NBC 2004 Summer Olympics HD Press Release

NEW YORK – June 9, 2004 – NBC’s unprecedented 24-hour, around-the-clock coverage of the 2004 Olympic Games from Athens will total 1,210 hours and expanded from five to seven platforms with the addition today of high definition coverage on NBC’s HDTV affiliates. The announcement was made by %@!#%& Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics.

For the first time by a U.S. broadcaster at a Summer Olympics, NBC will provide high definition coverage. NBC’s HDTV affiliates will offer separate, in-depth coverage in high definition from several venues in Athens. The high definition coverage on NBC digital affiliates totals 399 hours and accounts for the vast majority of the increased coverage.

Following is a breakdown of coverage by network and a standard weekday schedule:

NBC
The NBC network schedule is divided into three dayparts: afternoon, primetime and late night – for a total of 226 hours of coverage over 17 days beginning with the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 13, at 8 p.m. NBC’s primetime coverage will include gymnastics, swimming, diving, track and field.

The first week of the Olympics features gymnastics and swimming, two sports in which the USA is especially strong this year. The USA’s women’s gymnastics team is the reigning world champion and favorite for a team gold medal and the USA men’s gymnastics team is led by Paul Hamm, the reigning all-around world champion. In swimming, the USA is as strong as ever. Michael Phelps, the 19-year-old phenom, is looking for a record gold medal haul and Natalie Coughlin is the world record holder in the 100m backstroke and a multi-medal threat.

HDTV
For the first time by a U.S. broadcaster at a Summer Olympics, NBC will provide high definition coverage. NBC’s separate, unique HDTV coverage on NBC’s digital affiliates, presented by Sony Electronics Inc., will provide HDTV coverage on delay of six sports from the only main Olympic venues provided in high definition by the Olympic host broadcaster. Those sports include swimming, diving, gymnastics, track and field, medal rounds of basketball and the men’s soccer gold medal final. The HDTV coverage will total 399 hours and is a completely different production from the standard definition broadcast on the network. NBC has 124 HDTV affiliates with the potential to cover 86 percent of the country.

“The addition of a special high definition Olympic platform, specifically for our affiliate partners, is something they have long sought,” said Randy Falco, President, NBC Universal Television Networks Group. “We are delighted to be able to provide it to them exclusively.”

STANDARD MONDAY-FRIDAY SCHEDULE

By Network:
NBC: 12:30-4 p.m.
8 p.m.-Midnight
12:35-2 a.m.
2-5 a.m. (Prime Replay)
MSNBC: 2 a.m.-7 a.m.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
CNBC: 5-8 p.m.
USA: 7-10 a.m.
Bravo: 5 a.m.-Noon
5-8 p.m.
Midnight-1 a.m.
Telemundo: 1-8 p.m.
HDTV: 24 Hours-a-day

Chronological:
MSNBC: 2 a.m.-7 a.m.
Bravo: 5 a.m. – Noon
USA: 7-10 a.m.
MSNBC: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
NBC: 12:30-4 p.m.
Telemundo:1-8 p.m.
Bravo: 5-8 p.m.
CNBC: 5-8 p.m.
NBC: 8 p.m.-Midnight
Bravo: Midnight-1 a.m.
NBC: 12:35-2 a.m.
NBC: 2-5 a.m. (Prime Replay)
HDTV: 24 Hours-a-day

A detailed programming and event schedule will be made available in the coming weeks.

NBCOlympics.com will provide up-to-the-minute television schedule information, breaking news, instantaneous results and video highlights.

As the official on-air viewer’s guide to NBC’s 24-hour coverage of the Athens Games, TV Guide Channel and TV Guide’s interactive program guide will provide viewers with around-the-clock tune-in information for all of NBC’s Olympic coverage, including information on specific events airing in the upcoming hour and days; an on-screen at-a-glance guide to which events are airing where and when, and original TV Guide Channel specials that will introduce viewers to Olympic athletes and feature different aspects of the competition they will see during NBC’s coverage of the Games.