Eurosport 2
Eurosport 2 is a European sports television channel and sister service to Eurosport 1, focused particularly on team, international, and alternative sports.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
Eurosport 2 was launched on January 10, 2005, as the second major channel of the Eurosport television network. Its creation expanded the network's capacity for live events and allowed for a more differentiated programming schedule compared to Eurosport 1. In some regions, the new service replaced Eurosport News, shifting the focus from rolling sports information to a broader mix of live coverage, delayed broadcasts, magazine shows, and event replays. Since its launch, Eurosport 2 has been conceived as a channel with a distinct editorial role. It positions itself as a new-generation sports service, with a particular focus on team sports and events described as alternative or niche. Its coverage includes European basketball, the National Lacrosse League, Twenty20 cricket, Australian rules football, surfing, handball, winter sports, motorsport, football, and more. Because broadcast rights are negotiated regionally and may be held by local or competing networks, the specific programming is not identical across Europe. The channel has established a broad international distribution footprint. It is available via satellite, cable, terrestrial, and IPTV operators, and offers multiple European language versions. Eurosport 2 HD is available in some markets as an enhanced version, particularly in Central and Northern Europe, carrying some exclusive programming. Examples mentioned in the references include German Bundesliga football, WWE programming, and Australian rules football live, but rights and availability change over time. Eurosport 2 has also been adapted into regional services. In Denmark, Discovery Networks Nordic merged Canal 8 Sport and Eurosport 2 into Eurosport DK in July 2015. The Danish service combined local rights (including Danish Superliga football) with international football, tennis, cycling, winter sports, and motorsport. Eurosport DK was subsequently replaced by Eurosport 2 in February 2016. In Norway, Eurosport Norge replaced Eurosport 2 on some cable operators in September 2015, incorporating coverage of the Norwegian Eliteserien into the network's programming. The channel's ownership follows the broader corporate development strategy of Eurosport. Eurosport 2 is now part of the Eurosport operations within Warner Bros. Discovery's Europe, Middle East, and Africa portfolio. It operates as a linear television brand within a broader sports media ecosystem that includes related television services and digital distribution. In 2019, the audience was reported at 87 million, an increase of 1 million year-on-year, but the available sources do not provide updated directly comparable figures. In March 2022, Eurosport 2's geographic footprint in Russia shrank when Discovery closed its services there following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Elsewhere, the brand continues to operate as a market-dependent sports channel, with programming, languages, distribution, and even service configurations varying by country.
History
Eurosport 2 was introduced on 10 January 2005 as a second major channel in the Eurosport television network. Its creation expanded the network's capacity for live events and enabled a more differentiated schedule alongside Eurosport 1. In some territories, the new service replaced Eurosport News, moving the emphasis from rolling sports information toward a broader mix of live competitions, delayed coverage, magazine programming, and event replays. From its launch, Eurosport 2 was conceived as a channel with a distinct editorial role. It promoted itself as a new-generation sports service and concentrated especially on team sports and competitions described as alternative or niche. Its coverage has included European basketball, the National Lacrosse League, Twenty20 cricket, Australian rules football, surfing, handball, winter sports, motorsport, football, and other events. The exact schedule has never been identical across Europe because broadcasting rights are negotiated by territory and can be held by local or competing networks. The channel developed a substantial international distribution footprint. It has been available through satellite, cable, terrestrial, and IPTV operators, with versions offered in numerous European languages. Eurosport 2 HD has provided an enhanced version in some markets and, particularly in central and northern Europe, has carried selected exclusive programming. Examples identified in reference material include German Bundesliga football, WWE shows, and live Australian rules football, although rights and availability have varied over time. Eurosport 2 has also been adapted into regional services. In Denmark, Discovery Networks Northern Europe merged Canal 8 Sport and Eurosport 2 into Eurosport DK in July 2015. The Danish service combined local rights, including Danish Superliga football, with international football, tennis, cycling, winter sports, and motorsport. Eurosport DK was subsequently replaced by Eurosport 2 in February 2016. In Norway, Eurosport Norge replaced Eurosport 2 on several cable operators in September 2015 and added Norwegian Eliteserien coverage to the network's programming. The channel's ownership followed the broader corporate development of Eurosport. Eurosport 2 is now part of the Eurosport operations within Warner Bros. Discovery's Europe, Middle East, and Africa portfolio. It functions as a linear television brand within a wider sports-media ecosystem that includes related television services and digital distribution. A reported 2019 audience of 87 million viewers indicated a year-on-year increase of one million, though the available material does not provide a newer directly comparable figure. Eurosport 2's geographic footprint was reduced in Russia in March 2022, when Discovery closed the service there after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Elsewhere, the brand continues to operate as a market-dependent sports channel whose programming, language, distribution, and even service configuration can differ by country.
- 2022
Russian service closed
[1]Discovery closes Eurosport 2 in Russia on 9 March following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- 2019
Reported audience reaches 87 million
[1]Reference material reports an audience of 87 million viewers, approximately one million more than the previous year.
- 2016
Eurosport 2 resumes Danish service
[1]Eurosport DK is replaced by Eurosport 2 in Denmark on 15 February.
- 2015
Eurosport DK replaces Eurosport 2 in Denmark
[1]Canal 8 Sport and Eurosport 2 are merged into a Danish Eurosport DK service.
- 2015
Eurosport Norge introduced
[1]A Norwegian regional service replaces Eurosport 2 on selected operators and carries domestic top-flight football.
- 2010
Arena Football League coverage agreement
[1]Eurosport 2 agrees to carry delayed Arena Football League matches and ArenaBowl XXIII, with additional coverage planned for the following season.
- 2005
Eurosport 2 launches
[1]The channel begins broadcasting on 10 January, replacing Eurosport News in some markets and expanding the Eurosport network's live-sports capacity.
Products and positioning
A supplementary European sports channel emphasizing team sports, international competitions, and alternative or niche sports alongside the broader Eurosport network.
Sports television channel · 2005
Eurosport 2
The core Eurosport 2 linear channel, distributed through country-specific satellite, cable, terrestrial, and IPTV services. It focuses on live and recorded sports, particularly team competitions and sports positioned as alternative or niche offerings. Programming differs by market because rights, language feeds, and carriage agreements are not uniform across Europe.
High-definition sports television channel
Eurosport 2 HD
A high-definition version of Eurosport 2 available in selected markets. Some central and northern European versions have carried programming not available on other Eurosport feeds, including selected Bundesliga football, WWE programming, and Australian rules football, subject to local rights arrangements.
Brand decisions
2022
Close the Russian Eurosport 2 serviceStrategyBackground
The closure occurred after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and amid the resulting changes to international media operations.
Action taken
Discovery closed Eurosport 2 in Russia on 9 March 2022.
Aftermath
The Russian version ceased operation while Eurosport 2 continued in other markets.
2015
Consolidate Danish sports channels as Eurosport DKStrategyBackground
Discovery Networks Northern Europe controlled both Canal 8 Sport and Eurosport 2 programming in Denmark and sought to combine their sports rights and schedules.
Action taken
The two services were merged into Eurosport DK in July 2015.
Aftermath
The experiment was later reversed when Eurosport DK was replaced by Eurosport 2 in February 2016.
2005
Launch a second Eurosport sports channelProduct launchBackground
The Eurosport network sought a broader channel proposition than its principal service and, in some countries, replaced Eurosport News with a sports channel capable of carrying more live and specialist programming.
Action taken
Eurosport 2 launched on 10 January 2005 with a focus on team sports and alternative competitions.
Aftermath
The service developed into a multilingual, market-specific channel distributed across numerous European countries.
Sources2 sources
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