NBC and Facebook are expanding their partnership around the Olympics during the Sochi Games. For the first time, NBC plans to make video content available on its NBC Olympics Facebook page. The broadcaster will post NBC Olympics features on Facebook, beginning today with the story of speedskater J.R. Celski’s friendship with rapper Macklemore. In addition to the videos, NBC Olympics will make commentator and Gold Medal-winning figure skater Sarah Hughes available to answer questions on Facebook during the Games. The net will promote that opportunity during its broadcasts of the Games. Facebook also will be integrated into NBC’s primetime broadcasts. Facebook VP/Partnerships & Operations Justin Osofsky said the company has invested heavily since the '12 London Games to develop a new system for tracking and analyzing Facebook users’ posts about events. It will provide that analysis to NBC to incorporate into its broadcasts. During London, NBC devoted segments to a “Talk Meter” that highlighted what Olympics-related news people were discussing on Facebook. NBC and Facebook have not determined if a similar recurring segment will occur during Sochi, but NBC has committed to using its Olympic broadcasts “to ignite the Olympic conversation and engagement on Facebook,” NBC Olympics President Gary Zenkel said. Osofsky said, “We’re excited to partner with NBC and the Olympics. Our partnership in 2012 was a great first step.”
