NBC
There has been a “change in attitude” for NBC toward how the Olympics broadcasts are presented, and the network's first chance to show that off comes next month at the Paris Games, according to David Bauder of the AP. NBC said Wednesday that Mike Tirico will host two daily Olympics shows, “one that coincides with prime-time in Paris” (2pm-5pm ET in the U.S.) and “featuring live competition in marquee sports like swimming, gymnastics and track & field.” The other will be during primetime hours in the U.S. and will be “a curated view of the day's best action.” Peacock will show “every Olympic competition live,” which means “reconfiguring how NBC structures its telecast” for primetime in the U.S. -- “always the biggest draw for viewers.” NBC Olympics Production Exec Producer & President Molly Solomon said that NBC “won't just show competitions,” but “will use the extra time to tell viewers more about why things played out the way they did, and give a backstage view.” NBCUniversal TV & Streaming Chair Mark Lazarus mentioned that will also “require some business adjustments,” with NBC selling advertising packages that include inventory in both primetime broadcasts. The network is “also preparing to emphasize viewership counts across all of its platform, in a way that deflects attention from likely ratings decreases in the evening compared to past years.” Lazarus also acknowledged that NBC “did a poor job with its Olympics offerings on Peacock four years ago, essentially overpromising and underdelivering," and "promised dramatic improvement for Peacock this summer” (
AP, 6/26).
NICE VIEWS: In Philadelphia, Jonathan Tannenwald noted NBC’s main studio set “will be near” the Place du Trocadéro in the heart of Paris, right across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower. But the “unmissable backdrop isn’t the only reason that’s the site.” Solomon said you “never get sick of that view, so we knew we wanted to be there.” She added, “But we also wanted to be there because it’s the heart of the Olympics: [the] opening ceremony stadium there, all the road races are going to finish right there, so is beach volleyball.” Tannewald noted Fox “used the same location as its studio base” during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, and former Fox World Cup Exec Producer David Neal used to work with Solomon on NBC’s Olympics production. Solomon said she watched what Fox did and “knew it was a beautiful spot.” She added, “So I called David and asked him about it, and he told us about everything we would have to do to get this spot up and running” (
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/26).
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Etan Vlessing noted director Steven Spielberg is set to “welcome TV viewers to NBC’s Summer Olympics coverage” by narrating the short film "Land of Stories" just before the opening ceremony in Paris on July 26. NBCUniversal will “appear in the four-minute film,” which was shot on a Universal Studios soundstage in November 2023. NBC “will use parts of Land of Stories to promote its Olympics coverage across studio platforms” and in AMC and Imax theaters. Spielberg is the “latest sign that NBCUniversal is raising the star wattage for its upcoming 2024 Olympics coverage” (
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/26).
LIVE FROM PARIS: "SNL" cast member Colin Jost will cover the surfing competition from Teahupo’o, Tahiti -- part of French Polynesia -- during the Games. Jost’s role “will complement NBCU’s traditional surfing coverage” that will feature play-by-play announcer Joe Turpel and analyst Michael Parsons (
NBCUniversal). CRACKED’s Matt Solomon noted "SNL" is entering its 50th year, and NBC is “going to do everything it can to cross-promote this milestone during one of the only television shows that viewers might watch live.” Jost will be joined by several other current and former cast members on Olympic coverage. That includes comedian Kenan Thompson, who will join Kevin Hart for a Peacock show featuring Olympic highlights. "SNL" alum Leslie Jones will serve as NBC’s “chief super fan correspondent.” Bowen Yang will team with his "Los Culturistas partner” Matt Rogers for a podcast called "Two Guys, Five Rings: Matt, Bowen & The Olympics" (
CRACKED, 6/27).
