IOC opens bid process for Olympic TV rights in Europe

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) The IOC has opened the bidding process for broadcast rights across Europe for the 2018 and 2020 Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee issued the ''invitation to tender'' Monday for the rights to the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The deadline for bid submissions is June 15.

The IOC says it will consider bids on a multi-territory or country-by-country basis. IMG is working as a consultant to the IOC.

The process does not include Britain and France, where the BBC and France Televisions already hold the rights through 2020.

The biggest remaining markets include Germany, Italy and Spain.

The IOC says bidders will be asked how they would work with the new year-round digital Olympic Channel that is due to be launched next year.