European state broadcasters are back in business for the Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — European state broadcasters were brought back into the heart of Olympic business on Monday when the IOC announced a rights deal through 2032 with the European Broadcasting Union.

Both Warner Bros. and the EBU were awarded rights that covered 49 countries for four Olympics in 2026-2032. The International Olympic Committee declared Discovery.

The EBU represents state-run broadcasters such as the BBC in Britain and Rai in Italy, ZDF in Germany, and other networks. It organizes the Eurovision Song Contest.

The previous European deal signed in 2015 — covering two editions each of the Summer Games and Winter Games from 2018-2024 — was exclusively with Discovery, the parent company of the Eurosport network. Discovery sublicensed some rights from the state broadcasters that had previously broadcast Olympics.

The latest deal for the four-Games was not disclosed. Discovery purchased the 2018-2024 rights in 2015 for 1.3 billion euros (then $1.5 million) to the IOC.

“This deal is a game-changer for public service media and demonstrates the abiding strength and solidarity of our union,” EBU president Delphine Ernotte Cunci said in a statement.

Each EBU member is set to be able to broadcast more than 200 hours from the Summer Games, to be hosted in 2028 by Los Angeles and 2032 by Brisbane, and at least 100 hours from the Winter Games of 2026 in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo and 2030 at a host city yet to be decided.

Discovery retains all rights to pay TV, while Eurosport will remain the only network that can broadcast and stream every Olympic sport.

Russia was not included in the European agreement. It also was not included in Discovery’s 2015 agreement.

Monday’s announcement didn’t mention the IOC-funded Olympic Channel that was part of the 2015 Discovery deal.

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