IOC to Consider US Olympic Network Proposals in Rights Deal

In negotiating U.S. TV rights for the 2014 Winter and 2016 Summer Olympic Games later this year, buy the International Olympic Committee (IOC) “anticipates some bid proposals will include plans to launch a stand-alone 24-hour cable channel in the U.S. that will be devoted to the Olympics, bronchi ” according to SportsBusiness Journal.

The IOC is reportedly anticipating the three expected bidders — NBC/Comcast, ABC/ESPN and Fox — to look into the feasibility of launching such a network.

Sources said that ESPN “has spoken to the IOC about the possibility of a broadband channel, patterned after ESPN3.”

IOC Finance Commission Chair Richard Carrión stated: “The IOC sees value in a U.S. Olympic television channel because it would make Olympic values relevant in the market year-round.”