NBC Sports Group has announced its schedule for the U.S. Olympics Trials. Four years ago, NBC used USA Network and Versus (which it did not own at the time) for overspill events. Now, NBC Sports Network, formerly Versus, gets a huge chunk of events starting with the Wrestling Trials on April 22 and ending with the Women’s Water Polo (US vs. Communist China) on July 8.
Many events will be live in primetime on NBC including the U.S. Track & Field Trials and the U.S. Swimming Trials which the network will showcase live every night from June 25 through July 2. That is quite an amazing commitment as once again, NBC feels swimming will drive ratings at the Olympics.
Overall, The Group will carry 67½ hours of Olympic Trials coverage, most of which going to NBC Sports Network.
We have the schedule for you below.
U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE AND NBC SPORTS GROUP ANNOUNCE SCHEDULE FOR 2012 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS COVERAGE
A Record 67½ Hours of Trials Coverage; 43 Hours on NBC Sports Network, 24½ Hours on NBC
47 Hours of Live Trials Coverage Including 15½ Hours on NBC in Primetime
Every Night of Swimming Trials Live in Primetime on NBCCOLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. and NEW YORK – April 4, 2012 – The United States Olympic Committee and the NBC Sports Group today announced the television schedule for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. A record 67½ hours of event coverage – 43 on NBC Sports Network and 24½ on NBC – will feature 10 sports, including live primetime coverage of trials for diving, swimming, gymnastics and track & field, as well as events for water polo and field hockey.
Trials coverage begins on Sunday, April 22, on NBC Sports Network with wrestling competition from Iowa City, Iowa, and concludes on Sunday, July 8, with the U.S Women’s Water Polo Olympic Team taking on the Chinese Olympic Team.
The 67½ hours of coverage on NBC and NBC Sports Network marks the most ever for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, topping the 49 hours of trials coverage in 2008 and 40½ hours in 2004. Additionally, NBC Sports Network and Universal Sports will re-air a combined 117 hours of trials coverage (74 hours on NBC Sports Network and 43 hours on Universal Sports).
“We are thrilled to present a record number of hours of Olympic Trials on NBC and NBC Sports Network – which will serve as the home of Team USA during the London Games” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “Our extensive coverage gives fans a head start to follow the U.S. Olympians as they prepare for London 2012.“
“Over the next 100 days, America’s best athletes will compete for a place on the U.S. Olympic Team, providing fans of Olympic sport with inspiring performances and stories ahead of the London Games,” said Scott Blackmun, chief executive officer, USOC. “NBC is a great partner to the Olympic Movement and NBC Sports Group’s commitment to broadcasting the U.S. Olympic Team Trials will help build interest in the London 2012 Olympic Games while introducing Americans to the athletes who will represent the United States as members of the U.S. Olympic Team this summer.”
Olympic Trials coverage highlights:
- 47 hours of LIVE trials coverage on NBC and NBC Sports Network including 15½ on NBC in primetime;
- For the first time, every night of the swimming trials live in primetime on NBC;
- Sunday, July 1: four hours of live primetime track & field, swimming and gymnastics coverage on NBC.
2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and Exhibition Events – Television Schedule
Date Time Network Event Sun., April 22 4-7 p.m. ET NBCSN Wrestling – Finals (next day coverage) Mon., April 23 3-6 p.m. ET NBCSN Wrestling – Finals (next day coverage) Sun., May 13 3-5 p.m. ET NBCSN Volleyball – Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament Final (next day coverage)
Sun., May 27 3-4:30 p.m. ET NBCSN Water Polo – USA Men vs. Hungary (live) Tues., June 19 12-2 a.m. ET NBCSN Diving – Semifinals: Men’s 10-meter (live) Wed., June 20 10 p.m.-2 a.m. ET NBCSN Diving – Semifinals: Men’s 3-meter (live); Women’s 10-meter (live);
Women’s 3-meter (next day coverage)
Thurs., June 21 10 p.m.-12 a.m. ET NBCSN Diving – Synchro Finals: Women’s 3-meter; Men’s 10-meter (live)
Fri., June 22 9-11 p.m. ET NBCSN Track & Field – Finals (live) 11 p.m.-12 a.m. ET NBCSN Diving – Synchro Finals: Men’s 3-meter (live) Sat., June 23 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET NBCSN Field Hockey – USA Women vs. Argentina (live) 4-6 p.m. ET NBC Diving: Men’s 10-meter – Finals (live) 6-7:30 p.m. ET NBCSN Rowing (from June 11-14) and BMX (from June 16) 8-9 p.m. ET/PT NBC Track & Field – Finals (live) Sun., June 24 3-6 p.m. ET NBC Diving: Men’s 3-meter, Women’s 10-meter, Women’s 3-meter – Finals (live) 7-8 p.m. ET/PT NBC Track & Field – Finals (live) Mon., June 25 6:30-8 p.m. ET NBCSN Swimming – Qualifying Heats (same day coverage) 8-9 p.m. ET/PT NBC Swimming – Finals (live) 9-11 p.m. ET NBCSN Track & Field – Finals (live) Tues., June 26 6:30-8 p.m. ET NBCSN Swimming – Qualifying Heats (same day coverage) 8-9 p.m. ET/PT NBC Swimming – Finals (live) Wed., June 27 7-8 p.m. ET NBCSN Swimming – Qualifying Heats (same day coverage) 8-9 p.m. ET/PT NBC Swimming – Finals (live) Thurs., June 28 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET NBCSN Swimming – Qualifying Heats (same day coverage) 5:30-8 p.m. ET NBCSN Gymnastics – Men’s Competition (live) 8-9 p.m. ET/PT NBC Swimming – Finals (live) 9-11 p.m. ET NBCSN Track & Field – Finals (live) Fri., June 29 4:30-6 p.m. ET NBCSN Swimming – Qualifying Heats (same day coverage) 6-8 p.m. ET NBCSN Track & Field – Finals (live) 8-9 p.m. ET/PT NBC Swimming – Finals (live) 9-11 p.m. ET/PT NBC Gymnastics – Women’s Competition (live) Satur., June 30 4-6 p.m. ET NBC Gymnastics – Men’s Final (live) 6:30-8 p.m. ET NBCSN Swimming – Qualifying Heats (same day coverage) 8-9 p.m. ET/PT NBC Swimming – Finals (live) 9-10 p.m. ET/PT NBC Track & Field – Finals (live) Sun., July 1 6-7 p.m. ET NBCSN Swimming – Qualifying Heats (same day coverage) 7-8 p.m. ET/PT NBC Track & Field – Finals (live) 8-9 p.m. ET/PT NBC Swimming – Finals (live) 9-11 p.m. ET/PT NBC Gymnastics – Women’s Final (live) Mon., July 2 8-8:30 p.m. ET/PT NBC Swimming – Finals (live) Sun., July 8 6-7:30 p.m. ET NBCSN Water Polo – USA Women vs. China (live)
More coming up.
