Thursday, August 27, 2026
The FOS App Launches September 1 Pre-save on the App Store Today

Olympics Could Still Be a Win for NBCUniversal

  • The Olympics have endured all sorts of challenges related to the pandemic, but it’s still be a strong property for NBCUniversal.
  • The company expects to make significantly more in ad revenue than it did during the 2016 Summer Games.
IOC/Design: Alex Brooks

The Olympics have been a mess for Japan, but they might not be for NBCUniversal.

The Games’ primary U.S. broadcaster expects to bring in $2.25 billion in ad revenue, per the New York Times, nearly double the $1.2 billion it earned from Rio 2016.

While advertisers have adjusted strategies to reflect the pandemic-related struggles the Tokyo Olympics have endured, they ultimately expect a large audience, and are willing to pay for ad space.

  • NBCU has set the price of a 30-second primetime commercial at $1.25 million. 
  • In 2011, NBCU parent Comcast paid the International Olympic Committee $4.38 billion for the four Olympics from 2014 to 2020. It extended that deal in 2014 to include the Summer and Winter Games from 2022-2032 for $7.75 billion. 
  • NBC partnered with Twitch to produce 150 hours of programming surrounding the Games; Snapchat is creating five daily shows.

NBCUniversal has a slew of top sports broadcasts on the schedule in the coming year: It will air the Super Bowl in February and the FIFA World Cup in November 2022. 

The network is reportedly seeking up to $6 million for each 30-second Super Bowl ad and has already sold 85% of those slots.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mar 4, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; The NFL Network logo on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Network Blackout Ends As Comcast, Disney Reach Deal

The agreement ended a blackout lasting more than three months.
FILE PHOTO: Disney+ logo is seen in this illustration taken August 5, 2025.

Disney Sells Out of Super Bowl LXI Ad Inventory

ESPN parent company Disney exhausted its inventory on an earlier schedule.
CJ Kirst (#15) of the Philadelphia Waterdogs during the 2026 PLL Regular Season, The Week 10 match up of The Philadelphia Waterdogs and The New York Atlas at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium, Denver, Colorado. On Friday, July 24th, 2026

PLL Takes Page From NHL With 4-Team International Tournament

The league hopes to replicate the success of recent blockbuster international events.

Peacock Turns Profit 6 Years After Launch—With World Cup Bump

The streaming service reached a long-awaited “milestone.”
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation about Unrivaled’s $650M Valuation with Co-Founder Alex Bazzell

0:00

Featured Today

Deshaun Watson Has Done the Impossible: Unite Browns Fans

Watson was named the starter after complaining boos were “personal.”
August 23, 2026

Dan Snyder ‘Invisible’ in NFL Three Years After Commanders Sale

Snyder has had little to no contact with former NFL associates.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Burnley - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - May 18, 2026 Arsenal's Kai Havertz scores their first goal past Burnley's Max Weiss
August 21, 2026

Why the Premier League’s Star-Power Shortage Doesn’t Matter

The world’s richest soccer league doesn’t rely on big stars to dominate.
August 12, 2026

Trendy Golf Hat Divide Is More Than a Fashion Fight

As golf has gotten trendier, so has the sport’s style.
Joey Spallina of the Maryland Whipsnakes
August 6, 2026

How Eye Black Became ‘War Paint’ on the Field

“You’re going into battle, doing something you only do on game days.”
Dec 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; ESPN cast, from left, Desmond Howard, Rece Davis, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit sit on the set of College GameDay prior to the College Football Playoff first round game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Tennessee Volunteers in Columbus at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-Imagn Images via the USA Today Network

ESPN Replaces Lead ‘College GameDay’ Producer in Shakeup

Matthew Garrett takes over as the show’s new EP.
August 26, 2026

Sky–Fever Game With Freedom Ejection Was WNBA’s Most Watched in Years

Enes Kanter Freedom was removed from Wintrust Arena at Sunday’s game.
Michael Jordan NBC
Exclusive
August 26, 2026

Michael Jordan Not Expected to Return to NBC’s NBA Coverage

Jordan served as a special contributor for the network last season.
Sponsored

Kerri Walsh Jennings’s Playbook for the Future of Volleyball

The former gold medalist talks NCAA, the Olympics, & investing in volleyball.
ESPN College Football Broadcast
Exclusive
August 26, 2026

ESPN Removing BottomLine Ticker on College Football Games

ESPN has previously removed the ticker from College Football Playoff games.
August 26, 2026

Paramount-WBD Merger Fight Splits Red States and Blue States

Iowa’s AG took aim at her counterpart in California.
Internet streaming service DAZN's logo is pictured in its office in Tokyo, Japan March 21, 2017. Picture taken on March 21, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
August 26, 2026

DAZN Acquires EverPass Media, Gains Sunday Ticket’s Commercial Rights

The London-based company is expanding its U.S. foothold.
Feb 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) is interviewed by FanDuel Sports Network reporter Kendra Douglas after the game against the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
August 25, 2026

Main Street Sports Group Sues Comcast, Charter Over Unpaid Fees

The regional sports network operator is seeking unpaid carriage fees.