With some expressing reservations about the upcoming Tokyo Olympics this year due to regulations, NBC Universal says it is all in and plans to broadcast 7,000 hours of Olympics coverage, according to Variety. The Olympics will be broadcast on NBC, USA, CNBC, NBCSN, and Peacock, as well as other media.
“We are going to deliver the most comprehensive — and accessible — coverage for any sports event in history,” Molly Solomon, executive producer and president of NBC Olympics Production, said in a statement. “The depth and breadth of our broadcasts will be unprecedented, showcasing once-in-a-generation athletes and storylines that will capture the incredible uniqueness of these Games and our times.”
A big change this year is that NBC plans to broadcast the opening ceremony live for the first time in the early morning of July 23 before the Today Show airs. NBC will then air the opening ceremony again in primetime, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The primetime show will be shown live in every time zone. NBCSN, which is being officially taken off the air at the end of the year, will televise more than 440 hours of live events, including soccer, softball, fencing, and beach volleyball.
The Olympic Channel, which is a joint venture between NBCU and the U.S. Olympic Committee, will, for the first time, air live coverage of the games. NBC Sports Digital plans to offer more than 5,500 hours of live coverage to pay-TV subscribers.
