NBC has announced that they are offering an innovative temporary pass to view live streaming content of the Olympic Games (via NBCOlympics.com and NBC Sports, of course) to help create curiosity for “TV Everywhere” adoption.
During the XXII Olympic Winter Games, which are being held in Sochi, Russia from February 6-23, all NBC viewers are being offered a multi-day, yet temporary, pass to access live streaming content. The vast majority of live streaming will only be available to verified cable, satellite or telco customers. However, “Unverified viewers will be given a one-time 30-minute temporary pass the first time live-streaming content is accessed,” states today’s press release. “This will provide ample time for users to gather their credentials to verify, but not miss any Olympic action. Viewers will also be given a subsequent pass for five minutes per day thereafter.”
TV Everywhere is still a fairly new industry term. It is where consumers discontinue traditional pay television subscriptions for TV content that is exclusively programmed through over-the-air television and/or online on-demand services such as Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and others. Authenticated streaming and video on-demand services allow traditional television providers to directly compete with these disruptive competitors, and add value to existing television subscriptions in an effort to retain subscribers.
The Olympic Games is a real example of how “TV Everywhere,” can be used on a daily basis. Verified cable/satellite and telco customers will have access to more than 1,000 hours of live streaming content of the Games which is more than double the hours of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. At no additional charge, multi-channel customers can verify their video subscriptions at NBCOlympics.com.
It has also been announced that for the first time ever, all of the Winter Games across all of the 15 sports (98 events) will be streamed live. The site will also feature exclusive content, real-time results, medal standings, event highlights and analysis, athlete interviews and profiles, and rewinds of all event coverage.
In order to access the more than 1,000 hours of live Olympic programming this winter at NBCOlympics.com, existing cable, satellite and telco customers should follow these verification procedures:
- Go to NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra
- Click the “Verify Now” button
- Select your cable, satellite or telco provider
- Enter the username and password that corresponds with your account
- Upon verification of your subscription to an Olympics-eligible package, you will be signed in throughout the Games on that device.
Customers with multiple devices will need to repeat the procedure on each device.