NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell: ‘It Could Be The Most Profitable Olympics In Our Company’s History’
NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell is genuinely excited about event programming over the coming months for both their linear networks as well as on their streaming service Peacock.
Shell spoke to investors virtually late Monday morning at the CreditSuisse Communications Conference.
Event coverage all starts with the now-delayed 2020 Summer Olympic Games next month, followed very quickly by coverage of the NFL season, leading up to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles next February. And this year, the Super Bowl will fall during the middle of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, so the eyes of the entire world will already be on NBC and its sister networks.
While many people were concerned with the delays that overtook the Summer Games last year due to the pandemic, NBCUniversal was able to take advantage of the delay by continuing to program returning sporting events through the fall and winter months, including the Indianapolis 500 in August and races of the Triple Crown through the Fall. Many of the sporting events were cross-promoted and programmed on its streaming platform, Peacock.
The delay has allowed the group to prepare for what they have promised is 7,000 hours of Olympic programming across its linear networks and Peacock during the Tokyo Summer Games.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” and “The Office,” as well as original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports including NFL, MLB, WWE, Olympics, Premier League, NASCAR, French Open, College Football and Basketball, and PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
“It could be our most profitable Olympics in our company’s history,” Shell said. “You know you have 17 days where you dominate every night.”
He pointed out that the U.S. Gymnastics team, led by Simone Biles, will be featured during the first week of the Games.
“She’s going to be on every night, and then our swimming team is really strong and our track and field team is really strong so I think we’re pretty, pretty optimistic about both the ratings and the economics of the Olympics and advertisers have embraced it,” Shell said.
The NFL season will follow on the heels of Tokyo. This year, all of NBC’s Sunday Night Football broadcasts will be streamed on Peacock, and carried in Spanish on Telemundo.
NBC will play host to the Super Bowl in February, in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, smack during the middle of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
“So if you want to reach advertisers during the first quarter and you’re not on NBC, good luck,” Shell said.