German State Broadcasters Resume Olympic Rights Talks With Discovery

German state broadcasters ARD and ZDF reportedly "resumed talks to sub-license broadcast rights for the Olympic Games from Discovery Communications," according to Maria Sheahan of REUTERS. In '15, Discovery won the European broadcast rights for the Olympics from '18-24 for €1.3B. It had been "expected to pass on some lucrative rights." Last November, ARD and ZDF said that "they would not show the Olympic Games for the first time, having failed to clinch a deal." According to reports, the renewed negotiations are focused on the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics "for the moment," but a cooperation on subsequent Games has "become more likely." Discovery, ARD and ZDF were not immediately available for comment on the report (REUTERS, 7/17).