Network Ten‘s Hamish McLennan has scored his first win for the network since taking on the role of CEO less than two months ago.
Media reports indicate that Ten has been the successful bidder for the Australian TV rights to televise the XXII Olympic Winter Games to be held in Sochi, Russia, in February next year.
The network is believed to have bid $20 million for the coverage rights.
The deal marks Ten’s first Olympics coverage since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and their first ever Winter Olympics.
In the past the Winter Olympics have generally been covered on either Seven or Nine, with Nine sharing coverage rights with Foxtel for Vancouver in 2010.
With McLennan in charge Ten is making a concerted effort to increase its sports portfolio since previous management decided not to proceed with AFL coverage beyond the end of 2011 and failed in their bid to gain rights to NRL.
Network Ten is also reported to have bid $500 million for the upcoming Cricket Australia rights deal which if successful will take the sport away from Nine after over 35 years.
Ten already has the rights to cover the 2014 Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Source: Daily Telegraph
UPDATE @ 10:45 AEST 14.5.2013: Network Ten has issued a press release confirming it has acquired the rights to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games:
Ten Network To Broadcast 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Ten Network Holdings today announced it had signed an agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to broadcast the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.
The agreement covers the rights across all broadcast platforms, including free-to-air television, subscription television, internet and mobile phone.
Ten Network Holdings Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Hamish McLennan, said: “We are delighted that Ten will be Australia’s Olympics network in 2014.
“The agreement with the IOC delivers on our strategy to increase our investment in premium sport.
“Australia will field its largest-ever Winter Olympics team at Sochi and we are confident that some of those 56 athletes will be among the Games’ star performers,” Mr McLennan said.
“We are also confident that Australian viewers and advertisers will embrace our coverage of the Sochi Games.”
