Eurosport gets into the race promoter business

Eurosport Group has set up a new subsidiary to organize, promote and develop international sporting events to be led by Eurosport's Managing Director and CFO, Jacques Behar.

Behar becomes the president and CEO of ‘Eurosport Events’, which is already operating in a number of motorsport series, such as the FIA World Touring Car Championship and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. It is also indirectly linked with the International Formula Masters and the CIK-FIA Karting World Championship through minority share holdings and/or contractual agreements.

"Eurosport Events brings an extra dimension to sports promotion that will allow us to grow and leverage the sporting events that we select," said Laurent-Eric Le Lay, President and CEO of Eurosport Group. Indeed, our perfect knowledge of this environment will help us to better direct the editorial policy and strategy of each sport. The prime objective will be to develop these events to make them a popular success both on location and in the media."

Eurosport Events intends to manage every aspect of the event organization, from TV production to media rights distribution – via Eurosport Group's own media and through sublicensing – as well as the sale of the marketing rights and international communications.