NBC, which has committed to more than 1200 hours of Olympics coverage across seven platforms in Athens, will produce and distribute all of the 2006 Winter Olympics from Turin, Italy, in high definition.
Speaking during a teleconference with the media last month, NBC Sports & Olympics Chairman Dick Ebersol said his network will produce and present coverage of the Winter Games in HD that will be identical to the standard feed.
In Athens, the network’s HD coverage will come from Athens Olympics Broadcasting, host broadcaster for the Games, he said.
The host broadcaster’s cameras will be used for HD coverage of swimming, diving, track and field and gymnastics as well as the medal rounds of the basketball and the men’s gold medal final in soccer, he said.
“It's separate trucks, all provided by the host - the World Host broadcaster. And, you know, we're pretty pleased that we're able to do this at the last minute to answer a request from our affiliates. We didn't think we'd be able to do it, but they've pressed for this for a long time.”
The expanded HD coverage from Athens will total 399 hours and will be available only from NBC affiliates transmitting high definition over the air.
