NBC to utilize USA Network

NBC, which loves to call itself the "network of the Olympics," yesterday designated USA Network as the home of the US Olympic team and Olympic Trials. NBC is poised to acquire USA in the pending NBC-Universal merger. If all goes according to NBC's plans, USA Network will air 24 hours of Trials coverage between now and the Summer Olympics in Athens (Aug. 13-29). NBC itself will have 18 hours of Trials coverage.

USA's coverage would include 11 consecutive Saturdays beginning May 22 and provide a major bonus for track and field fans: nine hours of weeknight coverage during the US Trials in Sacramento over the nights of July 9, 12, 15, and 16.

Other Trials to be covered by USA are wrestling, men's and women's volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, synchronized diving, equestrian, water polo, and weightlifting, plus anthology coverage of other sports July 17.

NBC's action is aimed at making USA the cable TV home of the US Olympic team and US Trials for the next five Games: 2004 in Athens, 2006 in Turin, 2008 in Beijing, 2010 in Vancouver, and the yet-to-be-awarded 2012 Summer Games.

"It makes perfect sense," said Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports and Olympics. "It's as simple as U-S-A."

USA Network now is expected to join NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, and Telemundo in covering competition at the Athens Games. USA Network is available in 86 million US households.

Between now and August, NBC itself plans to cover the diving, gymnastics, swimming, and weekend track and field trials competition.

Should the NBC-Universal merger approval be delayed, NBC plans to run the additional coverage on Bravo.