Broadcasters pay big money for the rights to show sporting events, but those deals could be disrupted by the growing use of second-screen apps. Check out this feature in Adweek, which notes that ESPN doesn’t have any rights to the Olympic Games in the US, but will be looking to capitalise on the event anyway with its second-screen apps.

“We want to see ESPN as second screen for all sports,” says its EVP of multimedia sales Eric Johnson. “We know we have a lot of companion usage, even when it’s not our event. We want to take co-viewing to the next level.”

Here’s a separate quote from Adam Cahan of Yahoo’s IntoNow social TV app. “We don’t have to get rights for these games. All I need to know is that you are watching football.” The question is how official broadcasters will react – for example by including additional camera angles or content in their own apps.