Network Competition over the Olympics

NBC or the National Broadcasting Networks believes that paying more than a billion dollar ($1.18B) to be exact for the Olympic rights in the United States would give them the top position in broadcasting hoping to attract at least 200 million viewers for the next 16 days or so. NBC first won the rights for the said exclusive broadcasting of the Olympics for just paying less than $286.

How other networks are doing now then? AMC for one believes that the final season of some of their series will keep the audience with them like Breaking Bad. DirecTV’s also hopes for a steady rating for Damages as it closes to its final series. TNT on the other hand is banking on Closer” on keeping their audiences.

Currently, NBC is said to be using the Olympics to promote big upcoming program this fall. As Robert J. Thompson has said and predicted, founding director for Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture (Syracuse University), the Olympics broadcast would be a great time to show to all those who are tuned in about the new programs that are coming up. Also, creating Buzz and ongoing speculations about this and that athlete continuous seems to be an effort to increase viewers for the London Olympics.