Discovery & NOS Sign Dutch Deal for Olympic Games

LONDON: Discovery Communications has inked a TV and multiplatform broadcast agreement with NOS in the Netherlands regarding the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games.

The agreement makes the Games available to Dutch viewers on both NOS and Eurosport. NOS will sub-license from Discovery Communications the free-to-air audiovisual and radio rights for the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games. The NOS package of rights also includes digital rights to the content it broadcasts on its linear TV channel.

As part of the NOS agreement, Eurosport has exclusive live rights to two key sports for both the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games, including ice hockey for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. NOS will also be able to broadcast the highlights.

JB Perrette, the president of Discovery Networks International, commented, “This agreement with NOS marks another important Olympic Games partnership deal by Discovery, bringing Discovery another step closer on our ambition to deliver more coverage across more screens than ever before. Most importantly, this is a big win for Dutch viewers who will be able to enjoy all the action, whenever and wherever they choose to watch it.”

Jan de Jong, the general director at NOS, added, “We have been broadcasting the Olympic Games since 1964, and are delighted that this new agreement with Discovery enables us to continue this long-term relationship with the world’s biggest sports event. This agreement is hugely beneficial to the Dutch audience as it makes the Olympics more accessible for more viewers for a further five years. Our clear focus has always been to tell the whole story. We are covering all sporting disciplines and the individual athletes on their four-year road to the Olympics on a day to day basis. And therefore it’s essential that we also attend their ‘moment supreme’, not only this summer in Rio, but in 2018 and 2020 as well.”

Alco de Jong, country manager for Discovery Networks Benelux, said, “NOS has a rich Olympic Games heritage and continues to successfully showcase Dutch sporting achievements. Together with NOS, Eurosport will share stories with the Dutch audience that follow moments of human achievement and generate pride for the Games, enriching the viewers’ experience with more coverage of our national heroes.”