NBC to live stream Closing Ceremony

NBC has taken a ton of heat during these Olympics, mostly for its decision to tape delay marquee events to take advantage of lucrative primetime ratings. The Peacock Network also took its share of lumps on the first day of the Games for not live streaming the Opening Ceremony online (with the laughable excuse that it was too "complex") and also editing out sensitive portions of the show for its TV broadcast.
But, in a change of heart, the network has decided it will end its coverage of the Games of the XXX Olympiad properly by carrying Sunday's Closing Ceremony live online in addition to its tape delayed broadcast on TV later on in primetime. NBC has already been live streaming every event on NBCOlympics.com. Here's NBC Sports' statement on the decision, via Sports Business Journal's John Ourand:
“It’s part of our continuing effort to innovate, experiment and learn. This is not precedent setting, but rather another chance for us to gather data about how live streaming and television complement each other.”
We're glad to see NBC caving in after all the negative feedback, even if it won't freely admit that's the case here. Hopefully this is a sign that the network is going change the way it covers future Olympiads. Either that or NBC just couldn't bring itself to snubbing the Spice Girls.
Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images



