In a landmark announcement made today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and NBCUniversal came together for a comprehensive Olympic Channel content and distribution partnership in the United States. This collaboration envisions to connect fans to the Olympic Movement all year round.
The Partnership
As a part of the agreement, a new U.S. television network will be launched under the “Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA” brand to offer year-round Olympic-sport programming from around the world with emphases on American athletes and teams, during the second half of 2017. The collaboration complements the Olympic Channel, which launched as a worldwide digital platform following the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Rio 2016. More details about the efforts are being worked out.
Key facts about the Partnership
- The partnership brings additional coverage of Olympic sports programmes that will appear exclusively on other NBCU platforms – including NBC, NBCSN and NBC Sports Digital outlets.
- In a first of such kind, the coverage begins this Saturday, 17 December, with the Team USA Winter Champions Series.
- Collaborative efforts are being worked out to produce and distribute Olympic sports and Olympic-themed programming on a year-round basis between the Games, providing continuity that reflects the idea that, even though the Olympic flame is extinguished at the end of each edition of Games, the athletes’ own compelling stories and journeys continue.
- The partnership will emphasize live events from a broad portfolio of summer and winter Olympic sports. It will also include Olympic-themed original content produced by all three parties, such as original programmes produced by filmmakers from around the world commissioned by the global Olympic Channel; rich archival footage from the IOC and NBCU’s library of Olympic features and documentaries; and original Team USA programming contributed by the USOC.
Statement of Officials
Speaking about the partnership, Mark Parkman, General Manager of the Olympic Channel, said, “Through this exciting new partnership with the USOC and NBCUniversal, we will ensure that U.S. audiences are more closely connected with the Olympic Movement through a more personalised experience. The evolution of the Olympic Channel in the United States is a significant milestone as we expand our distribution options across the globe in conjunction with our broadcast and National Olympic Committee partners. Placing a spotlight on Olympic sports outside the Games themselves will ultimately bring them more deserved attention and help them grow.”
Speaking about the new collaboration, Scott Blackmun, USOC CEO, said, “The launch of the ‘Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA’ partnership marks an exciting opportunity to promote and celebrate Olympic and Paralympic sport year-round. Additionally, launching in conjunction with the inaugural Team USA Winter Champions Series broadcast is a great way to serve the fastest-growing fan base in American sports.”
Speaking about the agreement, Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics, said,“This is wonderful news for fans of Olympic athletes and Olympic sports, and we’re proud to partner with the IOC and USOC to bring the vision of the Olympic Channel to life in the United States. The Olympic Channel partnership will provide multiple, year-round platforms to highlight the incredible achievements and inspiring stories of Olympic athletes and the Olympic values they represent, including a full-time home for Olympic sports when we launch the new linear channel in 2017.”
In line with their plan to take the Olympic Sports to all the locations, the Olympic Channel is developing localised versions, which will offer region- and language-specific user experiences on linear and digital platforms in certain territories, leading to more personalised experiences for Olympic fans around the world. This is following the launch of the global digital product and in partnership with rights-holding broadcast partners and National Olympic Committees.