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Discovery Communications In European Talks With Twitter, Facebook For Olympics

Discovery Communications CEO David Zaslav said that the company "is in talks" with Twitter and Facebook to show programming from its Eurosport channel, including Olympic Games, on the social-media sites in Europe, according to Kristen Schweizer of BLOOMBERG. The Internet companies "approached Discovery and Eurosport, its pan-European sports broadcaster, for deals to stream sports content." Zaslav said, "Facebook and Twitter are very keen to get high-quality sports rights. We’re talking to them because we have that Olympic content for the next decade." Deals with Facebook or Twitter "have the potential to expand Eurosport’s reach by drawing younger social-media users to the Olympic Games." It is an audience that has been dwindling in recent years as younger people ditch traditional TV "in favor of viewing content on mobile phones and tablets." Zaslav said that the Silver Spring, Maryland-based company has committed $5B "to sports over the next 10 years." He said that it is "also building up its presence in Asia through sports and kids’ content." Under a potential digital deal, Discovery "would air live sports as well as behind-the-scenes content and interviews, betting that would also drive people to switch on Eurosport on TV." It is "also looking at selling advertising around the social media spots that would allow a brand to stamp its logo over the content or run ads before the clips." A Facebook spokesperson confirmed that "the talks but declined further comment." A Twitter representative "declined to comment" (BLOOMBERG, 6/2).

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