BBC presenter Jonathan Edwards "is to make the jump to Eurosport in an exclusive deal to be its lead presenter fronting flagship sports programming including the Olympics," according to Sweney & Gibson of the London GUARDIAN.
Edwards, the world-record-holding Olympian turned broadcaster, "will become Discovery-owned Eurosport’s exclusive lead presenter from 2017."
His signing is the latest statement of intent in the U.S. pay-TV broadcaster's drive "to muscle in on sport" after signing a £920M exclusive pan-European deal to take control of the rights to the Olympic Games from the BBC. Edwards: "It is a natural progression for me. I’ve worked hard at my broadcasting with the aim of being a really good sports broadcaster in my own right and not just be on screen because of a legacy as an athlete. This feels like recognition of that." This year, Edwards "will continue to work for multiple broadcasters including the BBC as part of the BBC’s Rio Olympic Games coverage, Channel 4’s Paralympic programme, as well as in bulletins from Brazil for Eurosport."
His debut for Eurosport "will be leading its coverage of the European Aquatics Championships from London in May, before moving exclusively to Eurosport" from Jan. 1 (GUARDIAN, 2/17).
