Premier League: Discovery and Eurosport interested in TV rights of the championship after 2016

The U.S. media group Discovery Communications, the majority shareholder of the pay-TV group Eurosport International, is interested in the acquisition of the domestic distribution rights to the Premier League at the end of the current 2013-2016 cycle, says the British newspaper The Guardian, on the 24/01/2014.

"We will look opportunistically at everything, strong sports rights can be very compelling and 'must have' content for viewers and advertisers," said David Zaslov, president and CEO of Discovery Communications. "Eurosport is very strong in the UK and we'll will look at all rights in the UK and Europe and make a strategic decision."

Discovery Communications has increased its stake in Eurosport International from 20% to 51% on the 21/01/2014, almost one year before the date specified in the initial agreement with TF1, Eurosport's majority shareholder since 21/12/2012. "One of the reasons we wanted to move earlier [than planned] is the opportunity to move quickly and build Eurosport in terms of brand and sports rights in its markets," said Zaslov. "Eurosport has sports rights all…