NBC makes official what it has hinted at all along: It will carry all of the 2012 London Olympics, largely by using the world TV feed, online live.
Where broadcasters used to fear online action would cannibalize their TV ratings -- as recently as the 2010 Winter Games, NBC streamed only curling and hockey live online -- this move represents networks' increasing acceptance viewers usually will seek the best available screen and that viewers still will watch their big-screen TVs when they can but use other devices when they can't.
That has been proven with the NCAA men's college basketball tournament. And like the NCAA games online, the NBC Olympics online coverage, which will only be available to U.S. users, will require users to "authenticate" themselves as cable/satellite TV users -- which is meant to protect cable/satellite providers from consumers being able to access Olympic coverage without them.
NBC's game plan all along has been to package the biggest rating draws for taped prime time action. (It doesn't have much choice anyway, given the time difference -- U.S. prime time occurs after midnight in London.)
And online viewers shouldn't expect the usual Olympic TV packaging. Any national Olympic TV rights holder gets access to the Olympic world TV feed, which literally has live video of every second of action in every event. NBC's live online coverage, which will not include any costs to consumers, will rely heavily on that feed -- meaning some action will be presented with announcers or graphics.
From a Usain Bolt sprint to a Hope Solo save, and many three-pointers in between, the 2012 Olympics are coming LIVE – in their entirety – to NBCOlympics.com.
Beginning with preliminary-round soccer games on July 25, all 302 events from all 32 sports on the London program will be streamed live online.
•For gymnastics, viewing options will include a single “integrated” feed showing various competitors (akin to watching on TV), plus separate feeds for each apparatus (vault, floor, etc.).
•For track & field, users can watch a single feed bouncing from event to event, or feeds dedicated to specific events (javelin, pole vault, etc.).
•For early rounds of tennis at the All England Club, viewers can choose from five different courts of action.
In addition, there will be multiple pistes of fencing, courts of badminton, tables of tennis tennis and mats of judo and wrestling.
It’s all FREE and available to everyone who completes a quick and easy one-time process confirming they subscribe to a cable, satellite or telco service.
In addition to the live streams, NBCOlympics.com’s exclusive video offering will include full-event replays, extensive recaps and highlights, athlete interviews and more.
NBC made official what it has hinted at all along: It will carry all of the 2012 London Olympics, largely by using the world TV feed, online live.
From a Usain Bolt sprint to a Hope Solo save, and many goals in between, the 2012 Olympics are coming live – in their entirety – to NBCOlympics.com. Beginning with preliminary-round soccer games on July 25, all 302 events from all 32 sports on the London program will be streamed live online. It’s all free and available to everyone who completes a quick and easy one-time process confirming they subscribe to a cable, satellite or telco service.
In addition to the live streams, NBCOlympics.com’s exclusive video offering will include full-event replays, extensive recaps and highlights, athlete interviews and more. The service will only be available to viewers in the United States.
Online viewers shouldn't expect the usual Olympic TV packaging. Any national Olympic TV rights holder gets access to the Olympic world TV feed, which literally has live video of every second of action in every event. NBC's live online coverage, which will not include any costs to consumers, will rely heavily on that feed -- meaning some action will be presented without announcers or graphics.
