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NBC's Coverage of 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Qualifiers

M

Mikey Radio

The Olympic games in Tokyo start in about 1.5 months, beginning on July 23rd. While I've not been able to watch qualifiers when shown during prime time, Comcast customers get free Peacock Premium, and most everything has been available for replay there, just after it's been aired. So far the coverage has been decent, and when watching on Peacock one can skip what they don't care to watch and skip past the static logo they display during spot breaks, which IMO is a bonus.

The link below has the schedule of Olympic trials, airing on NBC, NBCSN (which will be shut down before years' end), the Olympic Channel, NBCOlympics.com, via their live stream or on Peacock, either live or replay.

olympics.nbcsports.com

U.S. Olympic Trials TV, live stream schedule on NBC Sports

NBC Sports and Olympic Channel will air record coverage of U.S. Olympic Trials for swimming, diving, track and field and gymnastics throughout June.
olympics.nbcsports.com olympics.nbcsports.com
 
Like most big events in this pandemic time the luster will be less. I predict nbc will have less than expected ratings, mainly because there has been a very modified buildup and low exposure to the trials and athletes.
 
NBC will lose a lot of money on this Olympics. The juice isn't there, it's in Tokyo. I just don't think people care about the Olympics right now.
 
AbrahamJSimpson said:
It’s not always a safe assumption that one’s own interests reflect the larger audience.
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NBC hasn't really been promoting it as heavily as they have done in the past. I wonder if they really want to be there either. How many people will NBC send to the IBC. Will most commentary be in Stamford? Will the IOC event allow full network staff to travel?
 
Time (and the ratings) will tell, I guess. So far I believe only the US qualifiers / trials in wrestling, swimming and diving have taken place, with things like track and field and gymnastics still to come. We've been watching most via replay on Peacock on-demand and I appreciate being able to skip over some interviews I don't care to watch or events I don't care to see, as well as jumping past the graphic they put up during commercial breaks. After most live sporting events were cancelled for more than a year due to Covid, for us, it seems like a chance to get back to some sense of "normal" again...and for many, the Olympics are always exciting to watch and only occur every 4 years.
 
Mikey Radio said:
Time (and the ratings) will tell, I guess. So far I believe only the US qualifiers / trials in wrestling, swimming and diving have taken place, with things like track and field and gymnastics still to come. We've been watching most via replay on Peacock on-demand and I appreciate being able to skip over some interviews I don't care to watch or events I don't care to see, as well as jumping past the graphic they put up during commercial breaks. After most live sporting events were cancelled for more than a year due to Covid, for us, it seems like a chance to get back to some sense of "normal" again...and for many, the Olympics are always exciting to watch and only occur every 4 years.
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There will not be any crowds in Tokyo, the events will sound flat. All they need is a super outbreak to take hold and the whole thing crashes down.
 
RadioPatrol said:
Update Kenny Mayne and Cari Champion have been named as hosts for the Olympics on Peacock and NBC Sports.
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While I realize he resigned even prior to the 2018 winter Olympics, it'll still be odd watching this summer's games without Bob Costas at the helm, as was the case for so many years.
 
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Mikey Radio said:
While I realize he resigned even prior to the 2018 winter Olympics, it'll still be odd watching this summer's games without Bob Costas at the helm, as was the case for so many years.
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Isn't Mike Tirico taking over that role?

I was wondering where Kenny Mayne was going to end up after leaving ESPN.
 
Don CT said:
NBC hasn't really been promoting it as heavily as they have done in the past. I wonder if they really want to be there either. How many people will NBC send to the IBC. Will most commentary be in Stamford? Will the IOC event allow full network staff to travel?
Click to expand...
Even domestically, with pandemic-related restrictions lifted in many places, there remains reluctance to travel. I was surprised to hear the Red Sox radio team still broadcasting from Boston even though the ballpark in Atlanta, where last night's game was being played, was 100 percent open, especially since just down the dial, the minor league Hartford Yard Goats' voice, Jeff Dooley, was live and direct from Manchester, New Hampshire. I wonder who is making the decisions on whether to return to the road. Could the entire season be broadcast this way as a cost-saving measure?

Broadcasting from far away from the action is tricky. Some announcers are really good at it, but it seems the Red Sox' Joe Castiglione is constantly confused by what he's seeing or not seeing on the video feed and lets the confusion and frustration show on-air. "Runners at second at third now for Boston with two runs in, making the score 7 to 2 ... oh, check that, he didn't take second on the throw for some reason ... and the second runner stopped at third, so it's one run in with runners on first and third, 6 to 2 the score."
 
CTListener said:
Even domestically, with pandemic-related restrictions lifted in many places, there remains reluctance to travel. I was surprised to hear the Red Sox radio team still broadcasting from Boston even though the ballpark in Atlanta, where last night's game was being played, was 100 percent open, especially since just down the dial, the minor league Hartford Yard Goats' voice, Jeff Dooley, was live and direct from Manchester, New Hampshire. I wonder who is making the decisions on whether to return to the road. Could the entire season be broadcast this way as a cost-saving measure?

Broadcasting from far away from the action is tricky. Some announcers are really good at it, but it seems the Red Sox' Joe Castiglione is constantly confused by what he's seeing or not seeing on the video feed and lets the confusion and frustration show on-air. "Runners at second at third now for Boston with two runs in, making the score 7 to 2 ... oh, check that, he didn't take second on the throw for some reason ... and the second runner stopped at third, so it's one run in with runners on first and third, 6 to 2 the score."
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I think they have to wait for MLB to give the broadcast teams the ok to travel.
 
Don CT said:
Isn't Mike Tirico taking over that role?
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Yes in fact the baton was tossed in the last summer Olympics.

olympics.nbcsports.com

In a first, Mike Tirico to host NBC Olympics primetime in Tokyo outdoors

In a first, Mike Tirico will host NBC Olympics' primetime coverage from an outdoor location in Tokyo this summer.
olympics.nbcsports.com olympics.nbcsports.com

Don CT said:
NBC hasn't really been promoting it as heavily as they have done in the past.
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It's way too early to do the heavy promo. People don't do appointment viewing. The heavy promo will begin two weeks out.

Everything in publicity is aimed at social media and therefore all short term.
 
Don CT said:
I think they have to wait for MLB to give the broadcast teams the ok to travel.
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Really? I thought the Yankees' John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman were already traveling. Seems to me I heard them celebrating the end of restrictions in a broadcast from empty Yankee Stadium before the team's last road trip. Would be a shame if they were still stuck there.
 
I am seeing little buildup to the games. Only an intro on my local news as “your home for the 2021 Olympics”. I agree the buildup is probably a ways out, but I still predict lower ratings for this event. Too bad for NBC as like everyone else could not see this eventuality.
 
seatownmedia said:
I am seeing little buildup to the games. Only an intro on my local news as “your home for the 2021 Olympics”. I agree the buildup is probably a ways out, but I still predict lower ratings for this event. Too bad for NBC as like everyone else could not see this eventuality. They will probably take a bath on this one.
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seatownmedia said:
Too bad for NBC as like everyone else could not see this eventuality.
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What you don't see is they had a crew in Tokyo last year doing all the preliminary work, extra pay, per diem, and then they went home after the games were postponed. Then that same crew went back to do set-up for 2021. So it's already more expensive than it would have been. I'm sure the VPs are looking for ways to merchandise the content in other ways and place the spots in any extra slots. They have to find ways to provide added value.
 
CTListener said:
Really? I thought the Yankees' John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman were already traveling. Seems to me I heard them celebrating the end of restrictions in a broadcast from empty Yankee Stadium before the team's last road trip. Would be a shame if they were still stuck there.
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John and Suzyn are still doing all games from the Bronx. The same with the Yes broadcast.
 
AbrahamJSimpson said:
It’s not always a safe assumption that one’s own interests reflect the larger audience.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Not sure why someone would assume viewership is low on the qualifying meets. The fact is, it's the other way around. Prime time Olympic Trials on NBC is not only pulling impressive numbers, local stations and affiliates are seeing a lot of interest in local and regional agency dollars. From what I can tell so far, everyone from a station level is very pleased with the interest in the Olympics. Are spots selling slower than previous years? Sure, but that's mainly attributed to postponing the games for a year following pandemic shut-downs. When was the last time you can remember that happening?
 
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