View source for Olympics on television

{{short description|International television series}}
{{Cleanup|reason=Change sources called "Česká televize" to "Czech Television" per [[WP:EN]]. Clean-up certain references.|date=November 2024}}
{{Olympic Games sidebar}}
The '''[[Olympic Games]] have been broadcast on television''' since the [[1936 Summer Olympics]].

==1930s==

===1936 Summer Olympics===
The [[1936 Summer Olympics|1936 games]], held in [[Berlin]], [[Germany]], were televised by means of [[closed-circuit television]] to various viewing halls.<ref name="bbcref">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/olympics_1948_gallery_07.shtml|title=The 1948 London Olympics Gallery|website=BBC History|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=2008-08-15}}</ref> Broadcasts of the Games were made available in more than two dozen halls in Berlin, Leipzig and Potsdam and the Olympic village.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Olympic Television: Broadcasting the Biggest Show on Earth|last1=Billings|first1=A.C.|last2=Angelini|first2=J.R.|last3=MacArthur|first3=P.J.|publisher=Routledge|year=2018|isbn=9781138930322}}</ref>

==1940s==

===1948 Summer Olympics===
The [[BBC]] provided coverage of the [[1948 Summer Olympics]] on their [[BBC One|television service]], live from [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] and the [[Wembley Arena|Empire Pool]]. Coverage was mainly limited to the [[London]] area,<ref name="bbcref"/> but could be picked up as far away as the Channel Islands in certain conditions.<ref name="channel">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/genome/entries/bd8d120c-75be-41c2-af34-a4fd3a7caa53 |title=International Football at the 1948 Olympics |last=Hayes |first=Paul |date=8 June 2021 |website=[[BBC Genome Project]]|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>

==1950s==

===1956 Summer Olympics===
{{further|Olympics on Australian television}}
Television service was introduced to [[Australia]] in time for the [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Games]] in [[Melbourne]]. International broadcasting institutions present were [[BBC]], [[CBS]], [[NBC]], [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]] and [[United Press]]. These Games were the first time broadcasting rights were sold.<ref name="eurovision">{{cite web|title=Eurovision and the Olympic Games|url=http://www.eurovision.net/acq/olympics.php|website=eurovision.net|publisher=Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=December 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702015640/http://www.eurovision.net/acq/olympics.php|archive-date=July 2, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="eurovision-connect">{{cite web|title=Eurovision connectivity timeline (1956)|url=http://www.go-eurovision.com/cms/en/about/history?jsite=c49010fa-a809-4b28-a2c8-7363e32879c5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620124055/http://www.go-eurovision.com/cms/en/about/history?jsite=c49010fa-a809-4b28-a2c8-7363e32879c5|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2013|website=go-eurovision.com|access-date=December 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=1956 Melbourne Olympics - Role of the Media|url=http://corporate.olympics.com.au/files/dmfile/1956_Games_RoleMedia.pdf|website=corporate.olympics.com.au|access-date=December 4, 2013|archive-date=October 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017055833/http://corporate.olympics.com.au/files/dmfile/1956_Games_RoleMedia.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Australian Screen - Olympic Post Script (1956)|url=http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/australia-post-olympic/clip1/|publisher=Government of Australia|access-date=December 4, 2013}}</ref>

===1956 Winter Games===
[[RAI]] introduced the first Winter Games coverage ever, and the first Olympic one extended to an international audience. The broadcasts were relayed live via [[Eurovision (network)|Eurovision]] to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, West Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.<ref name="eurovision"/><ref name="eurovision-connect"/>

==1960s==
===UK coverage===
The BBC continued to cover the Olympics for the UK into the 1960s and have covered every summer and winter Olympics since. They were joined by [[ITV Sport|ITV]] in 1968, in addition to also covering the Games in 1972, 1980 and 1988 alongside to the BBC. ITV skipped 1976 after having a suggestion for German-style alternating coverage turned down by the BBC, and an industrial dispute prevented coverage of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The Games returned to ITV screens in 1988, sharing their coverage with [[Channel 4]], who showed overnight and breakfast coverage with ITV covering the daytime action as well as broadcasting early evening highlights programmes. The 1988 Olympics were the last time that the Games have been shown on ITV with subsequent Olympic Games being shown only on the BBC. ITV only broadcast the [[Winter Olympics]] in 1968.

===1960 Winter Games===
[[CBS]] paid [[United States dollar|$]]50,000 for the right to broadcast the [[1960 Winter Olympics|games]] in the United States, and this marked the first time the Olympic Games were televised there.<ref name=MBC>{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=olympicsand |title=OLYMPICS AND TELEVISION |work=Museum of Broadcast Communications |publisher=museum.tv |access-date=2010-01-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628200608/http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=olympicsand |archive-date=2011-06-28 }}</ref> Also, officials, unsure if a skier had missed a gate in the men's slalom, asked CBS if they could review a videotape of the race. This would be the impetus and inspiration for CBS to develop what would come to be known as "[[instant replay]]."<ref name=Olympic.org>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/innovations_uk.asp?OLGT=2&OLGY=1960|title=Olympic Games Medals, Results, Sports, Athletes - Medailles, Resultats, Sports et Athletes des Jeux Olympiques|work=olympic.org|date=14 July 2021}}</ref>

===1960 Summer Olympics===
[[CBS]] paid $394,000 (${{Format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|394,000|1960}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}}) for the exclusive rights to broadcast the Games in the United States.  This was the first Summer Olympic games to be telecast in [[North America]].  In addition to CBS in the United States, the Olympics were telecast for the first time in [[Canada]] (on [[CBC Television]]) and in [[Mexico]] (through the networks of [[Televisa|Telesistema Mexicano]]). Since television broadcast satellites were still two years into the future, CBS, CBC, and TSM shot and edited videotapes in Rome, fed the tapes to Paris where they were re-recorded onto other tapes, which were then loaded onto jet planes to North America. Planes carrying the tapes landed at [[Idlewild Airport]] in [[New York City]], where mobile units fed the tapes to CBS, to Toronto for the CBC, and to Mexico City for Televisa. Despite this arrangement, many daytime events were broadcast in North America, especially on CBS and CBC, the same day they took place.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/O/htmlO/olympicsand/olympicsand.htm |title=OLYMPICS AND TELEVISION - The Museum of Broadcast Communications |publisher=Museum.tv |access-date=2011-03-23 |archive-date=2009-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727104517/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/O/htmlO/olympicsand/olympicsand.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Television was broadcast live in Europe (including the UK) via the Eurovision television network

===1964 Summer Olympics===
The [[Tokyo 1964]] games were the first to be telecast internationally. The games were telecast to the United States using [[Syncom 3]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,876272,00.html|title=For Gold, Silver & Bronze|date=16 October 1964|magazine=TIME|access-date=5 January 2010 <!--DASHBot-->|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621141102/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,876272,00.html|archive-date=21 June 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> the first [[geostationary]] communication satellite, and from there to Europe using [[Relay 1]], an older satellite which allowed only 15–20 minutes of broadcast during each of its orbits.<ref name="martin_2000">{{cite book|last=Martin|first=Donald H.|title=Communications Satellites|publisher=The Aerospace Press|location=El Segundo, CA|year=2000|edition=fourth|pages=8–9|isbn=1-884989-09-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_azf94TByF8C&q=Relay+1|access-date=31 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213010311/http://books.google.com/books?id=_azf94TByF8C&dq=%E2%80%9CCommunications+Satellites%E2%80%9D&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=FmAl0E1Lhw&sig=VJJDtAkVOiuNPN859rsm3o69tNU&hl=en&ei=UczsSojPHYbwMdGzgIQM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBAQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=Relay%201&f=false|archive-date=13 December 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NASA-SP-93">{{cite web|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19660009169_1966009169.pdf|title=Significant Achievements in Space Communications and Navigation, 1958–1964|year=1966|work=NASA-SP-93|publisher=NASA|pages=30–32|access-date=31 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514083032/http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19660009169_1966009169.pdf|archive-date=14 May 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Total broadcast time of programs delivered via satellite was 5 hours 41 minutes in the United States, 12 hours 27 minutes in Europe, and 14 hours 18 minutes in Canada. Pictures were received via satellite in the United States, Canada, and 21 countries in Europe.<ref name="committee_v1p2_communications">{{Harvnb|Organizing Committee|1964|pp=381–400}}</ref> Several broadcasters recorded some sports from Japan and flown over to their countries.

[[Transpac (cable system)|TRANSPAC-1]], the first trans-Pacific [[Submarine communications cable|communications cable]] from Japan to Hawaii was also finished in June 1964 in time for these games. Before this, most communications from Japan to other countries were via shortwave.<ref name="committee_v1p2_communications"/>

===1968 Winter Games===
Frenchman [[Jean-Claude Killy]] won three gold medals in all the [[alpine skiing]] events. In women's [[figure skating]], [[Peggy Fleming]] won the only [[United States]] gold medal. The [[1968 Winter Olympics|games]]<ref name=MBC/> have been credited with making the Winter Olympics more popular in the United States, not least of which because of [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s extensive coverage of Fleming and Killy, who became overnight sensations among teenage girls.

==1970s==

===1972 Summer Olympics===
{{main|1972 Summer Olympics}}

====Munich massacre====
{{main|Munich massacre}}
Initial news reports, published all over the world, indicated that all the hostages were alive, and that all the terrorists had been killed. Only later did a representative for the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) suggest that "initial reports were overly optimistic." [[Jim McKay]], who was covering the Olympics that year for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], had taken on the job of reporting the events as [[Roone Arledge]] fed them into his earpiece. At 3:24 A.M. (German Time), McKay received the official confirmation:

{{blockquote|When I was a kid, my father used to say, 'Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized.' Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They’ve now said that there were eleven hostages. Two were killed in their rooms yesterday morning, nine were killed at the airport tonight. They’re all gone.<ref name = "aso">{{cite web|url=http://www.americansportscastersonline.com/mckay5questions.html|title=McKay, Jim - 5 Questions for Jim McKay|work=American Sportscasters Association}}</ref>}}

==1980s==

===1980 Winter Games===

====Miracle on Ice====
{{main|Miracle on Ice}}

The rest of the United States (except those who watched the game live on Canadian television) would have to wait to see the game, as [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] decided to broadcast the late-afternoon game on [[broadcast delay|tape delay]] in [[prime time]].

Though the game was on live [[television]] in the Soviet Union, it was played at 1:00 AM Moscow time. This afforded [[CPSU]] officials some ability to squelch news and discussion; ''[[Pravda]]'' did not carry a game report or mention the match in its post-Olympic wrap-up, and the hockey players were quickly and quietly herded away from the arrival reception for Olympic athletes at Moscow's airport.

===1980 Summer Olympics===
Major broadcasters of the [[1980 Summer Olympics|games]] were ''USSR State TV and Radio'' (1,370 accreditation cards), [[Eurovision Network|Eurovision]] (31 countries, 818 cards) and [[International Radio and Television Organisation|Intervision]] (11 countries, 342 cards).<ref name="Brc">{{cite book|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/5va/reports_frmst.htm |title=1980 Summer Olympics Official Report from the Organizing Committee |volume=2 |page=379 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622162855/http://www.la84foundation.org/5va/reports_frmst.htm |archive-date=2006-06-22 }}</ref> [[Asahi TV]] with 68 cards provided coverage for [[Japan]], while [[Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana|OTI]] representing the Spanish-speaking world received 59 cards, [[TVNZ]] (New Zealand) was aired live and the [[Seven Network|Channel Seven]] provided coverage for [[Australia]] (48 cards).<ref name="Brc"/> [[NBC]],<ref name=MBC/> which had intended to be another major broadcaster, canceled its coverage in response to the U.S. [[boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics]], and became a minor broadcaster with 56 accreditation cards,<ref name="Brc"/> although the network did air highlights and recaps of the games on a regular basis. The [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] almost canceled their plans for coverage after Canada took part in the boycott and was represented by 9 cards.<ref name="Brc"/>

The television centre used 20 TV channels. Montreal had used 16, Munich 12, Mexico City 7.

===1984 Summer Olympics===
The price for ABC's 180 hours of television was $225 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.terramedia.co.uk/media/change/olympic_games_1984.htm|title=Olympic Games and the Media: 1984 Los Angeles|work=terramedia.co.uk}}</ref> All Los Angeles radio and television stations covered the [[1984 Summer Olympics|Olympics]]<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/O/htmlO/olympicsand/olympicsand.htm|title=The Museum of Broadcast Communications - Encyclopedia of Television|work=museum.tv|access-date=2008-07-05|archive-date=2009-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727104517/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/O/htmlO/olympicsand/olympicsand.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> extensively throughout the event. The Summer broadcast rights almost tripled from 1980 to 1984 ($87 million to $225 million) and both Winter and Summer rights have gone for $300 million or more since 1988.

===1988 Winter Olympics===
{{main|List of 1988 Winter Olympics broadcasters|1988 Winter Olympics}}
The American host network, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], paid a then record {{currency|309|USD}} million, while the main host broadcaster, the Canadian [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] television network, won the domestic rights for {{currency|4.5|CAD}} million. A further $90 million was raised by sponsorships and licenses.

===1988 Summer Olympics===
The games were covered by the following broadcasters:

{{div col|colwidth=35em}}
* {{flag|Argentina}}: [[Argentina Televisora Color]], [[El Trece (Argentina)|Canal 13]], [[Telefe|Canal 11]]
* {{flag|Australia}}: [[Network Ten]]
*{{flag|Bolivia}}: [[Televisión Boliviana|TVB]], [[Unitel Bolivia|UNITEL]]
* {{flag|Brazil|1968}}: [[Rede Globo]], [[Rede Manchete]], [[Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão|SBT]], [[TVE Brasil]], [[Rede Record]] and [[Rede Bandeirantes]]
* {{flag|Brunei}}: [[Radio Televisyen Brunei|RTB]] [[RTB Perdana|Channel 5]] and [[Radio Televisyen Brunei|RTB]] [[RTB Aneka|Channel 8]]
* {{flag|Canada}}: [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]
* {{flag|Chile}}: [[Televisión Nacional de Chile|TVN]], [[Canal 13 (Chile)|UCTV]]
* {{flag|China}}: [[China Central Television|CCTV]]
* {{flag|Colombia}}: [[Inravisión]] ([[Channel 1 (Colombia)|Cadena Uno]]: [[RTI Producciones|RTI]], [[Producciones PUNCH|PUNCH]], [[Caracol Televisión|Caracol]], [[Producciones JES|JES]], [[RCN Televisión|RCN]] & [[Datos y Mensajes]])
* {{flag|East Germany}} : [[Deutscher Fernsehfunk|DFF]]
* {{flag|France}}: [[TF1]]
* {{flag|Hong Kong|colonial}}: [[Asia Television|ATV]] and [[TVB]]
* {{flag|Hungary|1957}}: [[Magyar Televízió]]
* {{flag|India}}: [[Doordarshan]]
* {{flag|Indonesia}}: [[Televisi Republik Indonesia|TVRI Jakarta]]
* {{flag|Ireland}}: [[RTÉ]]
* {{flag|Italy}}: [[RAI]]
* {{flag|Japan|1870}}: [[Japan Consortium]]
* {{flag|Macau|colonial}}: [[Teledifusão de Macau|TDM]]
* {{flag|Malaysia}}: [[Radio Televisyen Malaysia|RTM]] [[TV1 (Malaysia)|TV1]] and [[Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad|STMB]] [[TV3 (Malaysia)|TV3]]
* {{flag|Mexico}}: [[Televisa]]
* {{flag|Netherlands}}: [[Netherlands Public Broadcasting|NPO]]
* {{flag|New Zealand}}: [[TVNZ]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: [[NRK]]
* {{flag|Peru}}: [[Global Television (Peruvian TV network)|Stereo 33]]
* {{flag|Philippines|1986}}: [[People's Television Network|PTV-4]]
* {{flag|Poland}}: [[Telewizja Polska|TVP]]
* {{flag|Portugal}}: [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|RTP]]
* {{flag|Puerto Rico|1952}}: [[WAPA-TV]]
* {{flag|Romania|1965}}: [[Televiziunea Română|TVR]]
* {{flag|Singapore}}: [[Singapore Broadcasting Corporation|SBC]] [[MediaCorp TV12|Channel 12]]
* {{flag|South Korea|1984}}: [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]] and [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]]
* {{flag|Soviet Union}}: [[Soviet Central Television|CT-USSR]]
* {{flag|Spain}}: [[Televisión Española|TVE]]
* {{flag|Sweden}}: [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
* {{flag|Taiwan}} (as {{flag|Chinese Taipei}}): [[Taiwan Television|TTV]], [[China Television|CTV]] and [[Chinese Television System|CTS]]
* {{flag|Thailand}}: [[National Broadcasting Services of Thailand|National Television Thailand]]
* {{flag|Turkey}}: [[TRT]]
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}: [[BBC]]
* {{flag|United States|1960}}: [[NBC]]
* {{flag|Venezuela}}: [[Venevision]]
* {{flag|West Germany}}: [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] and [[ZDF]]
{{div col end}}

==1990s==

===1992 Winter Olympics===

CBS televised the Winter Olympics from Albertville, France, for the first time since 1960, while US cable broadcaster Turner Network Television televises the Games for the first time in its history.

===1992 Summer Olympics===
{{main|Triplecast}}

The exploding costs of the Games sent networks looking for alternative strategies to ease the financial burden. In 1992, NBC made an attempt at utilizing pay-per-view subscriptions with the "Olympic Triplecast", which was organized in conjunction with Cablevision and intended to sell packages of commercial-free, extensive programming.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

[[NBC]], which had the broadcast rights to the [[1992 Summer Olympics|games]], partnered with [[Cablevision]] for the experiment, believing that people would pay between $95 and $170 to see events live that would normally be shown on [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]] on the network in [[prime time]]. By the time the games began, relatively few people had ordered the package, which featured Red, White and Blue channels on a special three-button [[remote control]] offered by some cable operators for free as a lure to sign up for the service.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4895/is_199201/ai_n17999082 {{Bare URL inline|date=September 2022}}</ref>

The plan was a failure, mainly due to viewers' reluctance to pay to see some events when network coverage of others was free of charge. NBC and Cablevision would lose millions of dollars, with one estimate putting their losses at [[United States dollar|$]]100 million.

The games were covered by the following broadcasters:
*{{flag|Algeria}}: [[ENTV]]
*{{flag|Argentina}}: [[Argenvisión|Channel 20]], [[América TV]], [[Telefe]] [[Channel 13 (Argentina)|Channel 13]]
*{{flag|Australia}}: [[Seven Network]]
*{{flag|Austria}}: [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]
*{{flag|Belarus|1991}}: [[Belarus TV|btv]]
*{{flag|Belgium}}: [[BRTN]], [[RTBF]]
*{{flag|Brazil}}: [[Rede Bandeirantes]], [[Rede Globo]], [[Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão|SBT]], [[Rede Manchete]], [[SporTV|TopSport]]
*{{flag|Bulgaria}}: [[BNT]]
*{{flag|Canada}}: [[CTV Television Network|CTV]], [[TVA (Canada)|TVA]]
*{{flag|China}}: [[China Central Television|CCTV]]
*{{flag|Chile}}: [[Channel 13 (Chile)|Channel 13]], [[Televisión Nacional de Chile|TVN]]
*{{flag|Colombia}}: [[Canal A]]
*{{flag|Croatia}}: [[Croatian Radiotelevision|HRT]]
*{{flag|Cuba}}: [[Cuban Institute of Radio and Television|ICRT]]
*{{flag|Cyprus}}: [[CyBC]]
*{{flag|Czechoslovakia}}: [[ČST]]
*{{flag|Denmark}}: [[DR (broadcaster)|DR]]
*{{flag|Egypt}}: [[ERTU]]
*{{flag|Estonia}}: [[Eesti Televisioon|ETV]]
*{{flag|Finland}}: [[Yle]]
*{{flag|France}}: [[Antenne 2]], [[FR3]], [[TF1]], [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]]
*{{flag|Germany}}: [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]], [[RTL Television|RTL]], [[ZDF]]
*{{flag|Greece}}:
*{{flag|Hong Kong|colonial}}: [[TVB]] ([[TVB Jade|Cantonese]] & [[TVB Pearl|English]]), [[Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific|STAR TV]] ([[STAR Chinese Channel|Chinese]] & [[STAR World|English]])
*{{flag|Hungary}}: [[Magyar Televízió|MTV]]
*{{flag|Iceland}}: [[RÚV]]
*{{flag|India}}: [[Doordarshan]]
*{{flag|Indonesia}}: [[TVRI (TV channel)|TVRI]], [[RCTI]], [[SCTV (Indonesian TV network)|SCTV]]
*{{flag|Iran}}: [[Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting]]
*{{flag|Ireland}}: [[RTÉ]]
*{{flag|Israel}}: [[Israel Broadcasting Authority|IBA]]
*{{flag|Italy}}: [[RAI]]
*{{flag|Japan|1870}}: [[Japan Consortium]]
*{{flag|Jordan}}: [[JRTV]]
*{{flag|Lebanon}}: [[Télé Liban]]
*{{flag|Libya|1977}}: [[LJBC]]
*{{flag|Lithuania|1990}}: [[LRT televizija|LTV]]
*{{flag|Luxembourg}}: [[RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg|RTL]] 
*{{flag|Macau|colonial}}: [[TDM (Macau)|TDM]], [[Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific|STAR TV]] ([[STAR Chinese Channel|Chinese]] & [[STAR World|English]])
*{{flag|Malaysia}}: [[Radio Televisyen Malaysia|RTM]] ([[TV1 (Malaysia)|TV1]] & [[TV2 (Malaysia)|TV2]]), [[Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad|STMB]] ([[TV3 (Malaysia)|TV3]])
*{{flag|Malta}}: [[Public Broadcasting Services|MBA]]
*{{flag|Mexico}}: [[Televisa]]
*{{flag|Monaco}}: [[Radio Monte Carlo|RMC]]
*{{flag|Mongolia}}: [[Mongolian National Broadcaster|MNB]]
*{{flag|Morocco}}: [[Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision|RTM]]
*{{flag|Netherlands}}: [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]
*{{flag|New Zealand}}: [[TVNZ]]
*{{flag|Norway}}: [[NRK]]
*{{flag|Pakistan}}: [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]]
*{{flag|Philippines|1985}}: [[ABS-CBN]]
*{{flag|Poland}}: [[Telewizja Polska|TVP]]
*{{flag|Portugal}}: [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|RTP]]
*{{flag|Puerto Rico|1952}}: [[Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation|WIPR]]
*{{flag|Romania}}: [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|RTP]]
*{{flag|Russia}}: [[Channel One (Russia)|Public Russian Television]], [[All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company|VGTRK Olympiade]]
*{{flag|Singapore}}: [[Singapore Broadcasting Corporation|SBC]] [[MediaCorp TV12|Channel 12]]
*{{flag|Slovenia}}: [[RTVSLO]]
*{{flag|South Africa|1982}}: [[SABC]]
*{{flag|South Korea|1984}}: [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]] ([[KBS 1TV]]), [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]], [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]]
*{{flag|Spain}}: [[Televisión Española|TVE]]
*{{flag|Sweden}}: [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
*{{flag|Switzerland}}: [[SRG SSR]], [[Radiotelevisione svizzera#Televisione svizzera di lingua italiana|TSI]]
*{{flag|Taiwan}}: [[Taiwan Television|TTV]], [[China Television|CTV]], [[Chinese Television System|CTS]]
*{{flag|Thailand}}: [[Channel 3 (Thailand)|Channel 3]], [[Channel 5 (Thailand)|Channel 5]], [[Channel 7 (Thailand)|Channel 7]], [[Channel 9 (Thailand)|Channel 9]], [[National Broadcasting Services of Thailand|Television Thailand Channel 11]]
*{{flag|Tunisia}}: [[ERTT]]
*{{flag|Turkey}}: [[TRT]]
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}: [[BBC]]
*{{flag|United States}}: [[NBC]], [[Cablevision]]
*{{flag|Venezuela|1954}}: [[Venevisión]]

===1994 Winter Games===
{{main|1994 Winter Olympics}}
When the construction of the [[Lysgårdsbakkene]] jumping hills started in 1992, the hills had to be moved some meters north so that the American broadcaster [[CBS]] could get the best pictures available from their pre-chosen location. {{citation needed|date=June 2015}} CBS became the largest source of revenue for the hosts.

===1996 Summer Olympics===

For [[Atlanta 1996]], [[NBC]] bought the broadcasting rights for US$456 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com:443/en/Journal/Issues/2016/07/18/Olympics/Atlanta%20by%20the%20numbers.aspx|title=Atlanta Olympics: By The Numbers|date=July 18, 2016|website=Sports Business Daily|language=en|access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> The [[European Broadcasting Union]] paid US$240 million for broadcasting rights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Case Study: The European Broadcasting Union |url=https://www.itu.int/newsarchive/wtd/1996/ebu.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=www.itu.int |quote=The EBU has secured the rights to broadcast the Atlanta Olympic Games for a cost of $US240 million. Within its coverage area, 54 television organizations will broadcast the event throughout 44 countries, making use of 20 satellite channels.}}</ref>

Other broadcasters included:

*{{flag|Brazil}}: [[Rede Globo]], [[Rede Manchete]], [[Rede Bandeirantes]], [[Rede Record]], [[Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão|SBT]], [[Central Nacional de Televisão|CNT]], [[TVE Brasil]], [[ESPN Brasil]], [[PSN Brasil]]
*{{flag|China}}: [[China Central Television|CCTV]]
*{{flag|Canada}}: [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]
*{{flag|France}}: [[TF1]], [[France Télévisions|FTV]], [[Eurosport]]
*{{flag|Germany}}: [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]], [[ZDF]]
*{{flag|India}}: [[Doordarshan]]
*{{flag|Indonesia}}: [[TVRI (TV channel)|TVRI]], [[RCTI]], [[SCTV (Indonesian TV network)|SCTV]], [[antv|Anteve]] and [[Indosiar]]
*{{flag|Italy}}: [[RAI]]
*{{flag|Japan|1870}}: [[Japan Consortium]]
*{{flag|Malaysia}}: [[Radio Televisyen Malaysia|RTM]]
*{{flag|Philippines|1986}}: [[People's Television Network|PTV]]
*{{flag|Russia}}: [[Channel One (Russia)|Public Russian Television]], [[All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company|VGTRK Olympiade]]
*{{flag|Singapore}}: [[MediaCorp TV12|Singapore Television Twelve]]
*{{flag|South Korea|1984}}: [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]], [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]], [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]]
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}: [[BBC]]
*{{flag|United States}}: [[NBC]], [[MSNBC]] and [[CNBC]]

===1998 Winter Games===
The [[Nagano 1998]] Games were covered by the following broadcasters:
*[[Asia]]: [[Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union|ABU]], [[Asia Television|ATV]]
*{{flag|Australia}}: [[Seven Network]]
*{{flag|Canada}}: [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]
*{{flag|China}}: [[China Central Television|CCTV]]
*{{flag|Europe}}: [[EBU]], [[Eurosport]]
*{{flag|Finland}}: [[YLE]]
*{{flag|Germany}}: [[ARD (TV)|ARD]], [[ZDF]]
*{{flag|Italy}}: [[RAI]]
*{{flag|Jamaica}} [[CVM TV]]
*{{flag|Japan}}: [[Japan Consortium]]
*{{flag|Malaysia}}: [[Astro (company)|Astro]]
*{{flag|Norway}}: [[NRK]]
*[[North Africa]]: [[URTNA]]
*{{flag|New Zealand}}: [[TVNZ]]
*[[Sub-Saharan Africa]]: [[SuperSport (South African broadcaster)|SuperSport]]
*{{flag|South Africa}}: 
*{{flag|South Korea}}: [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]]
*[[South America]]: [[Organización de Telecomunicaciones de Iberoamérica|OTI]]
*{{flag|Sweden}}: [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
*{{flag|Ukraine}}: [[National Television Company of Ukraine|NTU]]
*{{flag|United States}}: [[CBS]], [[Turner Broadcasting]]
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}: [[BBC]]

==2000s==

===2000 Summer Olympics===

Most of the footage used by international broadcasters of the Opening and Closing Ceremony was directed out of SOBO (Sydney Olympic Broadcasting Organisation) by Australian director [[Peter Faiman]].  In [[Sydney]] in [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000]], there were over 16,000 broadcasters and journalists, and an estimated 3.8 billion viewers [[broadcasting of sports events|watched the games]] on [[television]].

The [[2000 Summer Olympics|games]] were covered by the following broadcasters:
*{{flag|Australia}}: [[Seven Network]]
*{{flag|Ireland}}: [[RTÉ]]
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}: [[BBC]]
*{{flag|United States}}: [[NBC]]
*{{flag|Spain}}: [[RTVE]]
*{{flag|Portugal}}: [[Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|RTP]]
*{{flag|Sweden}}: [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
*{{flag|Canada}}: [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] and [[The Sports Network|TSN]]
*{{flag|Japan}}: [[NHK]]
*{{flag|South Korea|1997}}: [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]]
*{{flag|Germany}}: [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] and [[ZDF]]
*{{flag|France}}: [[France Télévisions]] ([[France 2]] and [[France 3]]) and [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]]
*{{flag|Philippines}}: [[People's Television Network|PTV]]
*{{flag|Mexico}}: [[Televisa]] and [[TV Azteca]]
*{{flag|New Zealand}}: [[TVNZ]]
*{{flag|Brazil}}: [[Rede Globo]], [[Rede Bandeirantes]], [[ESPN Brasil]] and [[SporTV]]
*{{flag|Italy}}: [[RAI]]
*{{flag|Ukraine}}: [[National Television Company of Ukraine|NTU]]
*{{flag|Indonesia}}: [[TVRI (TV channel)|TVRI]] and [[RCTI]]
*{{flag|Vietnam}}: [[Vietnam Television|VTV]]
*{{flag|Colombia}}: [[Señal Colombia]] (from 19 September, local time, until their conclusion, after [[Caracol TV]] and [[RCN TV]] declined to broadcast the games)<ref name="sydney2000colombia1">{{cite news |title=Colombia aún espera la señal |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-1264617 |access-date=11 July 2024 |work=[[El Tiempo (Colombia)|El Tiempo]] |date=13 September 2000}}</ref><ref name="sydney2000colombia2">{{cite news |title=Medalla de lata |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-1247710 |access-date=11 July 2024 |work=[[El Tiempo (Colombia)|El Tiempo]] |date=21 September 2000}}</ref><ref name="sydney2000colombia3">{{cite news |title=Algo más que un juego |author= Martha Luz Monroy |url=https://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/MAM-1219410 |access-date=11 July 2024 |work=[[El Tiempo (Colombia)|El Tiempo]] |date=29 September 2000}}</ref>

Running up to the games an Australian comedy satire, ''[[The Games (television)|The Games]]'', was broadcast in Australia (it was also broadcast, at a later date, in New Zealand). It featured a spoof of the issues and events that the top-level organisers and bureaucrats suffered in the lead up to the games.

A poignant part of the media coverage happened in the Canadian broadcast. On 28 September, the CBC was airing the Olympics, when the network's chief correspondent, [[Peter Mansbridge]], broke in to report the [[Death and state funeral of Pierre Trudeau|death of former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau]].

NBC presented over 400+ hours on their main and sister stations, [[CNBC]] and [[MSNBC]]. The downside of the American coverage was that it was presented on tape delay rather than live due to the 15-hour time difference. The lone exception was the gold medal game in Men's Basketball, which featured the U.S. defeating France 85–75. The game was televised live in primetime on Saturday, 30 September (EDT), which was the afternoon of Sunday, 1 October in Australia.

===2002 Winter Games===
An estimated 2.1 billion viewers from 160 countries watched over 13 billion viewing hours during the [[2002 Winter Olympics]]. The average worldwide viewer watched 6 hr 15 min of coverage, while the viewers in the game's host county of the United States watched an average of 29 hours each.<ref name="SLC_marketing_report">{{cite book |title=The Salt Lake 2002 Marketing Report |publisher=International Olympic Committee |year=2002 |page=15 |url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reports/EN/en_report_560.pdf |access-date=20 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211030428/http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reports/EN/en_report_560.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=International Sports Broadcasting Company |url=http://2002.ksl.com/news-2824i.php?p=1 |newspaper=KSL-TV |date=20 October 2001 |access-date=20 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927132301/http://2002.ksl.com/news-2824i.php?p=1 |archive-date=2011-09-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Salt Lake Organizing Committee]] (SLOC) used the organization International Sports Broadcasting (ISB), who had over 400 cameras, to provide a live video feed of competitions and ceremonies. The various official broadcasting companies in the 160 different countries could then tap into the feed and air the programs live or on a taped delay in their respective markets.<ref name="SLC_marketing_report"/>

{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left; margin-right:50px; font-size:100%"
|- 
! align=center | Area
! align=center | Olympic Broadcast Partner
|- 
| align=left | {{USA}} || National Broadcasting Company, Inc. (NBC)
|- 
| align=left | {{flag|Canada}} || Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
|-
| align=left | Hispanic America || Organización de la Television Ibero-Americana (OTI)
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Europe}} || European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Australia}} || Seven Network Limited
|-
| align=left | {{flag|New Zealand}} || TV New Zealand (TVNZ)
|-
| align=left | Asia || Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Japan}} || Japan Olympic Pool
|-
| align=left | {{flag|South Korea}} || Korean Olympic Pool
|-
| align=left | South Africa || Supersport International
|}

===2004 Summer Olympics===
[[NBC Universal]] paid the IOC $793 million for U.S. broadcast rights,<ref>{{Cite web|first=Krysten|last=Crawford|title=NBC Universal rings in Athens profits|url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/08/30/news/fortune500/nbc_olympics/|website=CNN Money|publisher=CNN|date=August 30, 2004}}</ref> the most paid by any country. [[NBC]] made it possible for the network to broadcast over 1200 hours of coverage during the [[2004 Summer Olympics]], triple what was broadcast in the U.S. [[2000 Summer Olympics|four years earlier]]. Between all the NBC Universal networks (NBC, [[CNBC]], [[MSNBC]], [[Bravo (US TV network)|Bravo]], [[USA Network]] and [[Telemundo]]) the games were on television 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In their 2004 coverage, NBC and its sister networks presented live coverage throughout the morning and afternoon, while showing marquee events pre-taped in prime time.

For the first time, major broadcasters were allowed to serve video coverage of the Olympics over the [[Internet]], provided that they restricted this service geographically, to protect broadcasting contracts in other areas. For instance, the [[BBC]] made their complete live coverage available to UK high-speed Internet customers for free.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pfanner |first=Eric |title=Athens Games beating Sydney in TV race|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/30/tv30_ed3_.php|newspaper=[[International Herald Tribune]]|date=August 30, 2004|access-date=August 18, 2006|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912020526/http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/08/30/tv30_ed3_.php |archive-date=September 12, 2007 }}</ref>

[[NBC]] launched its own Olympic website, NBCOlympics.com. Focusing on the television coverage of the games, it did provide video clips, medal standings, live results. Its main purpose, however, was to provide a schedule of what sports were on the many stations of NBC Universal. The games were on TV 24 hours a day on one network or another.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

===2006 Winter Olympics===
The [[2006 Olympic Winter Games]] were broadcast worldwide by a number of television broadcasters:
*An extensive list of official broadcasters is found at [https://web.archive.org/web/20060830195653/http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/OlympicGames/gare_e_programma/tv_sport.html The Games on Television] section of the Torino Games official site.
*The [[BBC]] provided television and radio coverage of the winter Olympics in the [[UK]] - the TV coverage was presented mainly by ''[[Grandstand (BBC)|Grandstand]]'' regulars such as [[Hazel Irvine]] and [[Clare Balding]]. Most of the coverage was shown on [[BBC Two]], with some on [[BBC One]], and there was also [[BBC Red Button]] for [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], [[Satellite]] and [[cable television|Cable]] (digital TV) viewers.  BBC also broadcast many events live on the webcast [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] provides an extra two screens whereas all three interactive streams were available to UK users only on [[BBC]] and Digital Satellite and Cable such as [[Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)|Sky Digital]].
*[[Eurosport]] also provided live coverage of events to viewers across the EU and Europe.
*[[American Forces Network]] rebroadcast some of this coverage for [[Military of the United States|military personnel]] serving outside the United States.
*[[Globosat|SportTV2]] broadcast for the first time all days and all events in Brazil.
*[[Česká televize|ČT4 Sport]] was introduced on the occasion of the Olympic Games in the Czech Republic.

{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left; margin-right:50px; font-size:100%"
|- 
! align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcasting organization
|- 
| align=left | {{flag|Australia}} || [[Seven Network]]
|- 
| align=left | {{flag|Austria}} || [[ORF (broadcaster)|ORF]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|Belgium}} || [[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep|VRT]]
|-
| [[RTBF]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Brazil}} || [[Globosat|SportTV2]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="5"| {{flag|Canada}} || [[CBC Television|CBC]]
|-
| [[The Sports Network|TSN]]
|-
| [[Réseau des sports|RDS]]
|-
| [[Télévision de Radio-Canada|Radio-Canada]]
|-
| [[CBC Country Canada]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|China}} || [[CCTV-5]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Croatia}} || [[Croatian Radiotelevision|HRT]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|Czech Republic}} || [[ČT]]
|-
| [[Česká televize|ČT4 Sport]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Denmark}} || [[TV 2 (Denmark)|TV2]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Estonia}} || [[ETV (Estonia)|ETV]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Finland}} || [[YLE]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|France}} || [[France 2]]
|-
| [[France 3]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|Germany}} || [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]
|-
| [[ZDF]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Greece}} || [[Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi|ERT]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Iceland}} || [[RÚV]] 
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Ireland}} || [[RTÉ]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Israel}} || [[Channel 2 (Israel)|Channel 2]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Italy}} || [[RAI]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Latvia}} || [[LTV7]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Luxembourg}} || [[RTL Group|RTL]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Japan}} || [[NHK]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Malaysia}} || [[Astro (satellite TV)|Astro]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|Mexico}} || [[Televisa]]
|-
| [[TV Azteca]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Montenegro}} || [[RTCG 1]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|Netherlands}} || [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]
|-
| [[Nederland 2]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|New Zealand}} || [[TVNZ]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|Norway}} || [[NRK]]
|-
| [[SportN]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Poland}} || [[Telewizja Polska|TVP]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Romania}} || [[Televiziunea Română|TVR]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|Russia}} || [[Channel One (Russia)|C1R]]
|-
| [[Russia TV Channel|RTR]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Serbia}} || [[Radio Television of Serbia|RTS]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Singapore}} || [[Channel 5 (Singaporean TV channel)|MediaCorp 5]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="3"| {{flag|South Korea|1997}} || [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]]
|-
| [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]]
|-
| [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Spain}} || [[Televisión Española|TVE]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Sweden}} || [[Sveriges Television|SVT]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| {{flag|Switzerland}} || [[SF DRS|SSR]]
|-
| [[Télévision Suisse Romande|TSR]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Turkey}} || [[TRT]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|Ukraine}} || [[National Television Company of Ukraine|NTU]]
|-
| align=left | {{flag|United Kingdom}} || [[BBC]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;" rowspan="6"| {{flag|United States}} || [[NBC]]
|-
| [[CNBC]]
|-
| [[MSNBC]]
|-
| [[USA Network]]
|-
| [[Telemundo]]
|-
| [[Universal HD]]
|}

About 40% of the television coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics was in [[high-definition television|high definition]].<ref>{{Cite web|first=Martyn|last=Williams|title=Olympics goes all-HD for the first time|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2532236/olympics-goes-all-hd-for-the-first-time.html|website=Computer World|date=8 August 2008}}</ref>

====Ratings and attendance====
Numerous events reported low spectator attendance despite having acceptable ticket sales. Preliminary competition and locally less popular sports failed to attract capacity crowd as expected. Organizers explained this was because blocks of seats were reserved or purchased by sponsors and partners who later did not show up at the events.

Several news organizations reported that many Americans were not interested in the Olympics as in years past.<ref name="Interest">{{cite news|first=Amy|last=Shipley|title=Ciao to the Winter Games |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/26/AR2006022600137_pf.html |date=2006-02-26|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2007-04-19}}</ref> It has been suggested that reasons for this disinterest include the [[tape delayed]] coverage, which showed events in [[prime-time]] as much as 18 hours later in the [[Western United States|West]].<ref name="Ratings">{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/winter06/columns/story?id=2345588|first=Jim|last=Caple|title=The best, and real, drama is always at Olympics |date=2006-02-26 |publisher=[[ESPN]]|access-date=2007-04-19}}</ref>

In Canada, CBC's coverage has also posted disappointing numbers, which were reduced as the Canadian men's hockey team was eliminated early in the competition. Primetime ratings reached only as high as #7 in the weekly ratings. However, ratings for live, afternoon coverage have attracted 300,000 more viewers than the taped, primetime coverage. Overall, only primetime coverage has suffered, dropping 45% from the 2002 Games, with the entire coverage being 52% ahead from 2002.<ref name="Canada ratings">{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Brioux|title=Olympics lose against fake games|date=2006-02-23}}</ref><ref name="Canada ratings 2">{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060223.wxolyblues0223_3/BNStory/Torino2006/home|first1=Keith|last1=McArthur|first2=Grant|last2=Robertson|title=Olympic hockey loss misses the net for CBC ratings|date=2006-02-23 |access-date=2007-04-19 |location=Toronto |work=The Globe and Mail |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124113816/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060223.wxolyblues0223_3/BNStory/Torino2006/home |archive-date=2016-01-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Meanwhile, on [[The Sports Network|TSN]], the numbers for its live curling coverage (which aired as early as 3:00am EST) were between 300,000 and 500,000 viewers.

The Olympics' main threat in the USA was the [[American Idol (season 5)|2006 season]] of ''[[American Idol]]''.<ref name="Idol">{{cite web|first=Terry|last=Jones|title=Curling is making waves|url=http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/2006Games/2006/02/18/1449801-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20060221171246/http://calsun.canoe.ca/Sports/2006Games/2006/02/18/1449801-sun.html |date=2006-02-18 |archive-date=2006-02-21 |access-date=2007-04-19 |url-status=dead}}</ref> One night of interest was 23 February in which the first results show of the season went head to head with that night's coverage which included the Women's Free Skate in Figure Skating.

===2008 Summer Olympics===
{{main|List of 2008 Summer Olympics broadcasters}}

These [[2008 Summer Olympics|games]] were the first to be produced and broadcast entirely in [[high-definition television]].<ref name="HDTV">{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/2008/2007-07/06/content_911825.htm |title=Seeing clearly: Panasonic ushers in first HDTV Game |newspaper= China Daily |date=2007-07-06 |access-date=2008-03-24}}</ref> In their bid for the Olympic games in 2001, Beijing confirmed to the Olympic evaluation commission "that there would be no restrictions on media reporting and movement of journalists up to and including the Olympic Games."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Report of the IOC Evaluation Commission for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008|url=http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_299.pdf |url-status=dead|website=multimedia.olympic.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031229012633/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_299.pdf|archive-date=2003-12-29|page=73}}</ref> The host broadcaster was [[Beijing Olympic Broadcasting]], a joint venture between [[Olympic Broadcasting Services]] (OBS) and the [[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]].

In [[Canada]] the public network CBC/Radio-Canada and cable networks [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and [[Le Réseau des sports|RDS]] broadcast its final games before a private consortium involving CTV/Rogers/TQS takes over for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]], which will be happening within Canadian borders, in Vancouver.

In [[Australia]] the [[Seven Network]] broadcast its final games before the [[Nine Network]] and Pay-TV operator [[Foxtel]] took over from the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] and beyond.

==2010s==

===2010 Winter Games===
{{main|List of 2010 Winter Olympics broadcasters}}

[[Vancouver 2010]] was broadcast worldwide by a number of television broadcasters. As rights for the 2010 games were packaged with those for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], broadcasters were largely identical for both events. The host television broadcast was solely produced by OBS for the first time. Previously, a host broadcaster set up by the organising committee of the Games produced the broadcast.

Broadcasters included:

*{{AUS}}: [[Nine Network]] and [[Foxtel]]
*{{BRA}}: [[Central Record de Comunicação]] had been awarded the broadcasting for only free to air television on [[Rede Record]].<ref name=autogenerated2>{{Cite press release|title=IOC signs 2010–2012 TV rights deal for Brazil]|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/media_centre/press_release_uk.asp?release=2106|website=International Olympic Committee|access-date=March 16, 2007}}</ref>
*{{CAN}}: Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium consists of [[CTV Television Network|CTV]], [[V (TV network)|V]], [[The Sports Network|TSN]], [[Réseau des sports|RDS]], [[Réseau Info-Sports|RIS]], [[Rogers Sportsnet]], [[Omni Television]], [[Bravo (Canadian TV network)|OLN]], Rogers radio stations, as well as third-party broadcasters [[Aboriginal Peoples Television Network|APTN]] and [[Asian Television Network|ATN]], [[MuchMusic]]
*{{UK}}: [[BBC]]
*{{HKG}}: [[Cable TV Hong Kong|Cable TV]]
*{{JPN}}: [[NHK]]
*{{MEX}}: [[Canal 22]]
*{{NZL}}: [[SKY TV (New Zealand)|SKY TV]] and [[Prime (New Zealand TV channel)|Prime]]
*{{PHI}}: [[Solar Sports]]
*{{flag|South Korea|1997}}: [[SBS (Korea)|SBS]]
*{{ESP}}: [[RTVE]]
*{{USA}}: [[NBC Universal]]

===2012 Summer Olympics===
{{main|List of 2012 Summer Olympics broadcasters}}

Continuing the IOC's commitment to providing over-the-air television coverage to as broad a worldwide audience as possible, [[2012 Summer Olympics]] was scheduled to be broadcast by a number of regional broadcasters. Though reduced dramatically since 1980, the United States television rights currently owned by [[NBC]] still account for over half the rights revenue for the IOC. Many television broadcasters granted rights to the games have bureaux and studios in London, but since at least the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, rights-holder operations are hosted in the dedicated International Broadcast Centre (IBC). London's IBC was planned to be within the [[London Olympics Media Centre]] inside the security cordon of the Olympic Park.

As rights for the 2012 games were packaged with those for the [[2010 Winter Olympics#Broadcasting|2010 Winter Olympics]], broadcasts would be largely identical for both events. Confirmed broadcasters included:
*In the [[United Kingdom]], the [[BBC]] will be sole broadcaster of the games.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/nov/09/broadcasting.bbc2 | newspaper=The Guardian | location=London | title=BBC key to London's Olympic win | first=Jason | last=Deans | date=2005-11-09 | access-date=2010-05-20}}</ref>
*In [[Europe]], members of the [[European Broadcasting Union]] (excluding [[RAI]] in [[Italy]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/organisation/commissions/tv_and_internet/full_story_uk.asp?id=917|title=Olympic Games Medals, Results, Sports, Athletes {{!}} Medailles, Resultats, Sports et Athletes des Jeux Olympiques|website=Olympic.org|date=23 September 2021}}</ref> In Italy, SKY has achieved rights, but was forced to sell 200 hours of the event to RAI due to compulsory free broadcast of the event.
*In the [[United States]], [[NBC]]. Some online webcasts will be available.
*In [[Canada]], a consortium of [[Bell Media]] and [[Rogers Media]] properties.
*In [[South Korea]], [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]] has the rights to broadcast the games.
*In [[Brazil]], [[Central Record de Comunicação]] had been awarded the broadcasting for only free to air television rights on [[RecordTV|Record]] and [[Record News]].<ref name=autogenerated2 />
*In [[Mexico]], the two major national networks [[Televisa]] and [[TV Azteca]] will broadcast the games.
*In [[Australia]], the [[Nine Network]] in joint partnership with subscription television partner [[Foxtel]] will broadcast the games.

===2014 Winter Olympics===
{{main|List of 2014 Winter Olympics broadcasters}}
On August 19, 2008, it was reported that [[ESPN]] and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], both owned by [[The Walt Disney Company]], were interested in airing the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sochi, Russia]].<ref name="2014and2016games">[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/sports/olympics/20espnoly.html?_r=1&oref=slogin ESPN Eyes Rights to Games in 2014 and 2016] Retrieved on August 20, 2008.</ref> ESPN and ABC planned to carry more Olympic events live as opposed to the tape-delay format used by current rights-holder [[NBC]].  NBC, [[FOX]] and a partnership between [[CBS]] and [[Turner Sports]] also participated in the bidding process for televising the Games in the United States. In 2011, NBC agreed to a $4.38 billion contract with the [[International Olympic Committee]] to broadcast the 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 Olympics, the most expensive television rights deal in Olympic history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/television/update-nbc-bids-438-billion-olympic-gold-132319|first=Anthony|last=Crupi|title=NBC Has Bid $4.38 Billion for the Media Rights to the 2014-2020 Olympic Games|website=AdWeek|date=7 June 2011 |access-date=14 November 2024}}</ref>

===2016 Summer Olympics===
{{main|List of 2016 Summer Olympics broadcasters}}
On August 19, 2008, it was reported that ESPN and ABC, both owned by The Walt Disney Company, were interested in airing the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Brazil]].<ref name="2014and2016games"/>

In Brazil, [[Rede Globo]] and [[Rede Bandeirantes|Band]] won the rights to broadcast the games, but they allowed the [[IOC]] to negotiate with others broadcasters about the free-to-air transmission. [[Rede Record]] purchased the rights for the free-to-air broadcasts. But, they have the exclusive rights for cable TV and internet.

In Europe, for the first time, the IOC rejected the offer from EBU to broadcast the 2014 & 2016 Olympics, so individual networks in Europe must contract for television rights.

SKY Italia in 2008 had reached an agreement to broadcast 2014 & 2016 Olympics, but later, it sold the second one to RAI, holding only the first one. The Italian public service provided over 1000 hours on television over three HD channels avalilable on DTT and satellite, and provided an Internet site and an app which offered every single feed of every sport produced by OBS.

In Canada, the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] were granted rights to the 2014 and 2016 games in July 2012 for an undisclosed sum.

In Australia, [[Network Ten]] achieved an agreement for 2014 Winter Games spending $20 million, while the 2016 Summer Olympics had been granted to [[Seven Network]] in a bundle with 2018 and 2020, for $150 million.

===2018 Winter Olympics===
{{Main|List of 2018 Winter Olympics broadcasters}}
[[Discovery Communications]] has been granted by IOC rights to 2018 in Europe, except Russia.

==2020s==
===2020 Summer Olympics===
{{main|List of 2020 Summer Olympics broadcasters}}
Discovery Communications has been granted by IOC rights to 2018 and 2020 (except France and United Kingdom), 2022 and 2024 Olympics in Europe, except Russia.

===2022 Winter Olympics ===
{{main|List of 2022 Winter Olympics broadcasters}}

===2024 Summer Olympics ===
{{main|List of 2024 Summer Olympics broadcasters}}

=== Future Olympics Games ===
On May 7, 2014, the IOC granted [[NBC Sports|NBC Universal]] rights to all Olympic Games from the [[2022 Winter Olympics]] to the [[2032 Summer Olympics]]. The agreement was valued at US$7.65 billion, and will last from 2021 to 2032. [[NBC]], which has held the broadcast rights to both editions of the Olympics since 2000, now holds the rights in the United States until 2032. This is the most expensive deal in the history of the Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-awards-olympic-games-broadcast-rights-to-nbcuniversal-through-to-2032|title=IOC awards Olympic Games broadcast rights to NBCUniversal through to 2032 - Olympic News|date=13 July 2021}}</ref>

In January 2023, the IOC announced that a joint bid from the [[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU) and [[Warner Bros. Discovery]] had been awarded rights for all Olympic Games from the 2026 Winter Olympics to the 2032 Summer Olympics. The joint bid between European free to air broadcasters and Warner Bros Discovery follows criticism of the 2015 deal to award European television rights to Discovery.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ziegler |first=Martyn |date=30 July 2021 |title=BBC traded full Tokyo Olympics rights for future Games guarantee|work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bbc-traded-tokyo-rights-for-future-olympics-guarantee-9zhq02k6j |access-date=2023-01-16 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Each EBU member will broadcast at least 200 hours of coverage of the Summer Olympics and at least 100 hours of the Winter Olympics, whereas Warner Bros. Discovery will have unlimited rights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2023 |title=IOC awards exclusive 2026-2032 Olympic Games media rights in Europe to European Broadcasting Union and Warner Bros. Discovery |url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-awards-exclusive-2026-2032-olympic-games-media-rights-in-europe |access-date=16 January 2023 |website=InternationaL Olympic Committee}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yossman |first=K. J. |date=2023-01-16 |title=Olympic Games European Broadcasting Rights to Be Shared by EBU, Warner Bros. Discovery |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/global/olympic-games-broadcasting-rights-ebu-1235490653-1235490653/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Variety}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Olympics on United States television]]
**''[[ABC Olympic broadcasts]]''
**''[[CBS Olympic broadcasts]]''
**''[[NBC Olympic broadcasts]]''
**''[[TNT Olympic broadcasts]]''
*[[Olympics on Australian television]]
**''[[Nine Network Olympic broadcasts]]''
**''[[Seven Network Olympic broadcasts]]''
**''[[Network Ten Olympic broadcasts]]''
*Olympics on British television
*Olympics on Canadian television
**''[[Olympics on CTV]]''
**''[[Olympics on CBC]]''
*Olympics on Chilean television
**''[[Televisión Nacional de Chile|TVN]]''
**''[[Canal 13 (Chilean TV channel)|El 13]]''
*Olympics on Chinese television
**''[[CCTV-16]]''
*Olympics on German television
**''[[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]''
**''[[ZDF]]''
*Olympics on Japanese television
**''[[Japan Consortium]]''
*Olimpics on Mexican television
**''[[Televisa]]''
**''[[TV Azteca]]''
*Olympics on Philippine television
**''[[People's Television Network]]''
*[[List of Winter Olympic documentary films]]
*[[List of Summer Olympic documentary films]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170926222207/http://olympian.tv/ Olympics on TV]
*[http://jeff560.tripod.com/tv8.html The World Comes Together in Your Living Room: The Olympics on TV]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120927165217/http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=olympicsand OLYMPICS AND TELEVISION]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071024001331/http://www.dbsforums.com/vbulletin/archive/index.php/t-69810.html Olympic Commentators by Event History]
*[http://www.obs.es/olympichostbroadcasting.html Olympic Broadcasting Services] {{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140226064224/http://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=26006 Logos of Olympic Broadcasters - Part 2: 1960s]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20140226053951/http://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=26059 Logos of Olympic Broadcasters - Part 3: 1970s]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20140226064756/http://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=26083 Logos of Olympic Broadcasters - Part 4: 1980s]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20140226074603/http://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=26334 Logos of Olympic Broadcasters - Part 5: 1990s]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20140226063637/http://forums.tannerworld.com/showthread.php?t=26474 Logos of Olympic Broadcasters - Part 6: 2000s and Beyond]

{{Olympic Games broadcasters by year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olympics On Television}}
[[Category:Olympics on television| ]]
[[Category:History of Olympic broadcasting| ]]