SRG still without broadcasting rights for Olympic Games 2018-2024
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is awarding all TV and multimedia platform broadcasting rights in Europe for the 2018 to 2024 Olympic Games to Eurosport. What this decision means for the SRG stations (SRF, RTS, RSI, RTR) is still unclear.
The agreement, which the IOC reached with Discovery Communications, Eurosport's parent company, covers the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, and the 2022 and 2024 Games, whose venues have yet to be determined. Discovery acquired the exclusive rights, estimated at €1.3 billion, for all platforms, including free-to-air TV, subscription/pay TV, internet and mobile. SRG had also applied for the exclusive media rights to these games via the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), according to an inquiry at SRF.
What impact the pledge will have for Eurosport and against EBU is still unclear, as Caroline Kalberer, media spokeswoman for SRF Sport, told news agency SDA when asked. "Whether and to what extent the rights will be sublicensed in which territories - such as Switzerland - is currently unknown." "SRG is working to obtain the broadcast rights for these Olympic Games as well," Kalberer said. For the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, SRG has already secured broadcast rights with sports rights agency Sportfive International.
Eurosport wants to ensure greater reach
With an average of ten channels per market and the leading online sports offerings, Discovery and Eurosport aim to provide greater reach. With the exception of Russia, fifty countries will be covered in twenty languages across the European continent. Over 700 million viewers in Europe are expected to enjoy the Olympic coverage. With the revenue generated by the long-term partnership, the IOC will fund the Olympic Movement and support the development of sports around the world. Discovery and Eurosport have also committed to work with the IOC to develop a new Olympic channel for the European region. (SDA)
