NBC Universal Sports and Olympics Chairman Dick Ebersol said he thinks bidding for TV broadcast rights on the 2014 and 2016 Olympics might not take place until the second half of the year.

“I’ve gotten the clear impression over the last three to four months that the bidding is going to be delayed for some time,” Mr. Ebersol said during a conference call announcing Al Michaels as a host of NBC’s coverage of the 2010 games.

Mr. Ebersol said the Olympic committee was waiting until there is a brighter economic picture worldwide, but particularly in the U.S., where a big chunk of the television money supporting the games originates.

“I certainly don’t see it in any immediate future and perhaps they’ll wait till after the decision for the 2016 games is made in the first 10 days of October,” he said. The International Olympics Committee will be making a decision about where the 2016 games will take place. Finalist cities include Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.

(Editor: Baumann)