NBC has cable-hold on Torino

0 Comments | USA TODAY, January, 2006 | by Michael Hiestand

NBC's prime-time coverage of the Torino Winter Olympics will be traditional. Once again anchored by Bob Costas, the coverage will get first dibs on all marquee footage, will focus on proven mass-audience lures led by figure skating and will remain NBC's top priority.

But NBC's cable TV tonnage -- on NBC-owned outlets MSNBC, CNBC and USA and two NBC high-definition TV channels -- will be unprecedented.

Just a decade ago, NBC had no cable coverage of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. But for the Torino Games, which start Feb.10, NBC with its cable outlets will have 416 TV hours -- up from 375.5 for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games -- and at least some coverage of every session of every sport. And with the six-hour time difference between Torino and the U.S. East...