Pan-European broadcaster Eurosport has announced a four-year extension for the rights to cycling’s Giro d'Italia in a deal with event-owner RCS and Rai Trade, the event's media rights distributor.
The deal, which now runs from 2009 to 2012, covers the television and internet rights of the Giro d'Italia and three other major Italian cycling races: Milan San-Remo, the Giro di Lombardia and Tirreno-Adriatico.
Chairman of Eurosport Group Laurent-Eric Le Lay said: “We are delighted to renew our contract for the broadcast of the Giro and the other Italian races. The Giro d'Italia is definitely one of the biggest sporting events of the year and has been a premium property on Eurosport since 1998. We are proud that this long term commitment has contributed to the continuous growth of Giro d'Italia in Europe and to the development of its notoriety in Asia and in the Pacific.”
CEO of Rai Trade Carlo Nardello added: “We are delighted about the renewal of the agreement with Eurosport, which guarantees Italian cycling continued coverage in Europe and Asia. Up to 250 million viewers in more than 140 countries followed the Giro in 2008.”
Rights include live and delayed coverage of the Giro d'Italia across 59 European countries, live and delayed coverage of the other three races on Eurosport and Eurosport 2 and live and delayed coverage of all races on Eurosport Asia/Pacific. Eurosport will also have coverage across its websites.
