Discovery, Czech TV sign Olympics deal
May 10, 2016
In another strategic move to make the Olympic Games available to more viewers and across more screens in Europe than ever before, Discovery Communications has announced a new TV and multi-platform broadcast agreement for the Olympic Games, with Ceska Televize (CT), the public broadcaster in the Czech Republic. This deal will make the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games available to Czech viewers on both CT Sport and Eurosport, creating a diverse and multi-faceted offering across free-to-air, pay-tv and digital.
As part of the agreement, CT will sub-license from Discovery Communications free-to-air audio visual rights for one channel, for the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games, continuing the public broadcaster’s legacy of uniting the Czech nation through local medal events and the best Olympic Games action. Additionally, CT’s sublicensing package includes digital rights to the content it broadcasts on its linear TV channel. Eurosport also has rights to air all of the Olympic Games action on pay-tv and through its digital platforms.
Furthermore, CT have agreed to promote the live events airing on Eurosport and not covered by CT, to ensure that Czech viewers do not miss a single minute of the Olympic Games, regardless of which channel it is broadcast on.
Kasia Kieli, President of Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, highlighted Discovery’s mission to engage local audiences with the ultimate Olympic Games experience across all screens as the number one priority. “We are committed to striking innovative partnerships across the region, to ensure that the Olympic Games remains accessible to as wide an audience as possible. This agreement with Ceska Televize marks Discovery’s fourth Olympic Games partnership deal, following announcements with BBC in the UK, NOS in the Netherlands and YLE in Finland, bringing us another step closer to our goal of delivering more coverage of the Olympic Games, across more screens than ever before.”