euro news_news 25/02/2016 18:35 Page 5
BBC, Discovery sign long-term
Olympics partnership
orthcoming Olympic games are
content it broadcasts on TV.
to remain available free-to-air
This agreement marks the first Olympic
in the UK following a long-term
Games sub-licensing deal by Discovery and
Olympic Games agreement in the UK
reinforces Eurosport as the home of the
between the BBC and Discovery
Olympic Games across Europe, ensuring that
Communications, building on a 30year partnership between the two
global media organisations.
The deal means that the BBC will sublicense (from Discovery) exclusive freeto-air TV and non-exclusive radio rights
to the 2022 and 2024 Olympic Games. In
turn, Discovery will sub-license (from the
BBC) exclusive pay-TV rights in the UK
to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games.
every event is available to fans across all
The Olympic Games are highly valued and
screens. The news follows an agreement
hugely popular with audiences. The London
announced by Discovery Communications
2012 Olympic Games was watched on the
and the International Olympic Committee
BBC by more than 50m people in the UK, 7m
(IOC) last June, which includes exclusive
people in the UK accessed the
multimedia rights for 50
The BBC will
BBC website every day, with
countries and territories in
111mrequests for video
continue to be the Europe for the 2018 through
throughout the Games and
free-to-air home the 2024 Olympic Games.
over 2m people downloaded
According to Tony Hall,
of the best action
the Olympics app.
Director General of the BBC,
The announcement ensures from the Olympic the BBC prides itself on
Games until 2024 bringing the biggest sporting
that the BBC will continue to
be the free-to-air home of the
moments to the public. “For
best action from the Olympic Games until
many, the BBC has been their stadium for
2024, bringing the moments that unite the
Olympic coverage. It is an event that unites
nation on TV and radio.
the nation like no other. I’m delighted that
Additionally, the BBC’s package of rights
through our new partnership with Discovery,
is supplemented by digital rights to the
the BBC will continue to carry the torch for
F
My5 VoD from
Channel 5
UK commercial pubcaster
Channel 5 has rebranded
Demand 5, its popular video
on demand service, to My5.
At the same time, Channel
5 is expanding the range of
content available to viewers
on demand, with a range of
My5 exclusives and box sets
in addition to the ability to
catch up with programmes
from across the Channel 5
family – Channel 5, 5STAR,
5USA and Spike.
The refresh and new
content is part of a longerterm strategy to grow ondemand viewing of Channel
5’s content across multiple
screens and platforms,
building on Demand 5’s
strong growth across 2015.
The new service, which
launches in tandem with a full
brand identity refresh across
the Channel 5 portfolio, will
be rolled out from
immediately
across all iOS and
Android phones
and tablets, and
on a new website
at my5.tv. My5
will replace
Demand 5 across Smart TVs,
set-top boxes, games
consoles and other platforms
in the coming months.
Alongside My5, a brand new
great sporting coverage right through to the
2024 Games. While the BBC has had to take
some tough financial decisions, this
partnership underlines our commitment to
making world class sport available to all.”
David Zaslav,