NBC Sports Network: Revamped Channel Should Help Satisfy Olympic Diehards

The biggest problem with NBC's coverage of recent Olympics has been the exorbitant amount of tape-delayed programming. In today's modern world of instant results and streaming video, there's no need to show an event hours after it actually occurred.

It's an issue that should be lessened by the NBC Sports Network, which is set to launch today. It's been billed as a new 24/7 sports network, but in reality, it's just the former channel Versus being re-branded to include the powerful NBC name.

Although the exact details of the station's Olympic programming haven't been released, it should allow the company to satisfy those die-hard fans who prefer to watch as many events as possible while they are actually occurring.

Since this summer's games are being held in London, England, there will be a five-hour difference between where the event is happening and the East Coast of the United States.

In previous years, that would have almost always meant marquee names like Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps wouldn't grace a television set until primetime. Hopefully, the fresh network will make that a thing of the past, where it belongs.

If NBC wants to replay the most popular events on the main channel for the day-time working crowd, that's fine. That shouldn't be the first time fans get to see the video, however.

Think of it like Wimbledon, but on a much larger scale.

When NBC has broadcast the tennis tournament in recent years, other channels were able to showcase some matches prior to NBC taking over later in the day. The Olympics should be approached in the same manner.

Show live events on the NBC Sports Network and again later for those who missed it the first time around. Perhaps the channel will bring about a change of attitude about tape delayed events. There just isn't much need for it in a world that's dominated by Twitter spreading news like wildfire.

All told, hopefully, the NBC Sports Network will finally turn the tide in favor of the die-hard fans.