Rai approves rights deal with Discovery for PyeongChang 2018 only
Olympics -
15 Dec 2017
By Martin Ross
Live coverage of the 2018 winter Olympics from PyeongChang will be shown in Italy by Rai, after the Italian public-service broadcaster’s board approved the acquisition of rights from Discovery Communications, the media group that owns Eurosport.
The agreement marks a return of winter Olympics coverage to Rai after an eight-year gap, after live Sochi 2014 coverage was only offered by Sky Italia on its pay-TV and free-to-air channels.
Nevertheless, Discovery, which holds Olympics broadcast rights in Europe (excluding Russia) in a €1.3-billion ($1.53-billion) contract from 2018 to 2024, will showcase comprehensive and localised coverage of the PyeongChang games on its Eurosport channels (and Eurosport Player) in Italy.
Rai has acquired rights to show 100 hours of live coverage from PyeongChang, the minimum figure stipulated by the International Olympic Committee that must be made available on free-to-air television.
The public broadcaster’s board ratified an agreement yesterday, and also “approved the negotiating framework” for an agreement with Discovery covering the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Giovanni Malago, president of CONI, the Italian national Olympic committee, said: “We are very happy by the fact that Rai has acquired the rights to broadcast the winter Olympics, something that complements what is already offered through Discovery by Eurosport in an exemplary and perfect way.”
Rai offered multi-platform coverage of Rio’s 2016 Olympics after securing sub-licensed rights from Sky Italia in a €65-million agreement, but did not pick up Sochi 2014 rights from Sky, which satisfied the minimum free-to-air exposure requirement by showcasing coverage on Cielo, its free-to-air channel.
Sky sub-licensed free-to-air rights to Vancouver 2010 (100 hours) and London 2012 (215 hours) to Rai, after the pay-TV broadcaster initially bought the ‘gatekeeper’ rights in Italy in a €112-million contract.
Olympics content from PyeongChang 2018 (and Toyko 2020) will also be offered in Italy by Telecom Italia after the telecoms operator became an official mobile broadcaster in a "first of its kind" deal with Discovery in June.
Telecom Italia will be able to co-brand with the Olympic Rings and offer its customers exclusive access to a 24/7 operator-branded linear news and highlights channel, as well as exclusive short-form content.
Sportcal
Live coverage of the 2018 winter Olympics from PyeongChang will be shown in Italy by Rai, after the Italian public-service broadcaster’s board approved the acquisition of rights from Discovery Communications, the media group that owns Eurosport.
The agreement marks a return of winter Olympics coverage to Rai after an eight-year gap, after live Sochi 2014 coverage was only offered by Sky Italia on its pay-TV and free-to-air channels.
Nevertheless, Discovery, which holds Olympics broadcast rights in Europe (excluding Russia) in a €1.3-billion ($1.53-billion) contract from 2018 to 2024, will showcase comprehensive and localised coverage of the PyeongChang games on its Eurosport channels (and Eurosport Player) in Italy.
Rai has acquired rights to show 100 hours of live coverage from PyeongChang, the minimum figure stipulated by the International Olympic Committee that must be made available on free-to-air television.
The public broadcaster’s board ratified an agreement yesterday, and also “approved the negotiating framework” for an agreement with Discovery covering the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Giovanni Malago, president of CONI, the Italian national Olympic committee, said: “We are very happy by the fact that Rai has acquired the rights to broadcast the winter Olympics, something that complements what is already offered through Discovery by Eurosport in an exemplary and perfect way.”
Rai offered multi-platform coverage of Rio’s 2016 Olympics after securing sub-licensed rights from Sky Italia in a €65-million agreement, but did not pick up Sochi 2014 rights from Sky, which satisfied the minimum free-to-air exposure requirement by showcasing coverage on Cielo, its free-to-air channel.
Sky sub-licensed free-to-air rights to Vancouver 2010 (100 hours) and London 2012 (215 hours) to Rai, after the pay-TV broadcaster initially bought the ‘gatekeeper’ rights in Italy in a €112-million contract.
Olympics content from PyeongChang 2018 (and Toyko 2020) will also be offered in Italy by Telecom Italia after the telecoms operator became an official mobile broadcaster in a "first of its kind" deal with Discovery in June.
Telecom Italia will be able to co-brand with the Olympic Rings and offer its customers exclusive access to a 24/7 operator-branded linear news and highlights channel, as well as exclusive short-form content.
Sportcal
