Announced today by NBC, the network will have a partnership with Facebook throughout the 17 Days of Glory in London. NBC says it will have exclusive video content on its Olympics Facebook page as well as engage fans in polls, trivia and shareable images.
In addition, NBC has launched an Olympics Facebook timeline app so viewers can share their thoughts with their friends. Knowing how Bob Costas hates social media, I can already hear him making fun of this when he has to read the promo for this during the primetime coverage of the Olympics.
Facebook will also produce social media segments during the Games that will air on all of the networks of NBCUniversal. And results of NBC Olympics Facebook polls will be aired during primetime.
We have the joint press release from NBC and Facebook.
NBC OLYMPICS AND FACEBOOK ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP FOR LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMESNews, Photos and Exclusive Content to be delivered on NBC Olympics’ Facebook Page
NBC Olympics Programming to utilize new Facebook Talk Meter
Numerous NBC Olympics Platforms to feature Social Media Segment during the GamesNEW YORK — July 11, 2012 — NBC Olympics, a division of the NBC Sports Group, and Facebook will collaborate during the London 2012 Olympic Games to serve fans of the Olympics like never before.
The NBC Olympics page on Facebook will feature the most up-to-date news and information, and will engage fans of the Olympic Games with featured polls, photo galleries, trivia and shareable images. Fans that “LIKE” NBC Olympics on Facebook will have the opportunity to unlock exclusive content made available to NBC Olympics fans. NBC Olympics has also launched a Facebook timeline app on NBCOlympics.com, so users can share the London 2012 Olympic Games content they are consuming with their friends.
As part of the collaboration, NBC Olympics’ coverage of the London Games will include the launch of Talk Meter, a new Facebook data tool. The new tool will inform viewers about stories, results, athletes and events that other fans of the Olympic Games are talking about on Facebook.
Representatives from Facebook will work with NBC editorial teams to produce social media segments that will air throughout the Games across the networks of NBCUniversal that are carrying Olympic coverage. In addition, the results of a daily poll that users can vote for on the NBC Olympics Facebook page will air daily on NBC, including in primetime.
“With the Olympic Games being one of those rare cultural moments that everyone talks about, people will watch the games on NBC and engage with their friends and favorite athletes on NBC Olympics’ Facebook page,” said Andy Mitchell, Strategic Partner Manager at Facebook. “NBC’s viewers will get to see what Olympic athletes and others connected with the Games are talking about on Facebook, adding a new element to NBC Olympics’ coverage. By sharing what they choose to watch on NBCOlympics.com, people will identify the events and highlights that are important to them and discover other Olympic moments through their friends.”
“NBC is committed to engaging fans and consumers on every platform,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “Social media is an important part of how fans consume and interact during the Olympics. We are thrilled to be collaborating with Facebook to serve fans as they watch and celebrate the London Olympic Games.”
NBC Olympics will complement its 5,535 hours of coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games by offering fans an unprecedented amount of content on multiple social media platforms. NBC Olympics will be everywhere the consumer is and will deliver news, photos, exclusive video and information via numerous digital platforms. A social media specific on-air promo is being created to help fans know exactly what is being offered and how to follow the Olympics on NBC’s social media platforms.
The 2012 Olympics are being dubbed “The Social Media Games” as Facebook and Twitter will have a heavy influence and how both services are used during this Olympiad will be a guide for how social media will be used in future Olympics.
