Sports TV viewers might as well keep their DVRs set to NBC Sports this month as the network pivots from Sunday's telecast of Super Bowl 52 to coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics from Pyeongchang, South Korea.
This year's Games will take place against the backdrop of military tension between South Korea and North Korea. With the demilitarized zone (DMZ) a scant 50 miles away, some visitors and sponsors have been scared away from Pyeongchang, a sleepy resort area in the Taebaek Mountains about 100 miles east of the South Korean capital, Seoul.
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But the worrying political situation is not stopping NBC, which paid $4.38 billion for U.S. media rights to the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Olympic Games. The Peacock network will offer more than 2,400 hours of coverage across its main broadcast channel and sister NBCUniversal cable networks. Every event will be streamed live — and free — for viewers.
The "unusual juxtaposition of geopolitics" with the world biggest sporting event should make Pyeongchang the most fraught Olympic setting since Berlin in 1936, said Jim Bell, NBC Olympics president of production and programming.
"That said, our responsibilities here are critical as ever. People are tuning in to see the athletes and hear their stories," Bell said on a press call Tuesday. "I think, though, in this instance, given the location, there is an added layer of curiosity, and I think there is an added layer of responsibility on us to provide some context about this situation."
We're only three days past NBC's telecast of the Eagles' 41-33 upset of the Patriots, and NBC's two weeks of Olympics coverage from Feb. 9-25 are already here.
Viewers can get a head start by watching curling Wednesday night on NBCSN (11 p.m. ET), then figure skating and freestyle skiing in prime time on NBC Thursday night (8 p.m. ET). Coverage of opening ceremonies begins Friday night with Mike Tirico and Katie Couric behind the microphone for NBC (8 p.m. ET). For the first time, NBCUniversal will live-stream opening ceremonies, which will be Friday morning in the U.S. for early-bird viewers (6 a.m. ET).
NBC is touting Pyeongchang as the most "live" Olympics ever, with the network broadcasting live to all time zones. There are four new events on the program: men's and women's big air snowboarding; mixed team alpine skiing; mixed doubles curling; and mass start men's and women's long-track speed skating, which should be as wild as it sounds.
So which new event will really capture the imagination of viewers? If Bell had to guess, he'd say big air, where daredevil snowboarders will fly off a 160-foot high ramp, then do tricks in midair.
"I think the big air is pretty cool. I think it’s visual and I think it’s young. I think when you think about having another Winter Olympics in Asia, the last one was 20 years ago in Nagano as Bode [Miller] had mentioned, and that’s where snowboarding made its debut," said Bell. "It's funny to think that there was an Olympics before where there wasn’t snowboarding, because it has become such a key part of the coverage. So if I had to pick one, I’d probably say the big air in snowboarding has the best chance to catch on."
Here's your TV viewing guide to the XXIII Olympic Winter Games from Pyeongchang, South Korea:
Who's in for NBC?
Tirico will make his debut as NBC’s prime-time Olympic host, succeeding Bob Costas. It will be the biggest global sports stage yet for Tirico, who jumped to NBC in 2016 from ESPN. He’ll be joined by Couric, the popular “Today” show veteran. Costas served as NBC’s prime-time host for a record 11 games, starting with the 1992 Olympics.
Who’s out for NBC?
The 65-year old Costas is passing the torch to the 51-year old Tirico. Also out is Matt Lauer, the longtime "Today" show anchor who was fired after a sexual misconduct scandal. Lauer is reportedly writing a tell-all book about the "boys' club" atmosphere at “Today.”
How do I watch?
The Winter Games will be broadcast on the NBC broadcast network, NBCSN cable channel and sister NBC Universal cable networks such as USA, CNBC and the Olympic Channel. All events will also be live-streamed at NBCOlympics.com and on the NBC Sports app. Here's NBC's handy day-by-day TV listings and live streaming schedule .
What's the time difference between the U.S. and South Korea?
South Korea is 14 hours ahead of the U.S. Eastern Time Zone. That will present a tricky problem for NBC. Still, the biggest events will be in or around prime time, when the maximum number of viewers are watching. The women's figure skating finale, always one of the highest-rated events, should end around midnight ET, or 9 p.m. PT, on Feb. 23, according to The New York Times.
When can I watch?
Coverage actually starts Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 11 p.m. ET on NBCSN with mixed doubles curling. Live prime-time coverage begins Thursday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. ET. NBC will present live coverage of the opening ceremonies Friday from 8-11 p.m. ET, then continue nonstop through closing ceremonies on Sunday, Feb. 25.
Other key lineup changes for NBC?
After coming on strong in the last Winter Olympics, Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir will succeed Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic as lead analysts for figure skating. The two are young and funny with great chemistry. All told, NBC will use 89 commentators.
"We've been waiting to sit in that seat for quite a while. We’re excited to see good skating," said Lipinski.
What Olympian could be the breakout star?
Watch out for snowboarder Julia Marino. The 20-year-old out of Westport, Conn., will make her Olympic debut after rising like a rocket through the world snowboarding standings. At 18, Marino came out of nowhere to win the big air event at Boston's iconic Fenway Park. Since then she has won slopestyle gold at the 2017 X Games.
She'll compete in big air and slopestyle. With her signature cab double underflip move, "Jules" could become the first female snowboarder to win two Olympic gold medals.
Advertisers have already taken notice. Mountain Dew, the most influential sponsor in extreme sports, signed Marino to an endorsement deal last year. With her fearless, high-flying style, and girl-next-door charm, Marino could become a sought-after endorser on Madison Avenue.
