The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), home of the Olympic Games for the past 25 years, could face stiff competition from ITV and Sky in its bid to broadcast the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Standard Sport reports that senior officials from both ITV and Sky have held discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of the launch of the European TV tender process of the 2012 Games. London is one of nine cities bidding for the 2012 Games.
IOC member Michael Payne said huge changes are ahead with the end of analogue TV in the next few years when every home will have a digital TV set. He said, “in theory that throws open the whole listed events legislation. Technically by 2010 and 2012 everybody has a digital box, which means a broadcaster like Sky is available in every home”.
There are 4,000 hours of TV produced at the Summer Games.
Payne said, “with the digital world you could have a dedicated channel for each sport. The fact that 2012 has some very strong European candidates to win the Games has added an extra dimension to the process”.
