BERLIN — The U.S. Olympic Committee postponed plans for its own television network after objections from international Olympic officials.

USOC chairman Larry Probst said Sunday he has decided to delay development of the TV project until all issues have been resolved with the International Olympic Committee.
The announcement came a day after Probst met in Berlin with IOC president Jacques Rogge to discuss the dispute over the U.S. Olympic Network.
“I took the opportunity to stress our commitment to being good partners with the IOC and assured President Rogge that we will secure the full support and cooperation of the IOC before we move forward with the Olympic Network,” Probst said in a statement.
“In order to facilitate a productive dialogue, the USOC has decided to delay further development of the network until we have resolved all issues of concern to the IOC.”
The IOC criticized the USOC last month for “unilaterally” launching the TV network on July 8, saying it raised complex legal questions and could jeopardize relations with Olympic broadcaster NBC.
The IOC welcomed the decision.
“It was a good, positive and productive meeting,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. “We look forward to having more detailed information on their proposal.”
Probst said he and Rogge agreed to meet soon.
The decision is a major boost for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics. Had the USOC pushed ahead with the TV plans, it could have hurt Chicago’s chances in the IOC vote on Oct. 2 vote in Copenhagen. The other bid cities are Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo.
The IOC and USOC have had tense relations in recent years, particularly over the contentious issue of the USOC’s share of Olympic revenues.
The IOC accused the USOC of acting hastily by announcing plans for the network, which was scheduled to go on air next year after the Vancouver Winter Olympics with Comcast as broadcast partner.
NBC holds the U.S. broadcast rights through the 2012 London Olympics. The network acquired the rights to the Vancouver and London Games in 2003 in a deal worth $2.2 billion. NBC has said it plans to be among the U.S. networks bidding for rights to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi and 2016 Summer Olympics.
The USOC has said the network was a way to keep Olympic sports in front of viewers beyond the games. The project was intended benefit smaller sports that struggle to find air time outside of the Olympics.