Peacock was supposed to be highlighting the Olympics this summer as a way to show off the service. Instead the world changed and Japan is full of state of the art stadiums that are not going to be used for at least a year. At least not for the olympics. Hopefully they won’t be turned into overflow hospitals. But in a sign of what Peacock probably thought would be going on it has launched a new 24-7 channel called The Road To Tokyo. The road was not supposed to be a long one but instead of staring down the Olympics with anticipation Team USA and Team Everyone else will be waiting. Until then the Road to Tokyo channel will be there to remind everyone why they were looking forward to the Olympics in the first place.
Peacock will also feature a collection of on demand content that includes 10 documentaries produced by NBC Olympics, highlighted by Peacock Originals In Deep with Ryan Lochte and Kamome (detail below). Additionally, Olympic Classics replays revisit the most inspirational events of recent Games, including Simone Biles‘ gold-medal winning performance at the Rio 2016 Olympics, gold medal victories from Team USA in men’s basketball by the ‘Dream Team’ at Barcelona 1992 and LeBron James and Kobe Bryant at Beijing 2008, as well as Carli Lloyd‘s two-goal performance to propel women’s soccer to a gold medal at London 2012.
Additionally, three exclusive, new specials to prepare fans for what could be the most meaningful Olympics ever will be featured. Dreams Live On: Countdown to Tokyo examines the journey of star athletes, such as Simone Biles and Allyson Felix, preparing for next year’s Tokyo Olympics. Lighting the Olympic Flame: Iconic Ceremony Moments looks back at past Opening Ceremonies with interviews with participants like Michael Phelps and composer John Williams. The Olympics & Paralympics: Inspirational Moments presents moments of courage and sportsmanship from recent past Olympics.
Peacock constantly updates Trending with the latest in sports, news and pop culture, so viewers can expect to find current interviews with athletes preparing for Tokyo this week. Also, viewers can watch numerous short-form video clips on demand on Peacock, including athlete profiles on Tokyo Olympic hopefuls and memorable events that took place on specific dates in Olympic history.
Featured Peacock Originals
In Deep with Ryan Lochte
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ryan Lochte was at the center of a scandal that has since overshadowed a decorated swimming career that includes 12 Olympic medals. Now a 35-year-old husband and father of two young children, Lochte is hoping for one more chance to make Team USA and prove he’s not the same man he was four years ago.
Kamome
Brought together under unfortunate circumstances, the towns of Rikuzentakata, Japan and Crescent City, California now have a special bond made possible by a fishing boat named Kamome. The vessel washed up in Crescent City after the deadly 2011 tsunami that struck Japan and devastated Rikuzentakata. To the people of Crescent City, it brought back memories of the 1964 tsunami that devastated their own hometown. Now, the two communities have built a close connection that provides a welcome reminder of the best of humanity.
Olympic Documentaries
1968
Narrated by four-time Olympic gold medalist and 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams, 1968tells the story of a defining year in American history. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated, and 1968 would prove to be the deadliest year of the Vietnam War. Against that backdrop, the Mexico City Olympics became a stage for the collision of sport and politics, immortalized by the Black Power salute of Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
Calgary ’88
Voiced by iconic actor and acclaimed author Rob Lowe, the men’s and ladies figure skating competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics are in the spotlight, featuring Americans Debi Thomas and Brian Boitano as they faced their rivals Katarina Witt and Brian Orser on the highest stage of competition.
Jessica Long
The remarkable story of 13-time Paralympic gold medal swimmer Jessica Long details how she discovered her birth family and embarked on a journey through a past she never knew, all the way from her adopted parents’ home in Baltimore, Md. to Bratsk, Russia. In the end, it leads Long to a profound personally discovery; how her two halves have helped make her the whole individual that she is.
More Than Gold: Jesse Owens and the 1936 Berlin Olympics
This hour-long documentary, narrated by Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, chronicles Jesse Owens‘ historic four-gold-medal performance at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, and explores the context and historical impact of those Games.
Dream Team
Featuring footage and interviews from arguably the greatest basketball team ever assembled, this documentary looks at the formation and success of Team USA at the 1992 Summer Olympics, including interviews with Hall of Fame players Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley.
Miracle on Ice: 40th Anniversary
NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico and Al Michaels, who called men’s hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics, engage in a wide-ranging conversation about the U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team’s gold-medal run at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., highlighted by the Americans’ improbable semifinal victory against the Soviet Union.
Mikaela’s Masterpiece
The special gives viewers an all-access look at Mikaela Shiffrin and her team during the 2018-19 campaign and highlights one of the greatest years in the history of alpine ski racing, when Shiffrin won 17 World Cup races, four crystal globes, and her third straight overall globe.
Lokomotiv
A documentary, narrated by Liev Schreiber, that examines the 2011 plane crash that killed every member of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavol hockey team of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and how the team was rebuilt in the wake of tragedy.
