This was reported last night by Multichannel News and now we have the official press release from the National Broadcasting Company Sports Group.
NBC Sports Network will offer 292½ hours of coverage of the London Olympics starting on July 25, two days before the Games officially open. And the coverage when the Olympics kick into gear will begin every morning at 4 ET and run until 8 p.m. ET when NBC hits the air with its tape delayed primetime programming.
For the most part, NBC Sports Network will air 22 Olympic sports, and will air Team USA men’s basketball games, women’s soccer and field hockey. In addition, NBC Sports Network will have coverage of 20 medal rounds.
Most of this coverage will be live which will be good for hardcore fans. Hosts have not been announced as of yet, but I expect to see Liam McHughm, Bill Patrick and Russ Thaler who have been seen on NBCSN to be Olympic hosts on the channel as well. No, I do not expect to see Michelle Beadle hosting NBCSN’s Olympic coverage even though she’s expected to have a show on the network in the future.
Here’s NBC’s announcement.
NBC SPORTS NETWORK TO AIR 292.5 HOURS OF COVERAGE AT THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPICS
Cable Network to Serve as Home of U.S. Team Sports in London
292.5 Hours of Coverage is Most Ever for an Olympic Cable NetworkNEW YORK – May 17, 2012 – NBC Sports Network will serve as the home to U.S. team sports, with 292.5 hours of total coverage from 2012 London Olympics this summer, including 257.5 hours of original programming – an average of more than 14 hours per day – the most-ever for an Olympic cable network. Coverage will begin on Wednesday, July 25, at 11:30 a.m. ET, two days before the Opening Ceremony, when Team USA takes on France in women’s soccer, live from Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland.
NBC Sports Network coverage, originating from Olympic Park in London, will air up to 20 medal rounds and 22 Olympic sports, including Team USA basketball, women’s soccer and field hockey.
“To serve as the home of U.S. team sports throughout the Games, with more Olympic hours than any cable network ever, is a great thrill and honor,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “With exceptional quality content and more than 250 hours of live competition, NBC Sports Network will be an important destination for Olympic fans this summer as we continue to grow the network.”
NBC Sports Network, distributed in nearly 80 million homes – an increase of three million homes in the last year – will also carry soccer qualifying on Thursday, July 26. There will be no coverage on July 27 as there are no events scheduled on the same day as the Opening Ceremony. Coverage will conclude on NBC Sports Network on Sunday, August 12, the final day of competition. On most days, coverage will air from 4 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET, which covers the live Olympic day in London.
NBC Sports Network’s Olympic coverage will complement the programming airing on NBC, the details of which will be released shortly. It was announced earlier this week that MSNBC will host 155.5 hours of a wide variety of Olympic sports, CNBC will carry 73 hours of Olympic boxing coverage, Bravo will serve as the home of Olympic tennis with 56 hours of coverage, and Telemundo will provide the most extensive Spanish-language Olympics coverage in NBCUniversal history by offering more than 173 hours of programming. Additionally, NBCOlympics.com will live stream every event and sport for the first time ever, more than 3,500 hours in total. The vast majority of live streaming on NBCOlympics.com will only be available to authenticated cable, satellite or telco customers.
Back later. Expecting a big announcement from MLB on the rightsholder for the new Wild Card round in the next hour or so.
