Snapchat to showcase Olympics in deal with NBC
Snapchat has inked a deal with NBC to provide users content around this summer’s 2016 Rio Olympics and the US Olympic Team Trials, which will include daily Snapchat 'Live Stories' and an NBC Rio Olympic Discover channel.
Both the Live Story experiences and Discover channel will be available to Snapchatters in the US for two weeks around the Games and NBC Olympics will co-produce the Discover channel with Buzzfeed, creating clips and shots from inside and outside Rio Olympic venues.
Meanwhile, the Live Story will include behind-the-scenes and fan moments from the ground.
“We are thrilled to be working closely with Snapchat on extending the stories and excitement of the Rio Olympics to their large, dynamic, and socially active audience,” said Gary Zenkel, president, NBC Olympics. “And who better to partner with to produce content for that audience than Buzzfeed, perhaps the most creative producers in the social content space.”
The Discover channel will be live throughout the duration of the Rio Olympics, launching on 4 August, one day before the Opening Ceremony, and closing on 22 August, the day after the Closing Ceremony.
The move comes just weeks after Facebook, Yahoo and Twitter have moved to bolster live-streaming of sports on their platforms. Given how much fan comment around live events already happen on these platforms, executives see it as a chance to keep people there for longer.