The USOC’s first such collaboration with the Olympic broadcaster in the United States will see NBC receive a portion of media buys under the terms of the deal with TD Ameritrade, which will sponsor the US Olympic team at the 2012 London Games. The value of TD Ameritrade’s investment has not been disclosed, but the deal marks a major improvement in relations between the USOC and NBC.
Under CEO Scott Blackmun, who joined the USOC just over a year ago, the national body has made great strides in building bridges with 2012 Games rights-holder NBC. The two parties clashed in 2009 over the USOC’s plans to launch a new Olympic TV network, but the plans have since been put on hold indefinitely.
“TD Ameritrade believes in supporting America’s athletes, and in the power and inspiration of their journeys,” said Blackmun. “It is a company that upholds the Olympic Ideals in its own industry, and we are happy to have them on board.”
Blackmun added: “This agreement ushers in a new era of partnership and co-operation between the USOC and NBC. Working together, we can bring the US Olympic Movement to new audiences and to new heights.”
NBC is currently in the running for the US Olympic broadcast rights to the 2014 and 2016 Games, with the International Olympic Committee set to wrap up the tender this year.
