The International Olympic Committee and Comcast NBCUniversal have agreed to expand their longstanding partnership through until 2036.
The agreement covers the media rights in the United States for the 2033-2036 cycle, covering the Olympic Winter Games Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 and the Olympic Games 2036. It has a value of $3 billion and is seen as a major contribution to the long-term financial stability of the entire Olympic Movement.
In a statement, Comcast said the new partnership took them from media rights-holder to strategic partner.
“There is no event like the Olympics. Its power to bring joy, and the unifying spirit it embodies, are truly unique,” said Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts. “We live in a time when technology is driving faster and more fundamental transformation than we’ve seen in decades. This groundbreaking, new, long-term partnership between Comcast NBCUniversal and the International Olympic Committee not only recognises this dynamic but anticipates that it will accelerate.”
The new agreement builds on Comcast’s expertise in technology infrastructure, connectivity and media to support the delivery of the Olympic Games; support for the in-venue distribution of the live TV coverage of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS);
support to OBS in the production of the Olympic Video Player.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “This agreement with Comcast is groundbreaking because it goes far beyond the traditional media rights agreement which we have had for many years with our valued partner. Thanks to their innovative approach, serving on all platforms from linear to streaming and digital, we can now take our partnership to new heights for the benefit of athletes, Olympic stakeholders, Organising Committees and fans.”
NBC coverage from Paris in 2024 reached an average of 67 million total viewers per day across its broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Fans streamed 23.5 billion minutes of NBCUniversal’s Paris 2024 coverage, led by streaming service Peacock – 40 per cent more than all prior Olympic Summer and Winter Games combined.
Beginning with Tokyo 1964, NBCUniversal has presented 19 total Olympic Games and 13 consecutive editions, more than any other US media company.
