NBC Plans To Prioritize Soccer During Broadcast Of Tokyo Games

Kickoff times will be challenging due to the 13-hour time difference between Tokyo and the East CoastGETTY IMAGES

NBC Olympics & Business President Gary Zenkel said that the net's broadcast plans for the Tokyo Games put soccer "extremely high up" its hierarchy of sports, according to Jonathan Tannenwald of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Zenkel said the women's soccer teams are specifically a "huge priority." NBC will "benefit from the boost in interest" that accompanies the USWNT winning the World Cup. Kickoff times will be "challenging" due to the 13-hour time difference between Tokyo and the East Coast, but if NBC "gets lucky (or throws its weight around), fans could end up not suffering too much." An early afternoon kickoff there would be late-night here and primetime on the West Coast. NBC "hasn't finalized its broadcaster lineup yet," but fans can "expect the network's lead soccer play-by-play voice, Arlo White, to be on the call for U.S. games" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/7).