Okko Sport, the subscription OTT platform in Russia owned by media group Rambler&Co, has snapped up rights to a host of top-tier International Biathlon Union (IBU) events.
Through a multi-year direct agreement unveiled late last week, Okko now holds exclusive rights to IBU events including the World Cup, World Championships, and European Championships.
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The deal has been struck in advance of the opening stage of the upcoming Biathlon World Cup, which will be taking place in Kontiolahti, Finland, between November 26 and 29.
In addition to its live coverage, Okko will also present match reviews, interviews, reports, and analysis, on its digital and social media platforms.
Russians are not currently permitted to take part in IBU events, and have been banned since the country invaded Ukraine in early 2022. The IBU's executive board most recently reaffirmed that decision last month.
The 2026-27 IBU World Cup begins next month, and runs through 10 stages to a conclusion in Norway on March 21.
The 2027 Biathlon World Championships, meanwhile, are set to take place in Estonia between February 10 and 21.
Earlier in October, Okko unveiled rights to men's tennis' top-tier ATP Tour. Under the tie-up, Okko will cover select tournaments for the remainder of 2026, as well as the full 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons.
Late August, meanwhile, saw the platform renew its deal to show the EuroLeague, basketball’s elite European clubs competition, for another three seasons.
For the IBU, this deal comes after the governing body and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) umbrella body signed a long-term extension of their deal, covering the 2030-31 to 2033-34 cycle.
The EBU will continue to hold the exclusive global media rights to IBU events for the next eight years, and will also act as host broadcaster for a range of top-tier IBU events during that period.
EBU members will receive at least 150 hours of IBU content across each regular season, spread over 14 weeks (around three-and-a-half months).
