The World Rowing governing body has secured a new rights partnership in the US with Overnght, the Olympic sports-focused streaming platform, as it looks to boost the sport’s visibility ahead of the country hosting the next Olympic Games.
Under the deal, subscribers in the US will gain live access to World Rowing’s top competitions, as well as highlights, on-demand replays, and dedicated features aimed at engaging fans and new audiences.
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The partnership will start with coverage of the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China, and includes rights to the European Rowing Championships, the World Rowing Cup series, and the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, rowing’s new competition that is due to debut in November and feature at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Overnght chief executive Kevin McReynolds said: “Rowing has long been at the heart of Overnght’s mission. To partner with World Rowing and bring its flagship events to our platform is a privilege and a responsibility we take seriously.
“Our focus is on creating year-round visibility for Rowing while driving sustainable growth for the sport as we look toward LA28.”
The deal builds on Overnght’s partnership with US Rowing signed last year, which saw the streaming platform air competitions organized by the national governing body, as well as its agreement with the Intercollegiate Rowing Association.
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By GlobalDataLaunched in 2020, Overnght is currently available in more than 50 countries, covering Olympic and underserved sports. In 2023, the streamer struck a five-year rights deal with USA Water Polo.
Christian Osterode, World Rowing’s head of broadcast and marketing, said: “Partnering with Overnght gives us the opportunity to present Rowing with the consistency and focus that the sport deserves.
“Overnght is committed to building a true home for Olympic sports, and this new agreement allows us to further strengthen our sport’s media presence in the USA while connecting our athletes and events with fans in new and meaningful ways.”
The US rights deal comes a month after World Rowing extended its long-running distribution partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the alliance of the continent’s public service broadcasters.
That deal saw 13 EBU members retain rights to showcase World Rowing’s top competitions through 2032.
