Cable & Wireless Communications "will be the official broadcast sponsor" and telecom network for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, according to Joel Bailey of NEWSDAY. The rights for Cable & Wireless to air the Games was made by Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees Broadcasting Inc., which is a subsidiary of CANOC. CANOC and CBI President & Chair Steve Stoute said, "This partnership will allow CANOC to bring the Games to the Caribbean audiences on cutting-edge technology" (NEWSDAY, 4/21). The TRINIDAD GUARDIAN reported CANOC CEO Larry Romany said that the production deal with ESPN will cost $5M "but he declined comment on the value of CWC’s investment as the exclusive telecoms partner." Like Romany, CWC Consumer Group President John Reid "did not disclose the value of the deal but was clear it was arguably the biggest of its kind in the region." Reid: "This is a coming out event for us. This is a way to prove to the people that we are going to put our money where our mouth is. I think this is absolutely critical for us." Under the agreement, CWC customers "will view the games across 12 of its channels, including its video on the demand service." Romany said that "bars and restaurants would also not be blocked from carrying the broadcasts" (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN, 4/21).
