Olympics on NBC

{{Short description|American sports television broadcasts}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox television | italic_title = no | name = {{Noitalic|NBC Olympics}} | image = NBC Olympics 2024.svg | image_size = 150 | caption = | alt_name = | genre = Olympics telecasts | creator = | director = | presenter = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 14 | num_episodes = | list_episodes = | executive_producer = | producer = | location = Various Olympic venues (event telecasts and studio segments) | camera = Multi-camera | runtime = Varies | company = NBC Olympics, LLC (NBC Sports Group) | network = Comcast NBC NBCSN Bravo NBC Sports Regional Networks NBC Sports Peacock Universo Telemundo Telemundo Deportes Versant USA CNBC MS NOW E! Golf Channel Syfy Oxygen Olympic Channel | first_aired = {{Start date|1964|10|10}} | last_aired = {{End date|1964|10|24}} | first_aired2 = {{Start date|1972|2|3}} | last_aired2 = {{End date|1972|2|13}} | first_aired3 = {{Start date|1988|9|17}} | last_aired3 = present | related = }} '''''NBC Olympics''''' is the commercial name for the NBC Sports-produced broadcasts of the Summer and Winter Olympic Games as shown in the United States on NBCUniversal and Versant platforms. They include the NBC broadcast network and as well as the cable networks operated by Versant under an agreement with NBC Universal; Spanish language network Telemundo; and streaming on the NBC{{nbsp}}Sports app, NBCOlympics.com, and Peacock. The event telecasts during the Olympics have aired primarily in the evening and on weekend afternoons on NBC, and varying times on its cable networks (such as after the close of the stock market day on CNBC, the early mornings on MS{{nbsp}}NOW, overnights on the USA Network, and various hours on NBCSN). Additional live coverage is available on the aforementioned streaming platforms.

The on-air title of the telecasts, as typically announced at the start of each broadcast and during sponsor billboards is always the official name of the games in question – for example, ''The Games of the XXIX{{nbsp}}Olympiad'' for the 2008 Summer Games. However, promotional logos may reflect the more common location-and-year name format, such as "Beijing{{nbsp}}2008".

NBC has held the American broadcasting rights to the Summer Olympic Games since the 1988{{nbsp}}games and the rights to the Winter Olympic Games since the 2002 games. In 2011, NBC agreed to a $4.38{{nbsp}}billion contract with the International Olympic Committee to broadcast the Olympics through the 2020 games, the most expensive television rights deal in Olympic history.<ref name="adweek">{{cite news|title=Update: NBC Bids $4.38 Billion for Olympic Gold|url=https://www.adweek.com/news/television/update-nbc-bids-438-billion-olympic-gold-132319|author=Anthony Crupi|work=Ad Week|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref> NBC then agreed to a $7.75{{nbsp}}billion contract extension on May{{nbsp}}7, 2014, to air the Olympics through the 2032{{nbsp}}games.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC Universal pays $7.75 billion for Olympics through 2032|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/05/07/nbc-olympics-broadcast-rights-2032/8805989/|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> NBC also acquired the American television rights to the Youth Olympic Games, beginning in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|title=NBC Olympics, Universal Sports announce Youth Olympics coverage|url=http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/12/youth-olympics-nbc-coverage-nanjing/|work=NBC Sports|date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> and the Paralympic Games for the 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 editions. NBC announced more than 1,200{{nbsp}}hours of coverage for the 2020{{nbsp}}games, called "unprecedented" by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/pyeongchang-2018-nbc-announces-paralympic-coverage?amp|title = PyeongChang 2018: NBC announces Paralympic coverage}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/nbcuniversal-announces-unprecedented-tokyo-2020-paralympic-coverage-usa|title = NBCUniversal announces unprecedented Tokyo 2020 Paralympic coverage in USA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NBC Olympics, U.S. Olympic Committee acquire media rights to Paralympics in 2014, 2016|url=http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/24/paralympics-2014-2016-tv-coverage-nbc/|work=NBC Sports|date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> In March 2025, NBC signed a $3{{nbsp}}billion extension for both the 2034{{nbsp}}Winter and 2036{{nbsp}}Summer games.<ref name="2025 deal">{{cite web|title=Comcast Inks $3B Deal to Keep Olympics Rights Through 2036|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/comcast-nbc-new-deal-olympics-rights-2036-games-1236162867/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 13, 2025}}</ref> NBC is one of the major sources of revenue for the International Olympic Committee (IOC).<ref name="mobile.nytimes.com">{{cite web|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-us-business.html|title=Fewer Russians Could Be a Windfall for U.S. Olympic Business|work=The New York Times|date=December 7, 2017|access-date=February 5, 2018}}</ref>

NBC's telecasts of the Olympics have been criticized for the tape delaying of events, spoiling the results of events prior to their own tape-delayed broadcast of those events, editing of its broadcasts to resemble an emotionally appealing program meant to entertain rather than a straight live sports event,<ref name="slate022014"/><ref name="Guardian2006"/> and avoiding controversial subjects such as material critical of Russia at the 2014 Olympics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=February 21, 2014 |title=In coverage of Olympics, NBC has largely steered clear of controversy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/olympics/in-coverage-of-olympics-nbc-has-largely-steered-clear-of-controversy/2014/02/21/5e68a088-99aa-11e3-80ac-63a8ba7f7942_story.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref> Since the 2012 Summer Olympics, live events have been continually added to NBC's cable networks and streaming platforms, rivaling the edited, tape-delayed broadcasts that traditionally air on the NBC broadcast network's primetime coverage.<ref name="adweek"/>

== History == === 1964 Summer === NBC televised its first Olympic Games in 1964, when it broadcast that year's Summer Olympics from Tokyo. NBC originally had intended to film the events from Tokyo but the Syncom team had a 1-hour test on the Syncom 3 satellite and it was discovered that it can transmit up to two hours from the United States to Japan as with signals from the West Coast. NBC needed approval from the FCC. It approved, thus giving NBC satellite coverage of the Olympics, allowing NBC to avoid flight expenses and having to fly as many tapes. NBC's telecast of the opening ceremonies that year marked the first color broadcast televised live via satellite back to the United States.<ref name=Owens>{{cite web|title=Television Sports Milestones: A Chronology of an Industry|url=http://www.mywire.com/pubs/TelevisionBroadcast/2006/07/01/2484669?extID=10051|work=MyWire.com}}</ref>

The Olympic competition itself was broadcast in black-and-white. Through its use of the Syncom 3 satellite, a daily highlights package could be seen a few hours after the events took place; otherwise, videotape canisters were flown across the Pacific Ocean and were broadcast to American viewers the following day.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tokyo 1964: A tough job, but...|url=http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/clips/7327/|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|year=2009|access-date=February 17, 2010}}</ref>

Serving as anchor was Bill Henry,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=October 20, 1964|title=N.B.C. Winning Few Medals in Tokyo|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/10/20/archives/nbc-winning-few-medals-in-tokyo.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> then NBC News Tokyo bureau chief, who had extensive experience in both print and broadcast news. Play-by-play commentators included Bud Palmer<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 25, 2020|title=Dick Bank, who called 1964 Olympic track upset for NBC, dies at 90|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/28782558/dick-bank-called-1964-olympic-track-upset-nbc-dies-90|work=ESPN|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Jim Simpson,<ref>{{cite book |last=Hurst|first=Rodney L.|author-link= |title=It was Never about a Hot Dog and a Coke!: A Personal Account of the 1960 Sit ...|year=2008|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7DO-QNhRrkYC&q=1964+summer+olympics+nbc+bud+palmer&pg=PT36|location= |publisher= Rodney Hurst|page=23|isbn=9781595942012}}</ref> while former Olympians Rafer Johnson<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson|first=Scott|date=December 2, 2020|title=Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson, who helped bring Summer Games to L.A., dies at 86|url=https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2020-12-02/rafer-johnson-dead|work=Los Angeles|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tomizawa|first=Roy|date=December 22, 2015|title=Crowded, Noisy, Dirty, Impersonal: Tokyo in the 1960s|url=https://theolympians.co/2015/12/22/crowded-noisy-dirty-impersonal-tokyo-in-the-1960s/|work=The Olympians|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Murray Rose<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=August 5, 1964|title=Sports of The Times; Strange Case of Murray Rose|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/08/05/archives/sports-of-the-times-strange-case-of-murray-rose.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> served as analysts.

=== 1972 Winter === NBC first televised the Winter Olympic Games in 1972.<ref name=Moreland>{{cite web|title=Olympics and Television|url=http://www.museum.tv/eotv/olympicsand.htm|work=Museum of Broadcast Communications|access-date=February 8, 2017|archive-date=May 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525151859/http://www.museum.tv/eotv/olympicsand.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Anchored<ref>{{cite news |last=Imber|first=Gil|date=June 26, 2012|title=London 2012: Power Ranking NBC's Best Olympics Broadcasters|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1237089-london-2012-power-ranking-nbcs-best-olympics-broadcasters|work=Bleacher Report|location= |access-date=}}</ref> by Curt Gowdy,<ref>{{cite book |last=Kidd|first=Billy|author-link= |date= February 1972|title=Ski Feb 1972|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DWCke6Y6KzYC&q=Jay+Randolph+1972+winter+olympics+nbc&pg=PA57|location= |publisher= |page= |isbn=}}</ref> much of the coverage actually was broadcast live since alpine skiing and long track speed skating were held in the morning, which corresponded to prime time on the East Coast of the United States. Although NBC bought the television rights from the Sapporo Olympics group, they didn't know that they had to make a deal with NHK for broadcast booths at each venue. By the time NBC found out, it was too late. The booths had been built and there were none to spare. Consequently, everyone worked off monitors.

A young sportscaster making his network television debut at Sapporo was a 26-year-old Al Michaels, who did hockey play-by-play during the games. Eight years later, he would call the famous 1980 "Miracle On Ice" at that year's Winter Games in Lake Placid for ABC Sports. Other sportscasters utilized by NBC included Jim Simpson,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 8, 2018|title=NBCUNIVERSAL'S OLYMPIC TRADITION|url=https://sportsmedianews.com/nbcuniversals-olympic-tradition/|work=Sports Media News|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Jay Randolph,<ref>{{cite news |last=Mohler|first=Andy|date= |title=5 On Your Side and its place in St. Louis history|url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/entertainment/television/ksdk-70-years/5-on-your-side-and-its-place-in-st-louis-history/63-394558205|work=KSDK|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Billy Kidd,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 27, 2013|title=2012 ISHA AWARDS|url=https://skiinghistory.org/news/2012-isha-awards|work=Skiing History|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Peggy Fleming,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=August 1, 2016|title=NBCUNIVERSAL'S OLYMPIC TRADITION|url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2016/08/01/nbcuniversals-olympic-tradition/|work=NBC Sports Group Press Box|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Art Devlin,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=January 29, 1972|title=Somerset Daily American Newspaper Archives January 29, 1972 Page 9|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-jan-29-1972-p-9/|work=Somerset Daily American|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Terry McDermott.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimate70s.com/seventies_history/19720201/television|title=Prime time TV listings from Tuesday February 1, 1972|last= |first= |date= |website=Ultimate 70s|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

=== 1980 boycott === NBC had won<ref>{{cite magazine |last= |first= |date=February 21, 1977|title=A CONTRACT WITH THE KREMLIN|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/02/21/a-contract-with-the-kremlin|magazine=Sports Illustrated|location= |access-date=}}</ref> the U.S. broadcast rights<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=May 9, 2014|title=List of US Olympic TV rights deals|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/05/09/list-of-us-olympic-tv-rights-deals/8894909/|work=USA Today|location= |access-date=}}</ref> for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcsports.com/our-history#decade_5|title=NBC acquires rights to 1980 Moscow Olympics|website=NBC Sports History Page|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806140431/http://www.nbcsports.com/our-history#decade_5|url-status=dead}}</ref> but when the United States Olympic Committee kept U.S. athletes home to honor<ref>{{cite news |last=Baxter|first=Brian|date=June 10, 2011|title=Cahill Gordon Helps NBC Snag $4.4 Billion Olympic TV Rights Deal|url=https://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2011/06/cahill-gordon-nbc.html|work=The AM Law Daily|location= |access-date=}}</ref> the boycott<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=June 30, 1991|title=ARTHUR WATSON, EX-BOSS OF NBC SPORTS|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-06-30-9102270568-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|location= |access-date=}}</ref> announced by President Jimmy Carter in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the telecasts were greatly scaled back.<ref>{{cite news |last=Myslenski|first=Skip|date=April 22, 1988|title=ENBERG IS EAGER FOR OLYMPIC TEST|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-04-22-8803110053-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|location= |access-date=}}</ref> In the end, what had been 150 hours<ref>{{cite news |last=Eldrige|first=Larry|date=July 18, 1980|title=Moscow Olympics, or how a prime-time bonanza became an also-ran|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1980/0718/071801.html|work=The Christian Science Monitor|location= |access-date=}}</ref> of scheduled coverage, had substantially decreased to just a few hours. Highlights were fed to local NBC stations for use on their local newscasts. Many affiliates, however, refused to show the Olympic highlights on their local news or clear airtime for the few hours of coverage NBC did present.

NBC's extensive coverage<ref>{{cite news |last=Hasen|first=Jeff|date=July 17, 1988|title=NBC Recalls Moscow Olympic Boycott|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-07-17-sp-9755-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> was canceled<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 27, 1986|title=NBC IN OLYMPIC PACT WITH A BOYCOTT CUSHION|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/27/arts/nbc-in-olympic-pact-with-a-boycott-cushion.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> before a prime time anchor had been named; it was said that ''NBC Nightly News'' anchor John Chancellor (who formerly served as a Moscow bureau chief for NBC News), along with sportscasters Bryant Gumbel<ref>{{cite news|title=Remembering Games That Were Barely There|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/21/sports/othersports/21tv.html?_r=1&fta=y&pagewanted=print|author=Richard Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 21, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Mourning Anchor|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/09/26/118511/the-mourning-anchor-bryant-gumbel-nbcs-olympic-host-is-alone-at-the-top----all-alone-with-the-memory-of-his-father|author=Rick Reilly|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=September 26, 1988}}</ref> and Dick Enberg,<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnes|first=Bart|date=June 6, 1980|title=NBC Sports Paid Dearly For an Olympian Dream|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/06/06/nbc-sports-paid-dearly-for-an-olympian-dream/f4c11782-f3b1-4abd-b0d4-9e3172c1a35f/|newspaper=Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> were reportedly being considered for the prime time studio host role. Bryant Gumbel ultimately served as Seoul primetime host in 1988<ref>{{cite news |last=Warner|first=Rick|date=August 21, 1988|title=NBC Finally Gets Back on the Olympic Beat|url=https://apnews.com/article/d3d165c698457fda5ad314f1d7fdb228|publisher=Associated Press|location= |access-date=}}</ref> while Dick Enberg co-hosted the Ceremonies through the 1996 closing.

NBC Sports executive Don Ohlmeyer had originally commissioned to use "1980", an instrumental theme written by Herb Alpert, for NBC's planned coverage of the Summer Olympics in Moscow. It would ultimately be used seven years later as the official theme song for NBC's telecast of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

=== 1988 Summer === NBC then bid for, and won, the rights to televise the 1988 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Netter|first=Thomas|date=October 15, 1986|title=WINTER, SUMMER OLYMPICS SWITCH TO 2-YEAR ROTATION|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-10-15-8603170646-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Luttrell|first=Jim|date=October 8, 1985|title=When NBC Sports presents the 1988 Summer Olympic Games...|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/10/08/When-NBC-Sports-presents-the-1988-Summer-Olympic-Games/6703497592000/|work=UPI|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bedell Smith|first=Sally|date=October 4, 1985|title=NBC WINS TV RIGHTS FOR OLYMPICS|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/04/arts/nbc-wins-tv-rights-for-olympics.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Reich|first=Kenneth|date=October 4, 1985|title=NBC Gets Olympic TV Rights for $300 Million|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-04-sp-5091-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Due to American television companies providing most of the revenue for the organizers,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/02/10/nbc-single-handedly-pays-for-a-fifth-of-all-olympic-games/ |title=NBC single-handedly pays for a fifth of all Olympic Games |date=December 6, 2021 |orig-date=February 10, 2014 |author1=Brian Fung |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}{{WaPoCheckDates}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Eskenazi|first=Gerald|date=September 18, 1988|title=THE SEOUL OLYMPICS: TV Sports; NBC's Coverage Captures the Color, but Not the Fun|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/18/sports/the-seoul-olympics-tv-sports-nbc-s-coverage-captures-the-color-but-not-the-fun.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> they agreed to schedule most of the team finals in the afternoon, which corresponded to prime time of the previous night in the United States (due to both South Korea<ref>{{cite news |last=VanVolkenburg|first=Matt|date=February 20, 2018|title=NBC offended Koreans during 1988 Seoul Olympics too|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/12/177_244493.html|work=Korea Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> being located near the western border of the International Date Line, in addition to the differences<ref>{{cite news |last=Chad|first=Norman|date=January 30, 1987|title=LIVE FROM SEOUL, 1988 OLYMPICSNOW ARE READY FOR PRIME TIME|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1987/01/30/live-from-seoul-1988-olympicsnow-are-ready-for-prime-time/5f566ba3-1ab0-40c8-b054-66b3282c2d82/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> in time zones<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=March 26, 1986|title=NBC Signs Contract for Exclusive Coverage 1988 Olympics|url=https://apnews.com/article/8b8c4a43be83dd78af3c9279fd319872|publisher=Associated Press |location= |access-date=}}</ref>).

''Today'' co-anchor Bryant Gumbel was the prime time host that year;<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Bryant Gumbel, NBC's Olympic host, is alone at the top—all alone with the memory of his father |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067784/index.htm |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228001126/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067784/index.htm |archive-date=February 28, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Maass|first=Peter|date=September 28, 1988|title=NBC'S OLYMPIC TASK|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/09/28/nbcs-olympic-task/8b6c8d00-da21-4fe4-be51-40e89ddac936/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Bob Costas hosted the late-night telecasts while Jane Pauley was one of the hosts of early-morning coverage. Gumbel and Dick Enberg were co-hosts for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Michael Weisman led a team covering the 1988 Summer Olympics for the network.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=September 14, 1988|title=OLYMPICS '88: A PREVIEW : NBC Hoping to Tell Story, Not Become It, With Its TV Coverage|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-14-ss-1987-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chad|first=Norman|date= |title=THE SEOUL GAMES / DAY 7 : Television : For Its Seoul Success, NBC Owes a Nod to ABC|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-23-sp-2721-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Vanhemert|first=Kyle|date=August 6, 2016|title=Recognize: NBC Invented the Modern Olympics Telecast|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/08/nbc-olympic-telecast/|magazine=Wired|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Eskenazi |first1=Gerald |title=The Seoul Olympics; NBC Tries to Put its Own Stamp On Olympics |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/11/sports/the-seoul-olympics-nbc-tries-toputits-own-stamp-on-olympics.html |website=New York Times |date=September 11, 1988 |access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref> One of those employees was future NBC Entertainment and CNN President Jeff Zucker, who Weisman hired as a researcher.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schneider |first1=Michael |title=NBC U enlists a pinch hitter |url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/nbc-u-enlists-a-pinch-hitter-1117925805/ |website=Variety |date=July 13, 2005 |access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref> Weisman considered producing the Olympics a challenge, saying, "my mandate is to shatter the mystique that only ABC can do the Olympics."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warner |first1=Rick |title=NBC Finally Gets Back on the Olympic Beat |url=https://www.apnews.com/d3d165c698457fda5ad314f1d7fdb228 |website=Associated Press |access-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630220958/https://apnews.com/d3d165c698457fda5ad314f1d7fdb228 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Weisman assembled the "Seoul Searchers," a group of specialized sports reporters tasked with following breaking news during the Games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Larry |title=The Seoul Games / Day 3 : TV : Reporters Put Imprint on NBC Coverage |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-09-19-sp-1637-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=September 19, 1988 |access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> Some criticized the journalistic focus to the games.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chira |first1=Susan |title=THE SEOUL OLYMPICS; U.S. Olympic Reporting Hits a Raw Korean Nerve |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/28/world/the-seoul-olympics-us-olympic-reporting-hits-a-raw-korean-nerve.html |website=The New York Times |date=September 28, 1988 |access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> Weisman, however, defended the tone, saying "the criticism we hear is that people want to hear positive news . . . we are not the American team. We are clearly rooting for the American team, but we're not going to whitewash anything." Other ideas Weisman introduced for the Olympics included miniature "point of view cameras" for specific events such as the pole vault and gymnastics; the "Olympic Chronicles," profiles which highlighted athletes and moments from Olympics past; and an Olympic soundtrack which included an original Whitney Houston song, "One Moment in Time".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Bill |title=NBC going for gold in Olympics coverage |publisher=The Pittsburgh Press |date=11 September 1988 |pages=TV2}}</ref> NBC won seven Emmy Awards for their Olympic coverage.<ref>{{cite web |title=NBCUNIVERSAL'S OLYMPIC TRADITION |date=February 9, 2018 |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2018/02/08/nbcuniversals-olympic-tradition-2/ |access-date=June 20, 2018}}</ref>

A curious result was that, since in the United States, the 1988 NFL season had just started, NBC would plug the holes (primarily play-by-play broadcasters) with well-known older broadcasters such as Curt Gowdy, Ray Scott and Merle Harmon, among others. Marv Albert was calling boxing during the Olympics alongside Ferdie Pacheco. Meanwhile, Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy called swimming (alongside Candy Costie-Burke for the synchronized events and John Naber) and volleyball (alongside Chris Marlowe) respectively. Charlie Jones called track and field (alongside Frank Shorter and Dwight Stones) and Jimmy Cefalo<ref>{{cite news |last=Sarni|first=Jim|date=September 27, 1988|title=IT SEEMED A SLOW DAY TILL NBC GOT A STORY OF SUBSTANCE|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1988-09-27-8802250296-story.html|work=Sun-Sentinel|location= |access-date=}}</ref> served as the daytime host. Bob Costas (as previously mentioned) and Gayle Gardner were NBC's late night hosts. Dick Enberg served as host for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and called men's basketball (alongside Al McGuire) and gymnastics (alongside Mary Lou Retton and Bart Conner<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=September 11, 1988|title=1988 Summer Olympics To Air Here on Channel 4|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/article/2238721/1988-summer-olympics-to-air-here-on-channel-4|work=The Oklahoman|location= |access-date=}}</ref>). Jay Randolph called baseball during the Olympics alongside Jim Kaat.

=== 1992 Summer === Just as his mentor Roone Arledge<ref>{{cite news |last=Nidetz|first=Steve|date=August 10, 1992|title=NBC'S EFFORTS WORTH A MEDAL|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-08-10-9203120061-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|location= |access-date=}}</ref> had before over at ABC, Dick Ebersol,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=July 28, 1993|title=OLYMPICS; NBC Wins TV Rights to 1996 Atlanta Games|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/28/sports/olympics-nbc-wins-tv-rights-to-1996-atlanta-games.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> who took over NBC Sports in 1989, decided to make the Olympics a staple of NBC's sports television schedule. NBC continued<ref>{{cite news |last=Walker|first=Joseph|date=December 5, 1988|title=1992 OLYMPICS: BOON FOR TV VIEWERS|url=https://www.deseret.com/1988/12/5/18786738/1992-olympics-boon-for-tv-viewers|work=Deseret News|location= |access-date=}}</ref> its Summer Games coverage into the next decade, with both the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and the 1996 Summer Olympics. For the 1992 games, Ebersol surprised even his own staff as well as everybody else by paying a then record $401 million for the 1992 games.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=A Whole New Game|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/12/26/119133/a-whole-new-game-two-megabuck-tv-deals-may-change-the-face-of-baseball-for-good-or-not-so-good|author=William Oscar Johnson|author2=William Taaffe|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=December 26, 1988}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=A Golden Opportunity|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1988/12/12/119056/a-golden-opportunity-nbc-surprised-everyone-including-its-own-staff-by-winning-the-tv-rights-to-the-92-games-for-a-record-401-million|author=William Oscar Johnson|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=December 12, 1988}}</ref> NBC then paid $456 million<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=July 28, 1993|title=NBC Wins 1996 Olympics for a Record $456 Million|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-28-sp-17784-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> to broadcast the 1996 Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museum.tv/eotv/olympicsand.htm |title=The Museum of Broadcast Communications - Encyclopedia of Television - Olympics and Television |website=www.museum.tv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203170850/http://www.museum.tv/eotv/olympicsand.htm |archive-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref> Previously hosting late night coverage in Seoul, Bob Costas made his debut, as primetime host,<ref name="Sarni"/> in Barcelona. It is a role<ref>{{cite news |last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=July 14, 1996|title=NBC PLANS MARATHON COVERAGE OF OLYMPICS|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1996-07-14-9609250171-story.html|work=Sun-Sentinel|location= |access-date=}}</ref> that he held through the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.

Among the sportscasters that NBC utilized in 1992 were Marv Albert,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=August 24, 2017|title=MARV ALBERT RECALLS 1992 DREAM TEAM MOMENTS — OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA BEGINS "DREAM TEAM WEEK" PRIMETIME MARATHON MONDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 P.M. ET|url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2017/08/24/marv-albert-recalls-1992-dream-team-moments-olympic-channel-home-of-team-usa-begins-dream-team-week-primetime-marathon-monday-night-at-830-p-m-et/|work=NBC Sports Group Press Box|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Mike Fratello,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=July 12, 2017|title=OLYMPIC CHANNEL: HOME OF TEAM USA CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1992 BARCELONA OLYMPICS WITH "DREAM TEAM" MARATHON|url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2017/07/12/olympic-channel-home-of-team-usa-celebrates-25th-anniversary-of-1992-barcelona-olympics-with-dream-team-marathon/|work=NBC Sports Group Press Box|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Quinn Buckner<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=first&p=233&item=112170|title=GAMES OF THE XXV OLYMPIAD, THE {1992 BARCELONA OLYMPICS}: DAY 5 {PART 1 OF 5} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> on basketball, Bob Trumpy,<ref name="Sarni">{{cite news |last=Sarni|first=Jim|date=July 23, 1992|title=PRIME TIME, ANY TIME: OLYMPICS ON 24 HOURS|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1992-07-23-9202210195-story.html|work=Sun-Sentinel|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Al Bernstein,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=August 4, 1992|title=BARCELONA: TV SPORTS; Stinging Jabs at Punch-Drunk Scoring|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/04/sports/barcelona-tv-sports-stinging-jabs-at-punch-drunk-scoring.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Beasley Reece<ref>{{cite news |last=Shea|first=Jim|date=August 6, 1993|title=SURPRISE PACKAGE FOR REECE: HE'LL TEAM WITH CRIQUI|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1993-08-06-0000006375-story.html|work=Hartford Courant|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on boxing, Tom Hammond,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sarni|first=Jim|date=July 31, 1992|title=HAMMOND RUNNING ON NBC'S FAST TRACK|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1992-07-31-9202220585-story.html|work=Sun-Sentinel|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Charlie Jones<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/abcsports/columns/jones_charlie/bio.html|title=ABC Sports - Jones, Charlie|last= |first= |date= |website=ESPN|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> Michele Mitchell, and Wendy Lian Williams<ref>{{cite news |last=Herbert|first=Steven|date=June 20, 1992|title=She Takes a Turn for the Drier : Television: Former Olympian Wendy Williams will be a commentator at the U.S. Olympic diving trials.|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-20-sp-481-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on diving, Terry Leibel<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=the&p=160&item=112201|title=GAMES OF THE XXV OLYMPIAD, THE {1992 BARCELONA OLYMPICS}: DAY 11 {PART 3 OF 7} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and Melanie Smith Taylor<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/melanie-smith-taylor/|title=MELANIE SMITH TAYLOR|last= |first= |date= |website=NBC Sports Group Press Box|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> on equestrian, Jim Donovan<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=January 10, 2012|title=Jim Donovan to Anchor WKYC 7 p.m. News|url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/article/20120110/NEWS/301109272|work=Akron Beacon Journal|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Seamus Malin on soccer, John Tesh,<ref>{{cite news |last=Shales|first=Tom|date=August 3, 1992|title=NBC, CRYING OVER SPILLED GYMNASTS|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/08/03/nbc-crying-over-spilled-gymnasts/a21b74b9-7501-482c-85b4-72a36901e502/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Greg Lewis,<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=August 10, 1992|title=No Medals for NBC, Gold for TripleCast|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-10-sp-4894-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Tim Daggett,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/tim-daggett/|title=TIM DAGGETT - NBC Sports Pressbox|last= |first= |date= |website=NBC Sports Group Press Box|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> Elfi Schlegel,<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=June 1, 2016|title=Nastia Liukin to call gymnastics for NBC at Rio Olympics|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/olympics/ct-nastia-liukin-gymnastics-nbc-rio-olympics-20160601-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Wendy Hilliard, Peter Vidmar, and Julianne McNamara<ref>{{cite news |last=Clark|first=Kenneth R.|date=March 22, 1992|title=OLYMPIC PAY-TV NETWORK FEAST OR FAMINE|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-03-22-9201260856-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on gymnastics, Joel Meyers<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=August 21, 1992|title=Raiders Live, Ram Fans Must Wait|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-21-sp-5663-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on rowing, Charlie Jones,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=November 15, 1991|title=SPORTS WEEKEND: TV SPORTS; Whoa, Nellie! It's 1 vs. 2 in a Barnburner!|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/15/sports/sports-weekend-tv-sports-whoa-nellie-it-s-1-vs-2-in-a-barnburner.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Mary Wayte,<ref name="Sarni"/> and Mike O'Brien on swimming, Al Trautwig<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=michael+jackson&p=13&item=112219|title=GAMES OF THE XXV OLYMPIAD, THE {1992 BARCELONA OLYMPICS}: DAY 14 {PART 2 OF 5} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and Tracie Ruiz-Conforto<ref name="Sarni"/> on synchronized swimming, Bud Collins,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dwyre|first=Bill|date=July 31, 1992|title=BARCELONA '92 OLYMPICS / DAY 6 : A LOT OF LOVE IN THE COVERAGE|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-31-sp-4363-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Tracy Austin,<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams|first=Jennifer L.|date=July 24, 1992|title=SPECIAL SECTION: SUMMER OLYMPICS|url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19920724-1992-07-24-9207250179-story.html|work=Daily Press|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Chris Evert,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=nbc&p=320&item=112214|title=GAMES OF THE XXV OLYMPIAD, THE {1992 BARCELONA OLYMPICS}: DAY 13 {PART 4 OF 7} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and Vitas Gerulaitis<ref>{{cite news |last=Finn|first=Richard|date=July 24, 1992|title=BIG NAMES, BIG HOPES FOR U.S. TENNIS TEAM|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-07-24-9203060915-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on tennis, Tom Hammond, Craig Masback,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/craig-masback/|title=CRAIG MASBACK - NBC Sports Pressbox|last= |first= |date= |website=NBC Sports Pressbox|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and Dwight Stones<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=the&advanced=1&p=209&item=112202|title=GAMES OF THE XXV OLYMPIAD, THE {1992 BARCELONA Olympics}|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> on track and field, Chris Marlowe<ref>{{cite news |last=Shea|first=Jim|date=July 29, 1992|title=COSTAS INSIGHTFUL, IF OVERINDULGENT |url=https://www.courant.com/hc-xpm-1992-07-29-0000114479-story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728054059/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4CXQMEb-9igJ:https://www.courant.com/hc-xpm-1992-07-29-0000114479-story.html+&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 28, 2021|work=Hartford Courant|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Paul Sunderland<ref name="Garcia">{{cite news |last=Garcia|first=Irene|date=August 15, 1996|title=A Volley of Words : Sunderland Is a Major Voice for His Sport as a Television Commentator|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-15-sp-34353-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on volleyball, Charlie Jones and Jim Kruse<ref>{{cite news |last=Christian|first=Susan|date=June 11, 1992|title=On the Waterfront : Ex-Player Is on Sidelines Again--as Olympics Anchor|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-11-fi-458-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on water polo, and Russ Hellickson<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=January 6, 1999|title=Hellickson Inks Deal With NBC Sports for Olympics|url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/hellickson-inks-deal-with-nbc-sports-for-olympics/|work=Ohio State Buckeyes|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Jeff Blatnick<ref>{{cite news |last=Harrington|first=Mike|date=July 23, 1992|title=ALBANY OLYMPICS KICK OFF WITH FLASH|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/albany-olympics-kick-off-with-flash/article_ec1ac3a8-cee5-527e-b8ef-cbb9a885f663.html|work=The Buffalo News|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on wrestling.

In order to defray costs of airing the games, the network teamed up with Cablevision<ref>{{cite news |last=Carter|first=Bill|date=February 15, 1990|title=NBC plans 'pay-per-view' Olympics|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/02/15/nbc-plans-pay-per-view-olympics/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726074148/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:NQBLKT-udJYJ:https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/02/15/nbc-plans-pay-per-view-olympics/+&cd=24&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|url-status=live|archive-date=July 26, 2021|work=Tampa Bay Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> for the Triplecast. The service consisted of red,<ref>{{cite news |last=Shea|first=Jim|date=December 18, 1991|title=GIVING OLYMPICS A NEW LOOK|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1991-12-18-0000208110-story.html|work=Hartford Courant|location= |access-date=}}</ref> white, and blue channels that allowed the viewer to watch anything they wanted even before it aired in the network's primetime telecast. However, the service was a dismal failure losing $100 million and had only 200,000 subscribers. In addition, the main network's coverage was cannibalized to the extent it seemed that the main coverage was overproduced and that viewers knew some results about 10 hours before they were aired over the air on NBC. For Atlanta, NBC had no supplemental cable coverage.

=== 1996 Summer ===

For the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, NBC used as commentators Marv Albert,<ref>{{cite news |last=Fang|first=Ken|date=April 10, 2016|title=REPORT: Marv Albert to call Olympic basketball for NBC in August|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/2016/report-marv-albert-to-call-olympic-basketball-for-nbc-this-august.html|work=Awful Announcing|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Matt Goukas,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=the&p=191&item=112280|title=GAMES OF THE XXVI OLYMPIAD, THE {1996 ATLANTA OLYMPICS}: DAY 10 {PART 2 OF 6} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> Magic Johnson,<ref>{{cite news |last=Endrst|first=James|date=June 15, 1998|title=MAGIC JOHNSON MISSES THE MARK|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1998-06-15-9806130047-story.html|work=The Hartford Courant|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Jim Gray on men's basketball, Mike Breen<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?item=112317|title=GAMES OF THE XXVI OLYMPIAD, THE {1996 ATLANTA OLYMPICS}: DAY 17 {PART 1 OF 6} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and Cheryl Miller<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=June 14, 1996|title=NBC Would Be Content to Finish With No Meddles|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-14-ss-25883-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on women's basketball, Bob Papa,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=April 3, 1996|title=Albert named to NBC Olympic team|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/04/03/Albert-named-to-NBC-Olympic-team/6540828507600/|work=UPI|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Al Bernstein,<ref>{{cite news |last=Graham|first=Tim|date=June 19, 1996|title=Al Bernstein CD celebrates Olympic Games|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1996/jun/19/al-bernstein-cd-celebrates-olympic-games/|work=Las Vegas Sun|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Beasley Reese<ref>{{cite news |last=Keveney|first=Bill|date=August 2, 1996|title=REECE DOESN'T KNOCK WAY IN WHICH BOXING IS PRESENTED|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-08-02-9608020456-story.html|work=The Hartford Courant|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on boxing, Charlie Jones<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=July 17, 1996|title=ATLANTA: A VIEWER'S GUIDEON TELEVISION; Calling the Races, Without Needing Horseshoes for Luck|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/14/sports/atlanta-viewer-s-guideon-television-calling-races-without-needing-horseshoes-for.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Bill Endicott on canoeing, Al Trautwig,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-22-ss-26891-story.html|title=Despite Flaws, a Fair Performance|last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=July 22, 1996|website=Los Angeles Times|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> Phil Liggett,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=nbc&p=39&item=112298|title=GAMES OF THE XXVI OLYMPIAD, THE {1996 ATLANTA OLYMPICS}: DAY 13 {PART 3 OF 5} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center of Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and Paul Sherwen<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=December 2, 2018|title=Former pro cyclist, broadcaster Paul Sherwen dies at 62|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/25437155/former-pro-cyclist-broadcaster-paul-sherwen-dies-62|work=ESPN|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on cycling, Dan Hicks and Cynthia Potter<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/cynthia-potter/|title=CYNTHIA POTTER|last= |first= |date= |website=NBC Sports Group Press Box|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> on diving, Jim Simpson<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=January 13, 2016|title=Hall of Fame sportscaster Jim Simpson of ESPN's early days dies|url=https://abc7chicago.com/sports/hall-of-fame-sportscaster-jim-simpson-of-espn-early-days-dies/1157595/|work=ABC 7 Chicago|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Melanie Smith Taylor on equestrian, Jim Donovan and Seamus Malin on soccer, John Tesh,<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=July 30, 1996|title=ATLANTA: DAY 11 -- TV SPORTS;Taped Confessions, Live From NBC|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/30/sports/atlanta-day-11-tv-sports-taped-confessions-live-from-nbc.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Tim Daggett,<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=August 5, 1996|title=NBC Ruffled a Few Feathers With Its Proud Peacock Routine|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-08-05-ss-31573-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Elfi Schlegel,<ref>{{cite news |last=Hockstader|first=Lee|date=September 2, 1996|title=FLIP SIDES|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1996/09/02/flip-sides/08b8d3f5-5a5f-4c22-b412-7a091c611020/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Beth Ruyak<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=john&p=230&item=112266|title=GAMES OF THE XXVI OLYMPIAD, THE {1996 ATLANTA OLYMPICS}: DAY 7 {PART 5 OF 6} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> on gymnastics, Charlie Jones<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-obituary-broadcaster-charlie-jones-dies-at-77-2008jun13-story.html|title=OBITUARY: Broadcaster Charlie Jones dies at 77|last= |first= |date=June 13, 2008|website=San Diego Union Tribune|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and Bill Endicott<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.potomacwhitewater.org/glory-days/|title=Potomac Whitewater Racing Club - Glory Days|last=|first=|date=|website=Potomac Whitewater Racing Center|publisher=|access-date=|quote=|archive-date=August 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816092649/http://www.potomacwhitewater.org/glory-days/|url-status=dead}}</ref> on rowing, Dan Hicks,<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=June 23, 1996|title=Swimming Story Falls in NBC's Lap|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-23-ss-27203-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Summer Sanders,<ref>{{cite news |last=Kent|first=Milton|date=July 23, 1996|title=NBC deserves dunce cap in Smith attack|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-07-23-1996205147-story.html|work=The Baltimore Sun|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Rowdy Gaines,<ref>{{cite news |last=Zaccardi|first=Nick|date=June 29, 2013|title=Rowdy Gaines will call swimming for NBC at Rio Olympics|url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2013/06/29/rowdy-gaines-swimming-nbc-rio-2016-olympics/|work=NBC Sports|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Jim Gray<ref>{{cite news |last=Keveney|first=Bill|date=June 30, 1996|title=OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE ANYTHING BUT U.S. ATHLETES?|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-07-30-9607300417-story.html|work=The Hartford Courant|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on swimming, Don Criqui<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=August 5, 1996|title=Not All (Women's) Sports Created Equal on NBC|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/05/sports/not-all-women-s-sports-created-equal-on-nbc.html|work=The New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Tracie Ruiz-Conforto on synchronized swimming, Bud Collins<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=john&p=230&item=112266|title=GAMES OF THE XXVI OLYMPIAD, THE {1996 ATLANTA OLYMPICS}: DAY 7 {PART 5 OF 6} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center of Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> and Mary Carillo<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/mary-carillo/|title=MARY CARILLO - NBC Sports Pressbox|last= |first= |date= |website=NBC Sports Group Press Box|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> on tennis, Tom Hammond, Dwight Stones,<ref>{{cite news |last=Keveney|first=Bill|date=August 5, 1996|title=NBC'S COVERAGE? LET'S JUST CALL IT 'PLAUSIBLY DECENT'|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1996-08-05-9608050165-story.html|work= |location= |access-date=}}</ref> Craig Masback,<ref>{{cite news |last=Kent|first=Milton|date=July 30, 1996|title=NBC's callous approach mars a brilliant run ATLANTA OLYMPICS|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-07-30-1996212152-story.html|work=The Baltimore Sun|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Carol Lewis<ref>{{cite news |last=Shapiro|first=Leonard|date=July 31, 1996|title=IT WASN'T LIVE, BUT NBC'S MONDAY WAS A GRAND ILLUSION|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/07/31/it-wasnt-live-but-nbcs-monday-was-a-grand-illusion/561a1469-145e-461d-8aea-338c3f71e468/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on track and field, Chris Marlowe,<ref>{{cite news |last=Stewart|first=Larry|date=July 31, 1996|title=Gold-Medal Performance by Announcers Marlowe, Sunderland|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-31-ss-29874-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Randy Rosenbloom<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=September 7, 1996|title=ROSENBLOOM REPLACES 'BOLER' AS Y. BROADCASTER|url=https://www.deseret.com/1996/9/7/19264384/rosenbloom-replaces-boler-as-y-broadcaster|work=Deseret News|location= |access-date=}}</ref> (beach), Paul Sunderland,<ref name="Garcia"/> Kirk Kilgour<ref>{{cite web |url=https://socalindoorvolleyballhof.com/kirk-kilgour/|title=Kirk Kilgour - Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame|last= |first= |date= |website=Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> (beach), and Bill Walton<ref>{{cite news |last=Chad|first=Norman|date=July 22, 1996|title=THE JOY OF TESH: IT'S WHAT THE OLYMPICS ARE ALL ABOUT|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/07/22/the-joy-of-tesh-its-what-the-olympics-are-all-about/8803716b-9470-469e-afae-bb352357bd00/|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on volleyball, Don Criqui and Jim Kruse<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=nbc&p=304&item=112045|title=GAMES OF THE XXVII OLYMPIAD, THE {2000 SYDNEY OLYMPICS}: DAY 13 {PART 4 OF 6} (TV)|last= |first= |date= |website=The Paley Center for Media|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> on water polo, Bob Trumpy<ref>{{cite news |last=Chad|first=Norman|date=August 5, 1996|title=After Trautwig and Pretzel Boy, Olympic Flameout Relieves Olympic Burnout|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/olympics/daily/aug/05/chad5.htm|newspaper=The Washington Post|location= |access-date=}}</ref> and Phil Simms<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/view?id=19062|title=JAMES BROWN, PHIL SIMMS AND CRIS COLLINSWORTH TO HOST "INSIDE THE NFL" AS SERIES LAUNCHES ON SHOWTIME SEPTEMBER 10|last= |first= |date=July 7, 2008|website=Viacom CBS Press Express|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> on weightlifting, and Russ Hellickson and Jeff Blatnick<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=October 24, 2012|title=Jeff Blatnick dies at age 55|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/8547815/jeff-blatnick-1984-gold-medal-wrestler-dies|work=ESPN.com|location= |access-date=}}</ref> on wrestling. As with Arledge in Munich, Ebersol had to deal with breaking news during the Atlanta Games. During the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in 1996, NBC suspended its coverage of a volleyball game and broadcast the news for several hours commercial-free. Like ABC's 1972 Munich coverage, the main primetime host (in 1972's case, Chris Schenkel instead of Jim McKay) did not cover the bombing. That role went to both Hannah Storm and Jim Lampley for the first half-hour before turning coverage over to ''NBC Nightly News'' anchor Tom Brokaw. Toward the end of the second hour of coverage, NBC had an exclusive as the network's Atlanta affiliate, WXIA-TV, was in the process of interviewing Janet Evans during the bombing.

=== 2000 Summer === Beginning with the 2000 Summer Olympics, NBC became the sole U.S. rights holder for the Olympic Games for the entire decade. NBC made the longest and most expensive commitment ever anywhere in the world since the Olympics were first presented on television. For the 1996 Summer Olympics, and all Games from 2000 to 2008, NBC paid a total of $3.5 billion, mostly to the International Olympic Committee but also to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and local organizers.

To help offset the increasing costs of broadcast rights, NBC turned to cable and satellite services to help provide additional coverage. Following the failure of the Triplecast pay-per-view experiment, NBC leaned on its growing slate of cable channels (particularly following then-parent General Electric's 2004 acquisition of Vivendi Universal to form NBC Universal) to provide supplementary coverage of Olympic events.

The rise of various media platforms extended the reach and availability of Olympic Games coverage. NBC returned to supplemental cable/satellite coverage in 2000, with some events airing on CNBC and MSNBC; traditionally CNBC has mainly aired coverage of boxing events.

=== 2002 Winter === The 2002 Winter Olympics were the first Winter Olympics under a multi-year rights agreement between NBC and the IOC.

NBC partnered with HDNet to produce an eight-hour block of daily coverage in high definition, which was carried by HDNet and on the digital signals of participating NBC affiliates. Despite being held in a time zone only one hour ahead of Pacific Time, NBC still tape delayed much of its coverage for the west coast, although Salt Lake City's local NBC affiliate KSL-TV was given permission to air the live, east coast broadcasts to ensure their availability in the Games' host city.

=== 2004 Summer === For the first time at the 2004 Summer Olympics, major broadcasters were allowed to serve video coverage of the Olympics over the Internet, provided that they restricted this service geographically, to protect broadcasting contracts in other areas. The International Olympic Committee forbade Olympic athletes, as well as coaches, support personnel and other officials, from setting up specialized weblogs and/or other websites for covering their personal perspective of the Games. They were not allowed to post audio, video, or photos that they had taken. An exception was made if an athlete already has a personal website that was not set up specifically for the Games. NBC launched its own Olympic website, NBCOlympics.com. Focusing on the television coverage of the Games, it did provide video clips, medal standings and live results. Its main purpose, however, was to provide a schedule of what sports were on the many stations of NBC Universal. The Games were shown on television 24 hours a day, on one network or another.

High-definition coverage began in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/2004-summer-olympics-disappoints-in-hd-and-on-the-web | title=2004 Summer Olympics disappoints in HD and on the Web | date=August 23, 2004 }}</ref>

NBC added USA Network, Bravo and Telemundo, all of which parent company NBC Universal had acquired earlier in the decade.

Overall, NBC's coverage of the Olympics has been praised, and the company was awarded with 6 Emmy Awards for its coverage of the Games and technical production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/08/30/news/fortune500/nbc_olympics/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040901114641/http://money.cnn.com/2004/08/30/news/fortune500/nbc_olympics/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 1, 2004|title=Athens Olympics close, and NBC cashes in - Aug. 30, 2004|website=money.cnn.com}}</ref><ref name="FCC">{{cite web |last1=Grohmann |first1=Karolos |title=Olympics chief rebuffs lewd claims |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/28774/article/ekathimerini/news/olympics-chief-rebuffs-lewd-claims |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128103103/https://www.ekathimerini.com/28774/article/ekathimerini/news/olympics-chief-rebuffs-lewd-claims |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 November 2020 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=13 May 2020 |date=19 January 2005 }}</ref> Additionally, NBC televised all 28 sports in the 2004 Games, becoming the first broadcaster to do so.<ref name=Soriano>{{cite web|title=Volleyball Well Represented by NBC's Around-the-Clock Olympic TV Coverage|url=http://www.olympic-usa.org/73_22288.htm|work=Olympic-USA.org|access-date=2008-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041227103848/http://www.olympic-usa.org/73_22288.htm|archive-date=2004-12-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== 2006 Winter === During the 2006 Winter Olympics, USA Network aired a daily studio program focusing on the figure skating competitions, ''Olympic Ice'', which was hosted by Mary Carillo and featured appearances by analysts such as Dick Button (who hosted the viewer e-mail segment "Push Dick's Button"), Jamie Sale and David Pelletier.<ref name="aa-olympicice18">{{Cite news|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-return-nbc-primetime-winter-olympics-figure-skating-coverage.html|title=Johnny Weir, Tara Lipinski return to NBC in primetime for Winter Olympics figure skating coverage|date=November 16, 2017|work=Awful Announcing|access-date=February 2, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2006-02-15-hiestand-oly_x.htm|title='Olympic Ice' relishes fun of Games|website=USA Today|access-date=February 2, 2018}}</ref>

Universal HD was added to the list of channels carrying the Games.

Also during the 2006 games, most NBC affiliates introduced ''Olympic Zone'', an access hour program leading into primetime coverage which airs Mondays through Saturdays during the games. Each edition is hosted locally and contains a mixture of network-produced and, if station resources allow, local segments (similar to the ''PM Magazine'' format). A version of the program had been piloted by KCRA Sacramento during the 2004 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/miscellaneous/nbc-to-help-affiliates-localize-torino-olympics-coverage|title=NBC to help affiliates localize Torino Olympics coverage|work=TVTechnology|date=December 9, 2005|access-date=July 26, 2021}}</ref>

=== 2008 Summer === At the 2008 Summer Olympics, events were streamed live for the first time on the Internet through the NBCOlympics.com website, and NBC began to employ part-time high-definition channels dedicated to the basketball and soccer competitions.<ref name=":2" /> Recent NBC Universal acquisition Oxygen joined NBC's coverage, carrying a two-hour block on weekdays with a focus on gymnastics (deemed by NBC executives to be an equivalent to ''Olympic Ice'' during the 2006 games).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-02-11 |title=NBC will use Oxygen for daily Beijing coverage |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2008/02/11/This-Weeks-News/NBC-Will-Use-Oxygen-For-Daily-Beijing-Coverage.aspx |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gough |first=Paul J. |date=2008-02-11 |title=Oxygen on for Olympics |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/oxygen-olympics-104585/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website= |language=en-US |via=The Hollywood Reporter |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== 2010 Winter === thumb|180px|Former NBC Olympics logo used from 2010 to 2022 In 2006, NBC paid another $2.2 billion to purchase the rights to the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics<ref>{{cite journal|title=Television Rights|journal=ESPN Sports Almanac|year=2008|page=609}}</ref> but lost $223 million on the 2010 broadcasts.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC posts $223 million 1Q loss on Winter Olympics|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i2G89IcCAjO8dSVB8NuOzE35eMCwD9F4CCFO0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420092338/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i2G89IcCAjO8dSVB8NuOzE35eMCwD9F4CCFO0|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 20, 2010|agency=Associated Press|date=April 17, 2010|access-date=April 21, 2010}}</ref> NBC Olympics is the International Olympic Committee's, and by extension the Olympic movement's, highest revenue stream.<ref name="mobile.nytimes.com"/>

The 2010 Games added then-digital multicast network Universal Sports, which carried analysis programs about events, while Oxygen and Bravo were completely excluded to maintain their schedules.

=== 2012 Summer === In 2011, Comcast acquired majority control of NBC's parent company NBC Universal from General Electric (whose remaining interest Comcast later acquired in 2013); on June 6, 2011, NBCUniversal announced that it had acquired the television rights for the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Olympics, beating out ESPN/ABC and Fox. The entire package was worth $4.38 billion, making it the most expensive television rights deal in Olympic history. NBC paid $775 million for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and $1.23 billion for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. NBC also paid $963 million for the rights to the 2018 Winter Olympics (in Pyeongchang, South Korea) and $1.45 billion for the 2020 Summer Olympics (which were to be held in Tokyo, Japan but were later postponed to 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/nbc-secures-rights-to-next-four-olympics-1118038172/|title=NBC secures rights to next four Olympics|website=Variety.com|last=Levine|first=Stuart|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=July 25, 2025}}</ref>

In response to criticism it received during previous Olympics, NBC also announced that beginning in 2012, it planned to broadcast all events live through either television or digital platforms. Additionally, the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN; formerly Versus, which became a part of NBC Sports following the acquisition) also added coverage of the Olympics beginning with the 2012 London Games, with an emphasis on team sports, for the duration of the network's existence.<ref name="adweek"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Report: NBC Wins Latest Olympics TV Rights Bid|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/07/report-nbc-wins-latest-olympics-tv-rights-bid/94902/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609180116/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/07/report-nbc-wins-latest-olympics-tv-rights-bid/94902/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 9, 2011|work=TV by the Numbers|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=June 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=LOOKING BACK AT NBC SPORTS NETWORK'S LACK OF GROWTH|url=https://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013/february/the-issues-hindering-nbc-sports-network-s-growth-part-i.html|author=Ben Koo|work=AwfulAnnouncing.com|date=February 27, 2013|access-date=February 28, 2013}}</ref> NBCSN became the highlighted cable network for coverage, replacing both USA Network, which would maintain their regular entertainment schedule during the games. The 2012 Summer Olympics also saw Universal HD removed from the company's cable/satellite coverage. Bravo aired supplemental coverage (mainly the tennis tournament) in place of Oxygen, with Universal Sports again solely providing analysis and pay television providers again carrying dedicated HD basketball and soccer networks.

=== 2014 Winter === The 2014 Winter Olympics again saw NBCSN as the highlighted cable network, though NBCUniversal's cable networks had additional complications due to NBC's weekend coverage of the Premier League, which usually aired on NBCSN but was instead moved to USA Network due to the Olympics, and some coverage of the games usually seen on CNBC replaced with the first night of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show because of the yearly conflict with USA's ''WWE Monday Night Raw''. A new online-network called ''Gold Zone'', which featured rolling coverage of events in the style of NFL Network's ''NFL RedZone'' and ESPN Goal Line (and has been by coincidence hosted by Andrew Siciliano, who also hosted the NFL Sunday Ticket-exclusive version of ''RedZone'' for DirecTV), was also launched to provide coverage of the Games, which was retained for 2016's coverage.

=== 2016 Summer === For the 2016 Summer Olympics, NBC began to offer 4K content on a delayed basis through participating service providers (particularly DirecTV, Dish Network, and Xfinity), downconverted from 8K footage filmed by NHK and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), with HDR and Dolby Atmos support. Eighty-six hours of event footage was offered.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/nbc-olympics-ultra-hd-4k-directv-dish-comcast-1201824704|title=DirecTV, Dish, Comcast to Deliver NBC Rio Olympics Programming in 4K Ultra HD|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=July 27, 2016|work=Variety|access-date=November 5, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="thr-4kolympics">{{cite web|title=Rio Olympics: NBC Plans 4K and High Dynamic Range for Opening Ceremony Coverage|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/rio-olympics-nbc-plans-4k-897717|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 26, 2016|access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref> NBC affiliate WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina also carried this content via their experimental ATSC 3.0 digital signals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/tv/warm-tv-blog/article201303244.html|title=WRAL: ATSC 3.0 Next Generation TV delivers 4K ultra high-def|last=Cain|first=Brooke|date=February 21, 2018|work=The News & Observer|access-date=February 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/marketshare/2018/02/21/wral-shows-olympics-in-next-gen-tv/|title=WRAL Shows Olympics In Next Gen TV Format|last=Greeley|first=Paul|date=February 21, 2018|work=TVNewsCheck|access-date=February 22, 2018}}</ref>

With the re-introduction of golf to the Olympics, Golf Channel was added to NBC's coverage, with Golf Channel on NBC providing production resources for the two tournaments on behalf of OBS.<ref name="tvt-broadcasting">{{cite web|title=Olympic Broadcasting: Inside the Chief Executive's Office|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/0002/olympic-broadcasting-inside-the-chief-executives-office/278970|website=TV Technology|date=July 11, 2016|access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref> The primetime block of NBC's coverage in 2016 also featured Descriptive Video Service through the SAP channel for the first time since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) was allowed to require broadcasters to expand their production and access to described programming for the blind and visually impaired (though live sporting events were not required under the guidelines, so NBC's effort is entirely voluntary).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afb.org/community/announcements/comcast-and-nbc-to-make-the-2016-summer-olympic-games-accessible-to-people-with-vision-loss-through-live-description/12|title=Comcast and NBC to Make the 2016 Summer Olympic Games Accessible to People with Vision Loss through Live Description|publisher=American Foundation for the Blind|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808135514/http://www.afb.org/community/announcements/comcast-and-nbc-to-make-the-2016-summer-olympic-games-accessible-to-people-with-vision-loss-through-live-description/12|archive-date=August 8, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On July 15, 2017, Universal HD was relaunched as a localized version of Olympic Channel, airing coverage of Olympic sports outside of the Games.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holloway|first=Daniel|date=January 25, 2017|title=Could End of NBCU's Esquire Network Foretell More Cable Culling?|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/nbcu-esquire-network-1201968897/|access-date=February 1, 2017|work=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=August 18, 2016|title=Participant's Pivot: Demise Reflects Niche Cable's Diminished Fortunes|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/demise-of-participants-pivot-reflects-niche-cables-diminished-fortunes-1201840225/|access-date=February 1, 2017|work=Variety}}</ref>

=== 2018 Winter === In February 2017, Bob Costas stepped down as the main host of NBC's coverage, being replaced by former ESPN personality Mike Tirico.<ref name="usatoday-tiricoolympics">{{cite web|title=Bob Costas steps down as NBC host of Olympics; Mike Tirico to replace him|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2017/02/09/bob-costas-nbc-sports-stepping-down-olympics-sunday-night-football-nfl/97683870/|access-date=February 9, 2017|website=USA Today}}</ref><ref name="usatoday-replacingcostas">{{cite web|title=Brennan: Bob Costas has been the face of the Olympics for Americans|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/brennan/2017/02/09/bob-costas-olympics/97684504/|access-date=February 9, 2017|website=USA Today}}</ref>

On March 28, 2017, NBC announced that it would adopt a new format for its primetime coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics, with a focus on live coverage in all time zones to take advantage of Pyeongchang's 14-hour difference with U.S. Eastern Time, and to address criticism of its previous tape delay practices. As before, the primetime block began at 8:00 p.m ET/5:00 p.m PT, and unlike previous Olympics, was available for streaming. Event sessions in figure skating were deliberately scheduled with morning sessions so that they could air during primetime in the Americas (and in turn, NBC's coverage; due to the substantial fees NBC has paid for rights to the Olympics, the IOC has allowed NBC to have influence on event scheduling to maximize U.S. television ratings when possible; NBC agreed to a $7.75 billion contract extension on May 7, 2014, to air the Olympics through the 2032 games,<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympics on NBC through 2032|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2014/05/07/nbc-olympics-broadcast-rights-2032/8805989/|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 7, 2014}}</ref> is also one of the major sources of revenue for the IOC).<ref name="mobile.nytimes.com" /><ref name="nytimes-skatingscheduling">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/sports/olympics/figure-skating-schedule.html|title=For Olympic Figure Skaters, a New Meaning to Morning Routine|last=Longman|first=Jeré|date=February 12, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 17, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216125456/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/sports/olympics/figure-skating-schedule.html|archive-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref>

Coverage took a break in the east for late local news, after which coverage continued into "Primetime Plus", which featured additional live coverage into the Eastern late night and Western primetime hours. This was then followed by an encore of the ''Primetime'' block. NBCSN also broadcast live primetime blocks, and revived ''Olympic Ice'' to serve as a pre-show for figure skating coverage (hosted by Liam McHugh and Tanith White from Pyeongchang), alongside a digital-exclusive post-show hosted by Krista Voda from NBC Sports' headquarters.<ref name="variety-nbclive2018">{{cite web|title=NBC to Broadcast Winter Olympics Live Across All Time Zones|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/nbc-broadcast-winter-olympics-live-1202018114/|website=Variety|access-date=March 28, 2017|date=March 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2018/01/19/pyeongchang-2018-nbc-to-present-live-nightly-primetime-coverage-across-all-time-zones/|title=PyeongChang 2018: NBC To Air Live, Nightly Primetime Coverage Across All Time Zones; Will Live-Stream Opening Ceremony|work=Sports Video Group|access-date=February 2, 2018|language=en}}</ref> On February 19, 2018, NBC began airing ''The Fallon Five—''special five-minute episodes of ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon—''as a segment during the primetime block for the remaining weekdays of the Games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/nbc-air-tonight-lite-2nd-week-olympics/171658|title=NBC to Air Tonight-Lite in 2nd Week of Olympics|website=Broadcasting & Cable|date=February 8, 2018|language=en|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/jimmy-fallon-paul-rudd-tonight-show-five-minute-winter-olympics-south-korea-video-1202296104/|title=Paul Rudd Game For 'Tonight Show Fallon 5' Debut During PyeongChang Olympics|last=de Moraes|first=Lisa|date=February 20, 2018|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 21, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2020 Summer === NBCUniversal integrated its Peacock streaming service into coverage beginning with the 2020 Summer Olympics. It carried a special "Tokyo Now" channel during the Games, featuring the studio programs ''Tokyo Live'' (event coverage and medal ceremonies), ''Tokyo Gold'' (an hour-long highlight show recapping the previous day's events), ''On Her Turf at the Olympics'' (a daily program focusing on news and highlights involving women at the Games), ''Tokyo Tonight'' (which featured whiparound coverage in primetime hosted by former ESPN personalities Kenny Mayne and Cari Champion), and ''Olympic Highlights with Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart'' (a half-hour highlight show with an unconventional and comedic tone).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Libby|date=August 5, 2021|title=Yes, Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg Have the Best Olympics Show in Town — TV Podcast|url=https://www.indiewire.com/video/kevin-hart-snoop-dogg-olympics-highlights-peacock-nbc-best-show-1234656207/|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=IndieWire|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=OlympicTalk|date=April 20, 2021|title=Peacock to air four daily live Tokyo Olympics studio shows|url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2021/04/20/peacock-tokyo-olympics/|access-date=May 11, 2021|website=OlympicTalk {{!}} NBC Sports|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Karpen|first=Elizabeth|date=June 15, 2021|title=Ex-ESPNers Kenny Mayne, Cari Champion to host Olympics show on Peacock|url=https://nypost.com/2021/06/15/kenny-mayne-cari-champion-to-host-olympics-show-on-peacock/|access-date=July 25, 2021|website=New York Post|language=en-US}}</ref> Peacock also carried coverage of selected basketball, gymnastics, and track and field events.<ref name="Weprin">{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=January 5, 2022 |title=NBCUniversal's Peacock to Stream All Winter Olympics Coverage Live |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/peacock-2022-winter-olympics-streaming-plans-1235070215/ |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Not all Olympics coverage was available on Peacock, with the majority of digital coverage still requiring TV Everywhere credentials and not being available on a purely over-the-top basis.<ref name="Weprin" /> For the first time, Olympic Channel was incorporated into live event coverage, with a particular focus on the tennis and wrestling competitions.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Young|first=Jabari|date=June 7, 2021|title=NBCUniversal will air more than 7,000 hours of Olympics coverage on TV and streaming video|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/07/nbcuniversal-will-air-more-than-7000-hours-of-olympics-coverage.html|access-date=July 27, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref>

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic (which had already prompted the Games to be postponed by one year to 2021) and biosecurity protocols, NBC sent a significantly smaller number of employees to Tokyo than it usually did for previous Summer Olympics. While commentators were present in Tokyo for flagship events such as athletics, the majority of commentators called events remotely from NBC Sports' headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Due to social distancing and remote production, NBC's staff was largely divided among the headquarters, other NBC facilities (such as 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and those of CNBC, Telemundo, and in some cases, Sky Sports in Great Britain), and a nearby hotel in Stamford, while makeshift commentary booths had to be constructed in storage areas of the Stamford building.<ref>{{Cite news|title=For NBC, the covid Olympics will be a feat of strange movements and remote mystery|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/07/23/nbc-olympics-broadcast/|access-date=February 7, 2022|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Meanwhile in Tokyo, NBC used the Hilton Tokyo Odaiba hotel as a broadcast location, with Mike Tirico anchoring from an outdoor set on a balcony overlooking Tokyo Bay. Telemundo employed a virtual set at its headquarters in Miami, which was modeled after NBC's main indoor set in Tokyo.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kerschbaumer|first=Ken|date=July 29, 2021|title=Live From Tokyo Olympics: NBC Studio Designs Embrace AR and VR|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/blogs/?blog=tokyo-olympics&news=live-from-tokyo-olympics-nbc-studio-designs-embrace-ar-and-vr|access-date=February 7, 2022|website=Sports Video Group|language=en}}</ref>

=== 2022 Winter === The scheduling of the 2022 Winter Olympics impacted the U.S. broadcast rights to the Super Bowl, the championship game of the National Football League (NFL) and historically the most-watched television broadcast in the United States annually. The rights to the game rotate between CBS, Fox, and long-time Olympic broadcaster NBC; to prevent the Games from competing for viewership and advertising sales with Super Bowl LVI—which was scheduled for February 13, 2022, at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium—CBS and NBC announced in March 2019 that they would swap the rights for Super Bowl LVI and LV (2021), so that both the 2022 Winter Olympics and Super Bowl LVI would be broadcast by NBC.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 13, 2019|title=CBS, NBC in 'Freaky Friday' Super Bowl swap|url=https://adage.com/article/media/cbs-nbc-swap-super-bowls/316974/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320090601/https://adage.com/article/media/cbs-nbc-swap-super-bowls/316974/|archive-date=20 March 2019|access-date=March 13, 2019|website=adage.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=March 13, 2019|title=CBS, NBC to Swap Super Bowl Broadcasts|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/cbs-nbc-swap-super-bowl-1203162667/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527010753/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/cbs-nbc-swap-super-bowl-1203162667/|archive-date=May 27, 2019|access-date=March 13, 2019|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref> In a break from the established practice of airing premieres or special episodes of television series after the Super Bowl to take advantage of its large audience, NBC aired its prime time coverage for Day 10 of the Games immediately following the game.<ref>{{cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=November 12, 2021|title=NBC To Air Olympics Coverage After Super Bowl LVI|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/nbc-olympics-coverage-super-bowl-lvi-1234873167/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112193405/https://deadline.com/2021/11/nbc-olympics-coverage-super-bowl-lvi-1234873167/|archive-date=November 12, 2021|access-date=November 12, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> Furthermore, the NFL's new media rights beginning in 2023 (which extends the Super Bowl rotation to four networks) codifies this scenario, with all of NBC's future Super Bowl games being in Winter Olympic years (2026, 2030, and 2034).<ref name="sportspromedia">{{cite web|date=March 23, 2021|title=The NFL's new broadcast rights deals|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/analysis/nfl-tv-rights-2021-2032-espn-abc-disney-nbc-cbs-fox-amazon-prime-streaming/|access-date=February 15, 2022|website=sportspromedia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Joe|last=Reedy|date=February 6, 2022|title=Super Bowl/Olympics Sunday about to become routine for NBC|website=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-super-bowl-los-angeles-rams-cincinnati-bengals-nfl-adb4dbb3f58cb3b1e35d21c45f6c6d60|access-date=February 15, 2022|quote=When the NFL's 11-year television contract starts in 2023, NBC's spot in the Super Bowl rotation lines up the same year as the Winter Olympics.}}</ref>

Due to COVID-19 protocol (including China's strict zero-COVID policy), NBC once again sent a smaller contingent of staff to Beijing, and all events were called remotely from its various facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brennan |first=Christine |title=NBC won't send sports announcing teams to 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to COVID-19 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2022/01/19/winter-olympics-2022-nbc-tv-beijing-covid-19/6585943001/ |access-date=February 7, 2022 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref> Mike Tirico anchored the opening weekend of the Games (including the opening ceremony) from Beijing, but traveled back to the United States on February 8 for logistical reasons. After that night's coverage was guest hosted by Craig Melvin and Maria Taylor from Stamford, Tirico returned the following night.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=February 7, 2022 |title=NBC Sports' Mike Tirico Returning To U.S. From Beijing Earlier Than Planned; Will Cover Super Bowl From L.A. And Remainder Of Olympics From Stamford |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/mike-tirico-nbc-sports-winter-olympics-china-1234927724/ |access-date=February 7, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Steve |title=NBC's Mike Tirico to anchor network's Olympic, Super Bowl coverage simultaneously |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/media/2022/01/13/nbc-mike-tirico-set-unprecedented-olympics-super-bowl-double/6520311001/ |access-date=January 31, 2022 |work=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2022 |title=Mike Tirico will host Olympics from Beijing, then fly to LA for remote hosting and Super Bowl |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/mike-tirico-beijing-olympics-la-super-bowl.html |access-date=January 31, 2022 |work=Awful Announcing}}</ref> He then traveled to Los Angeles to host NBC's coverage of Super Bowl LVI, presenting prime time coverage over Super Bowl weekend from a set outside SoFi Stadium before returning to Stamford for the remainder of the Games.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Hernández |first=Kristian |date=February 11, 2022 |title=Live From Super Bowl LVI: Telemundo Deportes Brings Latin Flavor to Its First Over-the-Air Broadcast of the Big Game |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/02/11/live-from-super-bowl-lvi-telemundo-deportes-brings-latin-flavor-to-its-first-over-the-air-broadcast-of-the-big-game/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213211359/https://www.sportsvideo.org/2022/02/11/live-from-super-bowl-lvi-telemundo-deportes-brings-latin-flavor-to-its-first-over-the-air-broadcast-of-the-big-game/ |archive-date=February 13, 2022 |access-date=February 13, 2022 |work=Sports Video Group}}</ref>

For the first time, all events and NBC telecasts were streamed live and on-demand on Peacock for Premium subscribers.<ref name="Weprin" />

=== 2024 Summer === thumb|150px|NBC Paralympics logo For the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, NBC maintained most of the format changes used in the three Asia-hosted Olympics, including live coverage on NBC during the U.S. daytime hours across the main network and NBCUniversal cable networks (including two part-time "Paris Extra" channels), and all events streaming on Peacock. Due to the Games being hosted in Europe, the primetime block—branded as ''Primetime in Paris''—returned to a tape-delayed, news magazine-like format with a focus on highlights from the past day's events, and feature segments highlighting athletes and storylines throughout the Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoefling |first=Jon |title=Olympics schedule tonight: What's on in primetime at Paris Games |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/07/24/2024-olympics-primetime-schedule-nbc-start-time/74359988007/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to its facilities in Stamford (which largely maintained aspects of the remote production setups used for Tokyo and Beijing),<ref name="svg-dachman-24">{{cite web |last1=Dachman |first1=Jason |date=2 August 2024 |title=Paris 2024: Behind the Scenes at NBC Sports' Record-Setting At-Home Operation in Stamford |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/08/02/paris-2024-behind-the-scenes-at-nbc-sports-record-setting-at-home-operation-in-stamford/ |access-date=4 August 2024 |website=Sports Video Group}}</ref> NBC set up studios in the Musée de l'Homme for the primetime block and ''Today'', and a set for the ''NBC Nightly News'' overlooking the Arc de Triomphe.<ref name="ns-hill-24">{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Michael P. |date=29 July 2024 |title='Nightly' debuts from Paris with simulated city views for showcasing imagery |url=https://www.newscaststudio.com/2024/07/29/nbc-nightly-news-paris-olympics/ |access-date=4 August 2024 |website=NewscastStudio}}</ref> USA Network would offer a temporary 4K feed throughout the Games through participating television providers, carrying 400 hours of coverage in 1080p with HDR (upconverted to 4K).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dachman |first=Jason |date=2024-07-11 |title=Paris 2024: NBCUniversal to Present 400+ Hours of 4K HDR/Dolby Atmos Coverage on USA Network |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/07/11/paris-2024-nbcuniversal-to-present-400-hours-of-4k-hdr-dolby-atmos-coverage-on-usa-network/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}}</ref> NBC stations in 67 markets also carried the network's coverage in 1080p HDR via their ATSC 3.0 signals.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Phil Kurz |date=2024-07-30 |title=Broadcasters Transmit Paris Olympics HDR Coverage in 56 U.S. NextGen TV Markets, Says Pearl TV |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/broadcasters-transmit-paris-olympics-hdr-coverage-in-56-us-nextgen-tv-markets-says-pearl-tv |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=TVTechnology |language=en}}</ref>

The ''Gold Zone'' whiparound show on Peacock returned in a revamped form, hosted by Scott Hanson, Andrew Siciliano, Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila (of ''American Ninja Warrior''), and Jac Collinsworth; notably, Hanson and Siciliano—who had hosted rival "red zone" channels from NFL Network and NFL Sunday Ticket on DirecTV respectively—would co-host a block of ''Gold Zone'' together.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clinkscales |first=Jason |date=2024-03-20 |title=Olympics 'Gold Zone' to Stream on Peacock for 2024 Paris Games |url=https://www.sportico.com/leagues/other-sports/2024/olympics-gold-zone-peacock-paris-games-1234771702/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Sportico.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dachman |first=Jason |date=2024-08-08 |title=Paris 2024: Paris 2024: Offering Non-Stop Action, NBC's Daily Gold Zone Requires Nearly Non-Stop Production |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/08/08/paris-2024-a-deep-look-behind-the-scenes-of-nbcs-daily-gold-zone-production/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}}</ref> NBC offered several digital features using generative artificial intelligence, including "OLI"—a chatbot providing information on the Games' broadcast schedule,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=NBC unveils AI chatbot for Olympics coverage |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/07/29/nbc-olympics-ai-chatbot |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}}</ref> and "Your Daily Olympic Recap" on Peacock—a personalized recap of events narrated by an AI-synthesized likeness of Al Michaels.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kludt |first1=Tom |date=June 26, 2024 |title="It Was Astonishing": How NBC Convinced Al Michaels to Embrace His AI Voice for Olympics Coverage |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/nbc-al-michaels-ai-voice-olympics-coverage-paris |access-date=June 27, 2024 |work=Vanity Fair}}</ref>

Snoop Dogg would return as a celebrity correspondent for the primetime block,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=S. V. G. |date=2024-06-27 |title=NBCUniversal Announces 'Primetime in Paris', With Hosts Mike Tirico and Snoop Dog for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2024/06/27/nbcuniversal-announces-primetime-in-paris-with-hosts-mike-tirico-and-snoop-dog-for-the-olympic-games-paris-2024/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}}</ref> along with ''Saturday Night Live'' cast member Colin Jost—who was stationed in Tahiti as a special correspondent for surfing. However, after suffering multiple injuries and ailments (including a staph infection, ear infection, and cutting his foot on a coral reef), he dropped out part-way through the Games during a break in the schedule, and was replaced by Luke Bradnam—a weatherman from the Nine Network in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tapp |first=Tom |date=2024-08-05 |title=Colin Jost's Olympics Surfing Correspondent Days Are Over As The Competition Continues |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/colin-josts-olympics-surfing-correspondent-done-1236032114/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Dan |date=2024-08-01 |title=Humble Aussie weatherman replaces Scarlett Johansson's husband as US surfing correspondent |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/humble-aussie-weatherman-replaces-scarlett-johannson-s-husband-as-us-surfing-correspondent-20240802-p5jyqu.html |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> During the final day of coverage, Tirico was joined for a segment by Bob Costas (marking his first appearance on NBC's coverage since 2016) and Al Michaels, who discussed notable moments from previous Olympics hosted by the United States as a prelude to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andrejev |first=Alex |title=Bob Costas, Al Michaels appear on NBC's Olympics broadcast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5673455/2024/08/11/bob-costas-al-michaels-nbc-olympics/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331|date=August 11, 2024}}</ref>

For the 2024 Summer Paralympics, 140 hours of linear coverage was carried by NBC, USA Network, and CNBC, while Peacock streamed all events. NBC had hosts on-site for the first time, with Andrea Joyce and Lacey Henderson serving as hosts from Paris. Sophie Morgan (who hosted the 2020 Paralympics for Channel 4 in the United Kingdom), Carolyn Manno, and Chris Waddell hosted from Stamford. Peacock features such as multi-view and ''Gold Zone'' (hosted by Manno) were also used during the Paralympics for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldbart |first=Max |date=2024-08-22 |title=Paralympics 2024: How Networks In The U.S. & UK Want Their Coverage To Leave A Legacy |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/paralympics-2024-nbc-channel-4-1236041121/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cobb |first=Kayla |date=2024-08-15 |title=Peacock Extends Hit Olympics Commentary Series 'Gold Zone,' Multiview Feature to Paris 2024 Paralympics |url=https://www.thewrap.com/peacock-gold-zone-paris-2024-paralympics-multiview/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-20 |title=NBCU unveils coverage plan for Paralympics 100 days out from competition |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/05/20/nbc-paralympics-coverage-100-days-out |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}}</ref>

=== 2026 Winter === The 2026 Winter Olympics (promoted by NBC as ''Milan Cortina 2026'') featured over 3,200 hours of coverage across NBC Sports and Versant properties, 2,500 hours of which were carried by Peacock. Features from the 2024 Summer Olympics were maintained, including the primetime format (now branded as ''Primetime in Milan''), OLI, the ''Gold Zone'', and multi-views. Peacock also offered extended figure skating and hockey coverage under the banner "Rinkside Live", including behind-the-scenes camera feeds and a vertical video "highlights hub".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2026-02-07 |title=Winter OIympics Have Familiar TV Feel (Yes, CNBC Still Airs Curling) But Also A Few New Wrinkles |url=https://deadline.com/2026/02/winter-oiympics-milan-cortina-nbcuniversal-versant-peacock-usa-1236706456/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Steven Louis |date=2026-02-04 |title=How to watch 2026 Winter Olympics: Schedule, times, TV info for Milan Cortina Games |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6958414/2026/02/02/winter-olympics-milan-how-to-watch/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cobb |first=Kayla |date=2026-01-07 |title=Peacock Adds Rinkside and Courtside Live Features Ahead of 2026 Olympics and NBA All-Star Weekend |url=https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/business/peacock-platform-updates-2026-winter-olympics/ |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2026, NBCUniversal spun off most of its cable operations, including USA Network, CNBC, and E! among others, into a new company called Versant; as part of the spin-off, NBC sublicensed cable television coverage of the Olympics to CNBC and USA Network.<ref name=":3" /> NBC's weekend coverage was interspersed with coverage of Super Bowl LX, as well as the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend. NBC then followed its live broadcast of the closing ceremony with a ''Sunday Night Basketball'' game.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2026-01-07 |title=NBCUniversal, Peacock Tout “Legendary February” Trifecta Of Winter Olympics, Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend |url=https://deadline.com/2026/01/peacock-nbc-sports-february-olympics-super-bowl-nba-all-stars-1236674946/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Jon |date=2025-10-30 |title=Tirico to call Super Bowl and host Olympics on same night |url=https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2025/10/mike-tirico-call-super-bowl-host-olympics-same-night/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Sports Media Watch |language=en-US}}</ref>

Mike Tirico did not participate in the opening Friday and Saturday of the Games due to his commitments to serving as play-by-play commentator for Super Bowl LX. Maria Taylor filled in for as a co-host for the opening ceremonies and as host of the primetime show on February 7 when Tirico began hosting the remainder of the Games from Santa Clara on February 8 and from Milan beginning February 9th.<ref name=":5" /> In turn, Noah Eagle and Ahmed Fareed filled in for Tirico and Taylor as play-by-play announcer and studio host respectively on the ''NBA on NBC'' during the Games.''<ref name=":5" /> Today'' presenter Savannah Guthrie was to have co-hosted the opening ceremonies, but withdrew after the disappearance of her mother Nancy just days prior.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Savannah Guthrie pulls out of Winter Olympics coverage after her mom disappeared, reports say |url=https://www.kptv.com/2026/02/03/savannah-guthrie-pulls-out-winter-olympics-coverage-after-her-mom-disappeared-reports-say/?outputType=amp |access-date=February 3, 2026 |website=KPTV.com}}</ref> Veteran sportscaster Mary Carillo was named co-host in Guthrie's absence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veteran Olympics broadcaster Mary Carillo to replace Savannah Guthrie as co-host |url=https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-olympics-host-nbc-mary-carillo-94c13d18ac30129cc37e6990ac2c31f1 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |website=Associated Press}}</ref>

Milano Cortina 2026 was NBC's most-watched Winter Olympics since 2014, with the network reporting a 96% increase over 2022, and approximately 215 million viewers across sports telecasts it cross-promoted under the "Legendary February" branding (including the Olympics, Super Bowl LX, and NBA).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winslow |first=George |date=2026-02-24 |title=Milan Cortina Winter Olympics U.S. Viewing Best Since 2014 |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/business/winter-olympics-u-s-viewing-nearly-doubled |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=TV Tech |language=en}}</ref> With a scheduling window placing it in the morning hours in North America, the men's hockey gold medal game was seen by an average of 18.6 million viewers and peaked at 26 million during the overtime period, ranking behind only the 2010 gold medal game as NBC's second highest-rated hockey telecast of all-time, and as the highest-rated U.S. sports broadcast to begin before 9:00 a.m. ET.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lerner |first=Drew |date=2026-02-24 |title=USA gold medal hockey win over Canada nets 18.6 million viewers on NBC |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/olympics/usa-hockey-gold-medal-win-canada-viewership-ratings.html |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> NBC aired the game with limited commercial interruptions, with no breaks outside of intermissions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lerner |first=Drew |date=2026-02-22 |title=NBC airs USA-Canada gold medal game commercial-free |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/airs-usa-canada-gold-medal-game-commercial-free.html |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Future === On March 13, 2025, NBCUniversal announced that it had reached a four-year extension of its rights to the Olympic Games, valued at $3 billion, to extend them through the 2034 Winter Olympics in Utah, and the 2036 Summer Olympics. The agreement also includes commitments for NBCUniversal and parent company Comcast to collaborate with the IOC and OBS to leverage its "expertise in technology infrastructure, connectivity and media to support the delivery of the Olympic Games".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carpenter |first=Les |date=2025-03-13 |title=NBC will spend $3 billion to extend U.S. Olympics rights through 2036 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2025/03/13/nbc-olympics-rights-deal/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250314061840/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2025/03/13/nbc-olympics-rights-deal/ |archive-date=2025-03-14 |access-date=2025-03-13 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-13 |title=IOC AND COMCAST NBCUNIVERSAL AGREE ON GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP FOR THE NEW DIGITAL ERA, INCLUDING AN EXTENSION OF THEIR OLYMPIC MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT UNTIL 2036 |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/press-releases/ioc-and-comcast-nbcuniversal-agree-on-groundbreaking-partnership-for-the-new-digital-era-including-an-extension-of-their-olympic-media-rights-agreement-until-2036 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Hours of coverage == === Winter Olympic Games === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Host !Hours of coverage !Network(s) |- | 1972 || Sapporo, Japan || 37<ref name="Gallant"/> |NBC |- | 2002 || Salt Lake City, United States || 375.5<ref name=McCarley>{{cite web|title=NBC ANNOUNCES UNPRECEDENTED COVERAGE OF THE 2006 TORINO OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES|url=http://www.usolympicteam.com/117_42973.htm|work=US Olympic Team}}</ref><ref>Includes 207 hours on CNBC and MSNBC</ref> |NBC, CNBC, MSNBC<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=2002-02-05|title=SALT LAKE CITY 2002: THE 19TH OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES; Live (Mostly), Prime Time And Shorter|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/05/sports/salt-lake-city-2002-19th-olympic-winter-games-live-mostly-prime-time-shorter.html|access-date=2021-08-04|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |- | 2006 || Torino, Italy || 416<ref name = McCarley/><ref>Includes 182.5 hours on NBC and 233.5 hours on CNBC, MSNBC and USA</ref> |rowspan=2|NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Universal HD, Telemundo |- | 2010 || Vancouver, Canada || 835<ref>{{cite web|title=NBC Universal Announces Coverage Plans for 2010 Winter Olympics|url=http://fangsbites.com/2010/01/nbc-universal-announces-coverage-plans-for-2010-winter-olympics/|work=Fang's Bites|date=January 14, 2010|access-date=April 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219115200/http://fangsbites.com/2010/01/nbc-universal-announces-coverage-plans-for-2010-winter-olympics/|archive-date=December 19, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> |- | 2014 || Sochi, Russia || 1,539<ref>{{cite news|title=Sochi Olympics: Couch Slouch guide to NBC's 1,539 hours of Winter Games programming|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/sochi-olympics-couch-slouch-guide-to-nbcs-1539-hours-of-winter-games-programming/2014/01/19/ae8bcc82-812e-11e3-9dd4-e7278db80d86_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 19, 2014|access-date=February 8, 2014|first=Norman|last=Chad}}</ref> |NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, NBCSN, USA Network, Telemundo, NBCOlympics.com |- | 2018 || Pyeongchang, South Korea || 2,400 |NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, NBCSN, USA Network, Olympic Channel, Telemundo, NBCOlympics.com |- | 2022 || Beijing, China || 2,800 |NBC, Peacock, CNBC, USA Network, NBCOlympics.com, NBC Sports App |- | 2026 || Milan-Cortina, Italy ||3,200<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-22 |title=HOW TO WATCH THE MILAN CORTINA 2026 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES ACROSS NBCUNIVERSAL |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/press-releases/how-to-watch-the-milan-cortina-2026-olympic-winter-games-across-nbcuniversal |access-date=2026-01-23 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> |NBC, Peacock, CNBC, NBCSN, USA Network, NBCOlympics.com, NBC Sports App, iHeartRadio (live on app, updates on AM and FM stations) |- | 2030 || French Alps, France ||rowspan=2 {{TBA}} ||rowspan=2 {{TBA}} |- | 2034 || Salt Lake City, United States |- |}

=== Summer Olympic Games === {| class="wikitable" !Year !Host !Hours of coverage !Network(s) |- | 1964 || Tokyo, Japan || 15 hours overall<ref name=Gallant>{{cite web|title=The World Comes Together in Your Living Room: The Olympics on TV|url=https://jeff560.tripod.com/tv8.html}}</ref> |rowspan=3|NBC |- | 1980 || Moscow, Soviet Union || primarily highlights (6 hours of highlights)<ref name=Gallant/> |- | 1988 || Seoul, South Korea || 179.5<ref name=Oberjeurge>{{cite news|title=THE SEOUL OLYMPICS: TV Sports; NBC's Coverage Captures the Color, but Not the Fun|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/09/18/sports/the-seoul-olympics-tv-sports-nbc-s-coverage-captures-the-color-but-not-the-fun.html?pagewanted=print|author=Gerald Eskenazi|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 18, 1988}}</ref> |- | 1992 || Barcelona, Spain || 161<ref name=Hiestand>{{cite news|title=Bidding for the Olympics on TV|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2003-04-21-tv-rights_x.htm|author=Michael Hiestand|author2=Rudy Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|date=April 22, 2003}}</ref> + 1,080 on Triplecast<ref name=newsweek>{{cite journal|title=Nbc's Olympian Gamble|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/116901/output/print|journal=Newsweek|date=January 13, 1992}}</ref> |NBC, Olympics Triplecast |- | 1996 || Atlanta, United States || 171<ref name=Neuendorf>{{cite web|title=NBC's Olympic Coverage from Athens|url=http://www.usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/0/2d7131580d67b1ce85256eaf0053b93e?OpenDocument|work=USOC PressBox|access-date=May 8, 2008|archive-date=February 27, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060227113506/http://usocpressbox.org/usoc/pressbox.nsf/0/2d7131580d67b1ce85256eaf0053b93e?OpenDocument|url-status=dead}}</ref> |NBC |- | 2000 || Sydney, Australia || 441.5<ref name=Neuendorf/> |NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, PAX<ref>{{Cite news|last=Brennan|first=Patricia|date=September 10, 2000|title=Let the Games Begin|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/2000/09/10/let-the-games-begin/f4508f94-3ccc-4141-975d-074b99896598/}}</ref> |- | 2004 || Athens, Greece || 1,210<ref name=Neuendorf/><ref>Includes 226 hours on NBC, 133.5 hours on MSNBC, 111 hours on CNBC, 122 hours on Bravo, 49 hours on USA and 169.5 hours on Telemundo</ref> |NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Bravo, Telemundo |- | 2008 || Beijing, China || 3,600<ref name=Oberjeurge/> |NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Universal HD, Oxygen, Telemundo, NBC Olympics Basketball Channel, NBC Olympics Soccer Channel<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=NBC's planned Olympic coverage, on TV and online - USATODAY.com|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/beijing/2008-07-08-nbc-tv-web-schedule_N.htm|access-date=2021-08-04|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com}}</ref> |- | 2012 || London, United Kingdom || 5,535<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Olympic Television Guide |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/writers/richard_deitsch/07/16/olympics-NBC-TV-preview/ |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=July 26, 2012 |access-date=July 27, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731005714/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/writers/richard_deitsch/07/16/olympics-NBC-TV-preview/ |archive-date=July 31, 2012 }}</ref> |NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, NBC Sports Network, Telemundo, NBC Olympics Basketball Channel, NBC Olympics Soccer Channel, NBCOlympics.com |- | 2016 || Rio de Janeiro, Brazil || 6,755 |NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, Golf Channel, NBCSN, Telemundo, NBC Universo, NBC Olympics Basketball Channel, NBC Olympics Soccer Channel, NBCOlympics.com |- | 2020 || Tokyo, Japan || 7,000<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-07 |title=NBCUNIVERSAL TO PRESENT UNPRECEDENTED 7,000 HOURS OF PROGRAMMING FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS THIS SUMMER |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/olympics/press-releases/nbcuniversal-to-present-unprecedented-7000-hours-of-programming-for-tokyo-olympics-this-summer |access-date=2021-06-07 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> |NBC, Peacock, CNBC, USA Network, NBCSN, Golf Channel, Olympic Channel, Telemundo, Universo, NBCOlympics.com, NBC Sports App |- | 2024 || Paris, France || 7,000+<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=NBCUNIVERSAL'S PARIS OLYMPICS "BY THE NUMBERS" |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/pressbox/press-releases/nbcuniversals-paris-olympics-by-the-numbers |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> | NBC, Peacock, CNBC, USA Network, E!, Golf Channel, Telemundo, Universo, NBCOlympics.com, NBC Sports App, iHeartRadio (live on app, updates on AM and FM stations)<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2023 |title=NBC and Peacock To Lead NBCUniversal's Coverage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2023/05/11/nbc-and-peacock-to-lead-nbcuniversals-coverage-of-the-olympic-games-paris-2024/ |access-date=May 17, 2023 |website=NBC Sports Pressbox |language=en-US}}</ref> |- | 2028 || Los Angeles, United States ||rowspan=3 {{TBA}} ||rowspan=3 {{TBA}} |- | 2032 || Brisbane, Australia |- | 2036 || {{TBA}} |- |}

Traditionally, NBC has primarily televised marquee sports in its Olympic coverage. When the network added coverage on its cable partners in 2000, it opened space to televise other sports. The 2004 Summer Games marked the first year that the network televised all 28 sports.<ref name=Soriano>{{cite web|title=Volleyball Well Represented by NBC's Around-the-Clock Olympic TV Coverage|url=http://www.olympic-usa.org/73_22288.htm|work=Olympic-USA.org|access-date=2008-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041227103848/http://www.olympic-usa.org/73_22288.htm|archive-date=2004-12-27|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since 2008, aided with online streaming, NBC has aired many of the events held at the Summer Games live.

== Hosts ==

=== Winter Olympic Games === {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Prime-time host !Daytime host(s) !Late-night host(s) |- | 1972 | Curt Gowdy | | |- | 2002 | Bob Costas | Hannah Storm | Dan Hicks |- | 2006 | Bob Costas | Jim Lampley | Jim Lampley |- | 2010 | Bob Costas | Al Michaels | Mary Carillo |- | 2014 | Bob Costas, Matt Lauer, & Meredith Vieira | Rebecca Lowe, Al Michaels & Dan Patrick | Bob Costas,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2013/11/20/bob-costas-to-host-both-primetime-late-night-for-nbcs-sochi-winter-olympics-coverage/ |title=Bob Costas To Host Both Primetime & Late Night For Nbc'S Sochi Winter Olympics Coverage |publisher=Nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com |date=2013-11-20 |accessdate=2024-08-05}}</ref> Matt Lauer, & Meredith Vieira |- | 2018 | Mike Tirico | Rebecca Lowe | Mike Tirico |- | 2022 | Mike Tirico & Craig Melvin | Rebecca Lowe | Maria Taylor |- | 2026 | Mike Tirico, Maria Taylor, & Mary Carillo{{efn|Carillo was named to replace Savannah Guthrie as a co-host due to Guthrie stepping aside following the disappearance of her mother Nancy.}} | Rebecca Lowe | Maria Taylor & Ahmed Fareed |}

=== Summer Olympic Games === {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Prime-time host !Daytime host(s) !Late-night host(s) |- | 1964 | Bill Henry | | |- | 1988 | Bryant Gumbel | Jane Pauley, Gayle Gardner & Jimmy Cefalo | Bob Costas |- | 1992 | Bob Costas | Dick Enberg & Katie Couric | Jim Lampley & Hannah Storm |- | 1996 | Bob Costas | Greg Gumbel, Jim Lampley, Hannah Storm, Ahmad Rashad, Dick Enberg & Katie Couric | Greg Gumbel, Jim Lampley, Hannah Storm, Ahmad Rashad, Dick Enberg & Katie Couric |- | 2000 | Bob Costas | Hannah Storm | Bob Costas |- | 2004 | Bob Costas | Jim Lampley | Pat O'Brien & Dan Hicks |- | 2008 | Bob Costas | Jim Lampley | Mary Carillo<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsbusinessnews.com/_news/news_381774.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105195759/http://www.sportsbusinessnews.com/_news/news_381774.php|archive-date=January 5, 2009|title=NBC's big Beijing Crew is ready to go|date=July 17, 2008|publisher=Sports Business News|access-date=August 5, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 2012 | Bob Costas | Al Michaels & Dan Patrick | Mary Carillo<ref name=nbc2012>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/04/26/nbc-sports-group-announces-hosts-and-correspondents-for-london-olympic-games-on-nbc/130933/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014133953/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/04/26/nbc-sports-group-announces-hosts-and-correspondents-for-london-olympic-games-on-nbc/130933/|archive-date=October 14, 2012|title=NBC Sports Group Announces Hosts and Correspondents for London Olympic Games on NBC|date=April 26, 2012|publisher=TV by the Numbers|access-date=August 5, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 2016 | Bob Costas | Rebecca Lowe, Al Michaels, Dan Patrick & Mike Tirico | Ryan Seacrest |- | 2020 | Mike Tirico | Rebecca Lowe | Mike Tirico & Maria Taylor |- | 2024 | Mike Tirico | Rebecca Lowe, Craig Melvin, Ahmed Fareed, Mike Tirico, & Damon Hack | Maria Taylor |}

== Music == Since 1992, the main theme of NBC's Olympics coverage has been "Bugler's Dream", a composition by Leo Arnaud that was previously used by ABC as the main theme of its Olympics coverage since 1964. Since the 1996 Summer Olympics, this theme has been played in a medley with John Williams' "Olympic Fanfare and Theme", which was originally composed for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Williams has composed other secondary themes for the Olympics and NBC's telecasts, including "The Olympic Spirit" (which was used as the main theme in 1988, NBC's first year as rightsholder, before "Bugler's Dream" was reinstated the following Olympiad), "Summon the Heroes" (a piece written for the opening ceremony in 1996),<ref name="Burlingame">{{cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Jon |title=Film Composers Achieve Olympic Victory: Tiomkin music to be featured in Sochi closing ceremony |work=The Film Music Society |date=February 21, 2014 |url=http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/2014/022114.html |access-date=February 27, 2015}}</ref> and "Call of the Champions" (which was written for the 2002 Winter Olympics).<ref name="Filmtracks">{{cite web |first=Christian |last=Clemmensen |title=John Williams: American Journey |url=https://www.filmtracks.com/titles/american_journey.html |work=Filmtracks.com |access-date=January 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="tribune-thememusic">{{cite web|title=The mysteries of NBC's Olympics theme music|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-olympics-theme-song-20160809-column.html|website=Chicago Tribune|date=August 9, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="variety-origin">{{cite web|title=The Fascinating Origin of the Olympic Anthem|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/olympics-anthem-origin-leo-arnaud-john-williams-1201831690/|website=Variety|access-date=August 22, 2016|date=August 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/newsprint.php?ArticleID=022114|title=Film Composers Achieve Olympic Victory|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|date=February 21, 2014|website=The Film Music Society|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref>

In 1996, NBC began using the Randy Edelman-composed theme song from the short-lived Fox series ''The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.'' during a segment highlighting upcoming Olympic events. NBC had commissioned Edelman to compose theme music for its National Football League coverage (stemming from its prior use of a portion of his score from ''Gettysburg'' for its coverage of the Breeder's Cup), and the theme was included in a portfolio of work Edelman had sent the network. Edelman felt that the track "seemed to have the right spirit. It's got a very flowing melody, it's triumphant, and it has a certain warmth. And it has at the end of it, what all television things like this have, a 'button,' an ending flourish that works really well if they need to chop it down into a 15-second thing." Senior creative producer Mark Levy felt that the works that Edelman had scored, as with John Williams, shared the "proportion and emotion" of the Olympics.<ref name="lat-obscuretune">{{cite web|title=Obscure Tune Rides Again at the Olympics|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-25-et-burling25-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 22, 2016|date=February 25, 2002}}</ref>

Since 2002, NBC had used music from the soundtrack of the sports film ''Remember the Titans'' as part of its closing credits sequence for the Olympics <ref>{{Cite news|last=Spencer|first=Ashley|date=September 24, 2020|title=Not just a football movie: How 'Remember the Titans' became a hit and inspired a nation|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/remember-the-titans-anniversary/2020/09/23/22e39084-f927-11ea-a275-1a2c2d36e1f1_story.html|access-date=August 8, 2021|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>

Yanni's "In Celebration of Man", a piece that CBS had declined an offer to use at the 1992 Winter Olympics, was used during a preview special for the 1992 Summer Olympics; NBC's Olympics producer at the time was friends with the musician. Although NBC did not use it during the Games, the song later became theme music of NBC's golf coverage, being used for USGA golf championships (including the U.S. Open), and The Open Championship from 2016 to 2019.<ref name="golfdigest-yanni">{{cite web|title=Enough about Johnny. Is this the last U.S. Open to feature Yanni? The story behind one of sports' greatest theme songs|url=http://www.golfdigest.com/story/enough-about-johnny-is-this-th|website=Golf Digest|access-date=February 18, 2017}}</ref><ref name="gd-yanniback">{{cite web|title=Yanni's "In Celebration of Man" is back -- and it's as glorious as ever|url=http://www.golfdigest.com/story/yannis-in-celebration-of-man-is-back-and-its-as-glorious-as-ever|website=Golf Digest|access-date=February 18, 2017}}</ref> During the 2008 Summer Olympics, NBC briefly revived "Roundball Rock", the John Tesh-composed theme music of the former ''NBA on NBC'', as theme music during coverage of the basketball tournaments.<ref name="laweekly-nbanbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.laweekly.com/music/heres-a-john-tesh-song-youve-heard-hundreds-of-times-2411037|title=Here's a John Tesh Song You've Heard Hundreds of Times|website=LA Weekly|date=October 22, 2012|access-date=January 17, 2017 |last1=Kangas |first1=Chaz }}</ref> The song was brought back again in 2024, this time as a prelude for the return of the NBA to NBC in the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keeley |first=Sean |date=2024-07-24 |title=With NBA's return to NBC, John Tesh's 'Roundball Rock' officially coming home |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nba-return-roundball-rock-theme-john-tesh.html |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2026, NBC similarly used the former ''NHL on NBC'' theme music during hockey coverage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clapp |first=Matt |date=2026-02-13 |title=NBC brings back 'NHL on NBC' theme for Olympics hockey coverage |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nhl-theme-song-olympics-hockey-coverage.html |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Awful Announcing |language=en-US}}</ref>

NBC has utilized other popular music during its Olympics coverage as well. "Home", the debut single of ''American Idol'' season 11 winner Phillip Phillips, was used for a segment introducing women's gymnastics at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The segment rejuvenated interest in the song, causing it to re-enter the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and eventually peak at #9. It marked the first time a song had ever made two separate top 10 runs on the Hot 100 in a single calendar year.<ref name="Billboard Aug2012">{{cite news |title=Carly Rae Jepsen Claims Longest Hot 100 No. 1 Run of 2012 |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/carly-rae-jepsen-claims-longest-hot-100-1007780352.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812002329/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/carly-rae-jepsen-claims-longest-hot-100-1007780352.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 12, 2012 |first= Silvio|last= Pietroluongo |publisher=Billboard |date=August 8, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/chartbeat/480451/ask-billboard-phillip-phillips-goes-home-to-hot-100s-top-10 |title=Ask Billboard: Phillip Phillips Goes 'Home' To Hot 100's Top 10 |first= Gary|last= Trust |publisher=Billboard |date=August 14, 2012 |access-date=August 15, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480640/phillip-phillips-home-sales-surge-thanks-to-olympic-gymnasts|title=Phillip Phillips' 'Home' Sales Surge Thanks to Olympic Gymnasts|first=Keith|last=Caulfield |date=2012-08-02|access-date=2012-08-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/08/09/how-phillip-phillips-home-was-chosen-for-olympics/|title=How Phillip Phillips' song 'Home' was chosen for the Olympics|last=Smith|first=Grady|date=August 9, 2012|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=August 9, 2012}}</ref> Prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics, NBC released a promotional video with Olympics highlights set to Katy Perry's recently released single "Rise".<ref name="BB1-rise">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/watch-katy-perry-inspirational-rise-rio-olympics-video-7438965/|title=Watch Katy Perry's Inspirational 'Rise' Rio Olympics Video|date=July 15, 2016|magazine=Billboard|last1=Kaufman|first1=Gil|access-date=July 16, 2016}}</ref><ref name="BB2-rise">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7446613/katy-perry-rise-music-video-olympics|title=Katy Perry Releases Teaser Video for Olympics Anthem 'Rise'|last=Katz|first=Jessie|date=July 22, 2016|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 22, 2016}}</ref> "This Is Me" from the soundtrack of ''The Greatest Showman'' was also used during NBC's coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/this-is-me-winter-olympics-greatest-showman-1202686512/|title=NBC to Use Keala Settle's 'This Is Me' to Spark Attention for Winter Olympics|date=February 3, 2018|work=Variety|access-date=February 14, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

For the 1992 Barcelona Games, NBC also commissioned John Tesh to compose a separate theme for its late night show;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejAFPa5z1LE |title=John Tesh - Late Night Animation|website=YouTube |date=January 15, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcQctHb4fjY |title=1992 Summer Olympics (Day 11) - NBC nighttime coverage (partial)|website=YouTube |date=August 4, 2019 }}</ref> variants of this theme were used during the weeks leading up to the Games as the network's theme for coverage of the United States Olympic Trials.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAnYtbcJOrw&t=88s |title=1992 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials - Women's Individual All-Around Final (NBC)|website=YouTube |date=May 7, 2020 }}</ref>

== Reception and criticism == {{criticism section|section|date=July 2021}} {{recentism|section|date=July 2021}}

=== Accusations of bias === While every respective country's broadcast is biased towards the home athletes to a certain extent, NBC has faced scrutiny for allegedly focusing more on American athletes and less on other athletes from other countries, especially during the network's tape delayed primetime coverage. This has proven to be unfounded and indeed NBC has been considered more inclusive of other countries' athletes than other countries' Olympic broadcasters. NBC's focus on U.S. athletes has been the subject of a series of studies which have shown NBC places a heavier emphasis on U.S. athletes during the Summer Games than during the Winter Games.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Angelini |first1=James R. |last2=Billings |first2=Andrew C. |last3=MacArthur |first3=Paul J. |date=2012 |title=The Nationalistic Revolution Will Be Televised: The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games on NBC |url=http://fitnessforlife.org/AcuCustom/Sitename/Documents/DocumentItem/04%20Angelini%20IJSC%205_2_pgs%20193-209.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=International Journal of Sport Communication |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=193–209 |doi=10.1123/ijsc.5.2.193 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819191415/http://fitnessforlife.org/AcuCustom/Sitename/Documents/DocumentItem/04%20Angelini%20IJSC%205_2_pgs%20193-209.pdf |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Fanfare for the American NBC's Prime-Time Broadcast of the 2012 London Olympiad|first1=Andrew|last1=Billings|first2=James R.|last2=Angelini|first3=Paul J.|last3=MacArthur|first4=Lauren R.|last4=Smith|first5=John|last5=Vincent|date=June 1, 2014|journal=Electronic News|volume=8|issue=2|pages=101–119|doi=10.1177/1931243114546447|s2cid=61358519}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Billings, A.C., Angelini, J.R., & MacArthur, P.J.|title=Olympic Television: Broadcasting the Biggest Show on Earth|date=2018|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781138930322}}</ref> When the NBC 2014 primetime Olympic broadcast was compared to those broadcast in Canada by the CBC, it was determined that CBC placed more emphasis, by a statistically significant margin, on Canadian athletes than NBC placed on U.S. athletes.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Nationalism in the United States and Canadian primetime broadcast coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics|first1=James R.|last1=Angelini|first2=Paul J.|last2=MacArthur|first3=Lauren Reichart|last3=Smith|first4=Andrew C.|last4=Billings|date=December 3, 2015|journal=International Review for the Sociology of Sport|volume=52|issue=7|pages=779–800|doi=10.1177/1012690215619205|s2cid=148118877}}</ref> Furthermore, such countries as Russia (broadcasters Channel One and Match TV), focus solely on its own athletes, ignoring events where they do not participate.<ref name="sportspro-russiantv">{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/russia-broadcast-pyeongchang-2018|title=Russian state broadcasters commit to PyeongChang coverage|access-date=February 6, 2018|language=en}}</ref> By contrast, NBC often devotes considerable coverage to favorite foreigners such as Usain Bolt.<ref name="telegraph20160811">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2016/08/10/nbc-criticised-for-worst-ever-olympic-coverage-in-america/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2016/08/10/nbc-criticised-for-worst-ever-olympic-coverage-in-america/ |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=NBC criticised for 'worst ever' Olympic coverage in America|access-date=August 11, 2016|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=August 10, 2016|last1=Alexander|first1=Harriet}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Similarly, United Kingdom's state broadcaster BBC was criticized during the 2020 Summer Olympics for "parochial nationalism" and "[remaigining] the greatest sporting pageant on Earth as Team GB vs Everyone Else."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2021/07/media-s-fixation-team-gb-has-reduced-olympics-display-parochial-nationalism | title=The media's fixation on Team GB has reduced the Olympics to a display of parochial nationalism | date=July 28, 2021 }}</ref>

=== Tape delay and formatting of coverage === NBC's tape delayed primetime coverage has faced major criticism for many years. Unlike live coverage where viewers can see the events uninterrupted in real time, NBC's tape delaying practices allow for cutting away to commercials and inserting segments profiling American athletes participating in the respective event being shown, which adds even further delay. In 1992, Terry O'Neil, then-executive producer of NBC Sports, coined the phrase "plausibly live" to describe their practice of making the taped broadcasts appear as if they were being aired live.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC Goes Digital for Olympics, but Tape Will Still Roll in Prime Time|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/sports/olympics/nbc-will-show-every-olympic-event-live-online.html?_r=0|author=Richard Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 2, 2012|access-date=February 25, 2014}}</ref>

During the 2000 Summer Olympics, every event shown on NBC and its cable channels was shown on a tape delay due to the time difference between the United States and Sydney, Australia, with the exception of the Men's Gold Medal basketball game.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympics Will Be Shown Without Live TV, NBC Says|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-10-mn-28476-story.html|author=Alan Abrahamson|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 10, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=NBC airs men's basketball final live |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2000/basketball/news/2000/09/30/nbc_live_ap/ |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 30, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720060139/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2000/basketball/news/2000/09/30/nbc_live_ap/ |archive-date=July 20, 2012 }}</ref> The massive tape delay led to heavy criticism, as some events aired some 16 hours after they were completed, which gave would-be viewers more than enough time to learn the results themselves from competing outlets, including NBC's morning show ''Today''. Indeed, early numbers showed Sydney to be one of the lowest-rated Olympics in the United States since Mexico City in 1968, and 21% lower than 1988—the next most recent games to have been held in late-September rather than July and August. Due to the scheduling, the Games also had to compete with a busy period for domestic sports, including the start of the NFL and college football seasons (a ''Monday Night Football'' game was only barely beaten by Olympics coverage one night), and the final weeks of the Major League Baseball regular season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-03-sp-30573-story.html|title=Olympic Ratings Stay Low|date=October 3, 2000|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 3, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/09/22/in-terms-of-tv-ratings-olympics-are-a-real-turn-off/89e70a4f-45a2-4078-ac9f-a84d41559b6f|title=In Terms of TV Ratings, Olympics Are a Real Turn Off|last=Shapiro|first=Leonard|date=September 22, 2000|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref>

Because of these tape delay and editing practices, and NBC Sports executives' responses to these criticisms, they have been accused of treating the Olympics more like reality television, as opposed to a conventional telecast of sports.<ref name="slate022014">{{cite web|title=Why You Hate NBC's Olympics Coverage: It's reality TV masquerading as a sporting event|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/fivering_circus/2014/02/nbc_olympics_the_network_s_coverage_of_the_sochi_games_is_reality_tv_masquerading.html|work=Slate.com|date=February 22, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name="time20120808">{{cite magazine|title=Reality or "Reality"?: Should NBC's Olympics Coverage Be More Straightforward?|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/08/08/reality-or-reality-should-nbcs-olympics-coverage-be-more-straightforward/|magazine=Time|date=August 8, 2012|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vox.com/2016/8/18/12527498/olympics-nbc-bad-suspense-reality-show | title=NBC has sucked all of the suspense out of the Olympics | website=vox.com | date=August 18, 2016 | access-date=August 21, 2016}}</ref> For example, during the 2012 Summer Olympics, NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus stated that the reason why they cut from their primetime coverage of Russia's Ksenia Afanasyeva's fall during the women's gymnastics artistic team all-around was "in the interest of time". However, ''The New York Times'' noted that Afanasyeva's entire routine was only 1 minute and 38 seconds long, and critics claimed that the real reason for the edit was to create drama and uncertainty over whether the U.S. team would defeat the Russian team in the final round.<ref name="time20120808"/> And during the 2014 Winter Olympics, NBC continued to promote for its primetime coverage Russian figure skater Evgeni Plushenko at the men's singles event even though he withdrew hours earlier due to injury.<ref>{{cite news | title=The Olympics Rage-o-Meter: The Peacock pretends to be shocked by Evgeni Plushenko's abrupt figure skating departure | url=http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/fivering_circus/2014/02/olympics_rage_o_meter_the_peacock_pretends_to_be_shocked_by_evgeni_plushenko.html | website=Slate| date=February 22, 2014}}</ref>

During a press event held before the 2016 Summer Olympics, chief marketing officer John Miller addressed the formatting of its primetime coverage, stating that the Olympics were "not about the result, [but] about the journey. The people who watch the Olympics are not particularly sports fans. More women watch the Games than men, and for the women, they're less interested in the result and more interested in the journey. It's sort of like the ultimate reality show and mini-series wrapped into one."<ref name="phillycom-nbctapedelay"/> Miller's remarks were ridiculed by the media: Linda Stasi of the ''New York Daily News'' considered Miller's statement to be "sexist nonsense" and representative of a "pandering, condescending view of the millions of women viewers".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/stasi-nbc-marketing-big-insults-women-olympics-viewers-article-1.2741209 | title=Gold-medal fool: NBC marketing honcho insults women and all Olympics viewers | first=Linda | last=Stasi | work=New York Daily News | date=August 6, 2016 | access-date=August 21, 2016}}</ref> Sally Jenkins of the ''Washington Post'' said that NBC had often been successful with its "packaging" of the Olympics, and that it was "not inherently sexist for them to say that women have some different viewing habits and interests than men". At the same time, she argued that it was "insulting" for NBC to cater its tape-delayed broadcasts towards a "''Ladies' Home Journal'' crowd", as it alienates conventional sports fans, and harmed the ability to grow a year-round audience for both women's sports and Olympic sports.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/by-packaging-the-olympics-nbc-insults-viewers-and-the-athletes-themselves/2016/08/06/a8eda1fe-5b3f-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html | title=By 'packaging' the Olympics, NBC insults viewers, and the athletes themselves | first=Sally | last=Jenkins | newspaper=Washington Post | date=August 6, 2016 | access-date=August 21, 2016}}</ref>

In an interview with ''Slate'', former NBC personality Dwight Stones stated that he had left the network due to a history of conflicts with producers over the direction of its track and field coverage. In particular, Stones stated that NBC's producers had downplayed field events because track events were easier to "package" due to being more consistent in their structure. He went on to argue that "Field is 50 percent of the name and 43 percent of the events. And for it to be ignored and belittled the way it has been at the network of the Olympics for the United States through 2032 is a disgrace and a disservice. And I don't see it changing anytime soon with the people that are running that place and the people that are producing the sport."<ref name="wp-dwightstones">{{cite news|title=Ex-analyst Dwight Stones: NBC's meager field coverage is 'a disgrace and disservice'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/08/21/ex-analyst-dwight-stones-nbcs-meager-field-coverage-is-a-disgrace-and-disservice/|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref><ref name="slate-stonestrack">{{cite web|title=Former NBC Analyst Dwight Stones Says NBC's Track-and-Field Coverage Is a "Disgrace"|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2016/08/20/nbc_s_dwight_stones_says_nbc_s_track_and_field_coverage_is_a_disgrace.html|website=Slate|date=August 20, 2016|access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>

Reeves Wiedman of ''The New Yorker'' argued that NBC's style of coverage focuses too much on the athletes as characters, rather than on the technical aspects of sports that are not typically prominent on U.S. television outside of the Olympics. In particular, he explained that coverage of gymnastics was "hindered by an outdated image of gymnasts as teen-age pixies bouncing around the screen" and "encourages us to look at swimmers as some of the world's premier athletes, and the gymnasts as the world's most coordinated beauty-pageant contestants". Wiedman added that "the idea that viewers staying up late into the night to watch a sport they barely understand have little interest in learning more about it seems wrong-headed", and that "only a very small number of Americans can tell the difference between a Produnova and an Amânar" or know that coaches "pore over the <nowiki>[</nowiki>IFG<nowiki>]</nowiki> Code with the same zeal that Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots' head coach, scours the NFL rule book for trick formations that push up against the boundary of the sport's regulation".<ref name="Wiedman20160809">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/sporting-scene/how-to-really-watch-olympic-gymnastics | title=Women's Gymnastics Deserves Better TV Coverage | first=Reeves | last=Wiedman | magazine=The New Yorker | date=August 9, 2016 | access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>

Geoff Baker of ''The Seattle Times'' described NBC's coverage this way: {{blockquote|NBC's approach would be like waiting until 8 p.m. to broadcast a [Seattle] Seahawks game against the New England Patriots that happened at 1 p.m. Then, showing only select snippets from each quarter, interspersed with soft features of [Seahawks quarterback] Russell Wilson and [his wife] Ciara, and [Patriots quarterback] Tom Brady and [his wife] Gisele walking hand-in-hand down a beach with Mozart playing in the background.<ref>{{cite news | first=Geoff | last=Baker | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/olympics/nbcs-tape-delayed-olympic-coverage-not-keeping-up-with-times/ | title=NBC's tape-delayed Olympic coverage not keeping up with times | publisher=The Seattle Times | date=August 14, 2016}}</ref>}}

On the other hand, under NBC's influence as the major revenue stream, some marquee events have been deliberately scheduled to allow live broadcasts in U.S. primetime.<ref name="Cooper-Chen">{{cite book | title = Global entertainment media | last = Cooper-Chen | first = Anne | publisher = Lawrence Erlbaum Associates | location = Mahwah, New Jersey | year = 2005 | isbn = 978-0-8058-5168-7 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1Su8jRiVVdoC&q=tv+influence+on+olympic+games&pg=PA228 | access-date =March 21, 2009 | page=230 }}</ref> This phenomenon has been apparent in Olympics held in Asia-Pacific countries, where marquee events such as swimming (in 2008 and 2020) and figure skating (in 2018 and 2022) were held in the morning rather than the evening. Athletes were required to adjust to these changes, especially if they practiced in the morning, while the scheduling of swimming in 2008 drew the ire of the BBC—as they fell in the early-morning hours in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/12/sports/olympics/figure-skating-schedule.html|title=For Olympic Figure Skaters, a New Meaning to Morning Routine|last=Longman|first=Jeré|date=February 12, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 17, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Guardian2006">{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Denis |date=July 16, 2006 |title=BBC at war over 'mad' Olympic start times |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/jul/16/bbc.media |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812103245/https://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/jul/16/bbc.media |archive-date=August 12, 2008 |work=The Observer |publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> Some events at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro were scheduled as late as 11:00 p.m. or midnight Brasília Time (which is an hour ahead of Eastern time), to accommodate both NBC and Rede Globo—the main Brazilian rightsholder. Globo had deliberately chosen not to preempt its primetime telenovela lineup during the Olympics, as they are the highest-rated programs on Brazilian television.<ref name="cbc-midnightmadness">{{cite web|title=Why all the midnight madness for some Olympians?|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rio-olympics-nbc-late-races-1.3715538|website=CBC News|access-date=August 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name="couriermail-latenight">{{cite web|title=Australia's Olympic swimmers can sleep easy at Rio despite late night meets thanks to recovery training|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/australias-olympic-swimmers-can-sleep-easy-at-rio-despite-late-night-meets-thanks-to-recovery-training/news-story/8d42ecd5305eecabd568e2446c8f964b|website=The Courier-Mail|access-date=August 18, 2016}}</ref><ref name="nyt-globonovelas">{{cite news|title=Greed, Passion, Lust, Betrayal, and the Olympics in Between| work=The New York Times | date=June 10, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/business/media/greed-passion-lust-betrayal-and-the-olympics-in-between.html?_r=0|access-date=August 18, 2016| last1=Segal | first1=David }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2014/12/05/swimming-beach-volleyball-will-be-on-late-in-rio |title=Swimming, beach volleyball will be on late in Rio |work=US News & World Report |access-date=October 31, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108195622/http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2014/12/05/swimming-beach-volleyball-will-be-on-late-in-rio |archive-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref>

==== 2010 Winter Olympics ==== Although the 2010 Winter Olympics were being held in Vancouver—located in the Pacific Time Zone, which is three hours behind the Eastern Time Zone, as previously done with their Olympic coverage, NBC delayed the broadcast of high-profile events held during the day to air in prime time. As a result, almost none of the popular alpine events were shown live.<ref name="Tape Delay">{{cite web|title=NBC's coverage of Olympics misses the thrill|url=http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_14440839|work=Salt Lake Tribune|date=February 20, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223023912/http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_14440839|archive-date=February 23, 2010}}</ref> NBC executives explained that this was done because of the higher viewership with coverage in the evening hours. Nevertheless, the 2010 Winter Olympics were assumed to be a financial disaster for NBC, as the network was expected to lose about $250 million after overpaying for the broadcasting rights.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Schechner |first1=Sam |last2=Chozick |first2=Amy |date=February 11, 2010  |others=Shira Ovide contributed to this article |title=Tape-Delayed Olympic Contests Annoy the Instant-Update World / Vancouver Olympics Coverage Requires Fewer Tape Delays, Except for West Coast Viewers |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703455804575057681187953898  |access-date=2025-10-03 |work=Wall Street Journal |department=Sports; Marketplace |page=B1 |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660 |id=Online: IPD "Sam Sussman {{!}} Alan Wurtzel {{!}} Lisa Quan {{!}} David Neal {{!}} Dick Ebersol"; {{Factiva|WSJO000020100211e62b000uo}}; {{ProQuest|237956820}}. Print: IPC "CYC {{!}} NND {{!}} SFR"; {{Factiva|J000000020100211e62b0002i}}; {{ProQuest|2648762784|399135859|1941568915}}. Dow Jones Institutional News: {{Factiva|DJDN000020100210e62a00751}}; {{ProQuest|2174349212}}.}}</ref>

This tape delay practice, even for major events, became increasingly frustrating with viewers, especially with the increased usage of social networking and websites (including the official Vancouver 2010 site and NBC's Olympic website) posting results in real time.<ref name="Tape Delay an Olympic Dilemma">{{cite web|title=Tape Delay an Olympic Dilemma|url=https://www.newser.com/story/80659/tape-delay-an-olympic-dilemma.html|work=Newser.com|date=February 11, 2010}}</ref> This especially held true for viewers in the Pacific, Mountain, Hawaii and Alaska Time Zones, where events were delayed even further by three to six hours or more.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC's 'live' Olympic coverage is anything but for West Coast viewers|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ronjudd/2010814653_judd17.html|author=Ron Judd|newspaper=Seattle Times|date=January 16, 2010}}</ref> The usage of tape delays were particularly frustrating for those in the Pacific Time Zone, as Vancouver not only lies in that time zone, but is in extremely close proximity to the United States – just north of the United States border (with Vancouver being an approximately 2½-hour drive from Seattle). As a result, on February 10, 2010, NBC was just beginning its coverage of the games at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time in Seattle (over NBC affiliate KING-TV), while the actual ceremony was deep into the artistic portion of the event.

As a result, these practices spurred outrage from viewers and media analysts voicing their opinions on the internet and even raising concerns from politicians.<ref>{{cite web|title=Even Senators Hated NBC Universal's Olympic Coverage|url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100301/0252398339.shtml|work=TechDirt|date=March 1, 2010}}</ref> This controversy came mere days following the controversial resolution of the 2010 ''Tonight Show'' host and timeslot conflict, which further damaged NBC's already broken image.<ref>{{cite web|title=NBC Olympics Coverage, Making Sports Fans Hate The Network More Than Ever|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2010/2/16/1312659/nbc-olympics-coverage-is-horrible-and-you-hate-them-for-it|author=Spencer Hall|work=SB Nation|date=February 16, 2010}}</ref>

In the past, American viewers who lived close to the Canada–US border were able to get around waiting for NBC to air an event by watching Olympic coverage on CBC Television. However, rights to the 2010 games in Canada moved over to CTV, which was not available on many cable systems in the northern U.S. due to programming redundancies during primetime between CTV and the American broadcast networks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Canadian TV Switch Displeases Americans|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/sports/olympics/21cbc.html?ref=olympics&pagewanted=print|author=Joanne T. Gerstner|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 20, 2010}}</ref>

==== 2012 Summer Olympics ==== At the 2012 Summer Olympics, NBC offered live streaming coverage on its Olympics website through a partnership with YouTube, which provided the opportunity to see all events live.<ref>{{cite web|title=NBC to use YouTube streaming technology for 2012 Olympics|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/3/8/2853386/nbc-youtube-stream-technology-2012-london-summer-olympics|author=Ryan Helse|publisher=TheVerge|date=March 8, 2012|access-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref> NBC also used a mixture of live and tape delayed coverage for its television broadcast due to London being five hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone. Events contested earlier in the day were able to be shown live on one of the NBCUniversal-owned cable networks. However, events that traditionally draw better ratings, such as swimming, artistic gymnastics, and track and field, were still tape delayed and aired during prime time on NBC. Those events drew their traditionally high ratings, but arguments were lodged about not having the option to watch these events live on television.

Furthermore, members of the U.S. Military were forced to watch the delayed NBC feed despite being within a few hours of the time zones of the event. American Forces Network was contractually hindered by Department of Defense regulations only allowing American feeds of broadcasts to ensure a feel of the broadcast that could be had in the U.S. Additionally, AFN had an agreement with the International Olympic Committee and NBC to only use NBC feeds of the event. Many soldiers in Europe felt slighted by the delays, given comparable local country stations aired the Olympics live on public television feeds as some events aired late at night or early in the morning on AFN.<ref>{{cite news|title=Delayed Olympic coverage irks AFN viewers|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/delayed-olympic-coverage-irks-afn-viewers-1.185134|author=Jennifer Svan|newspaper=Stars and Stripes|date=August 8, 2012}}</ref>

In a Gallup Poll held during the 2012 Olympics, many indicated that they did not mind the tape delaying for the nighttime window. However, the complaint lodged by the subjects in the poll was that NBC should show the events live on one of their networks, as well as show it in prime time on NBC.<ref>{{cite news|title=London Olympics TV poll|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-08-06/Michael-Hiestand-London-Olympics-TV-poll/56822770/1|author=Michael Hiestand|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 6, 2012}}</ref>

==== 2014 Winter Olympics ==== For its coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics, NBC streamed every competition live. However, only existing cable and satellite customers, subscribing to packages that include NBC's sister cable networks could access the service.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stream the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics|url=http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57618334-285/stream-the-2014-sochi-winter-olympics/|work=CNET|publisher=CBS Corporation|date=February 4, 2014|access-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Road Map to NBC Olympics' Digital Coverage of 2014 Olympic Winter Games|url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2014/02/07/road-map-to-nbc-olympics-digital-coverage-of-2014-olympic-winter-games/|work=NBC Sports Group Press Box|date=February 7, 2014|access-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> The Canadian Press reported that frustrated viewers were purchasing VPN services to access Canadian IP addresses so they could stream CBC Sports' live coverage instead (which is normally free for those in Canada).<ref>{{cite news|title=Some U.S. viewers turn to CBC amid complaints about NBC's Olympic coverage|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/some-us-viewers-turn-to-cbc-amid-complaints-about-nbcs-olympic-coverage/article16790846/|author=Cassandra Szklarski|agency=Canadian Press|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=February 10, 2014|access-date=February 13, 2014|location=Toronto}}</ref>

This time, some events that traditionally draw higher ratings were first aired live on one of NBC's sister cable networks (such as NBCSN), and then a tape delayed version was broadcast on NBC in primetime. For coverage of the popular figure skating events, there were two sets of commentators: Terry Gannon, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir announced NBCSN's live broadcast; and Tom Hammond, Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic anchored the tape delayed coverage on NBC. Invariably, comparisons were made between the two announcing teams; the NBCSN team of Weir and Lipinski received critical acclaim, and were ultimately named NBC's lead commentary team for figure skating later that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/fashion/alltherage/la-ar-john-weir-tara-lipinski-promoted-20141023-story.html|title=Former figure skaters Johnny Weir, Tara Lipinski promoted|last=Denley|first=Susan|website=Los Angeles Times|date=October 24, 2014|access-date=February 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In Figure Skating, the Second Team Shines|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/19/sports/olympics/in-figure-skating-the-second-team-shines.html?_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 19, 2012|access-date=February 22, 2014|first=Richard|last=Sandomir}}</ref>

NBC was criticized over the way its tape delayed primetime coverage handled the news of Russian star figure skater Evgeni Plushenko's withdrawal from competition due to injury. Hours after he announced his withdrawal, NBC continued to air promotions for its primetime show still implying he would skate in the event.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC Criticized For Acting Like Evgeni Plushenko Is Still In Olympics Hours After He Withdraws|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/14/nbc-evgeni-plushenko-coverage-promo-sochi-russia-withdraws_n_4790665.html|work=The Huffington Post|publisher=AOL|date=February 14, 2014|access-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Olympics Rage-o-Meter: The Peacock pretends to be shocked by Evgeni Plushenko's abrupt figure skating departure|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/fivering_circus/2014/02/olympics_rage_o_meter_the_peacock_pretends_to_be_shocked_by_evgeni_plushenko.html|work=Slate.com|date=February 14, 2014|access-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref>

==== 2016 Summer Olympics ==== ''Variety'' specifically criticized NBC for its tape delay practices in regards to the Women's artistic team all-round competition in its primetime broadcast, having effectively relegated most of the competition to air past 11:00 p.m. ET/PT, barring a short portion focusing on the vault and uneven bars events at the top of the primetime broadcast, in favor of the swimming competitions of the night. It was noted that "in the midst of a highly anticipated story that had already been ruined for many viewers via the Internet, it felt egregious to push the biggest story of the night to past 11 p.m.", and that NBC was trying to "juice the numbers" by doing so.<ref name="variety-latenightgym">{{cite web|title=NBC's Rio 2016 Coverage Short-Shrifts Women's Gymnastics, Pushing It Into Late-Night|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/columns/nbc-rio-2016-olympics-womens-gymnastics-simone-biles-1201834973/|website=Variety|date=August 10, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref>

==== 2018 Winter Olympics ==== On March 28, 2017, NBC announced that it would air live coverage in primetime for the 2018 Winter Olympics across all time zones, citing the "communal experience" and the ubiquity of social media as justification for this change.<ref name="variety-nbclive2018"/>

The Asian American Journalists Association, among other groups, has criticized NBC for having its announcers deliberately use an incorrect pronunciation of the host city Pyeongchang (by pronouncing the "-chang" like "bang" instead of correctly saying it like "chong") because, according to Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Broadcasting and Sports, this pronunciation is cleaner to an average viewer.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2018/02/14/defying-experts-nbc-clings-to-its-pyeongchang-pronunciation/ | title=Defying experts, NBC clings to its 'PyeongChang' pronunciation | newspaper=Washington Post | first=Erik | last=Wemple | date=February 14, 2018 | access-date=February 17, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=NBC Insists On Saying 'Pyeongchang' Incorrectly Because 'It's Cleaner' | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nbc-insists-on-saying-pyeongchang-incorrectly-because-its-cleaner_us_5a85ab38e4b0ab6daf46de3b?wi | first=Kimberly | last=Yam | work=The Huffington Post | date=February 15, 2018 | access-date=February 17, 2018}}</ref>

The top anchors of NBC News were also sent to cover the Olympics, which meant that they were unable to cover the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida which occurred on February 14. Therefore, while rivals ABC News, CBS News, CNN and Fox News were able to send their top anchors and reporters on-site to cover this domestic breaking news story, NBC News had to send relatively unknown reporters to cover the shooting.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/tv-news-parkland-shooting-today-good-morning-america-1202700164/ | title=TV News Tests Different Coverage Strategies for Florida Shooting | first=Brian | last=Steinberg | publisher=Variety | date=February 15, 2018 | access-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/embarrassment-as-nbc-news-struggles-to-cover-florida-school-shooting-from-south-korea/ | title=Embarrassment as NBC News struggles to cover Florida school shooting from South Korea | first=Brian | last=Flood | publisher=Fox News | access-date=February 23, 2018|date=February 16, 2018}}</ref>

==== 2020 Summer Olympics ==== In its handling of Simone Biles' withdrawal from the Women's artistic team all-around final, NBC's morning show ''Today'' discussed the event but was not allowed to show video footage, and the event was shown as-live during NBC's primetime broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NBC got Simone Biles saga right by turning to Michael Phelps|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2021/07/28/nbc-got-the-simone-biles-saga-right-by-turning-to-michael-phelps-for-his-insight/|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=www.boston.com|date=July 28, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 27, 2021|title=Simone Biles withdrawal tests NBC's commitment to tape delayed coverage|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/simone-biles-withdrawal-tests-nbcs-commitment-to-tape-delayed-coverage.html|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Slate'' argued that since the network had intensely emphasized Biles during its promotion of the Games, it was "a bit rich for NBC to report on the psychological pressures faced by Biles without also reflecting on the ways in which its choice to make Tokyo the Simone Games surely intensified those pressures", and that "by rejecting the network’s laurels and proceeding on her own terms, Biles is finally writing her own story."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Justin|date=July 28, 2021|title=Isn't NBC Forgetting Something About Simone Biles' Exit?|url=https://slate.com/culture/2021/07/simone-biles-nbc-olympics-gymnastics-attention-pressure-responsibility.html|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=Slate Magazine|language=en}}</ref> Biles's actions were praised and compared to that of other nations' athletes who are "over-determined" to win at any cost. Biles, on the other hand, showcased that the new U.S. approach to the Olympics is focused on athletes' well-being rather than only winning.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/olympics-an-expression-of-great-power-politics-between-china-us-49041|title=Olympics: An expression of great power politics between China-US}}</ref>

=== Opening and closing ceremonies === NBC has repeatedly received criticism for how it broadcasts the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics, including its frequent refusals to broadcast them live in any form (including online stream) until Tokyo 2020, citing the requirement to add "context" to the telecasts,<ref name="phillycom-nbctapedelay"/><ref name=slate-howtowatch/><ref name="newser-nolive"/> the removal of ceremony content from these tape delayed broadcasts,<ref name="wfp-cuts"/><ref name="cnn-cuts"/><ref name="billboard-cuts"/> as well as the quality of their on-air commentary.<ref name="guardian-nbcfail"/>

==== 2010 closing ceremony ==== During the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics, NBC went into an intermission of coverage at the end of the cultural section at 10:30 p.m. ET to broadcast the premiere episode of ''The Marriage Ref'', and broadcast the remaining portion of the ceremonies on tape delay at 11:35 p.m. after late local newscasts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Live Updates From Closing Ceremony|url=http://vancouver2010.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/live-updates-from-closing-ceremony/?ref=olympics|work=The New York Times|date=February 28, 2010}}</ref> This spawned outbursts from upset viewers, especially on Twitter.<ref name="wfp-cuts">{{cite news|title=US viewers tweet up a storm after NBC cuts Olympic closing ceremonies show|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/olympics/us-viewers-tweet-up-a-storm-after-nbc-cuts-olympic-closing-ceremonies-show-85791672.html|agency=Canadian Press|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=February 28, 2010}}</ref>

During the remaining portion after the intermission, several performances were also cut, including French Canadian singer Garou's performance of Jean-Pierre Ferland's "Un peu plus haut, un peu plus loin"; three minutes of commercials were shown in place of his performance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Garou boudé par les États-Unis|url=http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/artsetspectacles/general/archives/2010/02/20100218-165135.html|work=TVA|date=February 18, 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==== 2012 opening ceremony ==== The commentary – particularly that of Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer – during the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics was criticized as "ignorant" and "banal". They admitted to not knowing who World Wide Web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee was, mistakenly claimed that the actual Queen of the United Kingdom had parachuted into the stadium with James Bond (as opposed to a body double), and described Madagascar as "a country associated with a few animated movies". Australia was introduced as a former penal colony, and a joke about the former despotic dictator, Idi Amin, was used to describe Uganda by Bob Costas. Kazakhstan was introduced with comments about the March 2012 incident at the H.H. The Amir of Kuwait International Shooting Grand Prix in Kuwait, in which the mock Kazakhstan anthem from the film ''Borat'' was mistakenly played for gold medallist Maria Dmitrenko, and another Central European country was introduced as having no chance of winning medals in that year's Olympics. The NBC defended the comments and style, explaining that it was always intended to be a comedic relief.<ref name="guardian-nbcfail">{{cite news|title=NBC lambasted over banal butchering of opening ceremony – and rightly so|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/us-news-blog/2012/jul/28/nbc-olympics-opening-ceremony|author=Emma G Keller|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=July 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=As America succeeds at the games back home, all the talk is about NBC fail|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/as-america-succeeds-at-the-games-back-home-all-the-talk-is-about-nbcfail-7986147.html?origin=internalSearch|newspaper=The Independent | location=London|first=Guy|last=Adams|date=July 30, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NBC Olympics coverage: Meredith Vieira at the Opening Ceremony: It's Cool To Be Ignorant|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/07/28/nbc_olympics_coverage_meredith_vieira_think_it_s_cool_to_be_ignorant_.html|author=Josh Levin|work=Slate|date=July 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Opening Ceremonies in London: From the Industrial Revolution to Voldemort|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/07/28/157521409/the-opening-ceremonies-in-london-from-the-industrial-revolution-to-voldemort|work=NPR|date=July 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=NBC's broadcast of the Olympics Opening Ceremony was the worst|url=http://observer.com/2012/07/nbcs-broadcast-of-the-olympics-opening-ceremony-was-the-worst-video/|work=Observer|date=July 2012}}</ref>

NBC also found itself on the defensive over its tape delayed broadcast of the opening ceremony. American viewers took to Twitter to express their dismay at having to wait 3½ hours (6½ hours in the Pacific Time Zone) to see the opening event of the London Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC ripped for not livestreaming opening ceremony of Olympics|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-olympics-2012-nbc-streaming-20120727,0,4289232.story|first=Scott|last=Collins|newspaper=Los Angeles Times (Show Tracker)|date=July 27, 2012}}</ref> Most of the Twitter posts centered around NBC not offering online streaming of the opening ceremonies for U.S. viewers who wanted to watch the event live.<ref>{{cite news|title=Twitter to NBC: Livestream the Olympics opening ceremony|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/twitter-to-nbc-livestream-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/|author=Chenda Ngak|work=CBS News|date=July 27, 2012}}</ref> Some Americans elected to watch online streams of the ceremonies provided by either the BBC or CTV if they wanted to watch it live. These failings were picked up during the NBC broadcast by Twitter users with the hashtag #nbcfail.<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC fail shows network's commitment to 'the last great buggy-whip Olympics'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/30/nbc-fail-buggy-whip-olympics?CMP=twt_gu|author=Heidi Moore|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=July 30, 2012|access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>

NBC spokesman Christopher McCloskey said:

{{cquote|It was never our intent to live stream the Opening Ceremony or Closing Ceremony. They are complex entertainment spectacles that do not translate well online because they require context, which our award-winning production team will provide for the large prime-time audiences that gather together to watch them.<ref name="newser-nolive">{{cite web|title=NBC opens Olympics coverage by upsetting fans who wanted to see ceremony live|url=http://www.newser.com/article/da09lr2g0/nbc-opens-olympics-coverage-by-upsetting-fans-who-wanted-to-see-ceremony-live.html|author=David Bauder|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Newser.com|date=July 27, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728134051/http://www.newser.com/article/da09lr2g0/nbc-opens-olympics-coverage-by-upsetting-fans-who-wanted-to-see-ceremony-live.html|archive-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> }}

Despite these issues or maybe because of them, the Nielsen ratings for the coverage set a record for an Olympics held outside of the United States. The ceremonies drew a 23.0 rating, which was a 7% increase over the 2008 Opening Ceremony in Beijing.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tape-delayed Opening Ceremony turns out to be ratings gold|url=http://globegazette.com/sports/olympics/blogs/tape-delayed-opening-ceremony-turns-out-to-be-ratings-gold/article_8e5718a5-7de0-518b-815d-ff8d9c6eb4aa.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124170250/http://globegazette.com/sports/olympics/blogs/tape-delayed-opening-ceremony-turns-out-to-be-ratings-gold/article_8e5718a5-7de0-518b-815d-ff8d9c6eb4aa.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 24, 2013|newspaper=Globe Gazette|access-date=July 28, 2012}}</ref>

==== 2012 closing ceremony ==== Due in part to lingering criticism from social media outlets like Twitter, NBC made a last-minute decision to reverse course and stream the closing ceremony live on NBCOlympics.com.<ref>{{cite web|title=NBCOlympics.com to livestream Olympic Closing Ceremony|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/2012/nbcolympics-com-to-livestream-olympic-closing-ceremony.html|work=NBCOlympics.com|access-date=August 12, 2012|archive-date=August 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812172713/http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/2012/nbcolympics-com-to-livestream-olympic-closing-ceremony.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, when it aired on television, the ceremony was heavily edited for time. The ceremony in London lasted three hours, eight minutes and ten seconds; NBC's broadcast of the closing ceremony, by comparison, featured more than 51 minutes and 23 seconds of cuts – 27% of the entire closing ceremony, including the medal ceremony for the men's marathon, a tribute thanking the Olympic volunteers, a ballet sequence featuring Darcey Bussell that accompanied the extinguishing of the Olympic flame, and musical performances by Muse, Kate Bush and Ray Davies.<ref name="billboard-cuts">{{cite magazine|title=NBC cuts The Who, Ray Davies, Muse from Olympics|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/tv-film/nbc-cuts-the-who-ray-davies-muse-from-olympics-1007811352.story|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 13, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122123117/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/tv-film/nbc-cuts-the-who-ray-davies-muse-from-olympics-1007811352.story|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="deadspin-cuts">{{cite web|title=NBC cut nearly an hour from its Closing Ceremony telecast: Here's everything they didn't show you, including The Kinks' Ray Davies|url=http://deadspin.com/5934166/nbc-cut-nearly-an-hour-from-its-closing-ceremony-telecast-heres-everything-they-didnt-show-you-including-the-kinks-ray-davies|work=Deadspin|date=August 13, 2012 }}</ref>

In addition, the ceremony was preempted before The Who's performance, in order to air a sneak preview of the sitcom ''Animal Practice'' and late local newscasts. Again, American viewers expressed their dismay using social media.<ref name="cnn-cuts">{{cite news|title=Viewers outraged after NBC cuts away from Olympics closing ceremony|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/13/sport/olympics-nbc-fail/index.html|work=CNN|date=August 13, 2012}}</ref> Bob Costas himself criticized the decision when appearing on TBS' ''Conan'' in September 2012: "So here is the balance NBC has to consider: The Who, ''Animal Practice.'' Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend -- monkey in a lab coat. I'm sure you'd be the first to attest, Conan, that when it comes to the tough calls, NBC usually gets 'em right.".<ref>{{cite web|title='Conan': Bob Costas not a fan of NBC's Olympic closing ceremony coverage|url=http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/09/conan-bob-costas-not-a-fan-of-nbcs-olympic-closing-ceremony-coverage.html|author=Rick Porter|work=Zap2it|publisher=Tribune Company|date=September 13, 2012|access-date=September 16, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914233615/http://blog.zap2it.com/pop2it/2012/09/conan-bob-costas-not-a-fan-of-nbcs-olympic-closing-ceremony-coverage.html|archive-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref>

==== 2014 opening ceremony ==== Ignoring past criticisms, NBC again tape delayed the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics, and refused to broadcast it live on any platform. NBC Sports chairman Mark Lazarus explained that the delay was so they could "put context to it, with the full pageantry it deserves".<ref name=slate-howtowatch>{{cite web|title=How to Watch the Winter Olympics Online|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2014/02/05/watch_winter_olympics_live_online_free_nbc_livestream_of_sochi_games.html|author=Will Oremus|work=Slate|date=February 5, 2014|access-date=February 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name=yahoo-missed>{{cite web|title=A giant bear, a Daft Punk cover and other things you missed in the Opening Ceremony|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/five-things-you-didn-t-see-on-nbc-s-opening-ceremony-broadcast-055612942.html|work=Yahoo! Sports|date=February 8, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2014}}</ref>

==== 2014 closing ceremony ==== Like in 2012, NBC streamed the closing ceremony in Sochi live on NBCOlympics.com in full,<ref>{{cite web|title=NBC to offer live streaming for Olympics Closing Ceremony|url=http://blog.timesunion.com/sportsmedia/nbc-to-offer-live-streaming-for-olympics-closing-ceremony/14449/|newspaper=Albany Times Union|date=February 22, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref> but also cut several portions during its tape delayed primetime telecast. This time, NBC decided against interrupting its coverage midway through the ceremony like it did in 2010 and 2012, and instead aired its scheduled sneak preview episode of the sitcom ''Growing Up Fisher'' after the broadcast at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.<ref>{{cite web|title=NBC Sets Premiere Dates for 'About a Boy', 'Growing Up Fisher', 'Believe', 'Crisis' & More |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/10/nbc-sets-premiere-dates-for-about-a-boy-growing-up-fisher-believe-crisis-more/228397|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110235144/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2014/01/10/nbc-sets-premiere-dates-for-about-a-boy-growing-up-fisher-believe-crisis-more/228397/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 10, 2014|author=Sara Bibel|work=TV by the Numbers|publisher=Zap2It (Tribune Company)|date=January 10, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref> However, that meant that NBC only scheduled a two-hour window for their tape delayed coverage of the ceremony, between a 90-minute documentary on Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan that aired from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern, and the ''Growing Up Fisher'' preview.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sochi Olympics Closing Ceremony: NBC's Presentation|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/sochi-olympics-closing-ceremony-2014-winter-olympic-games-687877/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 23, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref>

==== 2016 opening ceremony ==== Although NBC promoted that the 2016 Summer Olympics would feature more live coverage than previous years due to the fact that it occurred in a location that is only one hour ahead of the Eastern Time Zone, the company continued with its previous practice of tape delaying the opening ceremony. It began at 7:00 p.m. ET, but was delayed to 8:00 p.m. ET/PT for the U.S. audience, resulting in the ceremony airing on an hour delay on the east coast, and a four-hour delay on the west. NBC cited a need to provide context for the ceremony's contents, as the network viewed the opening ceremony to be an entertainment event rather than sports content.<ref name="phillycom-nbctapedelay">{{cite web|title=NBC won't broadcast Rio Olympics opening ceremony live|url=https://www.philly.com/philly/sports/olympics/NBC_wont_broadcast_Rio_Olympics_opening_ceremonies_live.html|website=Philly.com|date=July 11, 2016 |access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rio Olympics opening ceremony: How to watch, time, TV info|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/04/2016-rio-olympics-opening-ceremony-schedule-tv-guide/87388434/|website=USA Today|access-date=August 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Armour: NBC fails again with Rio opening ceremony delay|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2016/07/12/nbc-opening-ceremony-olympics-rio-delay-one-hour/87000530/|website=USA Today|access-date=August 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name="usatoday-2016delay">{{cite web|title=NBC to air opening ceremony of Rio Olympics on one-hour delay|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2016/07/11/nbc-to-air-opening-ceremony-of-rio-olympics-on-1-hour-delay/86965814/|website=USA Today|access-date=July 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg-15percent">{{cite news|title=NBC Expects 15 Percent Increase in Ad Sales for Rio Olympics|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-11/nbc-expects-15-percent-increase-in-ad-sales-for-rio-olympics|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=July 11, 2016|access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=November 2025}}

NBC was ultimately criticized for this tape delay, as well as the large amount of advertising it aired (which the ''Los Angeles Times'' argued was the actual reason for the delay); ''Mediaite'' calculated that it had aired six breaks amounting to 14 minutes of commercials in the first 40 minutes of the ceremony alone.<ref>{{cite web|last1=DePaolo|first1=Joe|title=NBC is Airing a Ton of Commercials During the Olympics' Opening Ceremony and People Aren't Happy|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/nbc-is-airing-a-ton-of-commercials-during-the-olympics-opening-ceremony-and-people-arent-happpy/|website=Mediaite|date=August 6, 2016|access-date=August 6, 2016}}</ref><ref name="lat-nbcnot">{{cite web|title=Review Opening ceremony proves Rio can throw a party; NBC, not so much|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-rio-olympics-opening-ceremony-review-20160806-snap-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=August 6, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref>

Unlike in 2012, viewership for the opening ceremonies via NBC went down to an average of 19.5 million viewers between 8 and 11 PM, a 32% decrease, although the live streaming numbers went up, indicating that audiences gradually switch to the digital medium where they can stream events on demand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-olympic-competition-opens-917873|title=TV Ratings: Olympic Competition Opens With 19.5M Viewers, Still Down From London|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 7, 2016}}</ref><ref name="nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com">[https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2016/08/11/nbc-olympics-rio-2016-live-streaming-tops-1-billion-minutes-unprecedented-for-an-olympics/ NBC OLYMPICS’ RIO 2016 LIVE STREAMING TOPS 1 BILLION MINUTES – UNPRECEDENTED FOR AN OLYMPICS]</ref>

==== 2016 closing ceremony ==== The closing ceremony in Rio was also tape delayed to 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, preceded by an hour-long recap show (''Rio Gold'').<ref>{{cite web|title=TV coverage of final day of Rio Olympics features U.S. men's basketball team's final push for gold and Closing Ceremonies |url=http://www.kansas.com/sports/olympics/article96883777.html|website=The Wichita Eagle|access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref> Similarly to Sochi, the closing ceremony's lead-out—a preview of the eleventh season of ''The Voice'', aired at 10:30 p.m.<ref>{{cite web |last=Swift |first=Andy |url=http://tvline.com/2016/06/30/the-voice-olympics-special-miley-cyrus-alicia-keys-premiere/ |title='The Voice' Olympics Special — Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys' Premiere Episode |publisher=TVLine |date=June 30, 2016 |access-date=August 17, 2016 |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819102124/http://tvline.com/2016/06/30/the-voice-olympics-special-miley-cyrus-alicia-keys-premiere/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At least 38% of the ceremony was cut from the NBC primetime broadcast, including portions of the entry of athletes (although ''Deadspin'' noted that this portion took "a really, really long time"), a three-minute long montage of highlights from the Games, the medal presentation for the Men's marathon (despite American athlete Galen Rupp having won a bronze medal in the event), the inauguration of new IOC members, and a speech by organizing committee president Carlos Nuzman.<ref>[https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1115967/carlos-nuzman-sentenced-to-30-years Nuzman sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for Rio 2016 corruption]</ref><ref name="deadspin-16cccuts">{{cite web|title=NBC's Closing Ceremony Broadcast Edited Out More Than An Hour. Here's What You Missed.|url=http://deadspin.com/nbcs-closing-ceremony-broadcast-edited-out-more-than-an-1785592630|website=Deadspin|date=August 22, 2016 |access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>

The live stream of the closing ceremony in full was available on NBC's digital platforms and enjoyed great popularity. Overall, live streaming figures topped 1 billion minutes, per NBC post-Olympic press release.<ref name="nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com"/>

==== 2018 opening ceremony ==== For the first time, NBC announced that it planned to offer a live stream of the opening ceremony. Mark Lazarus cited the ongoing criticism of NBC's decisions to tape delay the ceremonies, as well as changing "consumer behavior", as justification for the decision; Pyeongchang is 14 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time. The NBC network also carried its traditional tape delayed broadcast in primetime, without any additional tape delays to other time zones west of Eastern Time.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tornoe|first1=Rob|title=NBC will stream the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony for the first time|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/olympics/opening-ceremony-winter-olympics-2018-pyeongchang-nbc-delayed-broadcast-live-20180117.html|access-date=February 10, 2018|work=Philly.com|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210001750/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/olympics/opening-ceremony-winter-olympics-2018-pyeongchang-nbc-delayed-broadcast-live-20180117.html|archive-date=February 10, 2018|location=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Burke|first1=Timothy|title=NBC's Opening Ceremony Broadcast Edited Out 23 Minutes of the Event, So Here's What You Missed |url=https://screengrabber.deadspin.com/nbcs-opening-ceremony-broadcast-edited-out-23-minutes-o-1822892186|access-date=February 10, 2018|work=Deadspin|publisher=Gizmodo Media Group|date=February 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210102012/https://screengrabber.deadspin.com/nbcs-opening-ceremony-broadcast-edited-out-23-minutes-o-1822892186|archive-date=February 10, 2018|location=Internet Archive}}</ref>

During the parade of nations, NBC commentator Joshua Cooper Ramo described Japan as "a country which occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945", but "a cultural and technological and economic example that has been so important to their own transformation." The statement received immediate backlash in South Korea for being insensitive and ignorant to the host nation's ongoing disputes with Japan and Japan's history of brutal colonization of Korea.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/sports/2018/02/702_243965.html|title=NBC analyst under fire in Korea over ignorant comment|date=February 11, 2018|work=koreatimes|access-date=February 11, 2018|language=en}}</ref> NBC issued an apology and Cooper Ramo resigned.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/winter-olympics/nbc-apologizes-to-korean-people-after-correspondents-ignorant-insensitive-comment/ar-BBIXGgh|title=NBC apologizes to after correspondent's 'ignorant, 'insensitive' comment|website=www.msn.com|language=en-US|access-date=February 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071813/https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/winter-olympics/nbc-apologizes-to-korean-people-after-correspondents-ignorant-insensitive-comment/ar-BBIXGgh|archive-date=February 11, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 2018 closing ceremony ==== Like its previous coverage, NBC had a live stream of the closing ceremony without any commentary, and then its traditional tape delayed coverage in primetime, without additional tape delays to the other time zones west of Eastern Time.<ref>{{cite web | title=2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony: how to watch and what to expect | url=https://www.vox.com/2018/2/23/17044216/2018-winter-olympics-opening-ceremony-livestream-start-time-watch-online-pyeongchang-south-korea | website=Vox.com | date=February 24, 2018 | access-date=February 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Burke|first1=Timothy|title=NBC Only Aired 60% Of The Winter Games Closing Ceremony Last Night, So Here's The 40% You Missed|url=https://screengrabber.deadspin.com/nbc-only-aired-60-of-the-winter-games-closing-ceremony-1823331083|access-date=February 26, 2018|work=Screengrabber (Deadspin)|publisher=Gizmodo Media Group|date=February 26, 2018|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117163145/https://screengrabber.deadspin.com/nbc-only-aired-60-of-the-winter-games-closing-ceremony-1823331083|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 2020 opening ceremony ==== In January 2020, NBC announced that it planned to stream the ceremonies of the 2020 Summer Olympics live on Peacock.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 17, 2020|title=NBC's Peacock streaming service will include live Premier League matches, Olympics content, Ryder Cup|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbcs-peacock-streaming-service-will-include-live-premier-league-matches-olympics-content-ryder-cup.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711122848/https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbcs-peacock-streaming-service-will-include-live-premier-league-matches-olympics-content-ryder-cup.html|archive-date=July 11, 2020|access-date=July 13, 2020|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US}}</ref> On February 10, 2021, NBC introduced its regular and full simultaneous live broadcasts of the Olympic ceremonies across all U.S. territories with mandated primetime encores for U.S. time zones outside the East Coast. NBC stated that "following the unprecedented challenges presented by the global COVID pandemic, the world will come together in Tokyo for what could be the most meaningful and anticipated Opening Ceremony ever. Given the magnitude of this event, we want to provide viewers with as many ways to connect to it as possible, live or in primetime."<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 10, 2021|title=NBC will air the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony live in all time zones|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbc-will-air-the-summer-olympics-opening-ceremony-live-in-all-time-zones.html|access-date=February 10, 2021|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 2022 opening ceremony ==== In late 2021, NBC announced that like the Tokyo Summer Games, it would air the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics live on NBC on the morning of February 4, 2022, with a replay of the ceremony in primetime as well.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What you need to know about the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022|url=https://www.today.com/news/beijing-olympics-2022-schedule-events-where-watch-t225986|access-date=January 9, 2022|website=TODAY.com|language=en}}</ref> NBC's broadcast of the opening ceremony was criticized by some conservatives as taking a "both-sides approach" [equally blaming the U.S.] to the issue of human rights abuses in China.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2022 |title=NBC Takes a 'Both-Sides' Approach to Chinese Human-Rights Abuses during Olympics Opening Ceremony |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/nbc-takes-a-both-sides-approach-to-chinese-human-rights-abuses-during-olympics-opening-ceremony/ |access-date=February 27, 2022 |website=National Review |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== 2024 opening ceremony ==== The NBC telecast of the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics in Paris featured hosts such as Snoop Dogg, Peyton Manning and Kelly Clarkson, whose eponymous talk show is syndicated by the network's distribution arm. Critic Chris Bumbaca wrote in ''USA Today'' that "Manning and Clarkson were distracting at best and brutal to listen to at worst. Olympics fans watching at home aren't tuning in to hear a talk-show host (Clarkson) and football analyst (Manning) discuss things outside of their spheres of influence. They want substantive information about the countries and athletes' stories." He did, however, say that "NBC's saving grace may have been Snoop Dogg. The rapper will be featured heavily in the coverage over the next two weeks, and his timing was effective. On Friday, the comedy he provided was desperately needed."<ref>{{cite news |last=Bumbaca |first=Chris |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Peyton Manning, Kelly Clarkson should have been benched as opening ceremony co-hosts |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/07/26/paris-opening-ceremony-peyton-manning-kelly-clarkson-nbc/74565229007/ |work=USA Today |location= |access-date=July 26, 2024}}</ref> Manning and Clarkson were criticized by users on social media.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leuzzi |first=John |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Social media reacts to Peyton Manning, Kelly Clarkson on NBC's Paris opening ceremony coverage |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/07/26/peyton-manning-kelly-clarkson-nbc-paris-olympics-opening-ceremony-nbc-reactions/74563674007/ |work=USA Today |location= |access-date=July 26, 2024}}</ref> Although the ceremony itself was noted for containing a number of segments that have received criticism from conservative and right-wing movements and governments worldwide, NBC largely avoided involvement in the surrounding controversy.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last=Brodeur |first=Michael Andor |date=2024-07-26 |title=Column {{!}} A grand vision guides unprecedented Opening Ceremonies down the Seine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2024/07/26/paris-olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-review/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Watkins |first=Emily |date=2024-07-26 |title=The Paris Olympics opening ceremony was an insane cabaret of clichés |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/paris-olympics-opening-ceremony-review-insane-cabaret-of-cliches-3193320 |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Tinubu |first=Aramide |date=2024-07-26 |title=2024 Paris Olympics Launches With a Stunning, Unique and Très French Opening Ceremony: TV Review |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/reviews/2024-paris-olympics-opening-ceremony-review-1236086528/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite news |last=White |first=Jim |date=2024-07-26 |title=A glorious finale but otherwise the Olympics opening ceremony was a damp squib |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2024/07/26/olympics-opening-ceremony-review-damp-squib/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=Upset bishops and mixed reviews for Paris Olympics ceremony |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240727-upset-bishops-and-mixed-reviews-for-paris-olympics-ceremony |access-date=2024-07-28 |publisher=AFP |language=en |via=France24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-27 |title=Drag performance resembling Last Supper at Olympic opening ceremony rankles conservatives |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/drag-performance-resembling-last-supper-olympics-opening-ceremony-rcna163927 |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=November 2025}}

A total of 28.6 million viewers watched the opening ceremony on NBC and Peacock, more than 60% up from the Tokyo Olympics and also an 8% increase over the 2016 Rio opening ceremony.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/olympics-opening-ceremony-ratings-nbc-peacock-1236023533/|title=Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Viewership Sees Gold Medal Results For NBCUniversal With Huge Rise From Tokyo|date=July 27, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2024|publisher=Deadline}}</ref>

==== 2026 opening ceremony ==== During the Parade of Nations, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, which NBC appeared to have cut from footage,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lutz |first=Tom |date=2026-02-07 |title=NBC appears to cut crowd's booing of JD Vance from Winter Olympics broadcast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/06/nbc-appears-to-cut-crowds-booing-of-jd-vance-from-winter-olympics-broadcast |access-date=2026-02-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077|archive-date=7 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260207013746/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/06/nbc-appears-to-cut-crowds-booing-of-jd-vance-from-winter-olympics-broadcast|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Israeli team were booed by some of the audience present.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-team-marches-smattering-boos-milan-games-opening-ceremony-2026-02-06/ |title=Israel team, U.S. Vice President Vance booed at Milan Games opening ceremony |publisher=Reuters |date=6 February 2026 |archive-date=10 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260210152602/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-team-marches-smattering-boos-milan-games-opening-ceremony-2026-02-06/|url-status=live}}</ref> While the negative reception was heard on OBS broadcasts, NBC's telecast received accusations of censorship.<ref name="NYT-Vance-Olympics">{{cite news |last=Ahn |first=Ashley |title=J.D. Vance Is Booed at Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/world/europe/jd-vance-olympics-opening-ceremony.html |work=The New York Times |date=February 6, 2026 |access-date=February 8, 2026|archive-date=8 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208215337/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/world/europe/jd-vance-olympics-opening-ceremony.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ceremony was seen by 21.4 million viewers in the United States, a 34% increase from the 2022 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/culture-lifestyle/sports/milano-cortina-2026-opening-ceremony-ratings/|title=Winter Olympics 2026 Opening Ceremony Scores 21.4 Million Viewers Across NBC, Peacock, Up 34% From Beijing|publisher=The Wrap|author=Loree Seitz|access-date=8 February 2026|archive-date=8 February 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208013205/https://www.thewrap.com/culture-lifestyle/sports/milano-cortina-2026-opening-ceremony-ratings/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2012 Summer Paralympics === Despite the 2012 Summer Paralympics being a breakthrough games for media coverage, helping significantly boost overall audience shares for British broadcaster Channel 4 and Australia's ABC,<ref>{{cite web|title=Paralympics coverage changed disability perceptions, says C4|url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/News/MostEmailed/1148995/Paralympics-coverage-changed-disability-perceptions-says-C4|work=MediaWeek|date=September 10, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Paralympics a ratings winner for ABC|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/paralympics-a-ratings-winner-for-abc/story-e6frg996-1226472161772|newspaper=The Australian|date=September 12, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012}}</ref> no Paralympics events were shown live on television in the United States. International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven criticized North American broadcasters, and NBC specifically, for having fallen behind the times<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC criticised Paralympics after opening ceremony blackout|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9509190/NBC-criticised-Paralympics-after-opening-ceremony-blackout.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9509190/NBC-criticised-Paralympics-after-opening-ceremony-blackout.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=August 30, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and said that the International Paralympic Committee would scrutinize its broadcast partners more carefully in the future. "If the values fit, we've got a chance. If they don't we'll go somewhere else," he said.<ref>{{cite news|title=Extra scrutiny for Paralympic TV deals|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19544410|author=BBC News|date=September 10, 2012|access-date=September 13, 2012|author-link=BBC News}}</ref>

In September 2013, NBC subsequently acquired the rights to the 2014 and 2016 Paralympics, and announced plans to air a combined 116 hours of coverage from both Games. Craven praised NBC's decision to devote a larger amount of airtime to future Paralympics, sharing his hope that U.S. audiences would be "as captivated and emotionally enthralled as the billions around the world who tuned in to London 2012 last summer."<ref name=telegraph-nbcparalympics>{{cite news|title=Paralympic Movement given huge boost as American channels NBC and NBCSN will cover next two Games|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10330949/Paralympic-Movement-given-huge-boost-as-American-channels-NBC-and-NBCSN-will-cover-next-two-Games.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/10330949/Paralympic-Movement-given-huge-boost-as-American-channels-NBC-and-NBCSN-will-cover-next-two-Games.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=February 10, 2014|location=London|first=Gareth A|last=Davies|date=September 24, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> NBC further acquired rights to broadcast the 2018 and 2020 editions. The company announced more than 1200 hours of coverage for the 2020 Summer Paralympics, called "unprecedented" by the International Paralympic Committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/pyeongchang-2018-nbc-announces-paralympic-coverage?amp|title = PyeongChang 2018: NBC announces Paralympic coverage}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/nbcuniversal-announces-unprecedented-tokyo-2020-paralympic-coverage-usa|title = NBCUniversal announces unprecedented Tokyo 2020 Paralympic coverage in USA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NBC Olympics, U.S. Olympic Committee acquire media rights to Paralympics in 2014, 2016|url=http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/24/paralympics-2014-2016-tv-coverage-nbc/|work=NBC Sports|date=September 24, 2013}}</ref>

=== Other criticism === ==== 2014 Winter Olympics ==== On February 16, 2014, reporter and former women's alpine skiing silver medalist Christin Cooper received criticism for her interview with American Bode Miller after his bronze medal win in the men's super G event. During the post-event interview, as Miller became increasingly emotional, Cooper repeatedly questioned him about his late brother Chelone, who had died the previous April at the age of 29, until Miller broke down in tears and was unable to continue the interview. For her pressing of the issue, Cooper was described as having badgered Miller. NBC also received criticism for keeping the cameras on Miller, who sagged on the railing and cried without speaking, for more than a full minute, despite having had several hours in which to edit the footage before airing it.<ref name="Dyce">{{cite news|url=http://fansided.com/2014/02/16/nbc-reporter-badgers-bode-miller-dead-brother-till-cries/|title=NBC reporter badgers Bode Miller about dead brother till he cries|date=February 17, 2014|work=Fansided|author=Mike Dyce|access-date=February 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Sandomir>{{cite news|title=NBC Pushes Too Far in Bringing Bode Miller to Tears|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/sports/olympics/nbc-pushes-too-far-in-bringing-bode-miller-to-tears.html|author=Richard Sandomir|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 17, 2014|access-date=February 17, 2014}}</ref> Later that evening, Miller tweeted his fans should "be gentle" with Cooper, as it was "not at all her fault," and "she asked the questions every interviewer would have." The following morning on ''Today'', Miller reiterated his support for Cooper, saying, "I have known Christin a long time, and she's a sweetheart of a person. I know she didn't mean to push. I don't think she really anticipated what my reaction was going to be, and I think by the time she realized it, it was too late. I don't blame her at all."<ref name=Stump>{{cite news|title=Bode Miller on NBC reporter: 'I don't blame her at all' for emotional interview|url=http://www.today.com/sochi/bode-miller-nbc-reporter-i-dont-blame-her-all-emotional-2D12124900|author=Scott Stump|work=Today|publisher=NBC News|date=February 17, 2014|access-date=February 17, 2014}}</ref>

Matt Lauer, who had been filling in for Bob Costas while the latter was ill, had engaged in inappropriate and unwanted sexual behavior with subordinates during the Games. This was one of the factors that led to his termination from NBC on November 29, 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/tv/matt-lauer-alleged-inappropriate-sexual-behavior-sochi/|title=Matt Lauer Accused of Inappropriate Behavior at Sochi Olympics|last=Triggs|first=Charlotte|date=November 29, 2017|work=People|access-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref>

==== 2016 Summer Olympics ==== On August 16, 2016, boxing analyst Teddy Atlas accused NBC of deliberately "hiding" corrupt boxing competitions in Rio in an effort to hide suspected corruption by AIBA—the international governing body of boxing at the Olympics. He cited limited coverage as part of NBC's televised broadcasts, as well as the network's refusal to invite him back, after having called out questionable officiating during a controversial bout between Magomed Abdulhamidov and Satoshi Shimizu in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oly-boxi-nbc-day14/boxing-nbc-asked-to-cease-ringside-commentary-idUSBRE87919Q20120810|title=Boxing: NBC asked to cease ringside commentary|date=August 10, 2012|work=Reuters|access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Teddy Atlas: NBC hides corrupt Olympic boxing matches|url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2016/08/16/teddy-atlas-nbc-hides-corrupt-olympic-boxing|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=August 16, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/online/espn-analyst-teddy-atlas-denounces-corrupt-olympic-boxing-rips-nbc-for-hiding/|title=ESPN Analyst Teddy Atlas Denounces 'Corrupt' Olympic Boxing, Rips NBC for 'Hiding'|website=Mediaite|date=August 17, 2016|language=en|access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref> The next day, it was reported that AIBA would remove several referees and judges from the competition under suspicion that they were not making decisions "at the levels expected".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/18/sports/olympics/boxing-referees-and-judges-removed-after-a-review.html|title=Boxing Judges and Refs Removed After Suspicious Results|last=Belson|first=Ken|date=August 17, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 18, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

As Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszú won a gold medal and broke a world record during the 400-meter individual medley, Dan Hicks credited a man responsible for helping her break the world record and win the gold medal. There was no reference to who the "man" was, although some on social media angrily speculated that Hicks was alluding to Katinka Hosszú's then-husband, Shane Tusup (who was also the coach of the Hungarian Swimming Team). The comment from Hicks was criticized as sexist.<ref>{{cite news|title='The man responsible': NBC broadcaster draws ire after crediting world record to swimmer's husband|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/08/07/the-man-responsible-nbc-broadcaster-draws-ire-after-crediting-world-record-to-swimmers-husband/|author=Roman Stubbs|newspaper=The Washington Postdate=August 7, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> Hicks later said "It is impossible to tell Katinka's story accurately without giving appropriate credit to Shane, and that's what I was trying to do." He also added that "with live TV, there are often times you look back and wished you had said things differently."<ref>{{cite news|title=Olympic analyst defends comments criticized as sexist|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2016/08/07/nbc-analyst-defends-comments-criticized-as-sexist/88364764/|date=August 7, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref> The next day, Al Trautwig was criticized for stating incorrect information about the parents of American gymnast Simone Biles. On air, Trautwig stated that Ron Biles and Nellie Biles are Simone's grandparents that adopted her and her sister in 2001. Later on, Trautwig tweeted that Ron and Nellie were actually her parents, to which fans on Twitter started the hashtag, #FireTrautwig.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mashable.com/2016/08/08/nbc-tweet-simone-biles/#8rJoxXnbBmqK |title=Olympics announcer says Simone Biles' adoptive parents aren't her parents |last=Gilmer |first=Marcus |publisher=Mashable |date=August 8, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2016/08/08/nbc-analyst-in-twitter-over-comment-about-simone-biles/88394548/|title=NBC analyst criticized over comment about Simone Biles|website=USA Today}}</ref> Trautwig later apologized, stating "I regret that I wasn't more clear in my wording on the air. I compounded the error on Twitter, which I quickly corrected. To set the record straight, Ron and Nellie are Simone's parents."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/08/al-trautwig-apology-simon-biles-parents/88402048/|title=NBC's Al Trautwig apologizes for comments on Simone Biles' parents|website=USA Today}}</ref>

On August 9, some viewers became upset on Twitter after commentator Cynthia Potter failed to mention that British diver Tom Daley was a well known gay athlete, as Potter was focused on the replays. NBC later made a statement to ''The Advocate'' that "with more than 11,000 athletes at the Games, it is not always possible to identify every competitor's significant other, regardless of their sexual orientation."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/media/2016/8/09/why-nbc-sports-never-noted-tom-daley-out-athlete|title=Why NBC Sports Never Noted Tom Daley Is an Out Athlete|date=August 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/08/09/why_didn_t_nbc_mention_tom_daley_s_fiance_dustin_lance_black.html|title=How Do You Get NBC to Ignore a Human Interest Story? Have the Humans Be Gay.|first=June|last=Thomas|date=August 9, 2016|journal=Slate}}</ref> Later, the partner of Brazilian volleyball player Larissa França, Liliane Maestrini, was referred to by commentator Chris Marlowe as her "husband". It led to confusion and dismay for some viewers as Larissa and Liliane are both female and are a same-sex couple. NBC later apologized stating that "Liliane is Larissa's wife."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outsports.com/2016/8/9/12416610/larissa-franca-beach-volleyball-gay-nbc-comment-olympics|title=NBC calls wife of gay athlete her 'husband'|first=Jim|last=Buzinski|date=August 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/09/nbc-sports-chris-marlowe-same-sex-spouse-wrong-gender/88491630/|title=NBC's Chris Marlowe calls Olympic athlete's same-sex spouse wrong gender|website=USA Today}}</ref>

==== 2018 Winter Olympics ==== Bode Miller was criticized for on-air remarks about Austrian skier Anna Veith, suggesting that her marriage to Manuel Veith was affecting her performance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/anna-veith-hits-back-at-bode-miller-with-olympic-silver/2018/02/17/35da9af8-13be-11e8-a68c-e9374188170e_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218091040/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/anna-veith-hits-back-at-bode-miller-with-olympic-silver/2018/02/17/35da9af8-13be-11e8-a68c-e9374188170e_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 18, 2018|title=Anna Veith hits back at Bode Miller with Olympic silver|agency=Associated Press|date=February 17, 2018|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=February 17, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

During the Women's super-G competition, NBC prematurely cut away from the competition to return to figure skating, while commentators acknowledged on-air multiple times that Anna Veith had won the gold medal. However, snowboarder Ester Ledecká would overtake Veith in an upset victory, beating her by one hundredth of a second. Ledecká had recently begun a career in alpine, and had been considered an underdog in the competition, having been ranked 49th in the world and have never medaled in any major international skiing meet. NBC eventually returned to the event to report on the final result, with commentator Dan Hicks remarking "Well, these are the Olympics, and anything can happen."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/02/olympics-nbc-erroneously-declared-winner-before-event-ended.html|title=NBC Erroneously Declared Olympic Winner in Women's Skiing Before Finals Ended|last=Ivie|first=Devon|work=Vulture|access-date=February 17, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://screengrabber.deadspin.com/how-nbc-flubbed-its-super-g-coverage-reported-the-wron-1823104438|title=How NBC Flubbed Its Coverage, Reported The Wrong Gold Medalist, Then Botched The Correction Of One Of The Most Stunning Upsets In Olympic History|last=Burke|first=Timothy|work=Screengrabber (Deadspin)|access-date=February 17, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423032131/https://screengrabber.deadspin.com/how-nbc-flubbed-its-super-g-coverage-reported-the-wron-1823104438|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== 2022 Winter Olympics ==== In the lead up to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, American right-wing politicians and media personalities heavily criticized NBC for continuing to promote their broadcast of the Games despite both the diplomatic boycott announced by President Biden and the controversy surrounding what they described as a genocide of Uyghurs perpetrated by China. Some Republican senators including Josh Hawley endorsed the anti-NBC campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 13, 2022|title='The Ingraham Angle' on Democrats' 2024 'power ticket,' American elites putting China first|url=https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/the-ingraham-angledemocrats-2024-ticket-american-elites-putting-china-first|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=Fox News|language=en-US}}</ref>

On December 6, 2021, President Biden announced the United States would diplomatically boycott the 2022 Winter Games. The diplomatic boycott had no effect on the American athletes' participation or on NBC's broadcast of the Olympics, both of which would have been affected had a full boycott had been put in place.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Allie|last=Malloy|first2=Kate|last2=Sullivan|title=White House announces US diplomatic boycott of 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/06/politics/us-diplomatic-boycott-winter-olympics/index.html|access-date=December 7, 2021|website=CNN|date=December 6, 2021 }}</ref>

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

== External links == * {{Official website|www.nbcolympics.com}}

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