Discovery Opens Tech Hub In The Netherlands

Discovery has opened a state-of-the-art technology hub in Hilversum, the Netherlands.

Costing more than $40 million, it will be used to facilitate the storage of sport content production, including the Olympics Games Tokyo 2020.

Commenting on development, Kasia Kieli, president and MD EMEA at Discovery said: “We have created a long-term partnership with the Netherlands and this major new investment is part of our continued commitment to grow our European business in this vibrant digital and media hub.”

The international media company currently offers sports coverage across 75 markets and territories. In addition, Discovery has commentary centres in over 20 different locations, 10 production centers, 150 editing and post production suites, 40 live transmission rooms, 26 production control rooms and 13 production centers for digital.

With this major tech hub, Discovery has direct access to digital and linear video sports feeds simultaneously, creating a private cloud for remote live sports production from Discovery’s pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport.

Alco de Jong, country manager for Discovery Benelux, added: “The construction of the technology hub in Hilversum is a direct consequence of our strategy to give Eurosport a more local face and to deepen our sports offering. In addition, this state-of-the-art facility provides even more flexibility and gives us the space to serve the passion for sport of Dutch viewers on all platforms, including the [subscription OTT platform] Eurosport Player.”

Discovery has been present in the Netherlands since 1989 and last year announced it was establishing a European operational headquarters in the country. Broadband TV News