Roku and NBCUniversal have partnered up to provide Roku device and TV users with a more immersive viewing experience during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Users will still need access to NBC Sports and Peacock to take advantage of all of the Olympics coverage that’s available, but the new partnership will also make available some content for free.
Similar to many events scheduled for 2020, the Tokyo Olympics had to be delayed as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect the world. With many places now in the process of attempting to return to some form of normalcy, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is set to begin in a matter of days. The opening ceremony takes place on Friday, July 23, 2021 with the events continuing through until Sunday, August 8, 2021.
Even before the opening ceremony, Roku and NBCUniversal will be providing Roku device users with an updated and more immersive viewing experience. Essentially, Roku devices are being updated with a special Olympics section of the interface that’s accessible via the left-side menu on the home screen. The update is rolling out today (July 20) and will provide a countdown clock as well as access to free Olympics-related content in the build up to the opening ceremony.
Once the games officially begin, Roku users will be able to access the same section of the home screen to watch free daily highlights or use as a shortcut to the live events. The countdown timer will also be replaced with a medal tracker, allowing Roku users to keep up with how the medal tallies are stacking up.
Streaming the Olympics
Whether watching on a Roku or any other streaming device, those looking to maximize coverage of the Olympics will require a live TV subscription. NBCUniversal is officially the home of the Tokyo Olympics and this means much of the action will be available to watch on the NBC channel. However, some coverage will also be available to stream on other NBC-related channels, including CNBC, NBCSN, Golf Channel, Telemundo, Universo, USA and, of course, the Olympic Channel.
Alternatively, Peacock is another option. While Peacock won’t be streaming all of the 2020 Olympic action, the streaming service will offer live coverage each morning, as well as access to daily highlights and recaps with commentary, documentaries, and more. Some of this Peacock coverage will be available to stream for free, while other events will require an upgrade to the $4.99 per month Peacock Premium plan. There is also the option to upgrade further to the $9.99 Peacock Premium Plus plan to remove the ads, although some ads may still be shown during select programming.
Source: Roku
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