The USOC has revoked Olympics and U.S. Olympic trials credentials for sports media startup FloSports for publishing video footage of several Olympics trials events. NBCUniversal owns exclusive rights to Olympics and team-selection events through '32. “After multiple infractions of use of video in trial venues, we revoked credentials for trials and Olympics going forward,” a USOC spokesperson said. FloSports CEO & co-Founder Martin Floreani disputes the charge and criticized the USOC. "There were no repeated use violations,” Floreani said. "We disagree with the spirit of the claims, which resulted in the USOC's withdrawal of two credentials. The USOC's response is odd. We understand that the USOC is struggling to keep up with current media trends. Their actions illustrate their inexperience with emerging media. Withdrawing our credentials just hurts the USOC. We wish them the best of luck." Founded in '06, FloSports is backed by Celtics Managing Partner & CEO Wyc Grousbeck’s Causeway Media Partners. It operates dedicated verticals in wrestling, gymnastics, track and field and other sports. It specializes in live streaming coverage, original programming and owned-and-operated events. FloSports has deals with United World Wrestling and other NGBs, but not the IOC or the USOC. Causeway Media Partners, led by Grousbeck and partners Bob Higgins and Celtics Minority Owner Mark Wan, invested $8M in the company in '14. Two sources said FloSports had streamed parts of the marathon and wrestling trials, and called the company’s rights violations a pattern of behavior.
