Olympic Broadcasting
THE PLACE OF TV RIGHTS FEES IN OLYMPIC REVENUE
Television is the engine that has driven the growth of the Olympic Movement.
Increases in broadcast revenue over the past two decades have provided the
Olympic Movement and sport with an unprecedented financial base.
This has allowed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make
substantial contributions to the development of sport throughout the world. The
IOC has provided direct support to Organising Committees for the Olympic Games
(OCOGs), Olympic Solidarity (OS), The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and
International Federations (IFs).
TV rights fees continue to account for approximately 50 percent of Olympic
revenue.
FREE TV COVERAGE
The IOC has often declined higher offers for broadcast on a pay-per-view
basis or because a broadcaster could reach only a limited part of the
population, as this is against Olympic Broadcast Policy. This fundamental IOC
Policy, set forth in the Olympic Charter, ensures the maximum presentation of
the Olympic Games by broadcasters around the world to everyone who has access to
television. Rights are only sold to broadcasters who can guarantee the broadest
coverage throughout their respective countries free of charge.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BROADCAST THE OLYMPIC GAMES?
The Athens Olympic Broadcasting Organisation:
- Televised more than 4,000
hours of live Olympic coverage
- Provided coverage of 300 Olympic events
-
Utilised more than 1,000 cameras and 450 video tape machines
- Employed 3,700
personnel
- Worked with more than 12,000 accredited rights-holding broadcast
personnel
