Here's what we know about watching the Olympics this year:
1. NBC has all the rights.
2. NBC has all the rights.
3. NBC has all the rights.
In the lead-up to the opening day, NBC made a big splash advertising all the ways that Americans could watch the games: on TV with time zone adjusted broadcasts (meaning west coasters would have to wait until 7pm PT to watch the opening ceremonies, a full eight hours later) or via live stream from London on NBCOlympics.com.
But now that the Games have started, many frustrated netizens have discovered that the live streaming service is available to cable-subscribers only. And NBC is not making the opening ceremony available at all online, prompting anger from frustrated viewers.
#NBC can suck it. They could have at least streamed #openingceremonies coverage in the US. Unbelievable.
— Ashley K. Ragland (@ashleyragland14) July 27, 2012
The London Opening Ceremony sounds awesome... wish I could have watched it with the rest of the world. #Nbc #AwfulCoverage
— Robert Dahnke (@dahnke) July 27, 2012
@NBC Dear #NBCfail, I want to watch the Olympics, but since I have internet instead of a stupid converter box or cable, I can't. #fail
— Erin LQ (@ErinLQ) July 27, 2012
Way to Fail @NBC, you're requiring me to be a cable custom to watch the Olympics online. I would pay directly, but no, you don't allow that.
— Matthew Brand (@MatthewJBrand) July 27, 2012
So where does that leave everyone else? Redditors have been hard at work trying to figure out ways to get around the embargo, while others are planning trips to local bars.
At the Guardian, we've got a couple of options for you:
• For a little snark, follow along with Xan Brooks as he mans our live blog
• Our live picture blog is the next best thing to live footage
• Follow the reaction on Twitter with this interactive
Now we're asking you, oh wise people of the internets, to tell us your plans. If you don't subscribe to cable, how will you watch the games?
