This is direct from the Microsoft web site, and has been reported on several blogs. Please note that this is specific to Vista Media Center and is for U.S. residents only. NBC has a program you can install that is independent of Windows Media Center, however. I did not see anything “U.S. specific” there.
The 2008 Summer Olympics takes place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24. With a free download service1 called NBC Olympics On The Go,2 you can catch up on TV coverage from NBC Sports. Select your favorite sports and NBC Olympics On The Go will automatically download the right events to your Windows Media Center-based PC. You can watch your selected events in up to HD quality, even when offline, and you can pause, rewind, or fast-forward the video.
Download NBC Olympics On The Go
To get NBC Olympics On The Go, start Windows Media Center and scroll to the Online Media menu. You’ll see an NBC Olympics graphic.
Select the graphic and follow the instructions to install the service on to your computer.
Launch NBC Olympics On The Go and read the User Tips to get started.
What you’ll get
An easy-to-use service that lets you watch your favorite Olympic sports
200+ hours of catch-up TV programming over the 17 days of the Olympics
Coverage of approximately 24 sports, the full opening ceremony, and a closing ceremony montage
Up to HD quality video
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:35 am
Does not support x64. Will exit installation before it is completed. What a waste…! Here they go again. NBC is trying to sell you that revolutionary technology when in fact they are years behind.
August 2nd, 2008 at 2:42 am
Yea, it came up as an option in VMC this afternoon. I thought, cool! Tried to install it and no x64. I was quite bummed and irritated about this. Especially since I saw no mention of it…
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 am
At least you guys in the states have the option to be disappointed !!! As usual here in Europe we never get any cool content for media center.
August 3rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I used to be a Doctor Who fan. Where I’m at, I would have to wait 2-3 years, or longer, to get the latest thru our Public TV station. So, it goes both ways.
Now we get it thru the Sci-Fi channel. Delay? Perhaps a few weeks to a month. The only problem now is that I really liked the old Doctor Who show better. My Fav: Tom Baker.
So, hopefully in 4 years, the Olympics option will be available everywhere. Maybe even an x64 version!
August 10th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
For anyone interested in a 64-bit version, it is now available @ http://www.tvtonic.com/olympics/install/?referrer=mc