Mobile Adds New Dimension to Olympics Coverage

The multiple-platform strategy employed by TV networks to cover the Olympics have a lot of benefits to the networks and their viewers/users. Additional coverage from the likes of NBC and the BBC should make everyone happy. They will still allow the networks to air the most popular events in primetime, where they'll attract premium ad prices. At the same time, the moves should appease diehard fans who have criticized the lack of live coverage in the past.

The mobile coverage is of special interest this year. Mobile apps were barely in existence in 2008 (Apple's App Store didn't open until July '08). Hundreds of thousands of apps and billions of downloads later, the networks have a whole new way to reach their viewers/users. This unprecedented access to the Olympics means that you won't just be able to watch something live somewhere, you'll be able to watch anything live anywhere.