BBC Wins Olympic Broadcasting Rights To 2012

The BBC has secured the exclusive UK television, radio and online broadcast rights for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Games, which could be held in either Paris, New York, Madrid or London.

The deal, which was announced this morning, guarantees that the BBC’s coverage of the prestigious sporting event will continue beyond this year’s games in Athens and those taking place in Beijing in 2008.

Commenting on the deal, Peter Salmon, director of sport at the BBC, said: “We’re delighted to continue to bring this most prestigious of sporting events to audiences throughout the UK. It’s a massive boost to our teams planning the Athens coverage this year from broadband to BBC One.”

This year’s events will begin with the BBC screening the opening ceremony on 13 August in a move that kicks off a summer of sporting content from the broadcaster, which will now cover more events than ever before.

BBC One and Two will carry 250 hours of coverage and there will be more than 1,000 hours available to viewers through interactive television. The Corporation will also provide detailed coverage and live video through its broadband internet services.

The BBC’s latest deal pushes its portfolio of sports coverage to its strongest position yet, including FA Premiership highlights, the 2006 World Cup, Six Nations rugby, Wimbledon, the US Masters, the Grand National and Royal Ascot. Despite losing the Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race earlier this year, the Corporation is clearly attempting to bolster its sports output (see BBC Sinks Competition With Boat Race Coverage).

BBC: 020 8743 8000 www.bbc.co.uk

Recent Television Stories from NewsLine ITV Business Model Under Threat From Multi-Channel TV Advertisers Welcome Report On Contract Rights Renewal Majority Of Sky Plus Viewers Skip Through Commercials

Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive