NBC seems to have miffed some members of the media and Olympics enthusiasts for airing the 2012 Opening Ceremony during prime time hours.
Though NBC has been reporting live from London since Monday, the network kicks off its official programming on Friday with coverage of the Opening Ceremony. Instead of airing the Parade of Nations live, NBC will broadcast the Opening Ceremony from 7:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Some members of the media took to Twitter to speak out about NBC's programming decision. The Guardian's Matt Wells, who is based in New York City, tweeted, "NBC showing complete contempt for audience by not showing/streaming Olympics opening ceremony live." He added, "what type of broadcaster pretends something isn't happening?" Olympics enthusiasts shared Wells' sentiment, lamenting NBC's decision to delay airing the Opening Ceremony.
The network plans, though, to air an unprecedented amount of Olympics programming, showing roughly 5,535 hours of the 2012 games across all NBC platforms. NBC has already topped $1 billion worth of advertising sales for the London games, surpassing the record set in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics.
Take a look at the criticism in the slideshow below:
Jeff Jarvis
Jonathan Wald
Jeff Jarvis
Matt Wells
janinegibson
Spanny Tampson
Christopher Cooke
Mairi Drysdale
Kade Rejinal
Also on HuffPost:
Opening Ceremony
The five Olympic rings rise above a scene depicting the era of the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
An artist performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
An artist performs as huge chimneys emerge from the ground to symbolise the industrial revolution during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Performers depict a view of the English countryside during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
A drummer performs during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
Artistic Director of the Opening Ceremony Danny Boyle speaks whilst standing next to the Olympic Bell during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Chimneys erupt from the centre of the field during The Age of Industry scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
An artist performs as a chimney emerges from the ground to symbolise the industrial revolution during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
An actor climbs a giant chimney during The Age of Industry scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
A performer climbs along a chimney emerging from the ground to symbolise the industrial revolution during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Huge chimneys emerge from the ground to symbolise the industrial revolution during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Drummers drum during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Performers depict a view from the change of the English countryside to the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Artists perform around chimneys during The Age of Industry scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Freshly 'forged' Olympic Rings fly above the chimneys during The Age of Industry scene in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
The Olympic rings are assembled above the stadium in a scene depicting the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
A general view of the the set depicting the English countryside during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
The Olympic rings are assembled above the stadium in a scene depicting the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Actors perform in the scene The Age of Industry during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Artists perform as the Olympic rings are pictured above the stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Rings representing both the Olympics and the Industrial Revolution are lit during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
An actor dressed to resemble Britain's Queen Elizabeth II parachutes into the stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
Actors perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
The Olympic rings float above artists performing during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Aerial view shows the Olympic rings being raised in the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012.
Opening Ceremony
Performers depict the industrial revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Performers depict the industrial revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
General view of the Olympic Stadium as the Olympic rings float above artists during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 in London.
Opening Ceremony
Inflatable yellow submarines float above artists performing during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
A young performer holds a balloon during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Performers depict a view of the English countryside during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Drummers perform during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Actors and dancers play Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital staff and patients during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Dancers playing Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital staff perform during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Dancers perform in the Gosh and NHS scene during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
Dancers perform in the Gosh and NHS scene during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 27, 2012 at the Olympic Stadium in London.
Opening Ceremony
A general view of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Performers depict a view of the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
A general view of the interior of the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
Performers depict a view of the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
A performer in the role of Daniel Craig as James Bond parachutes out of a helicopter with a Union Jack parachute during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
The Union Flag is presented during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
A general view is seen while performers depict a view from the change of the English countryside to the Industrial Revolution during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Opening Ceremony
A general view is seen during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England.
Posted: 07/27/2012 12:04 pm Updated: 07/28/2012 3:29 am