The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which represents public service broadcasters across Europe, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have jointly won rights to the four 2026-2032 Olympic Games.
The rights were secured following a tender process by the International Olympic Committee in which the two bodies put forward a joint bid to acquire all media rights across 49 territories in Europe.
Full coverage will be available on WBD’s channels and apps while EBU members, including the UK’s BBC, will each show more than 200 hours of free to air coverage of the Olympic Games and at least 100 hours of the Winter Games on TV in addition to their radio and digital coverage.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We are delighted to have reached a long-term agreement with two of the world’s leading media companies.
“The EBU and its Members provide unparalleled broadcast expertise and reach across Europe, and Warner Bros. Discovery, through the recent combination of Warner Media and Discovery, represents one of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies across all programming genres and platforms.
“It demonstrates the ongoing appeal of the Olympic Games across Europe. “
Welcoming the agreement, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, President of the EBU and CEO of France Télévisions, said: “We’re proud to have secured the Olympic Games for audiences to enjoy free to air until 2032. This deal is a game-changer for public service media and demonstrates the abiding strength and solidarity of our Union.
“Through its Members, the EBU has the potential to reach over 1 billion viewers across Europe via linear and non-linear platforms. And that’s why I’m so pleased to welcome this partnership with the IOC and Warner Bros. Discovery, which will ensure the Games will be available to the widest possible audience across Europe.”
Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: “As the ‘Home of the Olympics in Europe’ for the last three Olympic Games we are pleased to be extending our relationship with the IOC through 2032.
“Ahead of what promises to be a magnificent Olympic Games Paris 2024, we are delighted that Warner Bros. Discovery will remain the only place where fans can get every moment of the following four Olympics.
“We are grateful to be partnering with the EBU and its Members on the next stage of our Olympic journey, extending our commitment made together with the IOC in 2015 to reach more people through broad-reaching and accessible coverage.
“Viewers throughout Europe will continue to have extensive choice and the ability to access the Games across multiple platforms, setting an outstanding foundation to build on the record audience and engagement delivered for Europe for the past three Games.”