IOC signs Mideast TV rights deal for 2012 Games

ATHENS, Oct 12 (Reuters) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has signed a ''significantly increased'' 2012 Olympic broadcast right deal for the Middle East with the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU).

The ASBU would be able to air the London Games across all platforms in all languages throughout the region in a 21 million dollar deal which was a ''significant increase'' from the Beijing 2008 Games deal, the IOC said in a statement today.

An IOC partner for 30 years, ASBU will have the rights for Bahrain, Djibouti, Iraq, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Yemen.

The IOC has seen its global broadcasting rights deals for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and 2012 London Summer Games swell by about 30 percent compared to the previous Turin 2006/Beijing 2008 Games rights package.

''By awarding the TV rights to the ASBU, the IOC ensures that people in the Middle East are able to be at the heart of the Olympic competitions without payment,'' IOC President Jacques Rogge said in the statement.

''This is a very important principle for us, and this agreement shows our dedication to continuing to bring the Olympic Games to everyone across the world free of charge,'' he said.

REUTERS PDS BS1754