NBC Universal Locks Up Next Eight Olympic Games With $4.38 Billion Bid
by Sean Comer
If the Olympics to you are like an epic Christmas present that you only get to open every two to four years, then you know just where to be for the next eight years to tear off the wrapping.
NBC Universal announced Tuesday that the Peacock Network has locked in unprecedented broadcast rights for the next four Winter and Summer Olympics in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020, at a price of a scant $4.38 billion.
Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO of NBC Universal partner Comcast, said “The vision for our new Comcast-NBC Universal was to create new platforms and technologies to distribute the very best content. Every two years the Olympic Games provide iconic content for us to deliver on all platforms. We are proud to continue the rich heritage and long association that NBC has had with the IOC and I personally want to thank President Jacques Rogge and Richard Carrion for their long-term trust.”
NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke threw in “Broadcasting sports events is an important part of our business and the Olympics are obviously a significant part of the portfolio. We have a talented and experienced team in place with a legacy of outstanding Olympics coverage and we are all looking forward to Londonnext year and to Sochiand Rioafter that.”
Burke, of course, was referring to the 2012 Summer Olympics emanating from London, then to Sochi, Russiafor the 2014 winter games. In 2016, the summer games will travel for the first time in their history to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The network won out only after two days in Lausanne, Switzerland’s International Olympic Committee headquarters of pitches from Fox, ESPN and NBC. The 2012 games will NBC’s unprecedented 13th consecutive Olympiad broadcast.