IOC President Jacques Rogge today said that broadcast rights revenues for the '14 Sochi and '16 Rio de Janeiro Games "will exceed" $4B, up from $3.9B for the '10 Vancouver and '12 London Games, according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. The IOC last month "sealed a four-Games deal with NBC Universal from 2014 to 2020 worth $4.38 billion while also announcing days ago separate deals for France, South Korea and Germany with varying contract lengths." Rogge said that the '14-16 period "had already generated $3.2 billion with several major territories still outstanding." Rogge added the total figure "should be substantially higher" than $4B. He also said that the IOC "had a consolidated surplus of $592 million as of May 2011 compared to $466 million at the end of 2009." Rogge: "The IOC finances are solid." Grohmann noted the '14-16 marketing figure already stands at $921M "with nine sponsors having signed up for that period and one or two more expected to join" (REUTERS, 7/7).
TIME NOT ON THEIR SIDE: Pyeongchang, South Korea, yesterday was selected as the host of the '18 Games, and the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Jon Weisman wrote NBC "will face similar time zone issues in Pyeongchang, which is more than a half a day ahead of the U.S., to what the network had" with the '08 Beijing Games. Daytime events such as alpine skiing "could potentially be broadcast live in primetime, though taped packages no doubt will remain a key part of NBC's broadcast coverage." However, NBC "will also be able to offer live coverage on its cable and online platforms -- which should be much more mature in 2018" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/6). CNBC's Darren Rovell said, "With a 13-hour time difference, many of the events can be shown live in the USA" ("Closing Bell," CNBC, 7/6). But CABLEFAX DAILY writes it was "likely the worst outcome" for NBCU "based on time zones as Munich and Annecy, France, missed out" (CABLEFAX DAILY, 7/7).
DESERVING 3D TREATMENT: Panasonic U.K. Managing Dir Keith Evans said that the London Games "should be broadcast in 3D." Evans: "If the Olympic Games are not broadcast in 3D then we miss an opportunity to take viewing of a huge global event to another level because 3D is such another high level of viewing." The decision to broadcast in 3D "depends on the official broadcaster." Panasonic "would install and manage the 3D equipment" (AROUNDTHERINGS.com, 7/2).
