BBC Hoping To Air Olympics, In Talks With IOC

The BBC "appears to be closing in on a deal to screen future Olympics," according to Paul Kelso of the London TELEGRAPH. BBC Trust Chair Christopher Patten confirmed that talks led by BBC outgoing Dir-General Mark Thompson "are progressing." Patten told Telegraph Sport: "Mark is leading those talks and they are happening right now. They [the Olympics] are really important to us." The IOC has held out against a quick deal with the BBC, "which is attempting to deflate the cost in the knowledge that, with existing listed-events legislation, it is the only realistic" free-to-air candidate. The IOC would "love a dream team of a commercial broadcaster and Sky to come to the table, but that looks optimistic" (TELEGRAPH, 7/11).