Now, I love my Bravo shows just as much as the next person. I can’t get enough of those lazy days in the Hamptons or watching the Real Housewives troll one another. But I am not ashamed to admit I am addicted to the Olympics. Jill Zarin ice skating can only sustain me for so long. It isn’t every day that the best of the best get to compete for gold. Personally, I am all about the Summer Olympics because I am a huge women’s soccer fan. The camaraderie that is shown between countries and teams is like no other. The games are meant to be inspiring and uplifting and who doesn’t need a little inspiration right about now? As a viewer, you watch to celebrate athletic achievements and root for your home country.
There have been moments of greatness, such as in 1900 when the first female athletes were allowed to participate. In 1936, Jesse Owens broke the world record in Berlin, which shattered Hitler’s aim to use the Games as an example of the “new Aryan man.” And in 2008, Michael Phelps took home the most gold medals ever. In 1996, the USWNT won its first gold medal, which created a wave of popularity for the sport. The rush that the Olympics brings to the NBC network is everything, so it makes sense that Bravo might not want to compete for ratings.
NBC or bust
As long as I have been alive (and now I am dating myself), NBC has always been home to the Olympic Games. The network has had the exclusive broadcasting rights to the Summer Olympic Games since 1988. And they have had the rights to the Winter Games since 2002. In 2014, NBC Universal, the parent company of Bravo, signed a $7.65 billion extension with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow the network to broadcast the Olympics through 2032. The games in the agreement include Paris, Milan, Los Angeles, and Brisbane. That gives the network total control until 2032!
There is money to be made
Even though the Olympics is all about national pride, don’t be fooled. NBC can make a ton of money. According to Forbes, NBC booked $1.2 billion in advertising for the upcoming Paris 2024 games. NBC not only has record ad revenue but also, for the first time in traditional TV coverage, Peacock, their streaming service, will be live streaming every 329 medal event, which adds up to 5,000 hours of coverage.
Will Bravo air new episodes?
NBC Universal has also shared that during daytime hours, the Olympics will be broadcast on NBC channels and Spanish-language Telemundo, including the Bravo channel. So, you won’t be able to see any reruns while on your lunch break. However, in primetime, Telemundo and NBC will offer a highlight reel of the day’s events. For the London Olympics in 2016, Bravo aired 56 hours of tennis. So it makes sense that for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Bravo would be given the same amount, if not more, hours for sports coverage.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey will have had 12 episodes by the time the opening ceremonies air on July 24. Below Deck Mediterranean and the Real Housewives of Dubai will only be halfway through their new seasons, too. Bravo has yet to announce whether or not they will be airing new episodes, but if I had to guess, I would say no. I don’t see Bravo wanting to compete for ratings when it is already determined that most of the ad budget is going to the 17-day Olympic coverage.
Now, I can already feel the angst coming from some of the die-hard Bravo viewers. But it isn’t the end of the world if a few new episodes get pushed back. If we are lucky, maybe Bravo will decide to air their primetime shows, but we won’t know until closer to the time. So, for now, figure out your favorite sport and get your national pride ready as Team USA goes for the gold! I’ll be watching and cheering my favorites on in Paris, will you?
TELL US – ARE YOU EXCITED FOR THE OLYMPICS? OR WILL YOU MISS YOUR FAVORITE BRAVO SHOW?