NBC’s Olympics Coverage Causes Streaming To Increase In Order To Watch BBC’s Version

The #NBCfail has been causing Twitter to explode with commentary on the 2016 television Olympics coverage by NBC. Comments have included people upset about not broadcasting Simone Manuel’s medal ceremony, spending way too much air time on advertisements, and broadcasting events that have come and gone.

NBC’s viewership has dropped significantly, as many people have taken to the internet to find a more accurate version of the Olympics through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in order to stream BBC’s account. The seemingly endless commercials in the opening ceremony were just the beginning to what people are calling the “worst ever” Olympics coverage in America.

The uses of VPNs have been popularized for streaming, but there may be no greater cry on the internet for a link to another county’s streaming abilities than right now in the United States. Television has been competing with the streaming market for several years now, but despite the outrage on the internet, they don’t seem to care that people are unhappy with the current Olympics coverage.

Why doesn’t NBC care that you can’t watch the events you find most interesting? Money. NBC has paid roughly $1.2 billion for the rights to broadcast the 2016 Olympics and at this point, they need to make up the cash in order to profit. Profit lies in the cost of a commercial on prime time television, aka, the time you want to watch your favorite Olympic events. This is the cause of many frustrations with NBC’s broadcast. However, with the decline in the cable industry, it is a necessary evil for highly viewed networks.

The cable industry is in a bit of a pinch with substitutes such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other streaming platforms taking over. Personalizing television is the only way that people seem to be able to stay in the game. Take Dish Network vs Time Warner, for instance. For years, Dish has been able to claim higher HD channels than Time Warner at a lower price and more recently they have offered “skinny” packages that allow people to pick more personalized packages for a lower price. However, Time Warner may be on its way up the ladder with its new investment in Hulu. Both companies have taken different strategies to create a more personalized experience.

Tape-delayed Olympic coverage has always been a complaint for viewers, but the way people watch television is evolving. People have gotten used to commercial-free streaming and binge-watching, putting the cable industry in a difficult position. Networks like NBC cannot accommodate every user and still stay in business because most network money is made through commercial spending for a spot on prime time television. Although the industry is leaning toward a more personalized approach, live events, especially from around the world, still have kinks that need to be worked out.

While we are waiting for the cable industry to catch up with the internet, many articles have exploded about teaching people to use VPNs in order to access a better Olympic coverage by BBC or even Australian television. If you have never used a VPN or need help setting one up, there are many places for you to learn how to access the internet around the world.

The responses to BBC’s Olympic coverage have been incredibly positive on twitter. People have praised their version of 2016 Olympic coverage over NBC’s apparent fail.

Although this year’s Olympics coverage has created an outcry on the internet, people have found their way around the frustrating #NBCfail. If you are still struggling to watch your favorite 2016 Olympic events, consider streaming BBC’s through a VPN. Take a break from the Olympic coverage you don’t care about and let yourself enjoy the final half of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.