Exile On Olympic Street

Michael Hedges July 30, 2012 Follow on Twitter

The Olympic Games are on. The opening ceremony was brilliant. London is prepared, despite nutters’ ramblings. But before broadcasters have too much fun, best check with the lawyers. There are rules and rules and rules.

Surprise, of sorts, was expressed at the BBC when reminded by International Olympic Committee (IOC) of certain specifics in the broadcast rights contract. Radio broadcasts of sports channel BBC Five Live along with programs on other channels originating from the Olympic Park and other official venues cannot be streamed on the web outside of the UK. Web streams of news channel Radio 4 newscasts are void of Olympic Games content when accessed outside of the UK.

“The BBC is not host broadcaster for the London 2012 Olympic Games,” said a BBC spokesperson, quoted by The Guardian (July 27). The host broadcaster is OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services), who have been appointed by LOCOG (London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) and the IOC. OBS provide a feed for all rights-holding broadcasters across the globe, including the BBC. The BBC holds broadcast rights for the UK only and cannot therefore provide international streams of programs containing output from Olympic venues.”

The OBS is relatively new and wholly owned by the IOC to provide international broadcasting services during the Olympic Games. For the Beijing 2008 Games OBS and the Beijing Organizing Committee jointly operated hosting operations. OBS was the sole hosting provider for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. The IOC formed OBS in 2001 to provide a “consistent approach across all Olympic operations,” says the OBS website, similar to the sponsor-friendly, controversy-free approach of other major sports organizers, UEFA, FIFA, FIA, et.al..

“We don't have the rights to broadcast anything from within the Olympic Park or the archive,” said an anonymous BBC person to The Guardian. “On the one hand, it is a great shame. On the other, people listening from abroad don't pay the license fee.”

“I am now,” wrote former BBC Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer from holiday in Italy for the Guardian (July 27),  “relying on the BBC investing in some Chinese government-style expertise to employ internet censors in Broadcasting House who can be relied on to block only any item which might upset the IOC lawyers – leaving me with the pleasure of hearing the racing tips, Vince Cable, and John Humphrys grumbling about any warm weather that accidentally comes to the UK. If not – I am left with Sailing By and The Archers. A nation in exile mourns.”

During and after the men’s cycling road race (July 28) the BBC raised its ire with OBS over a lack of reliable timing information during the race. OBS passed the buck to LOCOG. “We have raised our concerns with OBS who have explained that there were GPS problems with the LOCOG-supplied timing graphics, which resulted in a lack of information for the commentary teams,” said a BBC spokesperson in a statement.

Tensions between OBS managing director Manolo Romero and opening ceremony creative director Danny Boyle reached a crescendo last week and Boyle received extra security around his personal trailer. Boyle wanted a “film crew” because he “didn’t want a sports crew.” Romero then announced he’ll be stepping down from OBS after the first of the year. In 2010 Romero received the International Honor for Excellence at the IBC broadcast technology show.

For its part the IOC reiterated the strict rules limiting not only the amount of Olympic content allowed on newscasts of non-rights holding broadcasters but inscribes event proportionality and the number of newscasts per day that can use Olympic material. Radio broadcasters are not allowed to use mobile phone interviews conducted with participants or officials at the Olympic venues. And restrictions extend to broadcasters’ Twitter feeds.

See also in ftm Knowledge

The Games People Watch

Media and sports are a powerful combination. Together they capture huge audiences and considerable money. This ftm Knowledge file looks at the competition from football rights battles and cycling coverage with new media to the Olympic Games. 82 pages PDF (October 2012)

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