Mobile Rights to Beijing Olympics Up for Grabs

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has opened the tender process for the sale of the mobile rights for the territory of China for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The Invitation to Tender issued by the IOC provides organisations interested in acquiring the rights with specific guidelines regarding the transmission of Olympic broadcast material over the internet and to mobile platforms within mainland China.

Over the air TV Rights for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 were acquired by CCTV, as part of the Asian Broadcasting Union, in 1998. The IOC is now looking to negotiate directly with media companies for the internet and mobile platform broadcast rights in mainland China.

Timo Lumme, IOC Director of Television and Marketing, said "The IOC is committed to running a competitive tendering process in China, the host territory of the Olympic Games in 2008. The tender process is designed to select media companies that can best serve the ideals and interests of the Olympic Movement and realise the potential of the exciting new media opportunities in China. We are looking for offers that develop the promotion and coverage of the Olympic Games, embrace new technologies and guarantee the widest possible audience in China for the Olympic Games across a variety of media platforms."

Posted to the site on 23rd March 2007