Sports Business News reports that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is about to begin talks with European broadcasters over acquiring the broadcast rights to the 2010 and 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
The European Broadcasting Union, which represents companies across the continent, is now the rights holder and for years has successfully acquired the rights in a block allowing broadcasters such as the BBC to maintain a grip on coverage of successive Olympics.
Michael Payne, the IOC’s marketing director said, “there will be no change in the IOC’s governing principle that the Olympic Games should be on free-to-air television. But there are very strong players in each European market. If broadcasters are interested, we’ll be talking to them”.
According to Sports Business News Payne said Pay-TV Companies such as British Sky Broadcasting, could be allowed to bid. “We have to be careful not to judge all of this on today’s market”, he said, adding that by 2008 some of Europe’s pay-TV operations could have free-to-air channels.
He added, “all of Europe is going to analogue switch-off and that presents some important options”.
