The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is breaking with tradition of negotiating only with the European Broadcasting Union for the right to broadcast the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and beyond. The IOC is inviting offers from broadcasters across the continent, following the same system used last year in awarding the U.S. TV rights.
Following a meeting of the IOC’s TV and Internet rights commission, IOC President Jacques Rogge said the European bidding process could proceed in February and March. In an interview with the Associated Press Rogge said, “we will have a tender and everyone in the market will be able to bid”.
Commenting on the decision Rogge said, “given the momentum achieved last year with the negotiations in the U.S. and the ensuing high level of interest that was generated, particularly in Europe, the IOC has decided to approach the market and open a tender process in this region. We are looking forward to receiving proposals and are open for discussions with all parties across the continent”.
The IOC panel will meet on April 23 to receive formal bids in sealed envelopes and the winner will either be announced the same day or further negotiations will be carried on with the companies.
Rogge added, “this is something that could be finalized weeks or months later”.
Rogge said the IOC will consider all options including pan-European broadcasters, multi-territory alliances, individual country-by country bids and agents.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), a consortium of networks including the BBC, has held European rights for every Olympics since 1960. The EBU can bid again but the new procedure opens the possibility of rights going to rival satellite companies such as Rupert Murdoch’s British Sky Broadcasting.
“Either we accept a pan-European offer like the EBU or a pan-European offer made by an alliance of individual broadcasters” said Rogge. “We might also accept a series of transnational groups, or go country by country, or we could have the possibility of accepting an offer by an agent”.
Rogge said the IOC will keep to the “core principal” that the Olympics should be available mostly on free television. But, with the advent of digital TV and other technology, he said the IOC does not rule out that parts of the European contract will cover pay-per-view or other pay systems.
