Discovery & Swiss Broadcasting Corporation Sign Olympics Deal

LONDON: Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) has sub-licensed from Discovery Communications the exclusive free-to-air audiovisual rights for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and 2020 Olympic Games.

The agreement will see the next Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang 2018, and Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020, available to Swiss audiences on SRG SSR channels and platforms (online and apps) as well as on Eurosport and the Eurosport Player. SRG SSR will deliver coverage in German, French, Italian and Romansh languages. Its sub-licensing arrangement will include rights for broadcast of news-specific programs that follow the live events, while select digital rights (on-demand for online and apps) have been granted to SRG SSR. Eurosport maintains rights to air all of the Olympic Games coverage on pay-TV and through its digital services.

Kasia Kieli, the president of Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are proud to have the opportunity to showcase the Olympic Games and have worked hard to deliver an agreement which means viewers in Switzerland can enjoy the Olympic Games in the way that suits them best. By making the Olympic Games available on both SRG SSR and Eurosport’s range of sports services in Switzerland, we will share the extraordinary moments, and every moment, of the Olympic Games with more fans on more screens than ever before.”

Roger de Weck, director general of SRG SSR, added: “I am delighted that following Rio 2016 we are able to continue to offer high-quality coverage of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang and 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Sport is beauty, emotion. It creates idols and unites people in all parts of a country. Sport plays a key role in the program strategy of the Swiss public broadcasting association.”

Roland Mägerle, the head of the business unit for sport at SRG, commented: “The SRG will continue to offer its viewers a customized service with specific focus on Swiss athletes and teams. The Olympic Games are a key element of Service Public and within the program strategy of SRG. We are, therefore, pleased to have found a good solution followed by productive negotiations with Discovery.”

Jean-Thierry Augustin, the president for sports and Olympic development at Discovery Networks International, said: “Our partnership with the Olympic Games has created the opportunity to bring together the traditional high-quality coverage of the national broadcaster with Eurosport, the natural home of the Olympic Games in Europe and which already dedicates half its schedule to Olympic sports.

“Today’s agreement with SRG SSR is yet another demonstration of our ability to successfully cooperate with the best broadcast partners in each market, providing the country with an unparalleled quality and depth of Olympic Games coverage.”

Susanne Aigner-Drews, the senior VP and general manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland at Discovery Networks Deutschland, said: “Viewers in Switzerland will be excited by the prospect of bringing together the heritage and comprehensive sports offer of SRG SSR and the ability of Eurosport to share the heroic stories of Swiss athletes all year long, helping to fuel the passion of sports fans in the country. The agreement will ensure Swiss viewers will have the complete Olympics Games experience, including every moment of the Olympic Games on all screens.”