Eurosport has extended its partnership with the English Premier League in Romania for another three seasons.

The agreement gives Eurosport Romania exclusive TV and digital rights to England’s top-tier competition until 2022, and includes Premier League highlights, as well as access to digital clips via Eurosport Romania’s platforms, all with local commentary.

Victoria Davies, SVP Country Manager Discovery Networks CEE, Mediterranean and Central Asia, said: “The renewal of the rights clearly shows the strategic importance of the Romanian market in Discovery’s portfolio across the region, bringing the most exciting football league in the world to millions of fans across a football-mad country.

“With the announcement of Premier League rights until 2022, plus the FA Cup until 2021, Discovery continues to build a fantastic proposition for sports fans in Romania where we are already the home of the best tennis events in the world.

“Add to that next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo as well as the GOLFTV product launched earlier this year, and we are extremely excited at the value our content brings to Romanian sports fans and our partners.”

BBC Sport Northern Ireland has struck a five year extension to its Fonacab International North West 200 broadcast deal.

The broadcaster says it will “continue to bring race fans live worldwide video streaming of all races and practice sessions during the week online at bbc.co.uk/sportni”, adding that “all races and practice sessions will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio Ulster during the week.”

Three highlights programmes are also available on BBC Northern Ireland television and BBC iPlayer.

Peter Johnston, Director BBC Northern Ireland said: “Now in its 90th year, the International North West 200 is one of those special events that captures the imagination of riders and fans right across the globe.

“BBC Northern Ireland relishes the opportunity to be able to bring the action and the passion of the event to the widest possible audience.

“We have a long relationship with the event, Mervyn and the Coleraine and District Motor Club. It’s great that we’ve extended our partnership with them for a further five years and we will continue to provide the best possible coverage of the NW200.”

Mervyn Whyte MBE, Event Director added: “It is great news for the North West 200 and BBC NI to be agreeing the extension of our partnership for another five years as the event is about to celebrate a very special birthday.

“The NW200 attracts the interest of motorcycle racing fans from all over the world and the BBC broadcasts have been an integral part in helping us to build that international reputation.

“The agreement also demonstrates the confidence BBC NI has in the NW200 and its race organisation.

“On a personal level, I have worked very closely with BBC personnel over many years, building up an excellent rapport with all the members of the team. Everyone at the North West is looking forward to continuing that relationship in 2019 and beyond.”

British and Irish Lions and Ireland player Jamie Heaslip and Scotland captain John Barclay are joining the BBC’s presentation team for the upcoming 2019 Guinness Six Nations Championship.

They join returning presenters and commentators,former British and Irish Lions captains Martin Johnson, Sam Warburton, Paul O’Connell, Gabby Logan and John.

The broadcaster is promising live TV coverage of all of Wales, Scotland and France home games, the Six Nations Championship opens with France v Wales in Paris on Friday 1 February on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Other key matches on the BBC include Wales v England, Scotland v Ireland and last year’s runners-up, Wales against last year’s winner, Ireland on March 16.

Logan and Inverdale will lead the TV coverage and will be joined by some of the biggest names in rugby union to offer their expert analysis and insight, including, Sam Warburton, Martin Johnson, Paul O’Connell, Jamie Heaslip, John Barclay, Jeremy Guscott, Jonathan Davies, Martyn Williams, Chris Paterson, Thomas Castaignede, Jake Polledri, Andy Nicol and Brian Moore.

TV commentary will be provided by the experienced Eddie Butler, Andrew Cotter and Sara Orchard. Sonja McLaughlan and Lee McKenzie will be pitch side at every TV game delivering viewers all of the updates as they happen on and off the field.

A highlights show will be available on BBC Two every Sunday afternoon during the competition where Inverdale will be joined by guests to look at how all six nations performed that weekend as well as covering all the major talking points and incidents.

The Women’s Six Nations Championship returns to the BBC for 2019 with selected games available to watch on the BBC Sport website, app and Connected TVs.

A highlights show will also be shown each Sunday night on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer so viewers can catch up on the action from every game.

Live radio commentary from every home nations game will be available on 5 live and 5 live sports extra throughout the competition. Also, all of England’s Women’s Six Nations games will be covered on 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website. World Cup winner and former England player Danielle Waterman will be part of the commentary team for the women’s games.

Joining the 5 live commentary team for the 2019 Six Nations are Shane Williams, Rory Lawson, Shane Horgan, Gavin Hastings, Denis Hickie and Paul Grayson.

Matt Dawson’s Rugby Show returns to 5 live every Thursday night before a Six Nations game weekend and the Rugby Union Weekly podcast will be available to listen to every Monday – Ugo Monye and the BBC’s new rugby union correspondent Chris Jones will cover all of the latest happenings in the Six Nations.
A comprehensive digital service enables fans to share in all the excitement of the men’s and women’s Six Nations through the BBC Sport website and via the BBC Sport app on mobiles, tablets and connected TVs.

Selected men’s and women’s live matches will be streamed via the website, app and Connected TVs and there will be in-play highlights of BBC games and match highlights of others after the final whistle.

BBC Live pages will also cover every minute of every match day with live text commentaries, video streams, clips, stats and social media content.

Every Friday ahead of each Six Nations weekendthe BBC News Channel will preview all of the action and major talking points with special guests and features in Sportsday from 6.30pm.

Ski racer Bode Miller is returning to Eurosport to front the broadcaster’s upcoming FIS Alpine World Ski Championship coverage.

Channel bosses say the Olympic gold medallist and four-time World Champion “proved a hit with fans” when he lead coverage of last year’s PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.

Over 38 hours of live action will be screened on Eurosport 1 and simulcast on Eurosport Player across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, with Eurosport 1, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport Player also offering fans nearly 50 hours of highlights.

Miller will be joined in Sweeden by local journalists Isabel Boltenstern and Johan Anderberg.

French viewers will enjoy coverage by Jean-Pierre Vidal, Gauthier de Tessière and Florence Masnada and fans watching on Eurosport Italy will benefit from the unique views of double Olympic gold medalist Tina Maze.

Bode Miller said: “Winter sports is my passion, and as someone who enjoyed a fair bit of experience in World Championship events – if I cannot be out there racing myself – I will have the next best seat in the house analyzing the action for Eurosport.

“Fans will be in for two weeks of the best ski racing in the world.

“Working with Discovery during the Olympics in Korea last year was a huge thrill and I was overwhelmed at the feedback I received from fans from across Europe.

Emir Osmanbegovic, Eurosport SVP Sports Content and Production, said: “The Alpine World Ski Championships in Sweden represent another incredible opportunity to combine our local expertise with global scale.

“Eurosport has a rich history screening the very best winter sport events throughout the World Cup season and we are excited to also bring the flagship event on the alpine ski calendar to millions of fans across Europe.

“We’re thrilled Bode Miller has agreed to work with Eurosport for the duration of the World Championship. With his unique insights, along with Eurosport’s unrivalled experience producing the best events in the world, it is the perfect chemistry.

“Viewer numbers from this year’s Four Hills Tournament suggests the drama of last year’s Olympics in PyeongChang has whet the appetite winter sports fans across Europe and we are looking forward to another successful event.”