International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach says he understands why the rescheduled #Tokyo2020 Games would have to be cancelled if it cannot take place next summer.
Would a cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics next year push Discovery over the edge? Eurosport was already starting to do things on the cheap (Australian Open tennis) as they realised the huge cost that comes with broadcasting the Olympics.
Presumably they’d get bulk of their money back if it were cancelled. But in turn they’d have to pay the BBC and anyone who they’ve sub licensed rights too.
Would be a huge shame for Tokyo to lose out and realistically the best the IOC can offer is 2032, which saves them a bidding process but leaves Tokyo with new venues that wouldn't serve their primary purpose for another 12 years.
Presumably they’d get bulk of their money back if it were cancelled. But in turn they’d have to pay the BBC and anyone who they’ve sub licensed rights too.
2020 rights (now 2021 rights) are with the BBC and sublicensed to Discovery.
Rights up to and including 2020 were purchased by the BBC just before the 2012 Olympics.
Discovery has the UK 2022 and 2024 rights, sublicensed to the BBC, in return for being able to show the 2018 and 2020(1) events.
Presumably they’d get bulk of their money back if it were cancelled. But in turn they’d have to pay the BBC and anyone who they’ve sub licensed rights too.
2020 rights (now 2021 rights) are with the BBC and sublicensed to Discovery.
Rights up to and including 2020 were purchased by the BBC just before the 2012 Olympics.
Discovery has the UK 2022 and 2024 rights, sublicensed to the BBC, in return for being able to show the 2018 and 2020(1) events.
That's just for the UK - they're prime rightsholders in many other territories.
I would imagine the IOC have some pennies in the kitty to reimburse all rightsholders in the event of a cancellation, though there are obviously some sunk costs on technology that won't be able to be used until 2022.
Well it will all come down to insurance and contracts - the IOC will be wanting to protect their revenue too. Good news potentially for the EBU - a nervous market for the next couple of years could make it easier for them to regain the rights.
Insuring 2020(1) will cost a bomb, presumably what insurance 2020 had will be paid out, but to cover 2020(1) with the risk known across the planet will be phenomenally expensive. I doubt if many companies or consortia of companies would offer cover against continuing pandemic risk, especially for a rearranged event.