Italian state broadcaster Rai has agreed a deal with pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia for the right to broadcast highlights of the 2014 winter Olympic Games, along with the exclusive rights to the 2016 summer Olympic Games.
Sky had acquired the exclusive rights for the next two editions of the Olympics in Sochi and Rio de Janeiro in October 2008, but has been engaged in long-running talks with Rai to off-load some of these rights.
The deal struck between the two broadcasters means Sky will retain live rights to Sochi 2014. Sky, which has to guarantee free-to-air coverage of the Games, will broadcast events on its digital-terrestrial and satellite-television channel Cielo.
Rai will broadcast highlights from the Winter Olympics and will provide more than 400 hours of live action from Rio 2016 across its Rai 2, RaiSport 1 and RaiSport 2 channels.
Rai has traditionally broadcast extensive live coverage of the Winter Olympics and its decision to only provide highlights is likely to prove highly unpopular amongst Italy's winter sports fanbase.
The Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said Rai has paid €65m ($84.5m) for the deal, which is subject to the approval of the International Olympic Committee.