The BBC will also show the compeition in the UK

World Athletics Championships

Warner Bros Discovery has picked up non-exclusive rights to the World Athletics Championships in 45 markets across Europe, including the UK and Ireland. 

This means that TNT Sports will show the meet in the UK, alongside the BBC - which agreed its last rights deal back in 2021. There will be 30 hours of live coverage available, along with a daily highlights programme. Eurosport will show it outside of the UK and Ireland, while discovery+, and HBO Max in markets where it has been launched, subscribers will be able to watch almost 50 sports live and on-demand throughout the competition. 

Warner Bros. Discovery has partnered with the EBU to acquire these rights, having done the same for the 2023 Championships. The pair also jointly hold the European rights to the Olympic Games. 

The 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships will take place in Tokyo, 13-21 September. Over 2,000 athletes from nearly 200 countries will compete in 49 events, with stars such as Olympic 100m gold medallist Noah Lyles (USA), world record holding pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis (Sweden) and 400m specialist and Olympic relay gold medallist Femke Bol (The Netherlands) all defending titles. 

Scott Young, EVP at WBD Sports Europe, said: “Track and field is thriving thanks to the astonishing array of supremely talented athletes and global superstars who are pushing the boundaries of athletic performance to heights we have never witnessed before.

“By coming together with our partners at the EBU, we are expanding the options available to fans for how they watch and engage with their favourite athletes and events. And by bringing live coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships together with other premium athletics content on our channels and platforms, we are telling the stories of the athletes competing between Olympic cycles, helping the sport continue to grow and reach new audiences.”

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said: “We are delighted that Warner Bros. Discovery will again form part of our portfolio of World Championships broadcast partners, two years on from Eurosport’s superb coverage of the action in Budapest. Now fans across Europe will be able to tune in to watch nine days of incredible competition at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 and this will undoubtedly feed into our strategy for expanding the sport.”

Image: Getty