Coverage of the Olympics will remain open on the BBC until at least 2032, after the company confirmed a new joint partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Warner Bros. Television. Discovery (WBD).
The deal means the BBC, whose coverage of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics drew a total of 36.4 million viewers, will continue to broadcast the games across all of its platforms.
BBC Director General Tim Davie said: “The Olympics are a really special event – exciting and inspiring in equal measure – (and I’m) delighted it will be broadcast for free to audiences in the UK. I know the BBC will do a fantastic job of bringing all the action to life.” and analytics for the audience.”
The deal follows the IOC’s decision to award all European media rights for the four post-Paris Games – starting with the 2026 Milan and Cortina Winter Games – to the European Broadcasting Union and the Olympic Games.
Under the terms of the agreement, the EBU and the WBD guaranteed free coverage of the Olympics in all 49 European territories.
EBU and WBD first partnered for the rights in 2015, but that deal did not include the UK. However, the new partnership essentially means that coverage will remain unchanged for British viewers, anchored by a network channel, live broadcasts and select events available on demand through platforms including iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
BBC staff have been forced to defend the company’s coverage in Tokyo after complaints about its live broadcasting options.
“As the BBC can no longer offer live all sports, we often have to make difficult decisions about which sports to show live and which to show on delay,” the BBC said in a statement at the time.
IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed the deal and the “critical financial stability” it would bring.
“The EBU and its members provide an unrivaled broadcast experience and reach across Europe, and Warner Bros. Discovery, through the recent merger of Warner Media and Discovery, represents one of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world across all genres and programming platforms.”
It illustrates the continuing appeal of the Olympic Games across Europe. With the IOC redistributing 90% of the revenue it generates, this long-term agreement also provides critical financial stability for the broader sporting movement and ultimately support for the athletes themselves.”
Coverage of the Olympics will remain open on the BBC until at least 2032, after the company confirmed a new joint partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Warner Bros. Television. Discovery (WBD).
The deal means the BBC, whose coverage of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics drew a total of 36.4 million viewers, will continue to broadcast the games across all of its platforms.
BBC Director General Tim Davie said: “The Olympics are a really special event – exciting and inspiring in equal measure – (and I’m) delighted it will be broadcast for free to audiences in the UK. I know the BBC will do a fantastic job of bringing all the action to life.” and analytics for the audience.”
The deal follows the International Olympic Committee’s decision to award all European media rights for the four post-Paris Games – starting with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina – to the European Broadcasting Union and WBD.
Under the terms of the agreement, the EBU and the WBD guaranteed free coverage of the Olympics in all 49 European territories.
EBU and WBD first partnered for the rights in 2015, but that deal did not include the UK. However, the new partnership essentially means that coverage will remain unchanged for British viewers, anchored by a network channel, live broadcasts and select events available on demand through platforms including iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
BBC staff have been forced to defend the company’s coverage in Tokyo after complaints about its live broadcasting options.
“As the BBC can no longer offer live all sports, we often have to make difficult decisions about which sports to show live and which to show on delay,” the BBC said in a statement at the time.
IOC President Thomas Bach welcomed the deal and the “critical financial stability” it would bring.
“The EBU and its members provide an unrivaled broadcast experience and reach across Europe, and Warner Bros. Discovery, through the recent merger of Warner Media and Discovery, represents one of the largest media and entertainment companies in the world across all genres and programming platforms.”
It illustrates the continuing appeal of the Olympic Games across Europe. With the IOC redistributing 90% of the revenue it generates, this long-term agreement also provides critical financial stability for the broader sporting movement and ultimately support for the athletes themselves.”
Amelia Kensington is a contributor to Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, presenting complex topics in an accessible and engaging way while maintaining a strong commitment to accuracy and relevance.