IOC Finance Commission chair Richard Carrion says the current economic mood is "very negative" for bidding on the U.S. rights for the 2014 and 2016 Olympics. (ATR)The IOC member directing negotiations for the next round of U.S. TV rights for the Olympics says the sour economy could force a delay in striking a deal to a year from now.
"I don't see us being very active," said Richard Carrion chairman of the IOC Finance Commission. He says any moves on the U.S. rights could even be put off until after the vote next October for the 2016 Olympics host city.
"[The broadcasters] prefer to wait until the vote," he said. "It takes risk out for them," he said. The Games up for bid include the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and 2016.
Carrion, a banker from Puerto Rico, spoke at IOC headquarters in Lausanne where he is attending a meeting of the Executive Board, of which he is a member.
"The mood is very negative on the economy," he said, noting that dropping advertising revenues for the potential U.S. bidders is a signal for the IOC to stay away from the market place for the time being.
Carrion says he expects NBC, as well as other players, to be a part of the bidding when it formally gets under way. He says he has already had informal discussions with NBC, ABC/ESPN and Fox.
NBC will spend about $2.2 billion to broadcast the 2010 and 2012 Olympics, the network's last under the current deal struck in 2005.
Carrion says should Chicago win the 2016 Olympics, U.S. broadcasters would likely be inclined to bid higher for those rights, given the time zone proximity. Rio de Janeiro, the other bid from the Americas for 2016, is also favorable he noted, NBC's current rights package ends with the 2012 Olympics. (Getty Images)being one hour ahead of the U.S. eastern time zone.
Sochi, host of the 2014 Olympics, is nine hours ahead of the eastern U.S., presumably making a 2016 Olympics aligned with U.S. TV prime time that much more desirable.
Carrion says IOC finances remain on firm footing with cash reserves of around $400 million as the year comes to an end.
As far as the operations of the IOC, Carrion says with 2009 a non-Games year, expenses will be lower and that staff levels will remain "flat."
"Austerity is the right word," says Carrion about the current economic situation for the IOC.
Written by
Ed Hula
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