As Director of Broadcast and New Media Rights at the IOC, Michael Payne oversaw Olympic media rights negotiations to the value of more than $12 billion around the world and, to the value of more than $12 billion, pioneering the multi-games bidding strategy.

In 2003, he managed the tender and negotiations for the US rights to the 2010 / 2012 Olympic Games, won by NBC with its record breaking offer of $2.2 billion.

Prior to leaving the IOC, he oversaw the rights negotiations for Europe, generating a further Euro 700 million. Michael Payne has continued to advise broadcasters and sports rights owners on media rights:, assisting federations and governing bodies to expand their broadcast partnerships, while helping and broadcasters to acquire new properties and consolidate their sports inventory.

Recent Projects have included:

	F1  UK. After a decade's absence, the return of Formula One to the BBC to Formula One, after decade's absence from F1, acquiring the rights from incumbent ITV, mid contract.
	F1 – Greece. The acquisition of rights for Antenna, Greece's number one commercial broadcaster, from incumbent Alpha.
	IAAF – US. Development of a broadcast strategy for the World Athletics Championships 2007 / 2009, leading to a significant increase in coverage, audience levels and profiling of the Championships in the US, through a NBC, Versus, WCSN broadcast package.
	OLYMPICS – Brazil. Strategic advice to Globo Media Group resulting in them winning the IOC 2014 / 2016 tender;, making Brazil the third most important global media market for the IOC.