The Super Bowl isn’t the only thing going on for TV viewers in February 2022, from February 2nd through the 20th, the 2022 Winter Olympics is taking place in Beijing China.
However, just like last year’s Tokyo Summer Games, this year will be different. Due to COVID restrictions, in-person attendance will be limited. As an extension, NBC, the rights holder for U.S. TV distribution is not sending any major on-air commentators or personalities to the games. However, U.S. athletes will be attending.
The NHL also decided to not participate in a somewhat controversial move which will mean that the Men’s Ice Hockey tournament will feature players from the NCAA, Canadian Junior Hockey, Russian KHL, and other leagues in Europe.
If you’re a die hard hockey fan who was expecting to see Alex Ovechkin lead Team Russia against Connor McDavid and Team Canada in the medal round — you will have to wait 4 more years but there will be some NHL first round draft picks playing on an International stage.
The only downside is that the games are being played starting at almost 11 pm EST and some games are being broadcast in N. America at 3 am EST which will severely limit the audience in places like Toronto, Montreal, New York, Chicago, and Detroit where hockey tv ratings are quite strong.
Report: COVID Outbreaks at the Olympics
In addition, geopolitical issues, such as China’s treatment of Uyghur and other minority groups within its country have resulted in several nations not sending any diplomatic officials or outright boycotting the games.
That being said, the games will go on. Here is an overview of what TV viewers in the U.S. should expect.
Note: Keep in mind that Olympic Event Broadcast days and times are tentative and subject to change either by the Olympics host country and/or (in the case of the U.S.) any televised changes made by NBC or your local provider.
The Good News
4K UHD For U.S. TV Viewers
NBC has announced that major portions of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games from Beijing, China, will be available in 4K Ultra-HD/HDR video and Dolby Atmos audio.
However, access depends on several main factors:
- The source you are watching is offering the NBC Olympics 4K UHD feed.
- You have a 4K UHD TV (preferably with HDR capability) and any other required equipment (streaming/cable/satellite box).
- If you are streaming the games, you should have an incoming broadband speed of at least 25mbps to insure smooth playback without repeated buffering and freezing.
- Despite an increasing number of TV markets in the process of implementing the ATSC 3.0/NEXTGEN TV broadcast system, which allows 4K over-the-air broadcasting (provided you have an LG, Samsung, Sony, or Hisense TV with the required built-in tuner to receive the signals) it is unlikely that the Olympics will be broadcast over-the-air in 4K. Check with your local NBC broadcast station if it is broadcasting in the ATSC 3.0 system.
Tip: If you don’t have the necessary equipment or local source to receive and watch the Olympics in 4K UHD, you will be limited to 1080i (broadcast) or 1080p (streaming) resolution.
Major events expected to be available in 4K UHD include:
- Opening Ceremony (Friday, February 4th, 6:30 am ET – will be replayed)
- Figure Skating
- Alpine Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Freestyle Skiing
- More (hopefully Ice Hockey)
- Closing Ceremony (Sunday, February 20th, 7 am ET – will be replayed)
The Live Opening Ceremony and NBC Primetime Shows will be available via localized UHD simulcasts in select markets and platforms.
Extended Olympics coverage (may or may not be 4K UHD) will also be available in:
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
- Dallas-Ft. Worth
- San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
- Washington, DC (out of Hagerstown, MD)
- Boston (out of Manchester)
- Miami-Ft. Lauderdale
- San Diego
- Hartford & New Haven
Replays
Delayed replays of each evening’s NBC Primetime show will be available nationally in 4K UHD the following day at both 3 am ET and 11 am ET on Altice (Optimum), AT&T/DirecTV, Comcast, Cox, Verizon Fios, Fubo TV, and YouTube TV.
Note: Altice will only offer the live 4K UHD broadcasts in New York City while FuboTV will provide them in New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston.
Contact your local provider for specific details on if they are offering the 4K feed and what equipment you need.
What’s Not in 4K?
NBC/Universal’s Peacock streaming service will provide almost all Olympic events, but not in 4K UHD. Additional non-4K coverage will be provided by the USA Network, CNBC, NBC Olympics.com, and the NBC Sports App.
Additional Resources
Complete NBC Olympics Broadcast Schedule (4K and Non-4K Events)
NBC 4K UHD/HDR/Dolby Atmos Availability by Date/Time and Service
All Olympics TV Viewing Options for U.S. Viewers (4K UHD and HD – OTA, Cable, and Streaming)
Olympics TV Viewing Options Worldwide (pdf)
Buying a TV – What You Need To Know
Best USTs (Ultra Short Throw Projectors/Laser TV)
Closing Thoughts
No matter what viewing options you have available to you, the Olympics always has some historical TV viewing moments. Keep in mind that event times and coverage are subject to change, and several events may be scheduled at the same time. There will be a lot to watch but who has time to watch it all?
ORT
January 30, 2022 at 3:06 pm
I have had 4K for a few years now and not once have I viewed the Olympics or, for that matter, any “sports”. I recall when it meant some thing to represent one’s country. It has not been so for decades and there is no one to blame but the “athletes” and the MMS.
But. I very much enjoy my curved screen (shades of Todd AO!!) Samsung and its ability to display the films I watch on Laser Disc, DVD, Blu-Ray and UHD 4K discs. And even via Disney+, Prime and HBOMAX. Mostly my fare is frm the 40s on up. Big fan of Film Noir here.
To those that support sports, fine and dandy. I am not against you doing so, even my idiot family views some of that televised tripe, LOL! I just despise what athletics has become, ergo I avoid it like the Bubonic Plague.
ORT
Ian White
January 30, 2022 at 3:26 pm
ORT,
Never enough film noir. I can watch “Double Indemnity” and “The Asphalt Jungle” all day long.
I played ice hockey for almost 44 years and it’s the only sport I really care about. I’m also Canadian and grew up playing it on frozen ponds and streets. It’s a part of my DNA. It’s probably the only thing that is really “Canadian” about me.
The NHL is a lot better in person and I do make a habit of seeing 10-15 games a year live in NJ, NYC, and D.C.
The Olympics thing is not fun anymore now that pro athletes play in the team sports. I get that the Russians used “pros” on their teams before they were allowed to play in the NHL but that wasn’t the fault of the athletes. The last great Winter Olympic moment was the “Miracle on Ice” in Lake Placid in 1980 when I was 10.
It had real geo-political meaning for a lot of people. My ZsaZsa was liberated by the Russians from his Concentration Camp and they didn’t treat him any better than the Germans.
He was a pro athlete in Poland in the 1930s. Before Hitler came to power and invaded in 1939.
We watched the U.S.A. versus Russia game on their 27″ Zenith and I never saw him so emotional. This amazing man who lost everyone (50+ relatives) in the camps and who was a POW as well.
When the U.S. team beat the Russians (and I wear Russian players jerseys these days), he went crazy. He went outside (in Canada) with his lit cigarette and started waving an American flag. Cheering for America.
You’re right. The Olympics today are meaningless shite. Just an excuse to sell sneakers and Vitamin Water.
Ian White
ORT
January 30, 2022 at 8:03 pm
Ian, one of my brothers is a BIG hockey fan and another is one too but not quite as much. He attends the minor league games in Arizona a LOT! They both cheered when the USA won against Russia back then.
I was on my way out of watching. My end with sports began with the first MLB strike of 1972.
Even children are groomed for a career that only a tiny fraction of a percent can make. It should be fun not forced. Enough of my whining, LOL!
Be well, brother! Right now I am watching a film that is kinda sorta Film Noir, “Reminiscence”. It’s not quite Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake but it will have to do. 😉
ORT
aleidabianchi
February 3, 2022 at 8:52 pm
Right now I am watching online channels with ScreenVariety Tv. All Olympic Games games are available with no extra cost now!
I don’t know how to watch it absolutely free, However I registered last week on ScreenVariety Tv for $9/monthly. Streams on ScreenVariety Tv is just amazing. I think you can’t find better here. It’s working on my mac and iphone. I’m not sure about linux or windows (i don’t have any of them) but I think it should work there too. Look for ScreenVariety Tv