[Edit: Some non-USA matches on MSNBC and NBCSN may be cut-into, so have Live Extra streams ready as a back-up.]
The following is a summary of the viewing options for NBC’s coverage of the women’s soccer tournament at the London Olympics, along with (hopefully complete and accurate) schedules for (1) the standard cable channels, NBC Sports Network and MSNBC; (2) NBC Specialty Olympic Soccer Channel; and (3) live online streaming options via NBCOlympics.com’s “Live Extra” feature.
(All schedules are subject to change. If you notice any discrepancies between this schedule and NBCOlympics.com TV or online schedule, please note that in a comment.)
CONTENTS
- Summary of Viewing Options
- Schedule: Standard Cable Channels (MSNBC, NBC Sports Network)
- Schedule: NBC’s Specialty Olympic Soccer Channel
- Schedule: NBCOlympics.com Live Streaming (“Live Extra”)
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1. SUMMARY OF VIEWING OPTIONS
Standard Cable Viewing Options (NBC Sports Network and MSNBC)
For USA fans, the only channel that is needed is NBC Sports Network (which was known as “Versus” until the first of this year). All USWNT matches, including any knock-out matches, will air live on that channel.
For those wishing to watch more of the tournament, all but two group matches will be shown either on NBC Sports Network or MSNBC, with just two of those matches not being live. The only matches that will not be shown on a standard cable channel are from the final group match day (Japan vs. South Africa and New Zealand vs. Cameroon).
Two matches will be joined in progress at halftime: Canada vs. South Africa on Saturday, July 28th, and on the final day of group play, Tuesday, July 31st, Great Britain vs. Brazil.
All four quarterfinals, both semifinals, and both medal matches will be shown live on NBC Sports Network.
Online Streaming via NBCOlympics.com’s “Live Extra” Feature
Every match will be streamed live.
For those living in the United States, if you (1) subscribe to a major multichannel service provider, and (2) have CNBC and MSNBC as part of your service, then you should be able to watch the Olympics online via NBCOlympics.com “Live Extra” feature. To access “Live Extra,” one will need to have the online username and password for their service’s online account. For more on the “Live Extra” feature, see NBCOlympics.com, specifically, this help page with FAQs.
NBCOlympics.com is using YouTube, which utilizes Adobe’s Flash technology, as its backbone for the live streams. So, end-users will need to have an Adobe Flash plug-in for there browser. This is a change from 2008, when Microsoft’s Silverlight was required.
Now would be a good time to make sure your preferred browser is up to date (download page links: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Apple’s Safari) and your browser has the latest version of the Adobe Flash plug-in installed (download page). According to the “Live Extra” FAQs, version 8.0 (or later) of Internet Explorer is required, which may be an issue for those in corporate environments stuck with IE6 or IE7.
As a test, if you can watch this full replay of the Beijing Olympics’ opening ceremony on NBCOlympics.com, then you should be good to go.
In addition to browser-based online streaming, NBCOlympics.com also has a “Live Extra” tablet app for the iPad and Android-based devices.
The live streams from the matches may just have “natural sounds,” with no announcers. (Based on memory, this was the case in 2008.) So, for those who prefer having commentators, the feeds for NBC Sports Network and MSNBC will also be simulcasted online.
One potential issue during the live streams is advertisements: Specifically, if they are inserted at regular intervals during a match, which could mean interruptions and possibly missed goals or other key plays. (If memory serves, this was the case in 2008.)
NBC’s Specialty Olympic Soccer Channel
This channel should also be available to subscribers of most major multichannel service providers, although the channel may be hard to find. But, at least all of the first day’s matches will air on either MSNBC or NBC Sports Network, so the need for the channel will not be that pressing.
However, the Soccer Channel will be useful for watching encores of some matches, including all knock-out and medal matches, along with a few matches that will not air in their entirety on MSNBC or NBC Sports Network.
Namely, this channel is the only option to watch the entire Great Britain vs. Brazil (July 31st) match live on TV (rather than online). The second half of this match will be shown live on NBC Sports Network.
Also, the Soccer Channel will show the two matches that will not be aired on either MSNBC or NBC Sports Network: Japan vs. South Africa and New Zealand vs. Cameroon. Both can be seen on tape-delay the same night they are played (July 31st).
On-Demand via Set-top Boxes?
NBC’s on demand options for multichannel service providers are suppose to be fairly comprehensive, but the details are lacking. It is possible that full matches could be made available and/or highlight summaries.
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2. SCHEDULE: STANDARD CABLE CHANNELS (MSNBC, NBCSN)
- All times are EDT.
- For added confusion, on NBC’s schedule, some pre-game segments are listed, but they overlap with the match timeslots. Those have been omitted from this list.
Wednesday, July 25th
10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Great Britain vs. New Zealand (MSNBC, Live)
11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. – UNITED STATES vs. France (NBCSN, Live)
1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Cameroon vs. Brazil (NBCSN, Live)
2:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. – Colombia vs. North Korea (MSNBC, Live)
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Canada vs. Japan (NBCSN, Tape Delay)
4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Sweden vs. South Africa (MSNBC, Tape Delay)
6:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. – Encores of USA/FRA, CMR/BRA, CAN/JPN (NBCSN)
Saturday, July 28th
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Japan vs. Sweden (MSNBC, Live)
9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. – New Zealand vs. Brazil (NBCSN, Live)
10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Canada vs. South Africa (MSNBC, In Progress)
12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – UNITED STATES vs. Colombia (NBCSN, Live)
12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Great Britain vs. Cameroon (MSNBC, Live)
2:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – France vs. North Korea (NBCSN, Live)
Tuesday, July 31st
9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. – Canada vs. Sweden (MSNBC, Live)
12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – UNITED STATES vs. North Korea (NBCSN, Live)
12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. – France vs. Colombia (MSNBC, Live)
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Great Britain vs Brazil (MSNBC, In Progress)
Friday, August 3rd
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Quarterfinal #1 / 1st-F vs. 2nd-G (NBCSN, Live)
9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. – Quarterfinal #2 / 1st-G vs. 3rd-E/F (NBCSN, Live)
12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – Quarterfinal #3 / 2nd-E vs. 2nd-F (NBCSN, Live)
2:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. – Quarterfinal #4 / 1st-E vs. 3rd-F/G (NBCSN, Live)
{In between these quarterfinal are other events, which may or may not be pre-empted if the previous match goes into extra time.}
Monday, August 6th
12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – Semifinal #1 / Winners of QF #1 and QF #3 (NBCSN, Live)
2:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. – Semifinal #2 / Winners of QF #2 and QF #4 (NBCSN, Live)
{See previous note.}
Thursday, August 9th
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. – Bronze Medal Match (NBCSN, Live)
2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Gold Medal Match (NBCSN, Live)
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3. SCHEDULE: NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL
- All times are EDT.
Wednesday, July 25th
12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – UNITED STATES vs. France (Live)
2:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Colombia vs. North Korea (Live)
4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Great Britain vs. New Zealand (Encore)
6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Japan vs. Canada (Encore)
7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Brazil vs. Cameroon (Encore)
9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. – Sweden vs. South Africa (Encore)
10:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. – United States vs. France (Encore)
Saturday, July 28th
7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. – Japan vs. Sweden (Live)
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – New Zealand vs. Brazil (Live)
12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – UNITED STATES vs. Colombia (Live)
2:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – France vs. North Korea (Live)
4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. – Canada vs. South Africa (Tape Delay, in part; Encore, in part)
6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Great Britain vs. Cameroon (Encore)
Tuesday, July 31st
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Canada vs. Sweden (Live)
12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – United States vs. North Korea (Live)
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Great Britain vs. Brazil (Live)
4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Japan vs. South Africa (Tape Delay)
6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. – France vs. Colombia (Encore)
7:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – New Zealand vs. Cameroon (Tape Delay)
Friday, August 3rd
7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. – Quarterfinal #1 / 1st-F vs. 2nd-G (Live)
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal #2 / 1st-G vs. 3rd-E/F (Live)
12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinal #3 / 2nd-E vs. 2nd-F (Live)
2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. – Quarterfinal #4 / 1st-E vs. 3rd-F/G (Live)
4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. – Team USA Quarterfinal (Encore)
5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal / Game of the Day (Encore)
Sunday, August 5th
7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – All Four Women’s Quarterfinals (Encore)
Monday, August 6th
12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – Semifinal #1 / Winners of QF #1 and QF #3 (Live)
2:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Semifinal #2 / Winners of QF #2 and QF #4 (Live)
5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. – Semifinal #1 / Winners of QF #1 and QF #3 (Encore)
6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – Semifinal #2 / Winners of QF #2 and QF #4 (Encore)
8:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. – Semifinal #1 / Winners of QF #1 and QF #3 (Encore)
10:15 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. – Semifinal #2 / Winners of QF #2 and QF #4 (Encore)
Wednesday, August 8th
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Semifinal #1 / Winners of QF #1 and QF #3 (Encore)
1:300 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Semifinal #2 / Winners of QF #2 and QF #4 (Encore)
Thursday, August 9th
8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. – Bronze Medal Match (Live)
9:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Bronze Medal Match (Encore)
12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. – Bronze Medal Match (Encore)
1:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Gold Medal Match + Medal Ceremony (Live)
5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Gold Medal Match + Medal Ceremony (Encore)
Friday, August 10th
6:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Gold Medal Match (Encore)
8:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. – Bronze Medal Match (Encore)
9:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Medal Ceremony (Encore)
Saturday, August 11th
12:00 a.m. to 2:45 a.m. – Gold Medal Match + Medal Ceremony (Encore)
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4. SCHEDULE: NBCOLYMPICS.COM ONLINE STREAMING (“LIVE EXTRA”)
- All times EDT.
- Live TV Options are in parentheses. “Soccer” is NBC’s Specialty Olympic Soccer Channel.
- Bold links denote matches that will only be shown live online. However, all matches will air on either MSNBC, NBCSN, or NBC’s Olympic Soccer Channel.
- These links should also work for the on-demand replays.
Tuesday, July 25th
11:00 a.m. – Great Britain vs. New Zealand (MSNBC, Soccer)
12:00 p.m. – Japan vs. Canada
12:00 p.m. – UNITED STATES vs. France (NBCSN, Soccer)
1:45 p.m. – Cameroon vs. Brazil (NBCSN)
2:45 p.m. – Sweden vs. South Africa
2:45 p.m. – Colombia vs. North Korea (MSNBC, Soccer)
Also: MSNBC Simulcast (10:30 a.m.; GBR/NZL), MSNBC Simulcast (2:30 p.m.; COL/PRK), NBCSN Simulcast (July 25).
Saturday, July 28th
6:50 a.m. – Japan vs. Sweden (MSNBC, Soccer)
9:20 a.m. – New Zealand vs. Brazil (NBCSN, Soccer)
9:45 a.m. – Canada vs. South Africa (joined in progress at halftime on MSNBC)
11:50 a.m. – UNITED STATES vs. Colombia (NBCSN, Soccer)
12:15 p.m. – Great Britain vs. Cameroon (MSNBC)
2:45 p.m. – France vs. North Korea (NBCSN, Soccer)
Also: MSNBC Simulcast (July 28), NBCSN Simulcast (July 28).
Tuesday, July 31st
9:30 a.m. – Canada vs. Sweden (MSNBC, Soccer)
9:30 a.m. – Japan vs. South Africa
12:15 p.m. – France vs. Colombia (MSNBC)
12:15 p.m. – UNITED STATES vs. North Korea (NBCSN, Soccer)
2:45 p.m. – Great Britain vs. Brazil (Soccer, joined in progress at halftime on MSNBC)
2:45 p.m. – New Zealand vs. Cameroon
Also: MSNBC Simulcast (July 31), NBCSN Simulcast (July 31).
Friday, August 3rd
7:00 a.m. – Quarterfinal #1 / 1st-F vs. 2nd-G (NBCSN, Soccer)
9:30 a.m. – Quarterfinal #2 / 1st-G vs. 3rd-E/F (NBCSN, Soccer)
12:00 p.m. – Quarterfinal #3 / 2nd-E vs. 2nd-F (NBCSN, Soccer)
2:30 p.m. – Quarterfinal #4 / 1st-E vs. 3rd-F/G (NBCSN, Soccer)
Also: NBCSN Simulcast (August 3).
Monday, August 6th
12:00 p.m. – Semifinal #1 / Winners of QF #1 and QF #3 (NBCSN, Soccer)
2:45 p.m. – Semifinal #2 / Winners of QF #2 and QF #4 (NBCSN, Soccer)
Also: NBCSN simulcast (August 6).
Thursday, August 9th
8:00 a.m. – Bronze Medal Match (NBCSN, Soccer)
2:45 p.m. – Gold Medal Match (NBCSN, Soccer)
Also: NBCSN simulcast (August 6).
* * *
Schedule Sources:
Women's Soccer Express 
Really nice job breaking it all down. Great resource!