Billions of people across the globe will tune in to this year’s Olympic games in Rio.
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Users of iOS and Android will be able to experience events ranging from athletics to cycling in multiple, switchable angles, while the opening and closing ceremonies will get the whole 360 experience.
Sports App’s coverage will include live streaming of all competition and TV simul-stream coverage of nine NBCUniversal Olympic television networks.
HAZEL IRVINE will kick off BBC1’s coverage from the opening ceremony tonight – with Andrew Cotter as company in the commentary box in the Maracana stadium.
Not when you compare how these Games will have 40 times more NBC hours than what Atlanta had 20 years ago. NBC was also reportedly upset that because the Portugese language is being used for the parade of nations, the US team (or Estados Unidos) will file into the stadium relatively early.
Not that the Games themselves haven’t had their share of negativity – polluted waters, fear of Zika and security concerns – that host Bob Costas may have to cover.
The network plans to address numerous issues unique to Rio early, perhaps in a one-hour preview scheduled for Thursday night, but will turn to the competition unless something unusual happens.
The virtual reality industry may not quite be going for the gold at these Rio Olympics, but the industry, and your ability to watch, goes well beyond the starting gate too.
Because based on how NBC did with the 2012 Games in London, where it combined for 5,535 hours and declared it to be “the most watched television event in USA history”, there’s no incentive to dial anything back.
The rest of the sports are spread across 10 other networks, many with particular specialties.
Rio marks the return of golf and rugby to the Olympics.
The top four male golfers Jason Day, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have all withdrawn because of Zika fears.
Bravo will be the Olympic home of tennis. The Spanish-language Telemundo network isn’t available anywhere, nor are the temporary soccer, basketball or 4K channels.
NBCU will air 6755 hours of Olympic programming across its channels and digital platforms. During the Olympics, Sling is adding MSNBC and CNBC for free.
Go to NBCOlympics.com or the NBC Sports app. The app is live on the App Store and Google Play.
Running alongside the new 360 video offering will be BBC Sport – a dedicated digital service for the Rio Olympics, which will bring every event live from Brazil with up to 24 live HD streams, catch-up video, and personalised features and services.
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