USOC chairman to oversee launch of Olympic television channel

The head of the U.S. Olympic Committee will oversee the launch of the International Olympic Committee’s television channel, the IOC announced Sunday.

USOC chairman Larry Probst was appointed chairman of the Olympic Channel Commission as part of an anticipated set of reforms announced by IOC President Thomas Bach.

In a statement, Bach said Probst will oversee a 16-member panel that “will ensure that all relevant stakeholders and expertise are consulted throughout the growth and development of the Olympic Channel.”

In addition, the IOC also announced the creation of a Communications Commission, which will use the new television channel, in part, to convey the “IOC’s vision and mission to a global audience.” The Communications Commission will be headed by Dutch IOC member Camiel Eurlings.

The new commissions are part of reforms implemented under the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020.

The Olympic channel, which was approved by the IOC in December, is expected to launch in April, roughly four months before the start of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.