Stream TikTok at the Olympics Next Time Instead
Diving into the Olympics was supposed to be a breeze, but boy were we wrong! NBCUniversal, with their brand spankin' new streaming platform Peacock, seemed like they had it all figured out - flaunting it as the prime spot for the Games' hottest moments. On the Peacock "Tokyo NOW" channel, they promised multiple live shows per day covering competition, highlights, interviews, and juicy behind-the-scenes deets. It looked like they were gearin' up to deliver more accessible on-demand coverage than ever before.
But as many a frustrated streamer can attest, things didn't exactly pan out as planned. Technical issues and programming hiccups knocked the coverage off-balance. If you wanted to catch the opening ceremony live, well, my friend, you would have been outta luck, as Peacock didn't air it live at all. And basketball fans found themselves lickin' their wounds, as the entire sport seeminly got paywalled, an attempt to maybe lure people into upgrading to one of Peacock's premium tiers.
If you'd hoped for the long-promised 4K coverage NBC had been touting, sorry pal, that was a no-go too - 4K ain't yet supported by Peacock.
Phew, it's a wonder NBC didn't drop the ball more than once on this, its biggest broadcast op in at least the next two years. But it turns out that the network wasn't the only one throwing baskets left and right. Enter TikTok - the underdog that rose to the occasion, dazzlin' us all with its delightful ease-of-use and intuitive, personal touch.
Now, TikTok ain't gonna win any gold medals for wall-to-wall coverage - it don't got theSIZE or the resources of larger networks. But it sure as heck makes up for what it lacks in heart, convenience, and user-generated gems like videos of the New Zealand Olympics team launchin' into chest-measuring competitions.
As the Washington Post points out, NBC missed the mark when it came to airin' the shaky vault performance Simone Biles gave before decidein' to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics women's gymnastics team final due to mental health concerns. But video of Biles' vaults quickly took off on TikTok, fillin' in crucial context and offerin' a human connection that mainstream coverage just couldn't capture. And TikTok proved itself a rising star in the coverage arena when it came to events like the British swimmer Adam Peaty whippin' out his Olympic gold medal for all to see. It was also the talk of the town when it came to behind-the-scenes, personality-driven posts shot by athletes themselves.
So, who was Peacock, dawg? Where was Peacock when it came to the bed-pageant insanity in the Olympic Village?
"In this day and age, the average Olympic viewer ain't devoted to a TV network or station, but they're devoted to PEOPLE," Ali Fazal, vice president of marketing at influencer marketing company Grin, told the Post. "Now, there's a lot more ways to engage rather than hopin' your right customer is tuned into NBC at the exact right time."
Look, TikTok ain't gonna provide the same kind of all-encompassin' Olympics coverage that larger, better-supported networks are able to knock out. But what it provides in its place are heart, ease-of-use, and entertaining content that mainstream coverage just can't touch. And for those reasons, I'm puttin' in a good word for TikTok with the International Olympic Committee, hopin' they consider rewardin' the platform with a hefty contract to become the go-to streamin' destination for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Broadcast rights-holders may have paid the IOC billions, but TikTok deserves some credit for makin' this year's games watchable.
- The technical issues and programming hiccups experienced by NBCUniversal's streaming platform Peacock during the Olympics showed some of the limitations of relying solely on traditional broadcast networks, as average viewers sought out alternative sources.
- TikTok, with its user-friendly interface and personal touch, dazzled viewers with its delightful ease-of-use and intuitive content, providing a human connection and context that mainstream coverage could not capture, especially in moments like Simone Biles' shaky vault performance.
- As the Washington Post pointed out, TikTok filled in crucial gaps left by NBC's coverage, offering a fresh perspective on events and personalities that traditional broadcasters struggled to convey, such as behind-the-scenes posts from athletes.
- In light of TikTok's success in providing engaging, heartwarming content during the Olympics, it is worth considering offering the platform a contract as the go-to streaming destination for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, recognizing the value it brings to the table and the unique way it offers a more personal connection to the average viewer.
