NBC is going with a blast from the past for its Olympic Opening Ceremony coverage. In other news, NBC will stream the Opening Ceremony live for the very first time, and ESPN has announced a new host for the Indy 500.
Couric to Co-Host Opening Ceremony
Former NBC “Today Show” host Katie Couric will co-anchor the network’s coverage of the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony next month, it was announced Wednesday. Couric, who has not worked for NBC full-time since 2006, last worked the event in 2004. She will be joined by NBC’s primetime Olympic host Mike Tirico.
In addition to the Opening Ceremony, Couric will also provide commentary and interviews throughout the Games.
NBC News broadcasters have long had a role on Opening Ceremony coverage. The last two Opening Ceremonies were hosted entirely by “Today” personnel — Meredith Vieira, Hoda Kotb and the since-fired Matt Lauer in 2016, and Vieira and Lauer alone in 2014. [NBC Sports PR 1.17]
NBC to Stream Opening Ceremony Live
NBC Sports announced Wednesday that it will stream the Olympic Opening Ceremony live for the very first time. Streaming coverage will begin at 6 AM ET on February 9 and will feature the world feed with no announcers. It had previously been common practice to delay Opening Ceremony coverage until primetime — in all time zones — leaving U.S. viewers several hours behind.
NBC did stream Opening Ceremony coverage in 2016, but only its delayed primetime coverage. [NBC Sports PR]
Briscoe Gets Indy 500 Gig
ESPN SportsCenter anchor Nicole Briscoe will host ABC’s coverage of the Indianapolis 500 in May, replacing Lindsay Czarniak, who quietly left ESPN last year. Briscoe previously hosted ESPN’s NASCAR studio programming and, prior to joining ESPN in 2008, worked for Speed Channel. [ESPN PR 1.17]
