In a pivotal moment in UK sports broadcasting, TNT Sports is poised to make its grand debut on July 18, 2023 – and we have some new details about the service.
As a product of the merger between the legendary BT Sport and Discovery/Eurosport, TNT Sports is poised to reshape the landscape of sports media in the UK.
As the countdown to the launch ticks away, we delve into the intricate details of the Discovery+ streaming app integration and the implications for sports fans.
What Is ‘TNT Sports’?
TNT Sports was born out of a merger between BT Sport and Discovery/Eurosport.
BT Sport, a renowned name in the broadcasting of sports events in the UK and globally, originally operated as an additional feature to traditional pay-TV subscriptions like Sky or to BT’s broadband and TV customers.
Over time, BT Sport evolved and, in 2019, introduced a monthly, no-contract streaming version known as BT Sport Monthly Pass.
On the other hand, Eurosport, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, is a well-established French sports TV network operating in over 50 countries.
Eurosport holds broadcasting rights to numerous global sports events and is available on various pay-TV platforms and the Discovery+ streaming service.
In May 2022, BT Sport and Discovery/Eurosport announced a merger, resulting in the creation of a joint platform, ultimately known as TNT Sports.
The merger aimed to consolidate the TV and streaming rights of both services, offering a more extensive range of sports content.
TNT Sports is not an entirely new brand, as Warner Bros. Discovery had already been operating under the TNT Sports banner in Latin America and the US. However, for UK audiences, this will be a fresh experience.
As part of the merger, TNT Sports is now set to replace BT Sport and will operate alongside Eurosport under the umbrella of the Discovery+ streaming service, as well as on the pay-TV providers – Sky, Virgin Media and BT TV.
Initially, TNT Sports will continue to broadcast the live sports rights previously held by BT Sport. Eventually, Eurosport will also be integrated into the newly consolidated TNT Sports service.
In essence, TNT Sports is a transformed and rebranded version of BT Sport, enhanced by the merger with Eurosport.
By bringing together the extensive sports broadcasting rights and capabilities of both BT Sport and Eurosport, TNT Sports aims to be a one-stop destination for sports enthusiasts, with Discovery+ as its go-to streaming platform.
TNT Sports and Eurosport combined under the Discovery+ umbrella promise a compelling array of live sports events.
From the thrill of the UEFA Champions League and Premier League matches to the heart-pounding excitement of Premiership Rugby and Champions Cup, the new offering is sure to keep sports fans on their toes.
Other global sports events like UFC, WWE, Boxing, Roland-Garros, the Tour de France, and the exclusive pay TV broadcast rights for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will also be part of the lineup.
TNT Sports Coming To Discovery+
Starting July 18, TNT Sports will become a part of the Discovery+ streaming service, providing a rich roster of global sports events to stream for fans across the UK.
This will eventually replace the current BT Sport Monthly Pass streaming offer, with Discovery+ becoming the go-to streaming app for TNT Sports.
Discovery+ is a global streaming service that launched, in the UK, in 2020, taking over from its previous service in the UK, Dplay, which was entirely free.
Discovery+ caters to a diverse audience with its extensive offering of channels and content categories.
It’s not just limited to the Discovery Channel; it also includes a wide variety of channels and platforms, such as Animal Planet, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, and more.
The service offers a mix of free and “premium” channels. The free tier offers several Freeview channels, including Quest, Really, HGTV, and others.
The paid tiers offer more live premium channels, along with their on-demand content.
In the US, Discovery+ is merging with Warner Bros. other streaming service – Max (formerly known as HBO Max) – but Max isn’t coming to the UK anytime soon.
In the UK, with the integration of TNT Sports, Discovery+ is set to become an even more significant player in the sports streaming industry, offering users an all-in-one platform for sports, entertainment, and more.
Discovery+ is available across an array of streaming devices and platforms, including Android mobile/tablet, Android TV, Apple/iOS, Fire TV, Amazon Fire TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox, Now TV and PlayStation.
Regarding the switch from the BT Sport app to TNT Sports, we’ve also heard that on launch day, the TNT Sports live channels and full match replays will become available in the Discovery+ app.
However, to ensure a smooth transition for its users, these features will continue to be accessible in the existing BT Sport app for a few months after the launch, albeit with reduced functionality.
This approach aims to give users ample time to adjust to the new platform and to iron out any potential issues within the Discovery+ app, ensuring a seamless viewing experience.
For those who enjoy quick access to clips, highlights, and sports-related articles, the BT Sport app will continue to be their go-to platform for those first few months.
But this is set to change, as TNT Sports will reportedly launch a new app for all this content later in the year (in addition to the Discovery+ app). This new app, if and when it launches, promises to bring together all the rich sports content into one platform for the convenience of its users.
Once this new app is up and running, the BT Sport app is expected to close.
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.
Even now, with TNT Sports’ launch date fast approaching – BT and Warner Bros. Discovery are still declining to comment regarding pricing.
What we do know, for now, is that pricing for existing BT Sport subscribers on the pay-TV platforms (Sky, Virgin Media and BT TV) will not change with the switch to TNT Sports (at least not at launch).
What happens with Discovery+ subscribers – and whether they’ll need to pay more for access to TNT Sports – remains to be seen.
- Update: We now know TNT Sports will cost extra on Discovery+.
TNT Sports Channels
Here are the new channel numbers, that will go live from July 18. Most have remained the same with new names – but notice the Eurosport number changes on Sky.
| Channel | BT TV SD / HD | Sky SD / HD | Virgin Media |
| TNT Sports 1 | 408 / 430 | 410 / 870 | 527 |
| TNT Sports 2 | 409 / 431 | 411 / 871 | 528 |
| TNT Sports 3 | 410 / 432 | 417 / 874 | 529 |
| TNT Sports 4 | 411 / 434 | 421 / 876 | 530 |
| TNT Sports Box Office | 494 | 490 | – |
| TNT Sports Ultimate (4K) | 433 | 493 | 531 |
| Eurosport 1 | 412 | 413 | 521 |
| Eurosport 2 | 413 | 414 | 522 |
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