The Ski Jumping World Cup is entering its final stretch, but viewers will notice some significant changes to where they can tune in to watch the action. Starting this March, two prestigious events will be broadcast on the Metro channel instead of TVN. This shift, detailed by Adam Bucholz from skijumping.pl, marks the latest twist in the competitive series as it heads toward the much-anticipated World Championships.
On March 13, the World Cup will see competitions take place in Oslo, followed by the next on March 28 in Planica. These two events have been part of the traditional viewing schedule on TVN, but now ski jumping enthusiasts will need to switch to Metro to catch the live broadcasts. The change has sparked various opinions on social media, with viewers expressing their discontent over the limited reach of Metro compared to its predecessor. Commenters on X made remarks such as, "Moving jumps to a channel half of Poland doesn’t know? A very good move," expressing skepticism about the decision.
While the broadcasts will be different, the competition remains fierce as athletes prepare for the World Championships set to be held from March 1 to March 10 in Trondheim. Throughout the season, Daniel Tschofenig and Jan Hoerl have been leading the charge for the Austrians, but the absence of key Polish athletes this year, including the renowned Kamil Stoch, has raised concerns about the impact on overall viewership.
Stoch's exclusion from the Polish squad marks the first time since 2003 he has not been part of this major international event. His absence will leave many fans wondering how this will affect the dynamics of the competition. The national coach, Thomas Thurnbichler, explained, “The decision was made based on World Cup ranking and performance, and I told Kamil to continue training.” Stoch reportedly accepted the decision “with class and comprehension,” but it is clear this has been disappointing for both fans and the athlete himself.
The Polish team heading to the championships consists of Paweł Wąsek, Aleksander Zniszczoł, Dawid Kubacki, Jakub Wolny, and defending champion Piotr Żyła. Żyła is set to defend his title on the normal hill, as expectations run high for the team.
For the two events set to air on Metro, fans can still find continuous coverage on Eurosport, which has not made any changes to its broadcasting schedule. Despite the shift, Eurosport remains committed to comprehensive coverage of ski jumping events throughout the rest of the season, much to the relief of worldwide fans of the sport.
Further complications arise as Metro’s broadcasting rights are set to expire; by December 2025, Metro will cease its terrestrial transmissions, focusing instead on cable, satellite, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) distribution. Viewers have been warned about these impending changes surrounding the channel, making the current shift even more intriguing.
The reaction from the sports community to the channel shift showcases the deep engagement fans have with ski jumping, making clear the importance of accessible broadcasting. Some fans fear the shift might led to lower viewership numbers, impacting the visibility of the sport.
Looking back at recent history, ski jumping has enjoyed thundering viewership figures, but absence of skilled participants cannot be ignored. The Poles were once dominant figures on the world stage, with Stoch among those leading the charge for years, drawing immense crowds during competitions. With the current season lacking the usual Polish prowess, it seems the audience interest may have dipped alongside the broadcasting reshuffle.
On top of the broadcast shifts, the upcoming championships promise to be equally exciting, with various nations competing fiercely for gold medals, including the team events. The German women’s team and the Slovenian men’s team will aim to defend their titles during the competition, adding more narrative to the challenges faced by nations such as Poland as they regroup and rebuild their ski-jumping prowess.
All competitors are gearing up to perform their best, with national pride and personal glory on the line. The championships will feature various rounds of competition on different ski jumps, testing both the skill and composure of athletes from around the globe.
For those die-hard fans of ski jumping eagerly awaiting the March turn of events, here’s hoping Metro inspires the same excitement as its predecessor, with global events on the horizon promising memorable performances and astonishing feats, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats.