NBC networks to televise wrestling all eight days of the competition from the Athens Olympics, Aug.
<< Back to Articles
Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
07/21/2004
The NBC networks have posted a schedule of daily highlights of the television coverage of the Athens Summer Olympic Games. Based upon the posting on NBCOlympics.com, there is scheduled television coverage of wrestling on all eight days of the Olympic wrestling competition from August 22-29. The wrestling action is planned for three specific networks: NBC, MSNBC and CNBC. Women's wrestling is held August 22-23. Men's Greco-Roman wrestling is held August 24-26. Men's freestyle wrestling is held August 27-29. Included in the coverage are five different live segments of the wrestling action, three on MSNBC and two on CNBC. NBC has wrestling scheduled on its national broadcast five different days, including both men's Greco-Roman and men's freestyle action. NBC has also specifically targeted the Greco-Roman super heavyweight division, featuring defending Olympic champion Rulon Gardner, for primetime network coverage. Fans can check these program listings by visiting NBCOlympics.com The broadcasters assigned to wrestling includes Russ Hellickson (play-by-play), Jeff Blatnick (analyst) and Len Berman (reporter). This schedule includes just "highlights" of the coverage. These listings are subject to change. There could be additional wrestling coverage based upon the decisions of the broadcasting executives as the Games progress. There will be much more detailed schedule information as the Olympics approach, as well as during the actual Olympic Games. NBC has announced that it will have an Interactive Television Viewer's Guide, which will be available by early August on NBCOlympics.com. It will provide 24-hour coverage on the NBC Universal networks. Viewers will be able to sort the listings by sport, network, day and time, as well as search by key words such as athlete, team or country. This will allow wrestling fans to know more details about when the wrestling coverage will actually be aired. The networks of NBC: NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, Telemundo and NBC HDTV will broadcast an unprecedented 1,210 hours - more than the past five Summer Olympics combined. NBC BROADCAST SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS As of July 20. Subject to change. Check for updates on NBCOlympics.com Sunday August 22 CNBC (2 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET) - Wrestling - Women's Competition (LIVE) Monday, August 23 MSNBC (2:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. ET) - Wrestling - Women's Semifinals MSNBC (11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET) - Wrestling - Women's Gold Medal Finals Tuesday, August 24 NBC (8:00 p.m. - Midnight ET/PT) - Wrestling - Super Heavyweight Greco-Roman Competition NBC (12:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. ET/PT) - Wrestling - Greco-Roman Competition MSNBC (2:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. ET) - Wrestling - Greco-Roman Competition (LIVE) Wednesday, August 25 NBC (8:00 p.m. - Midnight ET/PT) - Wrestling - Super Heavyweight Greco-Roman Gold Medal Final NBC (12:35 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. ET/PT) - Wrestling - Greco-Roman Gold Medal Finals MSNBC (2:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. ET) - Wrestling - Greco-Roman Semifinals (LIVE) Thursday, August 26 NBC (12:35 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. ET/PT) - Wrestling - Greco-Roman Gold Medal Finals MSNBC (2:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m ET) - Wrestling - Greco-Roman Semifinals (LIVE) Friday, August 27 NBC (12:35 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. ET/PT) - Wrestling - Freestyle Competition Saturday, August 28 NBC (12:00 Noon - 6:00 p.m. ET/PT) - Wrestling - Freestyle Gold Medal Finals NBC (8:00 p.m. - 12:00 Midnight ET/PT) - Wrestling - Freestyle Gold Medal Finals NBC (12:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. ET/PT) - Wrestling - Freestyle Gold Medal Finals MSNBC (3:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. ET/PT) - Wrestling - Freestyle Competition Sunday, August 29 CNBC (3:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon ET/PT) - Wrestling - Freestyle Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)