The UCI has announced that from next year Discovery Sports will take over the organisation and promotion of UCI Mountain Bike World Cup for eight seasons, from 2023 to 2030.
After a meeting this month, the management committee of the UCI entered into negotiations with Discovery Sports to take over both the organisation and promotion of mountain bike World Cups from 2023 through to 2030. Previously Red Bull has been the producer and main broadcaster for more than ten years offering free live streams of the races.
The shift of World Cup coverage to Discovery follows the EWS as the company invested in Enduro Sports Organisation Ltd, the company that owns and operates EWS and EWS-E, last year. Currently, Discovery Sports streams World Tour Cycling and the Olympics through its paid-for services, but the coverage of the EWS has remained free through the GMBN YouTube channel. It is not clear what format World Cup coverage will be presented in, but there is the possibility that it may move away from being free to watch.
A better view of the plans being created by Discovery is set to be released once a contract has been fully signed with the UCI. The full 2022 season will still be streamed through Red Bull TV and on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup broadcasters’ channels.
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At its recent meeting in Montreux (Switzerland) from 10 to 12 February, the Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) decided to enter into exclusive negotiations with Discovery Sports for the organisation and promotion of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup for eight seasons, from 2023 to 2030.
The proposal by Discovery Sports, which was selected by the UCI as part of a tender process, comprises several strands: those relating to sporting and commercial matters, as well as those concerning the production and broadcasting of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
More detailed information on the concept developed by Discovery Sports to further drive the development of the discipline will be communicated at the signing of the contract that will bind the two parties.
The UCI would like to thank Red Bull Media House, the producer and main broadcaster of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, who has used all its expertise to satisfy the passion of mountain bike fans around the world for more than 10 years, while significantly increasing the series’ audience during this period.
Discovery Sports will get in touch with the 2022 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup organisers as well as all the organisers that expressed their interest in hosting a round of the series for 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, all rounds of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz UCI World Cup will be available for viewing on Red Bull TV (RBTV) and on the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup broadcasters’ channels.
— UCI Press Release |
Discovery Sport has been contacted for further information. We will keep this story updated as we find out more.
