The financial downturn hit Eurosport International during 2009, as revenues at parent the TF1 Group fell by 8.9% to €2,364.7 million.
Advertising fell across Eurosport International, the broadcaster’s thematic channels in France and e-TF1. However subscription revenues, particularly from the pan-European sports channel, helped keep so- called diversification revenues (excluding advertising) steady.
85.3% of revenues within the TF1 Group come from France itself, with the remainder of the European Union contributing 10.7%, and other countries 4%.
TF1’s domestic thematic channels were responsible for revenues of €194.3 million, delivering a profit of €15.1 million, while Eurosport International achieved €319.2 million in revenue, and profits of €39.3 million. The figures represent annual increases of €11.5 million and €12.6 million respectively.
The absence of any major sports events in 2009 meant advertising revenues at Eurosport France were 29.1%. However, revenues were kept steady by growth in distribution for Eurosport 2 and Eurosport HD, particularly in French-speaking Belgium.
Eurosport International ended 2009 with 118.1 million receiving households across 59 countries and in 20 languages. The Eurosport Group has 77.1 million paying customers, a year-on-year increase of 3.4 million. Two thirds of the new subscribers were in Central and East Europe. Eurosport HD is available to 5.2 million subscribers, 18 months after its launch.
