Olympic Broadcasting Services chief executive Yiannis Exarchos has said the new Olympic channel will serve as a “major way” of engaging with the youth market and “hardcore” sports audience after it was approved yesterday (Monday).
The International Olympic Committee backed the launch of an Olympic channel – possibly as early as next year – as IOC president Thomas Bach secured almost total support for his ‘Agenda 2020’ measures at the 127th IOC Session in Monaco.
The channel will feature material from the IOC's archives, broadcast some international sports competitions and offer a promotional platform for bid cities. The IOC said the channel – to be run by the Madrid-based OBS and based in Switzerland and Spain – will cost €490m ($600m) to operate over its first seven years, with the goal of breaking even in the first decade.
Exarchos said a study had shown that the new channel would provide a “viable platform” to highlight the Olympic movement and athletes outside the 16 days of the Games every two years. “The Olympic channel would be a major way of engaging youth and hardcore fans in the Olympic movement,” Exarchos added.
Using a traditional television platform, along with digital devices, Exarchos said the new channel will be an “always-on global digital platform.”
In terms of live sport, the channel is expected to provide a showcase for international federations’ qualifying events for Olympic Games and world championships. Exarchos added: “The IOC and its partners can communicate, connect and engage with the worldwide Olympic community and its fans.”