NBC, IOC sign $3B US Olympic media rights deal through 2036, including Salt Lake City Winter Games

NBC Secures Olympic Broadcasting Rights Through 2036

NBC has solidified its position as the champion of Olympic broadcasting in the United States with a new deal that extends through at least 2036. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Thursday that it has signed a $3 billion renewed agreement with Comcast NBCUniversal for the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympics and the 2036 Summer Games.

This new agreement goes beyond just media rights, with the IOC elevating Comcast NBCUniversal to a strategic partner. The partnership will involve “innovative joint strategic initiatives and projects,” including collaborations with the streaming platform Peacock. Additionally, the IOC will benefit from Comcast’s investment in relevant and innovative start-ups.

The 2036 host country has yet to be decided, but there is interest from countries such as India, Qatar, Turkey, Hungary, and Indonesia. NBC’s most recent Olympic rights deal, signed in 2014, covers both the Summer and Winter Games through 2032 and is valued at $7.75 billion. This deal also includes the upcoming Summer Games in 2028 in Los Angeles.

NBC’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics was deemed successful, with roving correspondent Snoop Dogg proving to be a fan favorite. The broadcaster reached an average of 67 million viewers daily across all platforms during the Paris Games.

The original U.S. rights deal with NBC was made in 2011, securing each Olympic Games from 2014 to 2020 for $4.38 billion. This deal was a significant decision early in Thomas Bach’s IOC presidency, ensuring the financial stability of the Olympic body.

The new agreement with NBC comes just before the election of Bach’s successor at an IOC meeting in Greece on March 20. Bach expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that it will allow fans in the United States to experience the Olympic Games like never before.

NBC has a long history of broadcasting the Olympics, covering every Summer Games since 1988 and every Winter Games since 2002 in Salt Lake City. Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts expressed his company’s commitment to delivering innovative technological solutions that benefit athletes and organizers of the Olympic Games worldwide.