Seven the only starter in Olympics rights race

Commercial broadcaster Seven is the only Australian broadcaster to have lodged an expression of interest in acquiring a package of rights covering the next three editions of the Olympic Games, according to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

Preliminary expressions of interest were due to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee last week for the rights to the summer Olympics in 2016 and 2020 in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, respectively, plus the 2018 winter Games in Pyeongchang.

The IOC is understood to have originally wanted about A$230m (€153m/$213m) for the three Games, but Nine is unlikely to bid and commercial rival Ten is reluctant to meet such an asking price, the newspaper said.