NBC Announces Unprecedented Coverage Of The 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games

NBC Announces Unprecedented Coverage Of The 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games

NEW YORK, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- NBC Universal's unprecedented coverage of the Torino Olympic Winter Games features the most coverage - including the most live coverage - across the most platforms of any Winter Olympics in history when the XX Olympic Winter Games from Torino, Italy commence one month from today, Feb. 10-26. The Networks of NBC Universal, NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC HD and Universal HD will provide 416 total hours of coverage, an increase over the 375.5 hours of coverage on NBC, CNBC and MSNBC from Salt Lake, the previous record for a Winter Games. The Torino coverage will include the most live coverage ever of a Winter Games, despite the six-hour time difference between the U.S. East Coast and Italy, and will feature the most high definition coverage in Olympic television history. Over the 17 days of the Torino Games the Networks of NBC Universal will average 24.5 hours of Olympic coverage per day. The announcement was made today by Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and Executive Producer of NBC's Olympic coverage.

Seventeen-time Emmy Award winner Bob Costas returns as primetime host for the Torino Winter Games, his seventh with NBC Sports and his sixth as primetime host. Costas has won the Emmy Award for each Olympics he has served as primetime host. Jim Lampley will work his 13th Olympics, surpassing ABC's legendary Jim McKay with the most-ever Olympic broadcast assignments for any television commentator. He will anchor NBC's daytime and late night Olympic telecasts in his sixth Olympics with NBC.

For the first time, legendary skating analyst Dick Button joins NBC Universal's Winter Games coverage, co-hosting the newest addition to the NBC Olympic schedule, "Olympic Ice," a unique show on USA Network providing a daily all-access pass inside the Olympic Winter Games' most popular sport - figure skating.

"I am thrilled that we have expanded our Olympic coverage and have assembled the best collection of winter sports broadcasters to tell the many great stories that are expected to unfold in Torino," Ebersol said. "Fortunately our company has continued to grow and create new platforms in which we can bring the Olympics to the viewer, so we can tell as many of these stories as possible."

NBC's Olympic broadcast team has won a combined 19 Olympic medals (11 gold, three silver, five bronze). The NBC Olympic figure skating team alone has won six (five gold and one bronze).

NBCOlympics.com, America's online home of the Torino Games, will provide live results, up-to-the-minute TV listings, breaking news, feature stories and a video intensive digital media experience never before offered by an American television network

The NBC network schedule is divided into three dayparts: daytime, primetime and late night, totaling 182.5 hours of coverage (121.5 original hours) over 17 days. Network primetime coverage, hosted by Costas, begins on Friday, Feb. 10 with the Opening Ceremony, and will feature the Winter Games' marquee sports, including figure skating, alpine skiing, speed skating, short track, snowboarding, ski jumping and freestyle skiing. All of the biggest athletes will compete in primetime, including Salt Lake short track star Apolo Anton Ohno, snowboarding champions Shaun White and Lindsay Jacobellis, 2005 alpine skiing world champions Daron Rahlves and Bode Miller and the stars of the Winter Olympics' most popular sport - figure skating.

In addition to the extensive primetime coverage, NBC will also provide daily daytime and late night programming, hosted by Lampley, from Torino. The daytime show will air from 4-5 p.m. ET on weekdays, with special expanded coverage on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 20, and weekends, featuring live coverage. The always-entertaining Olympic late night show will blend additional competition, medal ceremonies, musical performances and, on weekdays, special Olympic editions of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."

The extended family of NBC Universal cable networks will present a total of 233.5 hours on USA, MSNBC and CNBC, more than 75 percent of which is live coverage, an increase from the 207 hours on CNBC and MSNBC from Salt Lake. Over 16 days of the Torino Games, the cable networks of NBC Universal will average 14 hours of Olympic coverage per day.

The newest addition to the NBC Olympic schedule is "Olympic Ice," a unique programming concept on USA Network providing a daily all-access pass inside the Olympic Winter Games' most popular sport - figure skating. The one-hour program, dedicated to an entertaining mix of breaking news, in-depth analysis and exclusive athlete interviews, will provide the most comprehensive coverage ever of the sport. The show will utilize the unparalleled experience of NBC's skating experts and the unique resources of NBC's production team to provide viewers an inside look into the world of Olympic figure skating. "Olympic Ice" launches the day of the Opening Ceremony, Friday, Feb. 10 and airs nightly through the Games' figure skating competition, 6-7 p.m. ET, on USA Network.

"Figure skating is a sport with its own subculture filled with behind-the- scenes intrigue, fashion, glamour and tremendous drama," said Ebersol. "'Olympic Ice,' is a unique program with an incredible roster of talent, that will give viewers and the legions of loyal figure skating fans an unprecedented, all-access pass behind the scenes of skating's biggest stage."

"Olympic Ice" will be hosted by Mary Carillo, her eighth Olympic assignment and fifth with NBC, with Button and Hamilton alternating as co- hosts. Jamie Sale and David Pelletier will serve as analysts on "Olympic Ice."

Check NBCUMV.com and NBCOlympics.com for detailed listings and additional programming information. Listings updates will be available on NBCOlympics.com during the Games.

Source: NBC Sports Communications

CONTACT: Mike McCarley, +1-212-664-5528

Web site: http://www.nbcolympics.com/

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