Seven has secured exclusive Australian media rights for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the network announced today at its 2021 Upfront presentation.
Seven will offer Australians a comprehensive, multi-platform experience, about seven months after the rescheduled Tokyo games.
“We’re thrilled to announce this continuation of our partnership with the International Olympic Committee, to be the home of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics,” says CEO James Warburton.
“The Olympic Games are part of our DNA at Seven, so we can’t wait to work with our partners at the IOC to deliver another incredible experience for Australian audiences.”
IOC president Thomas Bach says he’s delighted to announce an extension to the agreement with Seven in Australia.
“We have a partnership that dates back to the Olympic Games in Melbourne 1956 and Australian sports fans will be able to count on Seven’s sports broadcast expertise and passion for at least another edition of the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022,” he says.
“In addition, as the IOC redistributes over 90% of its revenues, the financial support of our long-term commercial partners benefits the athletes, including the Australian Olympic Team for Beijing 2022, and the entire Olympic Movement. Thissolidarity is more important now than ever.”
Kurt Burnette, Seven West Media chief revenue officer and director of Olympics, says the announcement solidifies Seven as the destination for the biggest events.
“In the space of seven months, we will be the exclusive broadcaster of Tokyo 2020 and now Beijing 2022,” he says.
“Both events are set to deliver unparalleled audiences, amplified by Beijing 2022 being the third consecutive Olympic Games we’ve broadcast in a favourable time zone for Australian audiences, just two hours' difference from Australia’s east coast.
“PyeongChang 2018 broke records on broadcast and digital, and we know Beijing 2022 will set new records again.”
Seven’s coverage of Beijing 2022 will be comprehensive, building off the extensive multi-platform coverage that will be delivered just seven months after Tokyo.
Spanning Seven’s broadcast channels, market leading BVOD platform 7Plus and other digital properties including 7NEWS.com.au, Seven will take audiences closer to the action than ever before.
The Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates says Seven’s exceptional Olympic coverage has given Australia’s Olympic winter sports a significant boost.
“Seven’s coverage of the 2018 Games in PyeongChang set a new benchmark for winter sport in Australia,” he says.
“Our athletes are really looking forward to the Beijing Games in February 2022 and the chance to represent their country before a huge television audience back home.
“Right now, with 15 months to the Beijing Games, we have Australian athletes preparing themselves in Europe and North America, while our freestyle skiers are currently training at our new Olympic Winter Training Centre in Brisbane.”
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