The International Olympic Committee has launched a tender process for the sale of the broadcast rights to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games for all European territories, with the exception of France and the UK.
The IOC has appointed the IMG agency for consultancy services related to the European broadcast rights tender for the 2018 winter Olympics in PyeongChang and the 2020 summer Games in Tokyo.
Bids are to be submitted by June 15 and bidders will also be asked to outline how they would partner with the IOC on the new year-round Olympic Channel initiative, including through content and distribution support. The IOC will consider bids on a multi-territory or on a country-by-country basis.
France and the UK are not included in the tender with rights to the Olympics having already been assigned through the 2020 Games.
UK public-service broadcaster the BBC agreed a media rights deal with the IOC in July 2012 to cover the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games. French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions signed a four-Games deal with the IOC in July 2011, for 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.