Channel 9 pinch next five Olympics in $305m coup over Seven

The biggest sporting event in the world has new home in Australia after an audacious coup pinched the rights.

Channel 7 is now longer the home of the Olympic Games after Nine Entertainment pulled off a $305m coup to nab the next five events, including the 2032 Brisbane Games.

Nine made the official announcement after the stock market closed on Wednesday after the network struck a deal with the International Olympic Committee.

Nine’s bid of $305m will end Seven’s run of four Games since winning the rights from Nine in 2014 for a reported $200m deal.

Nine will broadcast the next five events, including summer Games in Paris 2024, LA in 2028, and Brisbane 2032, as well as winter Games in Milan 2026 and the as-yet unannounced 2030 event.

Mike Sneesby, the CEO of Nine, said: “This partnership with the IOC is an important part of Nine’s strategy as we continue to define Australian broadcast and streaming television. We’re delighted to be bringing the Olympic Games to Australian audiences, whenever and however they choose from Paris 2024 to Brisbane in 2032.

“These rights complement our recently renewed partnerships with the NRL and Tennis Australia at a time when live sport continues to demonstrate its ability to drive strong growth in streaming audiences and strength in free-to-air TV consumption. Importantly, this deal enables Nine to make the Olympic Games accessible to all Australia, across more platforms than ever before.

Nine will show all the Aussie gold. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

“For our audiences, advertisers and teams across Australia, today’s announcement brings the Olympic Games home to Nine, and directly reflects our purpose – Australia Belongs Here.”

IOC president Thomas Bach also praised the resurrected partnership.

“Australia is a great sporting nation with a long Olympic history which will be taken to new heights with the hosting of the Olympic Games Brisbane 2032,” Bach said.

“Our new partnership with Nine will ensure Olympic fans across Australia have unparalleled coverage of the Olympic Games on their platform of choice.”

Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman said the International Olympic Committee’s announcement that Nine is the rights holding broadcaster for the decade is great for Australian sport.

“This is exciting to have Nine on board as a long-term broadcaster for our Olympic movement at Games-time. Nine has a well-deserved reputation for high quality sports coverage over many decades,” Chesterman said.

“With the arrangements extending across multiple platforms, Australians will be able to take in all the Games excitement no matter where they are.

“Channel 9 did an outstanding job in London back in 2012 and we know they will give Australians a front-row seat to the exciting performances of our Australian Olympic athletes in Paris next year.

“Paris will provide a spectacular backdrop but once again the real stars will be the athletes – their stories and their performances. Nine will bring all that to life.

“And looking beyond Paris, the Winter Games in Milan-Cortina 2026, Los Angeles 2028 and then our home Games in Brisbane 2032, this is a wonderful green and gold decade for Australian sport.”

The Olympics has a new home in Australia. Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

AOC CEO Matt Carroll said the planning for Paris was already in the works.

“Like sport itself, nothing stands still, and we know that Nine will bring something different and innovative to the 2024 Games coverage, Carroll said.

“The AOC has been working very closely with our member sports to navigate the complexities of getting potentially 470 athletes plus a team of support staff into Paris, providing a world-class high-performance environment and getting everyone home.

“With Nine now confirmed as the Olympic broadcaster in Australia, we are really looking forward to working with Mike Sneesby and the Nine team in bringing the performances of our athletes to everyone back home.

“I would also like to acknowledge the commitment and expertise of the Channel 7 team over many years and thank them for their contribution to the Olympic movement in Australia.”