Nine, FOXTEL Ink Olympic Games Deal

SYDNEY, October 15: The International Olympic Committee
(IOC) has granted the Australian broadcast rights to the Vancouver 2010 and
London 2012 Olympic Games to Nine Network and FOXTEL.

The rights to the Beijing games are held by Seven Network.

Commenting on the agreement, IOC President Jacques Rogge
said: “This is an excellent deal. Our aim is to ensure that as many people as
possible are able to enjoy the Olympic Games across the world and we look
forward to working closely with both Nine Network and FOXTEL to make this
possible in Australia.”

Nine’s CEO-elect, David Gyngell, added: “The bid for the
Olympic rights underscores the longer term commitment to the network and the
preparedness to invest in content. We believe the London Olympic Games will be
a great event—London is a solid cultural fit with our viewing audiences
and it is likely to achieve strong ratings, particularly with the historical
links in sporting and cultural terms between Australia and the United Kingdom.”

FOXTEL’s chief executive, Kim Williams, added: “FOXTEL will
complement Nine’s comprehensive free-to air coverage of the 2010 Olympic Winter
Games and 2012 Summer Games by delivering our subscribers an expanded coverage
that will provide an unparalleled choice of whole live strands of Olympic
competition and an entirely new viewing experience fitting for the finest of
all international sports events.”