Mike Tirico to report live from PyeongChang; companywide primetime promotional 'road block' to run across more than a dozen NBCU TV networks
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, NBCUniversal will celebrate 100 days until the start of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics with a companywide celebration that will utilize its collection of broadcast, cable, affiliate, regional, digital, social, radio and theme park assets.
Mike Tirico, who will serve as NBC Olympics' primetime host for the first time this winter, will be in PyeongChang, South Korea, on Wednesday to join numerous NBCU programs, including "Today," "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt" and NBCSN's "The Dan Patrick Show." NBC's 239 nationwide local stations and the NBC Sports Regional Networks will also utilize Tirico-interview content. Team USA Olympic hopefuls will make appearances on NBC's "Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon," "The Dan Patrick Show," CNBC's "Closing Bell," MSNBC and "New York Live."
NBCU will once again implement a primetime promotional "road block" across more than a dozen NBCU broadcast and cable networks. Each of the networks will run an Olympic promotional spot within the 8 p.m. hour. The daylong celebration will also permeate NBCU's 50-plus websites; Universal Parks & Resorts in Hollywood and Orlando; and The Shop at NBC Studios in Rockefeller Plaza.
"With the temperature dropping and winter on the horizon, the 100 days celebration is the perfect time to amplify our Olympic engagement plan," said Jenny Storms, CMO, NBC Sports Group. "No company can match the promotional power of NBCUniversal, and we are maximizing those unprecedented assets more than ever before. The 100 days celebration will thrust our already robust campaign into its next phase, building momentum right up until Feb. 8, the first night of our primetime coverage."
NBCU is also collaborating with the U.S. Olympic Committee on its extensive 100-day celebration efforts. More than 50 Team USA athletes will take part in an Olympic Festival in Times Square, as the Team USA WinterFest presented by Hershey's converges on New York City on Wednesday. Athletes will participate in a press conference, autograph sessions, sport demonstrations and on-stage interviews between 1-8 p.m. NBC News Channel will be on site all day to capture content for NBC's 239 local stations. The event is free and open to the public between 3-8 p.m.
In addition, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will present "The 100 Days Out Special" on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The hour-long special, hosted by NBC's Jimmy Roberts and Carolyn Manno, will feature highlights and interviews from the celebration, and include live musical performances by Grammy Award-winning artist Darius Rucker and "America's Got Talent" season 11 winner Grace VanderWaal.
Throughout the day and in the weeks and months leading up to the Games, NBCU and the USOC will jointly use the hashtag #WinterOlympics across their respective platforms.
Following are additional highlights of NBCUniversal's 100-day celebration:
NBCUniversal's primetime coverage of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics begins Thursday, Feb. 8.
