In a move that could radically change how Canadians consume major event programming, Yahoo is reportedly preparing a bid for the Olympic broadcast rights.
The Globe and Mail reported today that the Sunnyvale, CA. –based web company is considering a bid for rights to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia and the 2016 Summer Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
If successful, Yahoo could possibly broadcast the Games online, partner with a streaming video service such as Netflix, or license TV stations to broadcast the Games.
Yahoo didn’t respond to interview requests, but the Globe report said that the company is keen to enhance its reputation as a content producer and make up ground lost to Google in recent years.
Last year, the company’s live broadcast of the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Decade of Difference concert featuring Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga and K’naan attracted more than 64,000 live viewers.
The rights for the upcoming London Games are being shared by Bell and Rogers, which paid approximately $150 million for the 2010 Vancouver and London Games. Rogers Media (Marketing’s parent) announced last year that it would not bid on the 2014 and 2016 Games, with president Keith Pelley telling Marketing that they were “no longer a fit” for the company.
Bell Media and CBC/Radio-Canada announced the next day that they would partner on a bid on the next two Games. It appears the two organizations attempted to leverage their status as the only bidder with a pair of “lowball” bids that the Globe report said were in the neighbourhood of $70 million – about half what Bell and Rogers paid for the 2010 and 2012 Games.
Canadian broadcasters are reluctant to pony up a significant amount for broadcast rights for the Sochi Games until the National Hockey League confirms that it will allow its players to participate. While the time difference between Russia and Canada is also a significant hurdle for Olympic broadcasters to overcome, the lack of NHL players would severely cut into the ratings – and advertising – in Canada.
