasters in history is leaving UK televisions today and fans are devastated.
Iconic sports channel Eurosport is disappearing off Brits’ screens after 35 years on air.
GettyEurosport is leaving the UK today[/caption]
The home of some of sport’s biggest and best moments is being repackaged as part of TNT Sports, so won’t be vanishing in its entirety.
But sports fans up and down the country will no longer be able to flick through the channels and see the name Eurosport pop up offering virtually every sport you could ever want to watch.
Eurosport has long been the home to things like tennis Grand Slams, the Olympics, cycling, skiing, European domestic football and the Africa Cup of Nations, but now it will all be passed on to TNT Sports.
Often the home of the obscure sports, fans in the UK wouldn’t have been able to catch a glimpse of an 18-year-old Lionel Messi tearing up the Fifa World Youth U21 Championship in 2005 if it weren’t for Eurosport.
Nor would they have witnessed the wall-to-wall coverage of some of Team GB‘s greatest Olympians achieving their gold medal dreams or the rise of women’s football with coverage of the Women’s World Cup.
Fans will miss being able to tune into the broadcaster the same way they have since 1989, with many taking to social media to mourn the end of Eurosport.
One wrote: “Very disappointed to discover that Eurosport channels are closing.”
While another added: “Eurosport’s demise is the second time my hear has been broken this year”.
AFPLionel Messi’s U21 Fifa World Youth Championship campaign was shown on Eurosport in 2005[/caption]
AFPEurosport brings tennis fans Grand Slam action like Roland-Garros[/caption]
PATeam GB athletes have been winning gold on Eurosport for years[/caption]
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A third commented: “What a sad day”.
And a fourth simply posted: “Goodbye, friend”.
For so many football fans Eurosport was their gateway into domestic football on the continent.
Eurogoals, a beloved Monday night highlights show, showed the goals from the top leagues across France, Holland, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Germany and Italy.
While fans of sports like cycling, snooker and tennis were able to watch event that weren’t given mainstream coverage.
Now the general public in the UK will have to fork out a subscription to access what used to come free as a Sky or Virgin customer.
The merger with TNT Sports means that Eurosport’s events will now sit behind a paywall, making them only accessible to TNT subscribers.
Scott Young from WBD Sports Europe, said: “Combining Eurosport and TNT Sports content in the UK and Ireland will enable us to offer a single, premium viewing experience for sports fans.
“This move in the UK and Ireland will also continue to best deliver value for our leagues and federation partners, as we continue our 35 years plus commitment to investment and championing of sport on our screens.
“which remains a fundamental part of the success of grassroots through to elite.”
Eurosport will cease to exist today and even the website will soon redirect to the TNT Sports site instead.
TNT Sports will become the home of events like the Olympic Games, Australian Open, Roland-Garros and Grand Tour cycling – alongside their pre-existing coverage of the Premier League, Champions League, Moto GP and boxing.
EPACycling like the Giro d’Italia will no longer be available on Eurosport[/caption]
GettyFans won’t be able to find the channel on their TV guide[/caption]
GettyTNT Sports will be the new home of Eurosport’s rights[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
