In a ground-breaking collaboration to connect fans to the Olympic Movement all year round, the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee and NBCUniversal have created a comprehensive Olympic Channel content and distribution partnership in the United States, all parties announced today.<\/p>\n
During the second half of 2017, the partnership will launch a new U.S. television network under the \u201cOlympic Channel: Home of Team USA\u201d brand that will offer fans year-round Olympic-sport programming from around the world, with an emphasis on their favorite American athletes and teams. The new partnership complements the Olympic Channel, which launched as a worldwide digital platform following the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Additional details about the launch of the new linear cable channel will be provided at a later date.<\/p>\n
Along with the Channel, the partnership also brings additional coverage of Olympic sports programs that will appear exclusively on other NBCU platforms \u2013 including NBC, NBCSN and NBC Sports Digital outlets. The first such coverage begins this Saturday, December 17<\/span><\/span>, with the Team USA Winter Champions Series.<\/p>\n The three organizations will collaborate to produce and distribute Olympic sports and Olympic-themed programming on a year-round basis between the Games, providing continuity that reflects the idea that even though the Olympic flame is extinguished at the end of each Games, the athletes\u2019 own compelling stories and journeys continue.<\/p>\n The collaborative programming will emphasize live events from a broad portfolio of summer and winter Olympic sports. It will also include Olympic-themed original content produced by all three parties, such as original programs produced by filmmakers from around the world commissioned by the global Olympic Channel; rich archival footage from the IOC and NBCU\u2019s library of Olympic features and documentaries; and original Team USA programming contributed by the USOC.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough this exciting new partnership with the USOC and NBCUniversal, we will ensure that U.S. audiences are more closely connected with the Olympic Movement through a more personalized experience,\u201d said Mark<\/strong> Parkman<\/strong>, general manager of the Olympic Channel. \u201cThe evolution of the Olympic Channel in the United States is a significant milestone as we expand our distribution options across the globe in conjunction with our broadcast and National Olympic Committee partners. Placing a spotlight on Olympic sports outside of the Games themselves will ultimately bring them more deserved attention and help them grow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe launch of the \u2018Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA\u2019 partnership marks an exciting opportunity to promote and celebrate Olympic and Paralympic sport year-round,\u201d said Scott<\/strong> Blackmun<\/strong>, USOC CEO. \u201cAdditionally, launching in conjunction with the inaugural Team USA Winter Champions Series broadcast is a great way to serve the fastest-growing fan base in American sports.\u201d<\/p>\n