So what's the big deal and why is NBC doing this to viewers?*
Time zone time warp
Tape-delaying the opening ceremony isn't new and sometimes makes sense; with the Games being held in different cities across the globe, from London to Sydney, the event can take place at odd hours for U.S. viewers. Showing it in primetime enables the network to reach the largest possible audience. And the network hasn't shown a Summer Games opening ceremony live since the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 (it broadcast the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics opening ceremony live).* Read more...