With the opening ceremony just minutes away, the 2012 Summer Olympics won’t just broadcast on television, they’ll also appear online.
The Olympics has become a more digital — and more global — experience. And this year, every event will be streamed online. The only caveat is that, depending on where you live, how you can access the Games might vary.
We’ve rounded up all of the official (read: legal) ways to watch the games live online or on your phone or tablet.
No Cable? That’s a Problem
Much of online content — at least in the U.S. — is accessible only to those who subscribe to cable or satellite. NBC has made the decision to require cable provider authentication in order to access this year’s Games.
The good news is that NBC has managed to work with nearly all cable and satellite providers in the U.S. As long as you subscribe to cable and are able to get MSNBC and CNBC, you’re set. The bad news, of course, is that if you’ve cut the cord, live coverage (at least legally) is going to be difficult.
In New York City, cord-cutters can access NBC’s live television broadcast using the Aereo service.
Highlights will also be available on the NBC Olympics YouTube page.
In the U.S.
If you’re in the U.S., NBC is the official broadcast partner of the Olympic Games. Not only will the network air the Games on NBC and NBC-owned cable stations, it will also stream more content online in real-time than ever before.
Of course, there is a catch. To get access to all of this content, you need to be a cable subscriber. More than that, you need to get MSNBC and CNBC.
Assuming you fit these requirements, just head to NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra and click the “Click Here to Get Ready” button. Then, select your cable provider, either from an icon or the list — and login with your cable user name and password. Once you login with you credentials, you’ll have access to the Games. You only have to do this once — then you’re set.
You can also watch the livestreams from your iOS or Android device with the
mobile versions of NBC Live Extra app for iOS [iTunes link] and Android [Google Play link].
The great thing about the mobile apps are that they give each user a four-hour “guest pass” to the Games, in case you don’t know your user name or password. After four hours, users will need to login with provider information.
In London
The BBC is providing comprehensive livestreams of the Games via its BBC Sport website and mobile apps.
If you’re in the UK (or a territory with access to BBC content), you can access live coverage of every sport from up to 24 live HD streams.
Go to the special BBC Sport Olympics portal to get started.
The BBC also has apps for iOS and Android to watch livestreams. In addition to the streams, the BBC Sport apps also show results, news stories and daily highlights.
Other Parts of the World
Freecast.com has a streaming and television guide for Olympic coverage in more than 150 countries.
Moreover, the IOC’s official Olympic Channel on YouTube will broadcast the Games live in 64 territories in Asia and Africa that lack official broadcast partners. The IOC’s YouTube channel will also offer clips, replays and highlights of the events.
For Canadians, the CBC has an Olympic hub on its website.
How Will You Watch the Games?
Will you take advantage of the live streaming options to catch up on the Games? Let us know how you plan to tune in in the comments.
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