BBC facing battle to keep Olympic Games.

[Media Boy UK]

The BBC could face a battle to hold on to live coverage of the Olympics after 2012.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008...c-sportsrights

Info from Media Guardian.

ADMIN EDIT - either post a link or copy from the article, please do not do both.

[Charlie_Bubble]

As long as it's not Setanta that wins, I'm not too bothered!

The Olympics are a category 'A' heritage event, so the live rights have to go to a FTA terrestrial broadcaster.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by Chris

The Olympics are a category 'A' heritage event, so the live rights have to go to a FTA terrestrial broadcaster.

But after 2012 everyone in the UK will be Digital!!!

If BSkyB beat BBC - Sky CAN show it on Sky's free-to-view Channel on Sky3.

Section 98 of the Broadcasting Act 1996 effectively defines FTA terrestrial broadcasters as any BBC service, Channel 4 and ITV1. That can be amended by ministerial Order but I've not yet discovered one, if indeed one has ever been made. So if the Olympics vanish off the BBC they don't look to be going very far.

But even if they did go to Sky3, the Olympics are still a Category A event, so Sky are not permitted to show any of it exclusive to one of their pay channels. So long as everything is available, isn't that all that really matters?

If I were you, I'd be more worried about the fact that the Commonwealth Games is only a Cat.B event, so could in theory have its live rights swallowed up by Sky before the games get to Glasgow in 2014.

In any case, the thrust of the article is the IOC's shift away from dealing with the European Broadcasting Union when awarding rights. The IOC obviously thinks it can make more dosh by negotiating with national broadcasters separately.

And I doubt whether Sky has the kind of money to outbid the BBC for rights that it couldn't recoup by forcing people to view events on a subscription or pay-per-view basis.

[Media Boy UK]

From Media Guardian:

The culture secretary, Andy Burnham, has said the list will be reviewed. In addition, by 2014 digital switchover will have taken place and the list may no longer exist in its current form.
The BBC could face possible bids from public service broadcaster ITV and satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
Sky will have 95% reach across the country by 2014 - one of the key criteria to qualify to screen listed sporting events - although it would have to air the events on free-to-air channels.
As a pay-TV operator the move would require a significant shift in strategy.

I read the Media Guardian article. It is what is known in the business as a 'speculative piece'.

The entire reason for the story's existence is the IOC's rejection of a bid for post-2012 broadcast rights from the EBU. This means the EBU can't sell on the rights to national broadcasters, and national broadcasters will have to bid with the IOC directly. Those are the only facts in the entire article. Everything that follows is padding by a bored journo on a quiet news day trying to justify his desk space.

Key phrases to watch out for:
"May no longer exist"
"Could face possible bids"
"Would have to air"
"Would require a significant shift"

Sleep soundly in your bed. The Labour Government may no longer exist by 2014.

[sir_drinks_alot]

Sickaning after all the bbc have done for the IOC over the years thay are just ready to walk, Away and say more money please to the highest bidder guess thay don't know the meaning of The word loyalty.