Currently, India is serving a ban from the Olympic fold. Amazingly, it has been reported that the International Olympic Committee has given broadcast rights of several crucial multi-sporting events, including 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games for seven South Asian countries to an Indian channel.
Remarkably, 'STAR India' has been handed the broadcast rights for the XXII Olympic Winter Games (2014) at Sochi in Russia; the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games (2014) at Nanjing in China and the Games of the XXXI Olympiad (2016) at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
The IOC declared in a statement on its website that STAR India obtained the rights to all media platforms, including subscription television, free-to-air television, internet and mobile in India, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Further, STAR India will work to ensure that the possible massive audience count has access to broadcasts of the Olympic Games.
Particularly, IOC President Jacques Rogge ushered the granting of the broadcast rights to STAR India. He announced that they welcome the opportunity to work with STAR India for the forthcoming editions of the Olympic Games as well as Youth Olympic Games. They are confident that they will do a great job providing excellent possible broadcast coverage of the Games on a variety of platforms to the largest possible audience in the seven different nations.
Meanwhile, IOC Finance Commission Chairman Richard Carrion, who led the negotiations, informed that traditionally IOC has negotiated broadcast rights on a pan-Asian basis. However, the media scenario is changing and they have adjusted their approach currently by negotiating directly in some markets. They are pleased to have reached this agreement directly with STAR India.
Head of Sport Business for STAR India Nitin Kukreja commented that the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of sporting achievement where the world's best in various disciplines encounter for the title of Olympic champion. In fact, Indian athletes have also performed marvelously over the last few editions, which is obvious in the medal-winning performances that they have graced to admire. They value their partnership with the IOC and feel that this brilliant extravaganza can be carried to even greater heights in India on television as well as on digital platforms.
