NBC "for the first time" will stream the Olympic Opening Ceremony live from Pyeongchang on Feb. 9. South Korea is 14 hours ahead of the East Coast, so the ceremony will stream live at 6:00am ET. NBC will then "broadcast its traditional curated version of the Opening Ceremony on delay" at 8:00pm (PHILLY.com, 1/17). Meanwhile, Katie Couric is "rejoining NBC to co-host" the Opening Ceremony alongside Mike Tirico (TWITTER.com, 1/17).

Comcast for the Pyeongchang Games will expand the merging of linear TV and live digital streams it used two years ago in Rio. Comcast Chair & CEO Brian Roberts in N.Y. today outlined plans to deliver more than 2,400 hours of live, on-demand and online streaming coverage of the Olympics through its Xfinity X1 connected TV platform, offering seamless switching between TV and digital feeds. Features will include content searching by individual sport and athlete; updated medal counts and daily summaries; and more than 50 exclusive virtual Olympics channels offering highlights and other curated video playlists. Comcast will also make a similar experience available to subscribers via online and mobile platforms.

“We started this idea in Rio, but have now completely transformed it for these Olympics,” Roberts said. The effort is supported in part by an improved voice control function for X1 boxes that Comcast says is now receiving more than half a billion requests per month from users. Additionally, Comcast will make 4K HDR content available from an Olympics for the first time. That content will be available on a next-day basis. Nearly 60% of Comcast video subscribers now have X1 capability, up from 40% during the Rio Games. Comcast is a USOC sponsor.

Beats by Dre is rolling out new ads in the run-up to the Pyeongchang Games as part of its ongoing "Above the Noise" campaign. The spots, which place an "emphasis on elite athletes returning after serious injuries and high-profile failures," show some "spectacular wipe-outs from snowboarder Shaun White and skier Lindsey Vonn." The new spots also include the Nigerian bobsled team, Chinese figure skaters Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, French skier Kevin Rolland and snowboarders Jamie Anderson (U.S.) and Ayumu Hirano (Japan). Production company Alldayeveryday created the spots (ADWEEK.com, 1/17).

Oregon AD Rob Mullens will serve as the third CFP Selection Committee Chair after Texas Tech's Kirby Hocutt completes his term on Feb. 1. Mullens follows former Arkansas AD Jeff Long ('14-15) and Hocutt ('16-17) as Chair. The CFP today also named former Arizona Republic sports columnist Paola Boivin, Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione, former coach Ken Hatfield, Pro Football HOFer Ronnie Lott, Georgia Tech AD Todd Stansbury and Florida AD Scott Stricklin to its membership. The new members will each begin a three-year term this spring (THE DAILY).

Stats LLC today named software exec Carl Mergele its new CEO, replacing veteran sports industry leader Ken Fuchs. Mergele, most recently with Lexmark Enterprise Software, will lead day-to-day business for the Chicago-based sports data and analytics company, owned by Vista Equity Partners. Fuchs, formerly with Time Inc., Yahoo and Fox Interactive Media, had led the company since late '15 and recently oversaw a deeper push into advanced player analytics and AI, as well as the addition of Casey Wasserman to the company’s BOD.

Stats execs described the parting as amicable, though Fuchs was not available for comment, and he was not mentioned in a company announcement of Mergele’s appointment. Fuchs’ predecessor at Stats, Gary Walrath, had been pushed out by Vista in '15. “We see this as the next evolution of our business,” said Stats Chief Revenue Officer Richard Henderson of Mergele’s arrival. “Carl’s a heavy hitter, and he has a really good track record of bringing products and services to market very quickly.”

MLS is holding its annual league-wide meetings today and tomorrow at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown alongside the United Soccer Coaches Convention. League and club execs will meet to discuss business development, communications, community relations, digital/social media, finance, HR, legal, marketing, PR, sponsorship and ticketing plans. MLS Commissioner Don Garber, Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott and MLS Business Ventures Managing Dir Gary Stevenson will address attendees, while Warriors President & COO Rick Welts and Adidas North America President Mark King will deliver keynote speeches.

The Red Sox today announced plans to host college baseball games at Fenway Park on consecutive days: Army-Navy on April 20, followed by Florida State-Boston College on April 21. Proceeds from Army-Navy will benefit the Home Base Program, a partnership between the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital that helps veterans suffering from PTSD and other psychological effects of war. The April 21 contest is BC's seventh annual ALS Awareness game, benefiting the Pete Frates Home Health Initiative (Red Sox).

The Raptors and Drake today announced an expansion of their partnership with a new program titled "Welcome Toronto." The team will host six "Welcome Toronto" home games this season, starting Jan. 26 against the Jazz, in which they will wear their newly unveiled OVO-edition uniforms and debut a new black-and-gold court design. In addition, Drake and the Raptors will donate C$1M to refurbish community basketball courts and another $2M to Canada Basketball (MLSE).

The Packers promoted General Counsel Ed Policy to COO. Policy will keep his General Counsel title but will take on a greater role overseeing the club's business operations, including sales, marketing and HR (Packers).

Towing equipment brand Horizon Global signed a multiyear sponsorship deal with Penske Racing. Horizon will be the primary sponsor for Brad Keselowski's No. 2 car for two races in the '18 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season (Penske).

U.S. Ski & Snowboard signed a deal making airweave the NGB's official bedding supplier (U.S. Ski & Snowboard).

“Maybe in this particular situation it’s something you didn’t have to give before, but we’ve become more security conscious and these venues are being more careful about making sure you are who you claim to be” – Security consultant and retired FBI agent James Wedick, on the NFL asking reporters who request Super Bowl credentials to identify their race (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/17).

“Foles vs. Keenum in the NFC championship game. Good job to all you guys for predicting that” – Vikings QB Case Keenum, joking with reporters ahead of Sunday's game against Nick Foles and the Eagles (TWITTER.com, 1/17).

Just been informed by the league that Commissioner Goodell would be attending the NFC title game in Philadelphia and not coming to Foxboro. He's already been here twice for the Jacksonville preseason game and kickoff game with the Chiefs

— Karen Guregian (@kguregian) January 17, 2018

Cal has chosen Witt/Kieffer to lead the search for new AD, per the school. #GoBears

— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) January 17, 2018

The Golf Channel is 23 today. The network changed the way people watch golf on TV. It’s past time to put The Golf Channel’s founder, Joseph E. Gibbs, in the @GolfHallofFame

— Chester David (@BigFliesBook) January 17, 2018

Another reason to have a charter? While #NASCAR announced a planned rule change in 2016 that any playoff team w/o a charter would be guaranteed a spot in each playoff race, that rule has never been implemented and theoretically open team could make playoffs & then miss race.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) January 17, 2018

I spoke w/ an NCAA official this week who was “95% certain” transfers will soon be allowed to play immediately in basketball & football. Could be a one-time freebie, plus grad transfer option. So in theory, a student-athlete could play for three different schools w/o sitting out.

— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) January 17, 2018

Danica Patrick appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast yesterday, where she discussed everything from her pending retirement from racing, her winemaking business and how she is not a "car girl." In this clip, she talks about the future of women in racing and her unique place in motorsports history. Watch the full interview.

$5,000 -- The amount donated by more than 100 Bengals fans to the Blake Bortles Foundation following the Jaguars' win over the Steelers in the playoffs last weekend (USATODAY.com, 1/17).