Could the BBC lose out on future Olympics rights? IOC says ‘everything is possible’

Advanced Television reports that Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic Committee president, has declared “everything is possible” when it comes to selling TV rights for the Games after London, raising the prospect of the BBC losing some or all of its coverage of the event. A wide range of bids from traditional free-to-air broadcasters, pay-TV companies and telecom providers is expected by the IOC when it tears open envelopes containing the bids on Friday. It will then decide whether to go to a second round of bidding, as it seeks to maximise broadcasting revenue. For the complete story click here.

The Guardian reports that ITV, Channel 4, Sky and BT have also received the tender documents and are weighing up their options. Channel 4, which will show the Paralympics this summer and bid for Formula One rights, could be a surprise contender.

The government, which shelved an ongoing review of listed events when it came to power, will review the situation again this year, when the entire analogue TV network had been switched to digital.

Sources said it is unthinkable that the Olympics will not remain on the list in some form. But it is possible that they could follow the path taken by the IOC in reserving 200 hours of coverage for free-to-air TV (100 hours for the Winter Games) and broadcasting the rest through pay-TV or another platform.