Aiming to be Europe’s NBC, Discovery buys up Olympic TV rights for Europe
Discovery Communications, the media conglomerate which owns channels ranging from the Duggar-focused TLC to fútbol-focused Eurosport, has purchased the European broadcast rights to the next four Olympic Games.
The $1.45 billion purchase means that the 2024 Summer Olympics — be they in Boston, Paris, Rome, or elsewhere — will be seen by Europeans through Discovery. Previously, European broadcast rights for the Olympics were sold country by country, Discovery said.
The deal makes Discovery the European equivalent of NBCUniversal in the United States, as far as Olympic broadcast and multimedia rights are concerned.
“With Eurosport’s proud and long-standing tradition of broadcasting many winter and summer sports showcased during the Olympics, adding the Olympic Games, the greatest live event in the world, is a perfect editorial and strategic fit,’’ Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav said in a statement. “But most of all, this new partnership is an exciting win for European sports fans as we will deliver record amounts of content across platforms to ensure the Olympic flame burns bright all year long.’’
Gallery: The major players of Boston’s Olympic bid
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