Australia's Seven Network Ahead In 2016 Olympics Free-To-Air Race

The decision of "which free-to-air television network will air" the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics could be announced as early as Friday, according to Darren Davidson of THE AUSTRALIAN. Seven is currently "the only major network believed to have shown interest." The IOC is taking final bids "but could postpone the auction for the Australian broadcast rights by months due to a lack of competitive tension." Viewers "will almost certainly be watching the Olympics on a different free-to-air broadcaster," after the Nine Network pulled out of the bidding process. Nine's "strategic withdrawal left Seven as the frontrunner," with the Ten Network "said to be lukewarm, and pay-TV operator Foxtel mindful of overpaying" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/8).