Murdoch's Fox trumped as NBC secure US Olympic rights until 2020

By Sportsbeat staff

RUPERT Murdoch's dreams of adding the Olympics to his broadcasting empire have been trumped by a multi-billion dollar rival.

IN THE FRAME: NBC will continue to screen the Olympic Games in the US until 2020, after concluding a four Games deal with the IOC

NBC, who have broadcast the Olympic Games in the United States since 1992, paid a whopping $4.38 billion for the rights to Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and two Games at yet unspecified venues.

Murdoch's Fox network also bid for the four Games package but were either beaten by cold hard cash or by NBC's long-term and proven commitment to the International Olympic Committee.

ESPN, the other bidder, only tendered for the 2014 and 2016 Games, effectively ruling themselves out of bidding.

"We are delighted to have reached an agreement with our longstanding partner NBC Universal,” said International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge. 

“We received three excellent bids and would like to thank each broadcaster for their presentations. 

"In the end we were most impressed with NBCU, which not only has a track record for broadcasting the Games that speaks for itself, but also has a clear and innovative vision of where it wants to take the broadcast of the Games between now and 2020. 

"We look forward to continuing to build on our already strong relationship beginning in London next year.”

The decision came after two days of meetings held at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, during which ESPN, Fox and NBCU each gave a presentation and submitted their proposals to the IOC, whose negotiating team was fronted by IOC executive committee member Richard Carrion.

And it follows just three weeks after long-term NBC Olympics chief, and IOC insider, Dick Ebersol quit the network, triggering frantic speculation about the destination of the prized rights.

"We are honoured to continue as the US Olympic broadcaster for the remainder of this decade," said Brian Roberts, chief executive and chairman of NBC Universal parent company Comcast.

"The vision for our new Comcast-NBCUniversal was to create new platforms and technologies to distribute the very best content. 

"Every two years the Olympic Games provides iconic content for us to deliver on all platforms. We are proud to continue the rich heritage and long association that NBC has had with the IOC and I personally want to thank President Rogge and Richard Carrión for their long-term trust."

NBC Universal have acquired the rights for all platforms, including TV, mobile and broadband - and Olympic official admitted that money talked.

"The numbers did enter into it but I will tell you we were blown away by the presentation, the passion that this (NBC) team has for the Games. It was very impressive," the IOC's chief negotiator Carrion told reporters on a conference call.

"What was very clear was the full four-games bid that is what put us over the line."

© Sportsbeat 2011