Olympics on free TV in Europe

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The International Olympic Committee announced that the four Olympic Games between 2026 and 2032 will be broadcast on free-to-air television in Europe.

The IOC said that all media rights in Europe for the summer and winter Games for the period had been awarded to the European Broadcasting Union, an alliance of public service broadcasters, along with current rights holders Warner Bros. Discovery.

The move marks a change of approach from the current six-year deal that runs through to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In 2015, Discovery — now part of WBD — bought the European rights for 1.3 billion euros. They then sub-licensed rights to other broadcasters.

“This new agreement guarantees free-to-air reach for the Games through the EBU’s network of public service broadcasters,” the IOC said in a statement.

The deal covers the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 summer Games, plus the winter Olympics in Milan Cortina 2026 and those in 2030, which have yet to be awarded to a host city.

The EBU and WBD presented a joint bid to acquire all media rights across 48 countries in Europe, as well as Israel.

The IOC did not put a figure on the deal.

But its president Thomas Bach said it would give European sports fans wider access to the Olympics than ever before.

“As the IOC redistributes 90 percent of the revenues it generates, this long-term agreement also provides critical financial stability to the wider sporting movement and ultimately supports the athletes themselves,” he said.