[RhysJR]

Has anyone got a list of how much access FTA broadcasters across Europe have for these games? The links provided on the below are either vague, give no detail or suggest that broadcasters have a potentailly worse detail than the BBC? NOS in The Netherlands and RTP in Portugal for example I think only have one stream, whilst broadcasters like YLE in Finland and ARD/ZDF in Germany might be unable to air some events at all (YLE couldn't show Finnish ice hockey games in Beijing).
I think ARD/ZDF had a decent amount of streams in Beijing (six or so possibly), but if they lose access to some notable events (I can't remeber them being restricted at all in Beijing), you can argue if their deal is better than what the UK gets. An obvious positive from what the BBC have got (so obvious that it shouldn't be mentioned) is that they can show whatever they like and are not prevented from showing something like track cycling that will be popular with casuals and Eurosport subscribers.

en.wikipedia.org 

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And some of them had different audio to the sports they were showing. Really was quite poor and would have probably been easier for them to let the BBC have half a dozen streams or so and handle the linear additional output whilst having the streaming rights themselves.

I would guess those won't appear this time with it all just being via Discovery+. Last time I had the channels via Amazon Prime and Eurosport Player, which I could only watch via the laptop as the smart TV app had stopped working months prior. I cancelled after that and haven't had Discovery+ at all since but will probably for the games. Even if I mainly watch the BBC live events in Paris will finish around 9pm so probably catch up on other things then, assuming that is possible.

The Eurosport streaming experience was a bit of a mess in 2021 wasn't it. I generally have found it more than palatable when using it in the years since, especially there is now a Discovery+ app on my TV following the arrival of TNT Sports, which functions far better than the Fire Stick equivalent did. verything has usually worked well and navigation is fine. Though, there will be far more riding on no commentary appearing in the swimming session of the Olympics than a commntary glitch in the Crans Montana Super-G.

Just a general piece of advice to anyone, go straight to Discovery+ over the Amazon channel - it is far better run and easier to navigate.

With catching up on some events, it's a shame that there is no possibility of th BBC afternoon extended highlighs shows that we have had in recent Games. This is purely down to time zones of course, but that programme was really great in seeing some events in more depth that you might have missed or glossed over during the busy periods.

Exactly. IMO Thomas Bach has been a disaster for the IOC, taking coverage away from free to air TV in it's European heartland and also making a mess of the bidding process by basically taking it behind closed doors. Brisbane 2032 is basically a retirement present for an Aussie IOC member and they're currently looking at building a temporary athletics stadium smaller than what Birmingham had for the Commonwealth Games.

Business wise as is so often the case the short term gain is usually short sighted. We saw with the BBC how they basically ended up paying Discovery more for less (though as you say a bad deal on the BBC's part) - but it just shows that it's likely had the IOC gone directly to the EBU and PSBs they could have made more money themselves rather than gifted the profit to Discovery.

Going off topic, but Thomas Bach has just been a disaster on many levels. The bidding process did need to be made cheaper, but the Brisbane decision hasn't worked out well. The faliure to deal with Russain issues adequately, and now possibly removing the term limit of an IOC President that some members were mooting last year - it is all very inadequate. At least they haven't gone full sportswashing like FIFA yet, with no dodgy regime hosting an Olympics until at least 2036, bar Beijing 2022 (who beat Kazakhstan in the bidding process). I will add that jacques Rogge's era does feel like it was far less stormy and easier to navigate as the President (his 'controversies' section on Wikipedia lists internet censorship during Beijing 2008, him complaining about Usain Bolt's celebrations and no minute silence for the Munich massacre in 2012 - it's hardly a pandemic, invasion in Europe and state sponsored doping of the Bach era).

Back on topic, the Bach era's effect on the actual events is a bit more debatable and possibly favourable. Climbing and Skateboarding got rave reviews in 2021, and with another youth oreintated sport in Breaking being added for this year, how much extra interest has been generated in younger audiences. Their attempts at competitive esports have been poor though.