The IOC operates the service with an international focus, but also stated plans to work with local National Olympic Committees and rightsholders to establish localized versions and linear services as franchised versions of Olympic Channel.

"[3] IOC president Thomas Bach, who originally proposed the concept of an Olympics-oriented television channel in 1994 when he was a junior officer of the IOC,[3] stated that the service would be "the start of an exciting new journey to connect the worldwide audience with the Olympic Movement all year round".

[3] The initial digital service has an international focus, but the IOC stated that it plans to work with National Olympic Committees and local rightsholders to develop local versions of the Olympic Channel, which may optionally include linear television channels.

[4] Sport en France is a broadband television channel launched in 2019 and carried by the country's four main triple play operators.

[12] In January 2019, China Media Group announced plans to launch a Chinese version of the channel.