Summer Olympics Preview: NBCUniversal Goes for the Gold Standard in Rio
Six hours a day, six days a week for more than three-and-a-half years: That’s how long an elite athlete would have to train to match NBCUniversal’s herculean output from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Viewers might also break a sweat trying to watch the record-smashing 6,755 hours of programming planned on an array of networks and digital platforms. With the addition of virtual-reality content, Olympic wannabes can almost feel the rays of the sun at the first Games in South America. The tentpoles for NBC will again be American swimmer Michael Phelps and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, just as they were in London four years ago and, for that matter, in Beijing in 2008. These Games will be what NBCUniversal touts as “the most live Olympics ever.” With Rio just one hour ahead of Eastern time, NBC will enjoy its friendliest time zone since Atlanta 20 years ago. “A good chunk of primetime will be live, especially from the beach, the pool and the track,” NBC Olympics executive producer Jim Bell says. And 4,500 hours of streaming coverage on nbcolympics.com and the NBC Sports app make every event available live for the third straight Games.
Also in this issue:
• The Best of Comic-Con: Highlights from the annual pop-culture extravaganza, including TV Guide Magazine’s annual Fan Favorites panel.
• Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner: The gymnastics icons share their thoughts on the Olympic experience.
• Rizzoli & Isles: Series star Sasha Alexander shares her photos from her first time in the director’s chair.
• Jimmy Smits: The tireless TV vet previews his new role in Netflix’s 1970s musical drama The Get Down.
• Plus: Mr. Robot’s Grace Gummer, The Night Of, Chesapeake Shores, Fear the Walking Dead, Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry and the best of movies, streaming, sports and more.