The Olympic Games are weeks away, and NBC is teaming up with Adobe for two apps that will provide easy access to game details as well as live streaming from London.
The free Adobe AIR-powered apps - NBC Olympics Live Extra and NBC Olympics - are now available for iOS and Android. The first will allow for live streaming of more than 3,500 hours of Olympic content, while the second provides more indepth details about the athlethes, the games, and more.
In a nod to the TV Everywhere model, access to the "vast majority" of streaming content will be limited to U.S. users with a pay TV subscription. In order to watch, users will be asked to sign in with their cable login, whether that is Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cablevision, or a smaller regional provider.
Ashley Still, director of product management for Video Solutions at Adobe, said that 97 percent of all households that pay for TV can access the live streaming content. If you're at home and also get Internet access via your TV provider, the app will automatically recognize that you are allowed to watch the live streaming content.
Those who don't currently have a login for their cable provider can contact the company; NBC has a list of contact numbers on its website. The same authentication can be used across multiple devices.
If you're pressed for time and are only minutes away from a big race, NBC and Adobe are also offering a one-time pass that will let you watch for one hour without authenticating via your cable provider.
What if there are multiple events going on at the same time, or taking place while you're at work? The app will allow users to set reminders, set up DVR-esque recordings, or opt to pause, rewind, or watch later.
In addition, you can switch between camera views to catch a glimpse of your favorite athlete and share favorite moments on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
The NBC Olympics app, meanwhile, will include short-form highlights, event schedules, TV and online listings, results, athlete profiles, columns, and more. A Primetime Companion feature includes trivia, polls, slideshows, videos, and athlete bios that are synched with what's being broadcast live on NBC.