For the first time,
NBC will stream every hour of the Summer Olympic Games, scheduled to begin on July 25 from London. This is terrific news for those of us in the U.S. where most events will run on tape delay on television.
What about iPhone/iPad streaming?
NBC has announced streaming will be available via the
NBCOlympics.com website and through separate apps for the
iPhone/iPod touch and iPad. You will also be able to access the coverage via Mobile Safari by visiting
m.nbcolympics.com or
mobile.nbcolympics.com.
Unfortunately, NBC will require users to verify that they subscribe to a cable, satellite, or telco service. In other words,
if you don’t pay a monthly television fee, you’ll be out of luck. Finally, there is one additional limitation worth noting. Once an event is streamed in real-time,
it won’t be available for replay online until after NBC’s television coverage that evening.
What we do know
NBC is offering a smorgasbord of coverage. In total, the U.S. Olympics rights holder will offer live streaming of all 302 events from all 32 sports on the London program. These include full-event replays, extensive recaps and highlights, athlete interviews and more.
For gymnastics, viewing options will include a single “integrated” feed showing various competitors (akin to watching on TV), plus separate feeds for each apparatus (vault, floor, etc.)
For track & field, users can watch a single feed bouncing from event to event, or feeds dedicated to specific events (javelin, pole vault, etc.).
For early rounds of tennis at the All England Club, viewers can choose from five different courts of action.
Two years ago, at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, only hockey and curling were streamed. Four years ago at the Beijing Summer Games, 25 events were streamed live, but none of those were important enough to find their way to NBC’s evening broadcast.
Hopefully, we’ll know more details closer to the start of the games. We’ll keep you updated.
Are you excited that NBC is going to stream the 2012 Olympics?
--
Note: This article was updated since we received word after publication that the Olympics would, in fact, be live streaming on the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad.
