Viacom18, one of India’s leading entertainment networks, has secured exclusive rights across the Indian subcontinent to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris through a deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The agreement covers India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
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It will see the broadcaster provide multi-platform coverage of the flagship event, with free-to-air television coverage ensured throughout the region.
As part of the deal, Viacom18 has also gained non-exclusive rights to the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, which will be staged in Gangwon, South Korea.
IOC president Thomas Bach said: “As a dynamic sports and media market, this is an important strategic region for Olympic broadcasting, and this new media rights agreement will help us inspire fans and young people across these countries to engage with Olympic sports and the Olympic values.”
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Viacom18 succeeds pay-television operator Sony Pictures Network, which held rights to the Tokyo 2020 Games and the 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympics in the Indian subcontinent.
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By GlobalDataIt is understood Viacom18 will simulcast coverage of all competitions involving Indian athletes with public broadcaster Prasar Bharati as part of a rule in the country stipulating that all sporting events of national importance must be shown by the broadcaster via its free-to-air Doordarshan Sports channel (DD Sports).
Anil Jayaraj, Viacom18 Sports chief executive, said: “The Olympic movement is getting stronger in India, buoyed by tremendous medal-winning performances by Indian athletes and their inspiring stories, a growing sporting culture, and an exceptionally increased access to top-level content for millions of Indian sporting fans on their devices.
“We are delighted that we can present live Olympics content to each and every Indian through our multiple platforms and are proud to showcase the ultimate pursuit of sporting excellence all athletes embark upon to achieve the peak of sporting glory at Paris 2024.”
The latest deal adds to Viacom18’s growing sports portfolio in the region.
Viacom18, which is owned by Indian conglomerate Reliance and US media group ViacomeCBS, recently covered all matches from the recently completed men’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar on its JioCinema streaming platform.
In June, the broadcaster also secure exclusive digital rights to the popular Indian Premier League cricket competition from 2023 to 2027. It also struck a deal last month with Cricket South Africa to show all international cricket organized by the governing body from 2024 to 2031.
That agreement bolstered Viacom18’s offering of South African cricket and quickly followed on from its 10-year deal with CSA to show the body’s new SA20 Twenty20 league the week before (November 3).
Image: Patrick Smith/Getty Images
