French broadcaster L'Équipe 21 has secured the rights to all International Biathlon Union events ©L'Equipe 21

French free-to-air broadcaster L'Équipe 21 has secured the rights to all International Biathlon Union (IBU) events, it has been announced.

The deal, brokered on behalf of the IBU by the European Broadcasting Union, begins with the upcoming season though the full term of the agreement has not yet been revealed.

It will cover all nine events on the IBU World Cup calendar, due to start with the opening competition in Öestersund, Sweden from November 29 to December 7, as well as the World Championships in Oslo-Holmenkollen from March 3 to 13.

The IBU Cup and World Junior Championships are also included as part of the deal.

The French division of Eurosport, which signed a deal this year to broadcast the Olympic Games from 2022, also has rights for biathlon until 2021.

Two-times Olympic champion Martin Fourcade of France heralded the deal as
Two-times Olympic champion Martin Fourcade of France heralded the deal as "superb" ©Getty Images

The announcement provides a boost to the exposure of the sport and has been praised by France's two-times Olympic champion Martin Fourcade, who has also won four overall IBU World Cup crowns.

“For us, this is a superb exhibition,” he said.

“Biathlon is a sport that really deserves to be free of charge.

“Before, it was possible to look at but we had to give a little obstacle course to see, you had to subscribe.”

The deal further strengthens the sporting portfolio of L'Équipe 21, who have been trying to strike an agreement to screen biathlon for some time, according to the company’s general manager Fabrice Jouhaud.

“This is the largest winter sport in recent years that even comes close to competing with Alpine skiing,” he said.

“It's also a spectator sport, simple to understand and to follow.

“We will also try to develop the circuit, the atmosphere, what happens at the stations at each stage of the World Cup.

“It’s a real party every time.”



Related stories
March 2015: Fourcade seals overall title as Domracheva moves a step closer to women's crown
March 2015: Fourcade wins again to move closer to overall Biathlon World Cup title
March 2015: Mäkäräinen wins last sprint event of IBU World Cup season to maintain title challenge
March 2015: Semerenko claims maiden biathlon world title in Kontiolahti
March 2015: Germany complete relay double after men's success at Biathlon World Championships