Sports Rights: Olympics - Euro broadcasters to go it alone

DMC

Interesting, the IOC has decided that it won't accept a bid for the 2014 and 2016 Olympic Games collectively from the European Broadcasting Union.

BBC facing battle to keep rights to Olympic Games after IOC snub
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/02/bbc-sportsrights
Leigh Holmwood
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday December 2 2008 17.08 GMT

The BBC could face a battle to hold on to live coverage of the Olympics after 2012.

This fear has been raised today after the BBC's collective bid, made with other European public service broadcasters, for the 2014 and 2016 Olympic events was turned down by the event's governing body.

It is the first time in more than 50 years that the International Olympic Committee has rejected a media rights pitch from the European Broadcasting Union, which bids collectively and then sells the rights on to PSBs across the continent, including the BBC.

An EBU spokeswoman said its bid for the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and the 2016 Olympics - which has yet to be awarded to a host city - had been turned down by the IOC because the body had not offered enough money.

She told MediaGuardian.co.uk that it would now withdraw from the process, leaving individual broadcasters to go it alone.

"As far as we are concerned the bid has been rejected and so we are out of the game. Our offer was the maximum we could pay," she said.

A BBC spokeswoman said the decision by the IOC not to negotiate through the EBU mirrored moves already made by football governing bodies Fifa and Uefa over the World Cup and European Championships, respectively.

"We look forward to negotiating with the IOC in the future," she added.

Italian state broadcaster RAI - which previously acquired Olympic rights through its membership of the EBU - has already been pipped to the rights to the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2016 Olympics by News Corporation subsidiary Sky Italia.

The EBU is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world, with 75 active members including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in the UK.

As well as the Olympic Games, the EBU acquires other sports rights for its members such as the world athletics championships.

The EBU president, Fritz Pleitgen, from German broadcaster ARD, said the body - which previously secured the rights for the 2010 winter games in Vancouver and the 2012 games in London - was "surprised" at the IOC's decision and how much money it wanted.

"We very much regret the decision of the IOC. We have worked with the IOC since 1956 to deliver the Olympic Games to the broadest possible audience, and ensured maximum exposure of the Olympic Games, and also Olympic sports between the games," Pleitgen added.

"We note that there are different views about the future monetary broadcast value of the games.

"EBU members were surprised by the high financial expectations of the IOC. We regret that, it seems, little account is taken of the additional high level of investment by the EBU in rights for, and the production and quality editorial coverage of world, European and national championships across many Olympic sports."

An IOC spokeswoman had not commented before publication.

In the UK, "full live coverage" of the Olympics is one of the "crown jewels" sporting events listed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that must be broadcast on free-to-air television.

However, culture secretary Andy Burnham has said the list will be reviewed, and by 2014 digital switchover will have taken place and the sporting "crown jewels" list may no longer exist in its current form.

The BBC could face possible bids from public service broadcaster ITV and satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

Sky will have 95% reach across the country by 2014 - one of the key criteria to qualify to screen listed sporting events - although it would have to air the events on free-to-air channels.

As a pay-TV operator the move would require a significant shift in strategy.

A Sky spokesman declined to comment.

EBU regrets IOC decision on rights for Olympic Games 2014 & 2016
Geneva, 2 December 2008
http://www.ebu.ch/en/union/news/2008/tcm_6-63901.php

The IOC has rejected the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU)* bid for the European broadcast rights for the Olympics Games 2014-2016.

“We very much regret the decision of the IOC. We have worked with the IOC since 1956** to deliver the Olympic Games to the broadest possible audience, and ensured maximum exposure of the Olympic Games, and also Olympic Sports between the Games”, said EBU President Fritz Pleitgen (ARD, Germany)***. “We note that there are different views about the future monetary broadcast value of the Games. EBU Members were surprised by the high financial expectations of the IOC. We regret that, it seems, little account is taken of the additional high level of investment by the EBU in rights for, and the production and quality editorial coverage of, World-, European- and National Championships, across many Olympic Sports.”

EBU President-elect, Jean-Paul Philippot (RTBF, Belgium)****, added: “The worldwide financial crisis will not stop at the doorstep of free-to air television; it will also have an impact on the value of broadcast rights for sports events. The EBU’s offer reflected the maximum price public service broadcasters could pay for the rights, our philosophy of investing in Olympic sports throughout the Olympiad (the four years between the summer Games), and the value of offering Olympic sports free of charge to all citizens”.

“We are sorry that we did not manage to convince the IOC of the importance of our global support of Olympic sport. We will now carefully analyse the consequences of the IOC decision on our sports-rights acquisition policy”, concluded Mr Philippot.

Note to Editors:

*European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world (75 active Members, 45 associate Members).

EBU acquires sports rights on behalf of its Members. Acquisitions include, Olympics Games 2010 & 2012, Football World Cup, World Championships in Athletics, the Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships. The EBU has partnerships with 27 federations in 17 Olympic sports.

The EBU helps public service broadcasters to deliver unique high quality programming to their audiences. It offers Members technical, operational and legal services, and coordinates a growing supply of quality content for radio, television and new platforms. It provides Members with information and analysis on media trends, and training designed to meet their needs. The EBU works to secure recognition of the crucial role of public service broadcasters in the digital audiovisual landscape. More on: www.ebu.chand www.eurovision.net.

** The EBU has acquired the rights for the Olympic Games 2010 & 2012.

***Mr Pleitgen was elected as President of the EBU in 2006, his term ends on 31 December 2008.

**** Mr Philippot will become President of the EBU from 1 January 2009. The Director General of the EBU remains Mr Jean Réveillon.

Mossy Monk

Oh dear. Hopefully Setanta don't snap up the Irish rights.

watty

IOC are a disgrace.

They make the RIAA, Premier League and Hollywood look like freetards.