International Broadcasters came together this week to meet with Eurovision Production Coordination (EPC), Host Cities Glasgow and Berlin, and the seven participating European Sports Federations for a World Broadcaster Briefing ahead of the inaugural multisport European Championships in August 2018. The working session, complemented by site visits at some of the main event venues, is a major milestone in developing up to 300 hours of programming delivered to a potential worldwide audience of more than 1 billion people.
The European Championships is a major new multisport event taking place every four years, supported by Europe’s free-to-air broadcasters, which aggregates the existing senior continental championships of Athletics (European Athletics), Aquatics (LEN), Cycling (UEC), Gymnastics (UEG), Rowing (FISA), Triathlon (ETU), with a new Golf Team Championships (ET & LET) – all unified under a common brand.
Presenting in Glasgow, EPC introduced its international signal production plans and gave an overview of the content, venue and network services to be offered to rights-holding broadcasters, including integrated digital solutions to support first- and second-screen programming.
The participating broadcasters visited some of the key venues including Glasgow's Tollcross International Swimming Centre (Aquatics), Emirates Arena (Track Cycling at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome), and SSE Hydro (Gymnastics), as well as Strathclyde Country Park in North Lanarkshire (Rowing and Triathlon).
The venue tour also covered George Square and Glasgow Green, along with a visit to BBC Scotland’s facilities, where Eurovision Production Coordination will set up the Broadcast Operation Centre (BOC) during the event. (A similar facility, the International Broadcaster Centre, or IBC, will be in Berlin, next to the Olympic Stadium). Glasgow’s iconic George Square will be the heart of a Cultural Festival planned during the Championships, bringing the city centre to life as a creative hub showcasing the very best of Scottish and Glaswegian culture.
The three-day meeting also offered an opportunity for broadcasters to meet with the Glasgow and Berlin local organising committees and Federation representatives.
“As the Broadcast Partner and Host Broadcaster for the upcoming European Championships, we are pleased to see such strong interest coming from the broadcasting community for this milestone event,” said Stefan Kuerten, Director of EBU Sport. “We've received positive feedback from rights-holding broadcasters and will continue working with all parties to provide the overall production and technical solutions for broadcasters to showcase engaging content for audiences.”
Colin Hartley, Glasgow 2018 Championships Director, said, “We are delighted to be hosting the World Broadcaster Briefing for the inaugural European Championships where a compelling backdrop for what will be a must-see, must-attend event will be presented b broadcasters, which aggregates the existing senior continental championships of Athletics (European Athletics), Aquatics (LEN), Cycling (UEC), Gymnastics (UEG), Rowing (FISA), Triathlon (ETU), with a new Golf Team Championships (ET & LET) – all unified under a common brand.
“Under one united brand and broadcast experience both cities will set the stage for a spectacular 10 days of wall-to-wall broadcast which will elevate the status of the European Champions in some of the continent’s major sports.”
Earlier this year, the seven European Federations, Host Cities Glasgow and Berlin, and the EBU agreed on a sports competition schedule that will run from Thursday 02 August to Sunday 12 August 2018 with a compelling 10 days of television coverage starting Friday 03 August.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Mulligan, European Championships Communication Consultant, +41 (0) 79 694 48 29 james.mulligan@europeanchampionships.com
Shannon Williams, Market Analyst & Communications Manager, Eurovision Media Services, +41 (0) 79 565 04 29 shannon.williams@eurovision.net
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
1. The 2018 European Championships will be staged by seven European Sports Federations and the Host Cities of Glasgow and Berlin.
2. The Glasgow 2018 sports programme will start with a day of qualifications on Thursday 02 August and will run until Sunday 12 August, while the Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships will be held between Tuesday 07 August and Sunday 12 August.
3. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and part of its operational arm, Eurovision Production Coordination (EPC), will act as both the broadcast partner (representing European public service media) and the host broadcaster (overseeing the overall production of the event).
4. In total, the European Championships will span 10 days of television programming from Friday 03 August to Sunday 12 August 2018. The event has a potential television audience of around 1.03 billion with many more viewers across multiple digital platforms. There will be up to 300 hours of host broadcaster coverage, and an anticipated 2,700 hours of television coverage.
5. The EBU has already confirmed more than 35 EBU Members will show the first edition in August 2018.
6. Around 3,000 athletes will travel to Scotland as part of a total delegation of around 8,500 including officials, media and others. A further 1,500 athletes will compete in Berlin.
7. Berlin's Olympic Stadium will be the venue for the European Athletics Championships with the road races and race walking events held throughout the city.
8. The European Aquatics Championships will take place at Glasgow's Tollcross International Swimming Centre, with diving at Edinburgh's Royal Commonwealth Pool, synchronized swimming at the Scotstoun Sports Campus, and open water swimming at Loch Lomond.
9. Four European Cycling Championships will be staged in Glasgow. Track, Road, Mountain Bike and BMX will attract 650 of Europe’s top names to the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, the Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike Trails, the streets of Glasgow and the surrounding metropolitan area, and a new world championship and Olympic standard BMX track to be built in the Knightswood area of the city.
10. The European Golf Team Championships will take place at the Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course in Perth and Kinross.
11. The European Artistic Gymnastics Men’s and Women’s Championships will be staged at The SSE Hydro, the venue for the 2015 FIG World Gymnastics Championships.
12. The European Championships for both Rowing and Triathlon will both be staged at Strathclyde Country Park in North Lanarkshire.