The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced an agreement with the Sportfive agency for the broadcast rights to the 2014 Winter and 2016 Olympic Games.
Under the terms of the deal, Sportfive has the broadcast rights across all media platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription television, internet and mobile phone, across 40 countries in Europe (excluding France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom).
Sportfive will now negotiate with broadcast partners on all platforms within the territories in which it has acquired rights.
IOC President Jacques Rogge said: “This agreement marks an exciting new era in the broadcasting of the Olympic Games. The IOC is committed to ensuring that as many people as possible have access to the best possible Olympic broadcast experience.”
“We look forward to working with Sportfive to make this a possibility across Europe. I would also like to thank our current partner, the European Broadcasting Union, for its hard work and dedication to the Olympic Movement over many years and we look forward to continuing our partnership for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games.”
The IOC has already reached agreements with Sky Italia and Fox Turkey for the 2014 – 2016 period. Negotiations in the remaining countries of France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom will now commence directly with broadcasters and media groups. Any agreement in these countries will include a commitment of at least 200 hours of free-to-air television coverage for the Summer Olympic Games and 100 hours for the Olympic Winter Games.
