PARIS — Dutch broadcaster NOS has secured TV and multiplatform broadcast rights to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games from Discovery Communications.
The pact will allow NOS to sub-licence the rights from Discovery, which owns Eurosport and holds exclusive multimedia rights to the Olympic Games for 50 countries and territories in Europe through 2024. As such, NOS viewers will gain access to both the 2018 PyeongChang and 2020 Tokyo Games across multiple platforms.
Eurosport, meanwhile, retains exclusive live rights to the 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games, including ice hockey for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games . NOS will be able to broadcast the highlights.
Through this agreement with NOS, Discovery aims to expand viewership for the Olympic Games across an unprecedented number of screens and digital products in Europe.
“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,” said JB Perrette, president of Discovery Networks International. “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, NOS’s general manager, said NOS has been broadcasting the Olympic Games since 1964. “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.”
The Olympic Games traditionally earns strong ratings in the Netherlands. The 2012 London Games attracted 13.4 million people – an 88% market share — while the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, were watched by 14 million people — a 91% market share.