Achieve Olympic viewing gold: Upgrade your experience with high-speed internet
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Delmaine Donson, Getty Images
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, is one of the most anticipated sporting events of the season. This year’s Olympics take place from July 26 to August 11, with a few soccer, handball and rugby matches held before the official opening ceremony. Don’t miss out on these and other feats of athleticism in events like gymnastics, swimming, boxing, cycling, fencing, rowing and more due to a mediocre internet connection.
Here, we’ll teach you how to optimize your internet speeds and take advantage of the best ways to watch the Olympics with the top internet providers for streaming. We’ll also cover how to stream the Olympics, how to find exclusive Olympic coverage online, and how to get real-time scores and updates at home or on the go.
Where to watch the Olympics 2024
Wherever you’re watching, from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles, you can stream this year’s games on any smart TV or streaming device such as a Roku or Amazon Firestick. Alternatively, you can use a TV and internet bundle to watch live TV with a cable, satellite or streaming TV subscription, such as FuboTV, YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
Check out the following methods to watch the Summer Olympic games on TV or via an app.
- Stream the Summer Olympics with Peacock Premium ($5.99/mo.) or ad-free Peacock Premium Plus ($11.99/mo.). Both plans include the Olympic games with the opening and closing ceremonies.
- Watch NBC live on Friday, July 26, at 1:30 p.m. EST to catch the opening ceremony, with an encore presentation at 7:30 p.m. EST. While some events are digital-only, meaning they won’t be available on live TV, others are available both online and on live TV. For digital-only events, you will need internet access and a streaming device like a tablet, laptop or cell phone to access the competition.
- Watch USA, the GOLF Channel, CNBC and E! to view various events, or Paris Extra 1 and Paris Extra 2, two limited-time channels especially for Olympic broadcasts.
- For Spanish-language viewers, Telemundo airs the Olympic opening ceremony at 1 p.m. EST. on Friday, July 26, and Universo will also have Olympic coverage, including soccer and news.
The full schedule of events and where to watch is available at NBCOlympics.com.
Where to watch the opening ceremony
Here’s how to watch the Olympics 2024 opening ceremonies.
- NBC: Friday, July 26; 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. EST.
- Telemundo: Friday, July 26; 1 p.m. EST.
- Peacock Premium or Premium Plus: Friday, July 26; 7:30 p.m. EST (also available for streaming post-performance).
What happens at the Olympics opening ceremony?
This year, the opening ceremony features a flotilla, or boat parade, through the famous Seine River. Along the path are many of Paris’s historical landmarks, such as the Louvre and Notre-Dame. Additionally, several areas along the river are transformed into mini beaches during the summer, with sand and palm trees for residents and tourists to enjoy.
The opening ceremony also showcases the Parade of Nations, which introduces every participating country’s athletes and includes the lighting of the Olympic torch.
Best apps to stream the Summer Olympics
Streaming on TV isn’t the only best way to watch the Olympics. Many cell phone and tablet apps let you check the medal count and watch your favorite athletes like Simone Biles, Sha’Carri Richardson, Caeleb Dressel and others.
Here are the apps you can use for the optimal Olympic viewing experience.
- NBC family of apps. This includes Peacock, NBC, NBC Olympics and NBC Sports. You will need either a Peacock streaming subscription or a television provider login to access these apps.
- Your TV provider’s app. Spectrum, Xfinity and Verizon Fios are a few examples of TV providers offering dedicated apps to watch TV on the fly.
- Your streaming provider’s app. If you use a streaming TV service, like Sling TV or DIRECTV Stream, you can download and use their app for Olympic access, provided you have NBC as part of your channel lineup.
Podcast apps with exclusive Olympic coverage
Wondering how to watch the Olympics for free? TV and streaming apps aren’t the only way to immerse yourself in the daily Olympic excitement. Download the free iHeart: Radio, Podcasts, Music app for exclusive audio content. The best part is that, unlike most streaming or TV services, it is free to access podcast content.
The iHeart app will provide round-the-clock audio coverage, as well as captivating Olympic podcasts. Listen to “My New Favorite Olympian” for comprehensive athlete profiles or “In the Village” to go behind the scenes in the Olympic residential complex.
What internet do you need to watch the Summer Olympics?
Conventional TV service aside, reliable internet is key to streaming Olympic coverage with all the extras. A good internet speed for streaming depends on how many connected devices, such as laptops, tablets and cell phones, simultaneously use home Wi-Fi.
Your speed requirements also differ based on your online activities. Faster speeds are necessary when using more devices or performing high-bandwidth activities such as gaming and streaming.
Recommended internet speed for streaming the Olympics
According to Peacock TV, you need a minimum of 3 Mbps for streaming and a minimum of 8 Mbps for some high-definition (HD) or live streams, such as watching the U.S. Men’s Basketball tournament.
These speeds are achievable with nearly every internet connection type. Even rural internet with satellite providers like Hughesnet and Starlink have basic plans up to 50 Mbps, although data constraints may impact continuous streaming. Fortunately, most widely available internet providers, such as AT&T, Cox and Frontier, provide virtually unlimited internet with minimum speeds of 100 Mbps or more on cable or fiber connections.
Special Xfinity + Olympics deal
From July 26 to August 11, you can enjoy exclusive perks with Xfinity, thanks to their partnership with Team USA. New customers who sign up for Xfinity’s Connect More 300 plan or higher are eligible* for the following offers:
- For $35/mo., the 300 Mbps plan includes one unlimited mobile line for a year and a free 5G phone with an eligible trade-in.
- At $50/mo., you’ll receive the previously mentioned benefits plus Xfinity StreamSaver™ — a streaming bundle featuring Netflix and Peacock Premium with ads, and Apple TV+.
- For the ultimate value, the 1,000 Mbps plan offers Xfinity StreamSaver™, one free unlimited mobile line, two unlimited lines with BOGO and up to three free 5G phones with trade-in.
*Offers available to new customers or current Xfinity customers moving and transferring Xfinity Internet services. Pricing may vary by region.
Switching internet providers
Check your current speed with an internet speed test to determine how your current internet plan stacks up to these streaming requirements. If you think it’s time to upgrade your internet plan, opting for a no-contract or prepaid internet plan is a low-commitment way to test out faster speeds without a contract or early termination fee.
Before switching internet providers, evaluate the best internet providers in your area. Prioritize a fast download speed for the ideal streaming experience, while avoiding extra expenses for speeds you don’t need to save money on the internet.
Explore internet deals, cheap internet plans and other low-cost internet options in your area to ensure you’re set up with internet ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
This content is produced through an alliance between USA TODAY and Allconnect.com. Under the alliance, Allconnect publishes articles about broadband-related topics upholding strict editorial integrity standards in line with USA TODAY’s Principles of Ethical Conduct. The opinions, analyses, reviews and recommendations expressed are those of the Allconnect editorial staff alone. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Read more about our Allconnect Advertising Disclosure.
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