NBC Olympic Coverage Kicks-off Thursday

Mike Tirico, who will make his debut as NBC’s primetime Olympic host, leads a record 89 NBC Olympics commentators as NBC Olympics presents coverage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, the NBC Sports app, and NBCOlympics.com.

The Opening Ceremony of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, will air in primetime, Friday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC. Award-winning journalist Katie Couricreturns to NBC to co-host the Opening Ceremony alongside primetime host Mike Tirico at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.

The overall talent lineup features the return of many of the network’s signature Olympic anchors, play-by-play commentators and analysts with Olympic experience.

NBC Olympics commentator notes:

• The roster includes Olympians who have won a combined total of 46 Olympic medals (14 gold, 19 silver, and 13 bronze). Team NBC would have placed first in the 2014 Sochi Olympics medal count ahead of Russia, Team USA and Norway.
• Mike Tirico will make his debut as NBC’s primetime Olympic host. Tirico will also host the Opening Ceremony alongside award-winning journalist Katie Couric, who co-hosted the Opening Ceremony in Sydney, Salt Lake, and Athens. Rebecca Lowe will anchor NBC’s daytime coverage, while Liam McHugh, Carolyn Manno and Ahmed Fareed will handle NBCSN hosting duties.

Among the Olympians on Team NBC: 2006 U.S. Olympic ice dance silver medalists Ben Agosto and Tanith White, four-time Trinidad and Tobago Olympic track and field medalist Ato Boldon, three-time U.S. Olympic speed skating medalist Joey Cheek, 2014 U.S. Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Kaitlyn Farrington, 2006 U.S. Olympic curling bronze medalist Pete Fenson, 1984 U.S. Olympic figure skating gold medalist Scott Hamilton, 1998 U.S. Olympic figure skating gold medalist Tara Lipinski, four-time U.S. Olympic alpine skiing medalist Julia Mancuso, two-time Canadian Olympic curling medalist Kevin Martin, six-time U.S. Olympic alpine skiing medalist Bode Miller, two-time U.S. Olympic ice hockey medalist AJ Mleczko, 1998 U.S. Olympic freestyle skiing gold medalist Jonny Moseley, eight-time U.S. Olympic short track speed skating medalist Apolo Ohno, three-time U.S. Olympic Nordic combined skiing medalist Johnny Spillane, three-time U.S. Olympic ice dance medalist Charlie White, 1992 U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi.
The 89 commentators will work coverage on NBCU platforms – NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, the NBC Sports app, and NBCOlympics.com – the most in-depth coverage in Winter Olympics history with more than 2,400 hours of coverage.

FOLLOWING IS A RUNDOWN OF NBC OLYMPICS’ ON-AIR & DIGITAL TEAM:

NBC & NBCSN HOSTS:

• MIKE TIRICO: Tirico will make his debut as NBC’s primetime Olympic host in PyeongChang. He made his NBC Olympics debut as an NBC daytime anchor for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
• REBECCA LOWE: Lowe serves as the host of NBC’s daytime coverage from the International Broadcast Center in PyeongChang, after anchoring at the 2014 Sochi Games and the 2016 Rio Games. The 2017-18 season marks Lowe’s fifth season as studio host of NBC Sports Group’s exclusive coverage of the Premier League.
• LIAM MCHUGH: McHugh will host primetime and late night on NBCSN. He will also anchor Olympic Ice, a new daily figure skating preview show on NBCSN. McHugh previously served as a studio host in Rio in 2016, hosted Olympic hockey coverage at the 2014 Sochi Games, and served as an anchor of NBCSN’s coverage in London in 2012.
• CAROLYN MANNO: Manno makes her fourth appearance with NBC Olympics, and will handle late night and morning hosting duties on NBCSN. She made her NBC Olympics hosting debut in Rio, and previously served as a freestyle skiing reporter at the 2014 Sochi Games, and a reporter at the 2012 London Olympics. Manno also worked as an anchor during the 2016 Rio and 2014 Sochi Paralympics.
• AHMED FAREED: Fareed handles his second NBC Olympics assignment, anchoring daytime NBCSN coverage. He made his NBC Olympics debut as a studio host on USA Network during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
• FRED ROGGIN: Roggin will serve as host for CNBC’s curling coverage. He has worked eight Olympics with NBC Sports, and has covered every Olympics since 1984.

OLYMPIC CORRESPONDENTS/CONTRIBUTORS:

• MARY CARILLO: PyeongChang marks Carillo’s 14th Olympic assignment overall and 11th for NBC. She has spent time traversing South Korea, partly with fellow correspondent David Chang, to film her travelogues, which have been a fundamental part of introducing the people, culture, and history of the host country and city to the U.S. television audience since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Carillo also served as a correspondent for the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2014 Sochi Olympics. She was late night host and correspondent at the 2012 London Olympics, 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• DAVID FEHERTY: Feherty will reprise his role as an Olympics correspondent for his second Olympic Games. He made his debut at the 2016 Rio Games as an NBC Olympics correspondent and on-course reporter and tower analyst for the men’s golf competition. Feherty also contributed to NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony in Rio.
• ATO BOLDON: A four-time Olympic medalist and NBC Sports Group’s lead track and field analyst, Boldon returns for his second Winter Olympics as a correspondent after serving in the same role in Sochi. He made his Olympic broadcast debut as a track and field analyst at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a role he has held for the past three Olympic Games.
• DAVID CHANG: Chang makes his NBC Olympics debut as a special correspondent, providing viewers with an insider’s look at Korean food, culture and traditions. Chang, a second generation Korean American who founded the Momofuku Restaurant Group, will take part in multiple features and discussions.
• SCOTT HAMILTON: Hamilton, who provided figure skating analysis for NBC Olympics from 2002-14, will serve as a special contributor and analyst on Olympic Ice presented by Toyota. PyeongChang marks his fifth NBC Olympics assignment, and eighth overall.
• JIMMY ROBERTS: A 13-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and writer, Roberts will reprise his role reporting on the stories of the Games, his 17th Olympic assignment. He has reported on “Ping Pong Diplomacy” in Beijing, Bode Miller in Vancouver, changes to Wimbledon for the Olympics in London, and hockey in Russia from Sochi. Roberts will also host Winter Olympics Daily, a 30-minute studio show that will provide features, storytelling, commentary, and highlights, on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.
• DALE EARNHARDT JR.: Motorsports icon and two-time Daytona 500 winning driver Earnhardt will make his NBC debut as a contributor at Super Bowl LII. Later in February, he will travel to PyeongChang, where he will explore the culture, people, and traditions in South Korea, and experience Olympic competitions first hand. Earnhardt will visit the short track speed skating venue at Gangneung Ice Arena, and through the lens of a racer will view the speed, close contact, and tight turns on the short track speed skating oval.
• JOSHUA COOPER RAMO: Ramo, co-CEO of Kissinger Associates, will serve as a contributor in PyeongChang including an appearance in the Opening Ceremony. He previously joined NBC Olympics to discuss culture and geo-political issues during the 2008 Beijing Games.

REPORTERS: NBC Olympics reporters will report from various venues and locations throughout the Games, and will contribute to features on a variety of platforms including The Olympic Zone – a 30-minute nightly show that airs on NBC affiliate stations. The reporters, all based in PyeongChang, include: NBC News’ Dylan Dreyer, Willie Geist, Natalie Morales, Gadi Schwartzand Anne Thompson, along with NBC Sports Group’s Rutledge Wood and Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner. Dreyer, Geist and Morales will also contribute to TODAY’s coverage in PyeongChang. Recently retired alpine skier and four-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso will join NBC Olympics in PyeongChang, where she will contribute features on a variety of platforms including The Olympic Zone, and will also serve as a reporter, covering venues and locations throughout the Games. Mancuso worked for NBC in a similar capacity at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

GOLF CHANNEL: More than 20 members of Golf Channel and NBC Sports’ golf teams – both in front of and behind the camera – will contribute to NBC Olympics’ coverage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games from PyeongChang, South Korea. Golf Channel’s David Feherty, Damon Hack and Rich Lerner will be making their NBC Sports’ Winter Olympics debuts, joining fellow Golf Channel personalities Terry Gannon, Dan Hicks, Jimmy Roberts, and Steve Sands in PyeongChang.

NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS: NBC Sports Regional Networks will send six on-air commentators to join NBC Olympics coverage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. NBC Sports Boston’s Trenni Kusnierek will serve as a curling reporter while Boston teammate Abby Chin will report on cross-country skiing and ski jumping. NBC Sports Chicago’s Leila Rahimi will serve as a women’s hockey reporter, and NBC Sports Washington’s Julie Donaldson will reprise her role as Olympic News Desk host. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Ahmed Fareedwill host NBCSN’s daytime Olympics coverage, while colleague Jim Kozimor handles curling play-by-play.

OLYMPIC NEWS DESK UPDATES: Hosted by Julie Donaldson, Olympic News Desk updates will stream throughout the day on NBCOlympics.com. They will feature the most up-to-date news and highlights from the day’s events in PyeongChang. Olympic News Desk updates will be produced at NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn.

GOLD ZONE: Beginning on February 9, Gold Zone will offer a fast-pace review of the recently concluded competition day, with host Rob Simmelkjaer guiding viewers through recaps of every medal event and all the must-see highlights from action on the snow and ice in PyeongChang. Gold Zone will stream daily through February 25 from Noon – 2 p.m. ET on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app.

HIGHLIGHTS:

ALPINE SKIING: Dan Hicks, anchor of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning golf coverage and Olympic swimming play-by-play commentator, will serve as lead play-by-play for alpine skiing. Bode Miller, the most decorated skier in U.S. Olympic history, makes his NBC Olympics debut as an analyst. Former U.S. Ski Team downhill racer Steve Porino serves as an on-course reporter, his sixth assignment with NBC Olympics, while reporter Heather Cox makes her fifth Olympic appearance.

BIATHLON: Steve Schlanger returns as the play-by-play commentator for biathlon coverage. He will be joined by former U.S. Biathlon Team member Chad Salmela, who returns for his fifth Games as a biathlon and cross-country analyst. Damon Hack makes his NBC Olympics debut and will report from the course.

BOBSLED/LUGE/SKELETON: Leigh Diffey reprises his role as bobsled/luge/skeleton play-by-play commentator after making his Olympic debut in Sochi. Lewis Johnson, working his 10th Olympic Games for NBC, will be the reporter for all three disciplines. Working as analysts alongside Diffey will be former U.S. National Bobsled Team member John Morgan, a bobsled analyst for his 10th consecutive Winter Olympics; three-time Olympian Duncan Kennedy (luge); and 2010 Olympic bobsledder and former skeleton racer Bree Schaaf (skeleton).

CROSS-COUNTRY: Al Trautwig returns to NBC for his 12th Olympic assignment with the network and 17th Olympics overall, handling cross-country skiing play-by-play duties. In addition to his work on biathlon, Chad Salmela will work as the cross-country analyst.

CURLING: Jason Knapp reprises his role as play-by-play commentator in his fourth Olympic assignment and second consecutive Winter Olympics. Kevin Martin, who skipped Team Canada to gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, will serve as analyst. Trenni Kusnierek serves as the curling reporter for the second consecutive Winter Olympics.

Fred Roggin returns as curling studio host for his fifth consecutive Winter Olympics and ninth overall NBC Olympics assignment. Roggin will be joined by play-by-play commentators Bill Doleman and Jim Kozimor; and analyst Pete Fenson (2006 bronze medalist for Team USA).

FIGURE SKATING: Terry Gannon, working his fourth Olympics, will make his debut as lead play-by-play commentator for Olympic figure skating alongside lead analysts Tara Lipinski, the 1998 Olympic gold medalist, and three-time U.S. figure skating champion Johnny Weir. Lipinski and Weir are working their third Olympic assignments together after serving as correspondents during the 2016 Games in Rio. Andrea Joyce, who returns for her 10th Olympic assignment with NBC, will serve as a figure skating and short track speed skating reporter.

Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, who provided figure skating analysis for NBC Olympics from 2002-14, will serve as a special contributor and analyst on Olympic Ice Presented by Toyota, a new live daily figure skating preview show on NBCSN. Liam McHugh will host Olympic Ice, alongside 2006 Olympic ice dance silver medalist Tanith White, who will also offer analysis on the show.

Krista Voda will host the digital-exclusive version of Olympic Ice Presented by Toyota. Voda will be joined by 1992 Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, 2014 Olympic ice dance gold medalist Charlie White, and 2006 Olympic ice dance silver medalist Ben Agosto, who make their NBC Olympics debuts.

FREESTYLE SKIING: Trace Worthington returns for his fourth Winter Olympics assignment and will be the freestyle skiing play-by-play commentator. Worthington is joined by 1998 Olympic moguls gold medalist Jonny Moseley and former professional freestyle skier Luke Van Valin. Kelli Stavast, who is making her Winter Olympics debut, will report from the venue.

HOCKEY: Kenny Albert, who has called men’s or women’s hockey for every Olympic Winter Games since 2002, and Gord Miller will combine to provide play-by-play commentary of the men’s hockey tournament, alongside analyst Mike Milbury. Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire, working his fourth straight Winter Olympics, and Brian Boucher will serve as ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analysts.

John Walton will serve as the lead play-by-play voice for NBC Olympics’ coverage of the women’s hockey tournament, alongside analyst AJ Mleczko, who won a gold medal at the inaugural women’s Olympic hockey tournament in 1998, and reporter Leila Rahimi.

Kathryn Tappen will host studio coverage from the Gangneung Coastal Cluster alongside analysts Jeremy Roenick and Keith Jones. Tessa Bonhomme, 2010 Canadian Olympic ice hockey gold medalist, will anchor studio coverage from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., alongside Anson Carter and 2010 U.S. Olympic ice hockey silver medalist Erika Lawler.

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING: Ted Robinson, at his 11th Olympics overall and 10th for NBC, will be the short track speed skating play-by-play commentator. Apolo Ohno, the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history, reprises his role from Sochi, which followed his Olympic debut as a sportsdesk reporter at the 2012 London Olympic Games. In addition to figure skating, Andrea Joyce will serve as the reporter for short track speed skating.

SKI JUMPING: Paul Burmeister makes his Winter Olympics debut as the ski jumping play-by-play commentator. Joining Burmeister are NBC Olympics newcomers Johnny Spillane, a three-time Olympic medalist, and NBC Sports Boston reporter Abby Chin.

SNOWBOARDING: Todd Harris will return for his fifth consecutive Winter Games, serving as the play-by-play commentator for men’s and women’s snowboarding, which includes halfpipe, slopestyle, snowboard cross, parallel giant slalom. U.S. Olympian and multi-time X Games medalist Todd Richards, and veteran snowboarding reporter Tina Dixon, make their fourth appearances as analyst and reporter, respectively.

SPEED SKATING: Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek will make his NBC Olympics debut as a speed skating analyst alongside speed skating play-by-play commentator Tom Hammond in PyeongChang. Cheek and Hammond will be joined by Golf Channel’s Steve Sands, who will serve as a reporter. Hammond works his 13th Olympics assignment with NBC Sports.

4K COVERAGE: Chris Vosters handles the play-by-play for NBC Olympics’ 4K coverage of figure skating alongside 2014 Olympic ice dance gold medalist and analyst Charlie White, as both make their NBC Olympics debuts. Jon Rosen makes his NBC Olympics debut serving as the play-by-play voice for NBC Olympics’ 4K coverage of the men’s and women’s hockey tournaments, alongside fellow newcomer and analyst Mike Johnson, who played 12 years in the NHL and is a commentator for NHL Network. Bill Spaulding, who also makes his Winter Olympics debut, will serve as the lead play-by-play voice for NBC Olympics’ 4K coverage of ski jumping, while 2014 Olympian Jessica Jerome provides analysis. 2014 Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Kaitlyn Farrington makes her NBC Olympics debut as the big air analyst for NBC Olympics’ 4K coverage, while two-time Olympian Dan Weinstein, who made his NBC Olympics debut in Torino in 2006, serves as the short track speed skating analyst for 4K coverage.