More viewers than ever accessed live coverage of the annual tennis tournament on Eurosport, Max and Discovery+ across Europe.
- Streaming viewers grew 29% year-on-year
- Free content via Eurosport.com also broke records
- 48% increase in viewing on traditional linear channels.
Bosses at Warner Bros Discovery are celebrating record viewing figures for this year’s Roland-Garros French Open tournament, which concluded on Sunday.
Viewership across Europe peaked with an eight-figure audience during the men’s final, more than two thirds (+69%) larger than last year as Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over Germany’s Alexander Zverev in an epic five set thriller after both players had reached their first Roland-Garros finals.
The women’s final, pitting Poland’s four-time title winning Iga Swiatek against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, was also the highest ever audience secured on Eurosport during a women’s final. Viewing figures rose by more than a fifth (+21%) since Swiatek’s dominant display in 2023.
Streaming growth
With the launch of Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) enhanced streaming service including Eurosport, combined with its other streaming platforms including discovery+, unique streaming viewers grew by +29% year-on-year with streaming minutes consumed rising by +47%.
WBD’s strategy to serve tennis fans with the greatest of amount digital content from the tournament on its free platforms also resulted in millions of visitors visiting Eurosport.com’s local language websites where video consumption across the tournament also broke new records.
Linear TV growth
The rising appetite for tennis content and increased consumption was mirrored on Eurosport’s linear television channels. Viewership across Europe grew by nearly half (+48%) with record editions reported in Poland, Italy, Germany and the UK.
In the UK, Eurosport and Discovery+ are the only ways to access full live Roland-Garros. ITV’s deal to carry the event ended a few years back.
- Max and discovery+ will be the only place to watch every tennis match from the Olympic Games Paris 2024 across 47 countries. UK viewers have access to Discovery+ only.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: RXTV composite/WBD