Following Fox’s presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Monday for the U.S. Olympic television rights, ESPN and NBC, pitched their bids Tuesday.
The U.S. Olympic television rights includes the Sochi 2014 Winter Games and the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. The networks can also bid on a four-Games package which includes the 2018 and 2020 Games, whose locations have not yet been selected.
ESPN cited the “unrivalled” assets of parent company Disney, its appeal to young viewers, and plans for live coverage of all events.
George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN, and Robert Iger, Disney CEO, led a nine-person delegation that made a closed-door presentation to the IOC.
The ESPN meeting lasted about one hour and 20 minutes – 40 minutes less than the allotted two-hour time slot.
Bodenheimer said, “we’re very happy with our presentation. I believe the assets of the Walt Disney Co. are unequalled. We’re going to make our formal bids later this afternoon and keep our fingers crossed”.
Bodenheimer reportedly didn’t say whether ESPN would bid for two Olympic Games or four. Fox sports chairman David Hill said Monday his network would try for a four-Games deal.
Bodenheimer said, “the platforms of the Walt Disney Company overall are unrivalled, particularly in sport on ESPN platforms, and we think that’s a big advantage we have to help grow the Olympic movement”.
Bodenheimer added, “we have a long history with the Olympics, a long and cherished history on both sides. I believe that is important”.
NBC, broadcaster of every Summer Olympics since 1988 and every Winter Games since 2002, was the last of the three networks to make a formal presentation to the IOC.
The 17-member NBC delegation included Bob Costas, host of the network’s coverage of eight Olympics.
He said, “I think we had a compelling presentation and I hope they felt the same way. I hope we retain the rights. My message was we’ve done it well and we’d like to do it again”.
NBC’s contingent also included CEO Steve Burke and Brian Roberts, the chief executive of Comcast.
Following the presentations executives from NBC, ESPN and Fox submitted sealed enveloped into a see-through plexiglass box, then left the building. IOC President Jacques Rogge is to announce a winner by the end of the day or order a new round of bids, reports The Associated Press.
