Eurosport recruits OTT/D2C specialist to grow its D2C services.
Eurosport has taken on Amar Melwani in the newly created position of vp, distribution partnerships and rights strategy. It’s part of a move by Eurosport to bolster its direct-to-consumer (D2C) efforts.
Melwani joins from The Walt Disney Company where he worked on Disney+. He previously led rights acquisitions, content distribution and the D2C business for ESPN; and has also managed the distribution of Sky’s international D2C service.
Employing someone with such sports rights expertise “highlights the acceleration of the roll out of Eurosport’s direct-to-consumer strategy,” says the broadcaster.
In a press release, Eurosport says it envisages bringing “enhanced experiences, driven by world-class products and localised sports content” into its D2C experiences.
The broadcaster’s digital platforms include the Eurosport App and Eurosport.com. Melwani’s role is to further develop Eurosport’s future digital sports rights strategy, providing fans with “the widest multi-sport offering of world-class programming, however they choose to access it.”
Melwani will be based in London and report to Paul Rehrig, general manager, Eurosport Digital.
Rehrig said: “As we continue to drive our direct-to-consumer strategy forward, we are excited to welcome Amar and will greatly benefit from his experience developing world-class OTT services and building distribution and commercial businesses within sports media.”
Melwani added: “The scale and depth of Eurosport’s sport portfolio, combined with a unique level of country-by-country localisation across Europe, is unrivalled anywhere and provides an outstanding foundation for delivering best-in-class direct-to-consumer offerings to customers and partners.”