Turkish national broadcaster, Fox Turkey, has acquired the broadcast rights for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the 2016 Olympic Games from the IOC.
The deal includes free-to-air television, subscription television, internet and mobile phone rights and is the IOC's third Olympic deal with a Murdoch-owned channel in Europe, and second this month. On October 21, SKY Italia was awarded the 2014 and 2016 rights in Italy, following the contract announced in February for the 2010 and 2012 games.
It is the first time a private television channel in Turkey has been awarded Olympic broadcast rights, which have previously gone to state-run channel TRT. Turkey is the second country, along with Italy, to break from the European Broadcasting Union to negotiate separate Olympic broadcast deals. Others could follow suit.
In a statement to the press, IOC President, Jacques Rogge, said: "Fox Turkey presented a comprehensive package that will allow not only the broadest coverage of the Olympic Games but also the promotion of Olympic sports and Olympic values beyond the 16 days of competition. We look forward to building a strong working relationship with Fox Turkey ahead of the Winter Games in Sochi in 2014".
The IOC launched the tender process for the sale of the broadcast and exhibition rights for all territories within Europe for the XXII Olympic Winter Games (2014) in Sochi, Russia, and the Games of the XXXI Olympiad (2016) on 8 May 2008.
