KTVM in Butte-Bozeman and KECI in Missoula, Mont., were No.1 and No.2, respectively, among all NBC affiliates in primetime ratings in both adults 25-54 and adults 18-49. They were also tops among households.
Stations Psyched To Be On-Site In Sochi
About 75 local broadcasters representing mostly NBC affiliates around the country are geared up to go to the Winter Olympics in Russia. The NBC Owned Television Stations are sending 25 anchors, reporters and producers. Gannett Broadcasting will have 20 in Sochi, including several from newly acquired Belo stations. And Hearst is sending nine. In each case, the contingents are larger than ever before.
Winter Olympics sponsors such as McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble and Visa have to contend with Russian bombings only 38 days before the Sochi games.
NBC announced coverage plans for the Olympics Feb. 6-23, and the emphasis is on digital. For the first time, viewers won’t see coverage of the most popular events held until primetime, leaving them to dodge results for hours after the events are over. Instead, livestreaming will be key. Cable customers will have to sign in to access extra content online, where competition in 15 sports will be available via livestream (at NBCOlympics.com or on the NBC Sports Live Extra app).
NBC Universal is projecting an $800 million-plus advertising haul for the 2014 Winter Olympics, says Seth Winter, EVP-sales and marketing for NBC Sports Group. But that record projection for winter games coverage might have to count out traditional sponsor Anheuser-Busch InBev, which has indicated it can better connect with consumers through non-traditional means.
Exclusives
Looking to marshal a slew of assets to back its 2014 Winter Olympics, NBCUniversal will run a 60-second spot today simultaneously on nearly 19 broadcast and cable networks at 8 p.m. The promo will also air on 33 other non-NBCU channels in markets served by parent Comcast.
