Discovery Communications Deutschland wants to operate the German Eurosport channels under German broadcast licenses "as part of an extension of its channel family for the Bundesliga coverage," according to Jörn Krieger of BROADBAND TV NEWS. The broadcaster applied for licenses for the operation of nationwide thematic TV channels Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2 and the new Eurosport 2 HD Xtra at Bavarian media authority BLM. Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2, like the int'l Eurosport channels, have "so far been operated by Eurosport SAS" using pan-European licenses from French media authority CSA. The channels for the German-speaking countries in Europe "are to be operated by Discovery Communications Deutschland" in the future. Eurosport 1 is an advertising-funded free-to-air channel in German-language Europe while Eurosport 2 is offered as a pay-TV channel (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 7/13). TELECOMPAPER reported new channel Eurosport 2 Xtra HD will be used to add to Eurosport 2's coverage, with additional pre- and post-match programs for football matches being shown live. The Discovery Group acquired rights to show 40 Bundesliga matches per season for the four seasons from '17-18. The Bavarian regulator "cleared the changes at Discovery and also gave its approval to AT&T's planned takeover of Time Warner." The latter will "result in a change of control for Turner Broadcasting System, which offers the channels TNT Serie, TNT Film, TNT Comedy, Boomerang and Cartoon Network on the German market" (TELECOMPAPER, 7/13).
