UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has agreed a media rights deal with the International Olympic Committee to cover the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games.
The agreement covers exclusive rights in the UK rights across all media platforms, including internet and mobile.
UK newspaper The Telegraph reported that pay-television broadcaster BSkyB had explored acquiring the rights and had ‘serious discussions’ with the IOC about buying them.
There was speculation in the UK media last month that the BBC could lose the rights to a rival after IOC president Jacques Rogge said “everything is possible” when it came to selling the UK rights and raised the prospect that the public-service broadcaster could be challenged by pay-television broadcasters and agencies.
IOC vice-president Thomas Bach, who led the negotiations, said: “The BBC consistently does an excellent job of broadcasting the Olympic Games, so this long-term agreement is very good news for sports fans in the UK. From a commercial perspective, we adapted our traditional broadcast rights approach in Europe for the 2014-2016 cycle and beyond, and have negotiated several key European territories directly. This announcement is significant as it completes the IOC’s direct negotiations for the 2014-2016 period in Europe.”
Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, said: “I’m delighted that the Olympic Games will continue to be broadcast exclusively on the BBC into the 2020’s. It’s terrific news in the days before BBC Sport begins to cover the London 2012 Games and a tribute to the enduring partnership between the BBC and the Olympic Movement.”