NBC Obtains Olympic Broadcast Rights Through 2036 Summer Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has solidified a significant USD$3 billion (AUD$4.7 billion) agreement with its long-standing U.S. broadcast partner NBC.

The contract is set to run through the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 2036 Summer Games, marking a new phase in their collaboration.

In a statement released Thursday, the IOC announced that this agreement transforms Comcast NBCUniversal into a strategic partner, moving beyond a traditional media rights holder relationship, with the partnership set to include innovative joint strategic initiatives and projects, with a particular focus on utilising the streaming platform, Peacock.

The IOC expects to leverage Comcast’s investments in relevant and innovative start-ups, which suggests a commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology within the Olympic broadcasting framework.

While the host city for the 2036 Summer Games remains undecided, several countries, including India, Qatar, Turkey, Hungary, and Indonesia, have expressed interest in hosting the prestigious event.

NBC’s most recent Olympic rights agreement, chartered in 2014, originally covered both the Summer and Winter Games through 2032 for a total of USD$7.75 billion (AUD$12.14 billion).

Commenting on the partnership, IOC president, Thomas Bach, said: “By partnering with one of the world’s leading media and technology companies, we will ensure that fans in the United States are able to experience the Olympic Games like never before.”

Comcast chairman and CEO, Brian Roberts, added: “It is our honour to continue to bring the full power of our company’s expertise in creating and distributing content that connects with Americans, as well as to begin to provide even more innovative technological support and solutions to the IOC and its stakeholders in areas that benefit athletes and the many people dedicated to organising the Olympic Games around the world.”

NBC has been a consistent broadcast partner for the Olympics, covering every Summer Games since 1988 and every Winter Games since 2002 in Salt Lake City, continuing a legacy that dates back to the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

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