NBC said that Saturday was the "best day ever for NBC Olympics digital platforms, with 155 million live streaming minutes," up 263% from the comparable day in '12, according to Nellie Andreeva of DEADLINE. The number of unique users was up slightly to 11.3 million (7%). Since the way people consume TV has "evolved dramatically during the past four years," NBC is "providing more live-streaming opportunities than ever, in addition to expanded cable coverage" (DEADLINE.com, 8/7). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Vranica & Flint note NBC execs are "counting on ratings to increase when viewing on digital video recorders and online consumption are factored in." NBC Sports Group Senior VP/Communications Greg Hughes said, “To expect the same pure television consumption four years removed from London just isn’t logical, but overall consumption is at or above our expectations." Hughes said a comparison to London is “apples to oranges,” given changing media viewing habits (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/8).
CHECK THE REVIEWS: RE/CODE's Edmund Lee wrote there is "just way too much content" coming from NBC's coverage. The net said that it will "stream more than 4,500 hours of competition." NBC's Olympics app on Roku provides a "raw feed," so while it "can show you almost any event, it doesn't program the event for you." In the case of women's fencing, it "was a single-camera longshot of two people in masks pointing and screaming." The "lack of close-ups or editing made it look like a security camera feed," and it was "bizarre to watch and unsatisfying." Lee: "If you're going to put stuff online, it'd be good to try and explain it" (RECODE.net, 8/6).
