The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will be exclusively broadcasted by Viacom18 (Viacom18 Media Private Limited) across India and the Asian subcontinent, according to a statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday.

Additionally, after bagging non-exclusive rights, Viacom 18 will also broadcast the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea, 2024. It will be televised in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, through the broadcaster.

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Through the arrangement, Viacom18 will guarantee free-to-air television coverage in the region and deliver multi-platform coverage of the Games.

“Fans across India and the Subcontinent will be able to witness the magic of the Olympic Games through this partnership with Viacom18,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “As a dynamic sports and media market, this is an important strategic region for Olympic broadcasting, and this new media rights agreement will help us inspire fans and young people across these countries to engage with Olympic sports and the Olympic values,” he added.

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Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayaraj also issued a statement regarding the same. The business executive said, “The Olympic Movement is getting stronger in India, buoyed by tremendous medal-winning performances by Indian athletes and their inspiring stories, a growing sporting culture and an exponentially increased access to top-level content for millions of Indian sporting fans on their devices,” remarking the growing trend in India for the Olympic Games. “We are delighted that we can present live Olympics content to each and every Indian through our multiple platforms, and are proud to showcase the ultimate pursuit of sporting excellence all athletes embark upon to achieve the peak of sporting glory at Paris 2024”, he added.

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IOC did not provide a deal figure, although media experts estimate it to be between Rs 200 and 250 crore. Industry insiders estimate that Viacom 18 paid Rs 450 crore for the broadcast rights to the recently finished FIFA World Cup.

Like it did under the FIFA World Cup deal, Viacom18 will provide “multi-platform”, or both television and digital coverage of the Olympics. The broadcaster will also provide free-to-air television coverage within the region for the Olympics Games, the IOC said in their statement.