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Facebook strikes broadcast deals for Olympic coverage

Facebook has teamed up with broadcasters around the world to strengthen its participation in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

In the US, it has partnered with NBC Universal, allowing the social network to carry NBC’s Olympic-related news, interactive polls, photos and other content exclusive to the social network.

The NBC partnership will see the channel use a Facebook ‘talk meter’ to report on the online buzz around the event. The two companies will also carry promotions for each other with Facebook users being reminded about NBC’s Olympics coverage and NBC viewers in turn being encouraged to talk about the games on the social network.

Facebook is also collaborating on Olympics programming with other international broadcasters. In the UK, the BBC plans to stream its coverage of the games over the site.

The BBC and Facebook made a similar content sharing deal earlier this month allowing the broadcaster to stream the Wimbledon tennis tournament through the BBC Sport app. Other broadcasters are also seeking options to stream their content online. NBC for example also has a partnership with Youtube, allowing it to stream its coverage over the Google-owned video platform.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is also working directly with several social media sites to further promote the games. In May, Foursquare added several London 2012 check-ins and badges for users to unlock.

The London 2012 Olympic Games start in two weeks time. WPP chief executive Martin Sorrell has been named as a torch bearers to carrying the Olympic torch on one of the final legs of the relay building up to the opening ceremony.

David Hing, London