Comcast unveils Xfinity multiscreen Olympics coverage

As expected from the cable TV operator that controls the TV networks broadcasting the 2012 London Olympics, Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) has announced big multiscreen distribution plans for NBCUniversal's Olympics coverage. Comcast said Xfinity TV and NBCUniversal have teamed up on a multi-platform content offering that will begin with pre-Olympics coverage on this Wednesday, July 25 and run through Sunday, Aug. 12.

NBCUniversal has been loudly touting that it will have more Olympics programming available than any previous Olympics--more than 5,535 hours of content. Xfinity TV will offer NBCUniversal's Olympic content live and on-demand, across multiple digital, mobile and tablet platforms—what the company referred to as an every-minute-on-every-screen approach.

Mobile and tablet PC users will be able to access the programming through the previously announced NBC Live Extra application, as well as Comcast's Xfinity TV viewing app.

The formal announcement of Comcast's coverage plans comes after NBC also said last week that a large amount of recorded Olympics content also will be available in 3-D.

A growing number of cable TV operators have said they will offer Olympics programming from the multiple NBC channels involved in the coverage--NBC, NBC Sports Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo and Telemundo—but Comcast also said it will make available two HD specialty channels for soccer and basketball, and a 3D channel.

For more:
- see this press release

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