RTÉ Secures Comprehensive Broadcast Rights
for 2016 Olympic Games
RTÉ Sport has confirmed today (16 August 2013) that it has secured extensive broadcast rights to the 2016 Olympic Games across all its platforms, including television, radio, online and mobile.
RTÉ has successfully secured exclusive live free-to-air television broadcast rights for Rio 2016. In addition, RTÉ Sport has also secured broadcast rights for television highlights coverage, radio coverage comprising both live and highlights broadcasts, and comprehensive digital coverage with live, highlights, simulcast and catch-up packages across online and mobile platforms for Rio 2016.
The broadcast rights were awarded to RTÉ by SPORTFIVE International, the sports marketing agency which acquired the broadcast and exhibition rights to Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 in 40 European territories from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is now sublicensing them.
Rio 2016 will be the fourteenth Olympic Games to be broadcast on Irish television. RTÉ has been the broadcast rights holder for Irish television coverage since the first Olympic television coverage in Ireland in 1964 during the Tokyo Olympic Games, with RTÉ being one of only 40 countries worldwide to show the event.
As part of the agreement, RTÉ has also made a commitment to broadcast coverage of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on RTÉ News Now, with the news channel featuring live coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies as well as a daily highlights programme.
Ryle Nugent, Group Head of Sport RTÉ, said: “Building on from the success of RTÉ’s comprehensive coverage of the London 2012 games, we are looking forward to being able to bring the Irish public a wide-ranging level of Olympic coverage across all our platforms once again. The London 2012 Olympics really captured the Irish public’s hearts and minds, with hugely successful performances by a number of our athletes. We hope that these achievements will continue to grow as we look forward to Rio 2016. Whilst in line with our commitment to reduce our sports rights budget, this deal represents a significant investment by RTÉ, particularly in the current economic climate. As the national public service broadcaster, we are proud to provide free-to-air coverage of such a major international event, featuring Irish competitors alongside some of the best athletes in the world, and we feel that it is a key part of our public service remit.”
Commenting on the deal, Shaila-Ann Rao, CEO of SPORTFIVE International, said: “We are delighted to sign this deal with RTÉ Sport in Ireland. RTÉ Sport have a strong track record in broadcasting the Games and we are confident that they will use this experience to provide top quality live coverage and enjoyable programming, both at Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016.”
Ends
Date: 16 August 2013
For further information please contact:
Fergus McCormack, RTÉ Television Press Office, Ph: 208 3117 / 086 8674751, Email: Fergus.mccormack@rte.ie