NBC will give the third and final presentation to the IOC next week, according to sources who have seen the committee's bidding schedule. Fox will make the first bid in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday. ESPN will be making its bid Tuesday morning. Disney CEO Bob Iger will be in attendance for Disney's bid, according to sources. His plan to travel to Switzerland is the latest evidence that Disney plans to be a part of ESPN's bid as a potential worldwide Olympic sponsor. NBC will round out the list of U.S. bidders on Tuesday afternoon. Bidding will take place at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne. Networks will have two hours to make their presentations.
The IOC has encouraged the nets to make two bids: one for the '14 and '16 Games, and one for the '14, '16, '18 and '20 Games. IOC leaders have said they expect a bid for the '14 and '16 Games that exceeds the $2B NBC is currently paying for the '10 and '12 Olympics. After the presentations, the IOC will select a winner based on a net's proposed price and plans for broadcasting the Olympics. The decision will be made by an IOC contingent led by IOC President Jacques Rogge, IOC Finance Commission Chair Richard Carrion, IOC Dir of Television & Marketing Services Timo Lumme and others.
This week's SportsBusiness Journal features stories on next week’s bids, what Dick Ebersol's departure from NBC means for the process and who will be at the negotiating table for the networks. Also, analysts offer their prediction on who will walk away the winner and why.
