Social Media Feeds Winter Olympics Addict

I admit it. I’m a self-confessed Winter Olympics addict and always have been. This year NBC has been feeding this voracious habit across their networks sufficiently enough that I actually know the channel numbers for MSNBC and CNBC on my cable box. I’m DVRing the daytime events, staying up late to watch the extended coverage. And if that’s not enough, my iPhone has yet to leave my side; NBC has created one of the best iPhone apps I own.

Though they have been able to simplistically organize all the info you would expect on a deep website into an app easily negotiated on a mobile device, they have also put us in the same room to eavesdrop on the star-studded athletes thoughts and for fans to respond with encouragement and accolades.

In the middle of week one, the NBC app embedded Twitter feeds from some of the athletes. Apolo Ohno described his “struggle” during the tune-ups and anticipation of the speed skating events that preceded him to becoming the winningest American Winter Olympian in history. Not only were his thoughts tweeted from track-side and from bedside, but his fans across the country responded with their own tweets of support and encouragement. Now this is cool. All done within the NBC app.

I ventured onto many other athlete’s and coaches sections in the app to catch up on their achievements and thoughts, as well as what their fandom was saying. I couldn’t help being amazed at watching an event live on TV and reading the athletes tweets moments before the competition. You simply can’t get closer to the action.

The marketing implications are obvious: re-affirmed sports leader (and technology) image for NBC; athlete’s accolades for their equipment suppliers; banner ads with relevant messaging throughout the app; varied content that encourages high return visits.

I’m sure I could find a Facebook page for every sport and Olympian athlete to engage in, but then I would have missed the riveting play by both teams in USA vs Canada hockey last night.