The deal was announced just a day before France finds out whether it will stage the 2018 Winter Games, with Annecy up against Munich in Germany and PyeongChang in South Korea for the hosting rights. Annecy is thought to be the outsider in the three-city bid race, and the International Olympic Committee will vote on the destination of the Games later today in Durban, South Africa.
On Monday, SBS in South Korea and German state broadcasters ARD and ZDF secured rights deals for the Olympics. The exclusive broadcast deal in France comprises the 2014 Sochi Winter Games, the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics in 2016 and also the 2018 and 2020 Games, which are yet to be awarded. France Télévisions’ rights cover all media platforms, including internet and mobile.
“Traditionally the IOC has negotiated broadcast rights on a pan- European basis, however the media landscape is changing quickly and we have adapted our approach in recent years by negotiating directly in certain markets,” said IOC Executive Board member Thomas Bach, who led the negotiations. “We are delighted to reach this agreement directly with our long-term partner France Télévisions and look forward to continuing our work with them.”
Rémy Pflimlin, chairman of France Télévisions, added: “The Olympic Games are part of the DNA of our group, and are one the cornerstones of sports programming of France Télévisions on free-to-air television. We are very pleased to renew our long-term partnership with the IOC, with this agreement which is, for the first time, signed for four Olympic Games, and which will allow us to provide the Olympic Games with the widest possible coverage on all media platforms.”
France Télévisions offered nearly 200 hours of airtime to cover the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on its France 2 and France 3 channels and the network will air more than 400 hours of the London 2012 Games on free-to-air television.
