The Polish public broadcaster TVP has signed a sub-licensing agreement with Discovery Communications for the Winter Olympics in 2018 and Summer Olympics in 2020.
As a result, it will be able to offer coverage of the two competitions on its TV channels, online platforms and social media.
The rights cover digital linear transmissions, limited retransmissions and highlights of the most important events.
All told, TVP will provide 200 hours coverage of the Winter Olympics from Pyeongchang, South Korea and 350 hours from the Summer Olympics in the Japanese capital, Tokyo.
Meanwhile, Discovery Communication’s Eurosport will retain full rights to the Games on pay-TV and its digital platforms.
The deal with TVP is one of seven Discovery has struck for Olympics coverage. They are with companies in Estonia (Eesti Meedia), Georgia (Georgian Public Broadcasting), Iceland (RÚV), Latvia (Latvijas Telev?zija) and Lithuania (Lietuvos Olimpinis Fondas).
To supplement the partnership previously confirmed with the Czech public broadcaster Ceska Televize, an agreement regarding non-exclusive radio rights have also been established with Czech Radio in the Czech Republic.
Peter Hutton, CEO of Eurosport, said: “We are excited and proud to work with partners that value the Olympic Games as much as we do, and help us achieve our ambition to bring the Games to more people on more screens than ever before. When you consider alongside our decision for Eurosport to retain the exclusive rights in Germany and our preparations for extensive coverage in Norway and Sweden, these new agreements are a further sign that we are well on track to delivering the ultimate Olympic Games experience.”
“Our collaboration with Lietuvos Olimpinis Fondas, managed by the Lithuanian Olympic Committee, is an example of how we are seeking and open to innovative partnerships which can best engage people in each market with the inspiration of the Games,” he added.
Kasia Kieli, president of Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “The new agreements are great news for everyone who is passionate about the Olympic Games, helping even more people to follow their heroes and immerse themselves in the heart of the action. We look forward to working with all our new partners and delivering the ultimate Games experience for every viewer in the region.”
Michael Lang, president, international development, Digital & Discovery Nordics, commenting on the news in Iceland, said: “Our agreement with RUV is a win for everyone in Iceland. Fans will have an outstanding choice of free-to-air coverage and every moment available on Eurosport’s platforms on air and digital.”
“When viewed alongside the exclusive coverage, powered by Eurosport, on Discovery-owned platforms in Norway and Sweden, fans in the Nordics will experience the Olympic Games to the very highest standard,” he added.
Adam Widomski, Eurosport channel director, Poland, commenting on the new agreement in Poland, said: “People across Poland are hugely passionate about the Olympic Games and the new agreement with Telewizja Polska will form part of an outstanding variety of coverage across free-tv, dedicated sports programming and digital platforms. For fans wanting to follow every minute of their hero’s quest for gold, there is no better time to go on their Olympic Games journey.”
