Sure it’s 2010 and you can now get your Olympics fix online (albeit with some headaches), but if you’re home in front of the big living-room screen, why not take advantage of the all-HD experience? NBC Universal is offering coverage on NBC, USA, MSNBC, CNBC, and Universal HD, and, as in years past, the broadcast company has made deals left and right with pay-TV operators to provide on-demand content.
Verizon FiOS:
Want Olympics fare on FiOS VOD? Verizon is promising highlights, complete event replays, info on the Olympic park in Calgary, and even Olympics trivia. On the HD front, FiOS customers will get less than half of the VOD content in high-def, but Verizon did just make the announcement that it’s launching MSNBC in HD, just in time for the opening ceremonies. Oh, and if you’re looking for some interactive TV, stay tuned for an on-screen FiOS app with medal counts, bios, and more.
Comcast Xfinity:
Yes, it’s officially Xfinity now in several markets, but so far the branding hasn’t changed on my Comcast guide. In any case, the VOD menu is full of Olympics clips: an intro of Team USA, physics lessons around different sports (hockey, snowboarding, etc.), a “Where Were You” category with highlights from yesteryear, and a “Best of the Day” selection, which promises daily coverage once the games begin. By my observation, it appears that all of the content is available in HD.
AT&T U-verse:
AT&T is heading into the Olympics not just with on-demand content, but also with a Multiview app for watching several events at once. The U-verse NBC Olympics Application includes up to four different channels on screen and links to information like event schedules, athlete bios, and medal count. According to AT&T, its on-demand fare will include “exclusive Team USA” videos. Not sure how valuable that will be, but exclusive is always good, right?