Eurosport Issue Penetration Figures

Eurosport, the pan-European satellite sports channel, has issued its first penetration figures since its merger with Screensport on March 1 this year. Eurosales is claiming a total of 40,559,000 homes able to receive the channel over 30 different countries equating to a potential audience of 100m.

In the UK 3,255,000 homes are claimed, 2,809,000 via satellite and 446,000 via cable. A spokesperson at the channel told MediaTel that the Screensport merger served to consolidate penetration in the UK rather than increase it, since the channels’ homes profiles were similar. A potential audience of around 8m is estimated.

Unlike Sky Sports, who claim 1.7m subscribers, Eurosport is not encrypted and can be received by anyone with a dish. It is about 80% funded by advertising.

Eurosport’s programme “exclusives” include live coverage of Nigel Mansell in the Indy Car World Championships, South American soccer and Davis Cup tennis.