NBC and primetime host Bob Costas deserve a "thumbs up ... for not ignoring an unpleasant Rio story" -- the robbery of four U.S. swimmers, including Ryan Lochte, according to David Bauder of the AP. Costas led last night's broadcast "with news of the robbery," while NBC's "Nightly News" also led with the story (AP, 8/14). Costas and NBC Olympics Exec Producer Jim Bell prior to the start of the Games said that the net would not ignore any news stories associated with the event, though the concerns at the time were focused more on infrastructure problems and the Zika virus. While "Nightly News" led with the robbery, ABC’s “World News” reported on the story approximately five minutes into its broadcast and CBS’ “Evening News” reported on the incident 12 minutes into its telecast. NBC's "Today" opened this morning's broadcast with NBC’s Matt Lauer noting they were “going to talk about that scary incident” with Lochte and his teammates. At about the 30-minute mark of their respective telecasts, the morning shows on NBC, ABC and CBS all aired reports on the robbery. NBC featured a report from NBC’s Keir Simmons, with Lauer noting the “incident is overshadowing some of the celebration there” (THE DAILY). The Fayetteville Observer's Brett Friedlander on Twitter wrote, "Today show is reporting the Lochte robbery story. I guess even @nbc can't ignore this one" (TWITTER.com, 8/15).
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME: NBC's Billy Bush got an exclusive interview with Lochte yesterday after the robbery that was promoted throughout the day on various NBC outlets. Bush said he "went over to the USA House to do a little shopping" and saw Lochte as he was leaving. Bush: "I went over and said, ‘Did it happen?’ He said, ‘Yeah, it did,’ and I said, ‘Then come with me,’ and we went across the street. I pulled out the iPhone and we talked about it and, sure enough, he confirmed it” (“Today,” NBC, 8/15).
