Designing NBC’s viewing experience of the Sochi Olympics
How NBC took cues from the Sochi brand to deliver their coverage
Much has been said about the Sochi brand and opening ceremonies’ fashion statements. In short, there’s lots of loud colors against the bleak backdrop of Russian winter.
But what about the American TV coverage? The Olympics serve as the largest event covered by NBC Sports, a network that’s working hard to regain its dominance against powerhouse competitors CBS Sports, Fox Sports and ESPN/ABC.
So it only makes sense that NBC would invest heavily in their presentation of the games. Here’s a few things I’ve noticed since their coverage began:
We kick off our coverage with Bob Costas broadcasting from The Fortress of Solitude! That sure is an icy set. Note the triangular desk — that shape serves as a common theme with NBC’s broadcast.
NBC’s Sochi logo also uses triangular features. This makes sense in a mountainous setting. This screen works particularly well — a great backdrop, a crisp, bold logo, and the supporting triangular shapes on sides of the screen.
The triangle motif continues with the on-screen graphics next to Costas. The individual sporting events use layers of triangles to create dimension. NBC uses this theme effectively and it works even better when used as a transition screen between two camera shots.
You won’t find triangles when NBC uses graphics for athlete or event information such as standings and qualifying times. Much like CBS has done with The Masters, NBC’s Olympics-only graphics look nothing like the rest of their sports visuals found on events like Sunday Night Football.
There’s some visual disconnect here; however, there’s also nostalgia associated with these graphics, giving older footage a timeless feeling.
After several days of competition, NBC’s reliance on triangles — a visual element taken from the overall Sochi brand — proves that smart use of graphics greatly enhances the viewing experience.
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