The end of BT Sport (as we know it) has an official date now. Ten years after the service first launched in its current form, BT Sport is going to disappear – and turn into TNT Sports, as it merges with Eurosport into a new sports TV destination.
As we previously reported, BT Sport is set to transform into TNT Sports this summer – but until now, the exact date was unknown.
Well, we finally have official confirmation: BT Sport will turn into TNT Sports on July 18, 2023.
Therefore, July 17 will be the last day for BT Sport in its current form.
Alongside its rebranding, TNT Sports will join Eurosport under the umbrella of the Discovery+ streaming service.
For the time being, Eurosport will retain its existing branding and service model, presumably continuing its availability on pay-TV platforms such as Sky. However, eventually, Eurosport will also be integrated into the TNT Sports platform (see full details below).
This will create a single streaming sports platform with a long list of broadcasting rights – including the Olympic Games, the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premiership Rugby, MotoGP and more.
But there’s one big question that still remains: what will the pricing look like?
- Update: We now have full details about TNT Sports’ launch and pricing
BT Sport And Discovery’s Merger Explained
BT Sport has been a staple for broadcasting sports events from the UK and globally. For a long time, BT Sport was exclusively accessible as an additional feature to “traditional” pay-TV subscriptions like Sky, or to BT’s own broadband and TV customers.
In 2019, a breakthrough was made with the introduction of a monthly, no-contract streaming version of BT Sport, priced at £25 per month – the BT Sport Monthly Pass. A few months ago, its price went up to £29.99.
Eurosport, a well-established French sports TV network now owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, operates in over 50 countries and holds broadcasting rights to numerous global sports events.
Eurosport’s live linear channels can be accessed on several pay-TV platforms in the UK, such as Sky and Virgin Media, and on the Discovery+ streaming service. On-demand Eurosport content is primarily available on Discovery+.
Discovery+ is a streaming service that debuted in 2020, taking over from Discovery’s Dplay service, which was completely free. It offers a mix of free and “premium” channels.
The free tier on Discovery+ features several Freeview channels, including Quest, Really, HGTV, and others. The paid tiers add more live premium channels, along with their on-demand content – Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, and more.
In May 2022, a merger was announced between BT Sport and Discovery/Eurosport, leading to the creation of a new joint platform that will consolidate the TV and streaming rights of both services.
Recently, Discovery+ was made available at no additional charge for the majority of BT Sport’s subscribers, with the exception of those who subscribe directly via Sky (but some Sky customers can get Discovery+ for free via an offer from Sky).
BT Sport Becoming TNT Sports
Until now, BT Sport and Eurosport UK have maintained their individual brands and product offerings. As a result, BT Sport and Eurosport have continued to operate as two distinct TV and streaming platforms, albeit with new ownership behind the scenes.
This status quo is set to undergo a transformation in several stages. The first step will see BT Sport rebranding itself as TNT Sports.
And we can now finally confirm the date for the name change – July 18, 2023.
New name. Same game. TNT Sports 💥
From the first ball to the final whistle we'll still be at the heart of sport… pic.twitter.com/B5A40P6Sgo
— BT Sport (@btsport) May 9, 2023
While the name TNT Sports may not ring a bell for UK audiences, it’s worth noting that Warner Bros. Discovery already operates under the TNT Sports banner in Latin America, as well as on a cable channel in the US.
Initially, TNT Sports will function just like BT Sport, continuing to broadcast the live sports rights currently held by BT Sport. Eurosport, in the UK and Ireland, will remain accessible in its present form.
However, subsequent development will see Eurosport also being absorbed into the newly consolidated TNT Sports service.
Moreover, just ahead of the 2023/2024 football season, Discovery+ is planning to become the go-to streaming platform for sports enthusiasts.
This implies that the BT Sport Monthly Pass subscription will also transition to Discovery+ (something that has been confirmed by BT Sport’s social media teams).
Subscribers will then have the opportunity to opt for a subscription that combines TNT Sports, Eurosport, and entertainment all in one place.
TNT Sports And Discovery+ Pricing
Currently, the premium paid tier on Discovery+ in the UK has TWO separate plans: Entertainment (£3.99/month) and Entertainment + Sports (£6.99/month) – which also includes the content that used to reside on Eurosport Player (which was phased out as a standalone streaming platform some time ago).
Normally, customers can subscribe to Discovery+ either directly, or via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, which also come in those two flavours (along with a 7-day free trial) –Discovery+ Entertainment and Discovery+ Entertainment + Sport.
Once BT Sport becomes TNT Sports, with its streaming version moving under the Discovery+ umbrella – we will most likely see a bundled price of Discovery+ entertainment, Eurosport and TNT Sports.
Pricing details haven’t been announced yet – but with BT Sport’s Monthly Pass currently priced at £29.99/month, the combined offer will most likely cost more than that – but we’ll have to wait and see.
It’s interesting to note that we may see some other pricing and bundling changes.
For example, broadband provider Plusnet (which is owned by BT) has already announced that from July 5, it will remove the option to add BT Sport / TNT Sports to its subscription.
We reached out to BT and Warner Bros. Discovery for more details about the pricing – but they declined to comment.
How Can I Watch Discovery+ And TNT Sports?
Discovery+ is a streaming-only app, therefore it relies on your broadband connection.
And while TNT Sports will continue to be available on some of the pay-TV platforms where BT Sport is currently available – its streaming version will move over to Discovery+ (as an add-on) after July 18, 2023.
Therefore TNT Sports, along with Discovery+, will be available on most streaming devices sold in the UK, including:
- Amazon Fire TV
- Roku
- Google Chromecast
- Android / iPhone
- Apple TV
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Sky Q
- Sky Glass / Sky Stream
- Major web browsers
Curiously, even now, the Discovery+ app is NOT available on BT’s own TV boxes, though BT is expecting to launch it on the TV 4K Box Pro and the TV Box Mini at some point in the future.
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