Skip to main content

Ready for Rio? NBC will cover the 2016 Olympics most hours of the day

If you hope to watch every minute of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the 2016 Olympics, resign yourself now to the fact that it just won’t be possible, even if you give up sleep. The media conglomerate’s plan for coverage is extensive, to put it mildly. All told, NBCUniversal will offer a whopping 6,755 hours of Olympics programming via multiple networks and 4,500 hours of live-streamed digital coverage, Variety reports.

While NBCUniversal’s coverage will be aired on NBC, USA, CNBC, Telemundo, Bravo, Golf Channel, MSNBC, NBCSN, and NBCUniverso, NBC in particular will be Rio-heavy. During the games (August 5-21), NBC will present 260.5 hours of Olympics-related content. Most days, daytime Rio programming will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET/PT, followed by prime-time coverage from 8 p.m. to midnight, and then a late-night block from 12:35 a.m. to 1:35 a.m. At 1:35 a.m., replays will pick up and run through 4:30 a.m. before the cycle begins again.

Recommended Videos

Bob Costas, who memorably suffered from pinkeye while covering the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, will be back to anchor NBC’s prime-time coverage, hopefully sans conjunctivitis. The late-night slot will be covered by Ryan Seacrest, while Al Michaels will host daytime programming on weekdays and weekends. Dan Patrick and Rebecca Lowe will also host daytime coverage on NBC, but on top of that, they will be on NBCSN as well.

Not only is NBCUniversal’s massive amount of TV programming unprecedented, so too are the viewing platform options. NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app will show all events for the third consecutive Olympics, but fans will be able to watch on connected TVs for the first time. It sounds like there will also be 4K Ultra HD  and even virtual reality content for the first time as well. The company did not provide details, but plans to share them in the near future.

Whatever platform you plan to watch on, there definitely won’t be a shortage of coverage. Let the Games begin.

Stephanie Topacio Long
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
3 underrated Amazon Prime Video movies you should watch this weekend (May 16-18)
Michael Douglas in The Game.

When you're trying to settle down for the evening, one of the most reliable methods is firing up a movie on a streaming service like Amazon Prime Video. Because Amazon is packed with so many titles, though, you can wind up spending more time searching for something to watch than you actually spend watching anything.

If that's the case for you, then we've got you covered. We've pulled together three great movies that are all available on Prime Video, and each one is a title you might be inclined to skip over. Trust us, though, you really shouldn't:

Read more
3 underrated Netflix movies you should watch this weekend (May 16–18)
Michael Fassbender, Domhnall Gleeson, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Frank

Feel like you've already watched everything worth seeing on Netflix? Think again! Behind all the flashy blockbusters and trending originals lies a stash of underrated films that didn't get the spotlight but absolutely deserve it. These hidden gems are perfect for viewers in the mood for something different and who don't exactly want to endlessly scroll through countless choices on the streaming giant.

Whether it's an offbeat comedy, an indie sci-fi flick, or a gripping international thriller, there's a unique offering for every type of audience. So this weekend, skip the usual suspects and go off-script. For those willing to venture beyond the algorithm's usual suggestions, these underappreciated movies might just be what your weekend watchlist is missing.

Read more
3 great Hulu movies you need to stream this weekend (May 16 – 18)
Rebecca Ferguson and Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.

Next weekend, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is probably going to be the action movie of the summer. So there's no better time than to revisit the first five films in the franchise on Hulu. But only one of those flicks is among the three great Hulu movies that you need to stream this weekend.

This week's other selections include a dark drama/thriller as well as a recently premiered Hulu original comedy movie. With selections like these, you can put off going to a movie theater for at least another weekend.

Read more