Dick Ebersol Resigns from NBC; IOC Reaction

(ATR) Dick Ebersol's surprising resignation as chairman of the NBC Sports Group casts doubts on the aggressiveness of the NBC/Comcast bid to secure U.S. broadcast rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympics.

However, Richard Carrion, who will lead the negotiations for the IOC, tells Around the Rings that he received a call from Comcast chairman and CEO Brian Roberts who told him "they are fully committed to the process and that NBC would be here in June."

In a statement, IOC president Jacques Rogge later confirmed what he called "Comcast's continuingfirm interest in the bidding process for the US TV rights".

Ebersol's resignation Thursday after 22 years at the helm of NBC Sports comes less than three weeks before U.S. networks gather in Lausanne for negotiations with the International Olympic Committee on June 6-7.

Ebersol, 63, was the driving force behind NBC Olympic coverage and "has a very good personal relationship with the IOC, including Dr. (Jacques) Rogge," Olympic rights expert Neal Pilson tells Around the Rings. "I think they relied heavily on Dick and the quality of his work. We'll see."

Pilson, the former CBS Sports chief who consulted with the IOC during rights negotiations for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics, says that although Comcast/NBC "still have a lot of very talented people who have worked on the Olympics for quite a few years, it may impact the level of aggressiveness with which Comcast approaches the Olympics."

He speculates that this could have been one of the issues that prompted Ebersol to part company with Comcast. The New York Times, which broke the story, said Ebersol and Comcast failed to reach agreement on a new contract, but said Ebersol denied clashing with his bosses.

Ebersol also told the Times that although he will stay on the job until the end of June, he will not attend the June auction for the 2014 Sochi and 2016 Rio Olympics. Networks also have the option to bid for the 2018 and 2020 Games.

Ebersol said in a statement that he has most enjoyed working "so closely with so many truly outstanding and incredibly talented people over decades of producing some of the greatest events in the world. Those relationships are what I cherish most. I have always said this business is about relationships and I have been fortunate enough to have more deep and meaningful friendships than any man could imagine."

He added that it was a sincere privilege to tell so many remarkable stories that have inspired him throughout his career and some of his favorite memories "come from reading letters and talking to viewers who also have been moved by such powerful stories. I simply want to say thank you to all of those people who have touched me so deeply throughout my career."

Rumors swirling about a month ago said Ebersol was looking for a more aggressive play from Comcast on Olympic preparations. ESPN/ABC, which is owned by Disney, is expected to be the top contender to grab the Olympic rights from NBC, which has broadcast every Summer Games since 1988 and every Winter Games since 2002. Fox is also expected to bid, while CBS has kept its plans close to the vest.

Carrion, who said he has not spoken to Ebersol, tells ATR that he believes disagreement about the Olympics was not a factor in Ebersol's decision to leave NBC.

Carrion also says that he knows Mark Lazarus, the current president of the NBC Sports Cable Group who will replace Ebersol.

Steve Burke, CEO of NBC Universal and Executive Vice President of Comcast, said that Lazarus will "take over an organization that is well-positioned for growth. Mark is an industry veteran who has worked with every major sports league, and I know that he will do a terrific job leading the team."

Pilson said Ebersol's resignation is even more startling because industry insiders assumed he had worked out his arrangement before the merger of NBC Universal and Comcast a few months ago.

If ESPN wins the rights, Pilson did not think Ebersol would be a good fit to join the network. "They have their own talented group of executives," he said.

According to Rogge, "Dick Ebersol is a consummate professional and has been instrumental in changing the way that television brought the Olympic Games to US audiences.

We wish him well in his next endeavours."

Said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun: "Through his lens, he has told the moving stories of our athletes time and again, bringing them to life and sharing them with millions of fans. He leaves a legacy that will be nearly impossible to match - one of leadership and conviction that will continue to benefit the Olympic Movement for decades to come."

Written by Karen Rosen.