The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) umbrella body of free-to-air broadcasters on the continent has extended its tie-up with the World Aquatics governing body.
Through a six-year contract renewal between the two parties – unveiled today – 23 EBU members will have access to a range of top-tier World Aquatics events and tournaments through until 2032. The agreement stretches across linear TV, digital platforms, and social media.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The tie-up covers – at the time of writing – EBU members in the following countries: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Turkiye.
The previous deal between the EBU and World Aquatics was unveiled in mid-2024 as only a two-year affair. Both have been brokered by the Sportfive agency (which holds international media distribution rights for World Aquatics).
This new tie-up covers events including the World Aquatics Championships in 2027, 2029, and 2031, as well as the World Aquatics Swimming Championships in 2028, 2030, and 2032.
The 2027 Championships are set to take place in Budapest, Hungary, between June 26 and July 18.
Glen Killane, EBU Sport's executive director, commented: "With Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, and Brisbane 2032 to follow, our members will bring audiences across Europe closer to the world's leading aquatic athletes as they build towards the next Olympic Games, sharing the performances and stories that shape their journeys.
Brent Nowicki, executive director at World Aquatics, added: “Aquatic sports continue to generate widespread engagement, and with a number of milestone events on the horizon, increased coverage across television and digital platforms will be instrumental in raising the profile of our sports and showcasing our world-class athletes.
“We’re excited to see how the continuation of our partnership will enable us to drive further growth in the years to come, through pinnacle events such as the World Aquatics Championships Budapest 2027."
In terms of recent EBU sports rights activity, mid-October saw the umbrella body announce a two-year extension of its tie-up with Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the rights-holder for some of the biggest road cycling events on the continent.
In September, the body also extended its rights tie-up with the International Biathlon Union (IBU) until 2034.
The World Aquatics-Sportfive deal, meanwhile, dates back to mid-2023.
