Viewers of the Paris Olympics will expect to see plenty of Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Sha’Carri Richardson and LeBron James when they tune into NBC later this week to watch the athletic extravaganza. They may also get glimmers of another familiar visage: Hoda Kotb . NBC plans to feature a “Hoda-cam” as part of its efforts to cover the 2024 Games.
Viewers may see shots of Kotb watching the U.S. women’s gymnastics team — long one of her favorites – and interacting with the families of Olympic hopefuls.
The “Today” co-anchor learned about the new feature last week, at the same time as her colleagues Savannah Guthrie , Craig Melvin, and Al Roker –- as well as a reporter from Variety who was meeting with the quartet and “Today” producers to learn about the morning-news mainstay’s plans for covering the 2024 Olympics . NBC has U.S rights to cover the spectacle as part of a deal that lasts through 2032.
Her surprise was palpable. “Whaaaat?” asked Kotb, using one of her signature phrases. There’s more to “Today” traveling to Paris than a morning-news stunt.
The Olympics typically give the program a shot of energy in TV’s never-ending battle to win A.M. audiences.
NBC has rights to show the Paris Games; Olympic clips and highlights; and interviews with winners. Which means “Good Morning America” on Disney’s ABC and “CBS Mornings” on Paramount Global’s CBS do not. So “Today” gains “the ability to reach younger audiences,” says L.