The IOC has asked companies interested in bidding to submit bids by April 18.
Free-to-air rights for the Games were acquired by CCTV, as part of the Asian Broadcasting Union, in 1998. The IOC is now looking to negotiate directly with media companies for internet and mobile platform broadcast rights.
Timo Lumme, IOC director of television and marketing said, “the IOC is committed to running a competitive tendering process in China, the host territory for the Olympic Games of 2008. The tender process is designed to select media companies that can best serve the ideals and interests of the Olympic movement and realise the potential of the of the exciting new media opportunities in China. We are looking for offers that develop the promotion and coverage of the Olympic Games, embrace new technologies and guarantee the widest possible audience in China for the Olympic Games across a variety of media platforms.
