Olympic viewer's guide

NBC hosts Katie Couric and Matt Lauer get a visit from Olympic mascot Athena. Scott Gries/Getty Images

Schedule

American viewing breakdown

Sports on TV

Domestic and international listings

Highlights

August: 14 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 27

Viewers tuned in despite knowing results

NBC packaged the taped events of its prime-time Athens Olympics broadcast as if they were unfolding live, assuming that viewers didn't take advantage of plenty of opportunities to learn the results in advance. Full Story

NBC: Programs seeing big boost

Besides being a ratings success on its own, NBC claimed Thursday the Olympics have had a "halo effect" of boosting viewership for its cable networks and programs -- sometimes in startling numbers. Full Story

NBC's Roberts adds dash of color

Throughout the Athens Games, Jimmy Roberts' quirky series of "Olympic moments" have added spice to a prime-time NBC broadcast that can taste a little bland without them. Full Story

A hit for NBC after Sydney low

Between Michael Phelps, Paul Hamm and Carly Patterson, the Athens Games seemingly mint a new star every day. The only people smiling as wide as the medal winners walk the halls of NBC. At their halfway point, the Olympics are a television hit. Full Story

Olympic-themed ads can blur line

So many advertisers are running Olympic-themed commercials during NBC's broadcasts of the Athens Games that it's sometimes hard to tell when the hawking ends and the competition begins. Full Story

NBC's omnipresent Games begin with fireworks

NBC Olympic host Katie Couric poses with Olympian Andy Roddick after an interview. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

After dozing off to images of flying Eros, an overdressed Bjork and Olympic rings burning in water, television viewers awoke Saturday to the U.S. women's basketball team easily beating New Zealand. So began NBC's omnipresent Olympics. Full Story

Greek TV suffers second Olympic blackout

Greek television screens went blank for a second time in four days Saturday as state-run ET-1 television lost its Olympic signal. Full Story

NBC Olympic profits seen reaching $50m

NBC could reap as much $50 million in profits from its coverage of the Athens Olympics that began Friday, putting it roughly in line with the 2000 Sydney games but off the pace of the more recent Winter Olympics, sources familiar with NBC's plans said. Full Story

NBC's Olympics-athon arrives

Fluff the pillows on the sofa, pop new batteries in the remote control and put the beverages on ice: The Summer Olympics television extravaganza is about to begin. When NBC signs on at 8 p.m. EDT Friday, it'll be the formal start of 1,210 hours of coverage on the network and six corporate siblings. Full Story 

NBC, sister networks offer full plate

When the Olympics kick off, NBC is confident American viewers will flock to see Michael Phelps swim for Mark Spitz's record, U.S. women's gymnasts defend their world title and sprinter Maurice Greene dash for gold in the 100 meters. Full Story