ARD and ZDF secure rights for the Olympic Games
In addition to Warner Bros. Discovery, the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF have secured the exploitation rights to the Olympic Games for Europe. At that time, the broadcasters paid more than 220 million euros for the rights package from 2018 to 2024.
Dhe Olympic Games from 2026 to 2032 will be shown in the programs of ARD and ZDF. Alongside Warner Bros. Discovery, the public broadcasters secured the exploitation rights to the games for Europe via the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). “Viewers in Germany can look forward to the fact that we will continue to broadcast the Olympic Games in all their sporting diversity free to everyone,” announced ZDF director Norbert Himmler on Monday in Mainz. There was initially no information about the costs.
The new agreement between EBU and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) covers the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the 2030 Winter Games, the venue of which has not been determined, and the 2032 Summer Games in Brisbane, Australia .
All EBU broadcasters will receive the rights for extensive use in their television, radio and digital offerings. Warner Bros. Discovery secured the pay TV rights for its streaming and digital offerings. In Germany, the competitions will also be broadcast on Eurosport, as the broadcaster belonging to the American group announced on Monday.
Discovery had originally acquired the European television rights for the Olympic Games in the period between 2018 and 2024 for 1.3 billion euros. After protracted negotiations, ARD and ZDF were able to secure sublicenses. At that time, the public broadcasters paid 221.5 million euros for the rights package.