Through this arrangement, U.S. service members and honorably discharged veterans worldwide can stream more than 5,500 hours of the Tokyo Olympics on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app, via authentication, including all 41 sports and 339 medal events on the Tokyo program, plus the opening and closing ceremonies, medal ceremonies and more.
The unprecedented streaming coverage will include simul-streams of all NBCUniversal linear channels, including the NBC primetime show, as well as feeds from all competition sessions.
The agreement also includes access to NBCUniversal’s most ambitious commitment to the Paralympics, with nearly 1,000 hours of streaming coverage on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app, via authentication. Coverage will feature the top stories and moments of the Paralympics, as well as athlete profiles and interviews, with a special focus on the athletes of Team USA.
“The Exchange is honored to partner with Comcast NBCUniversal to deliver the Olympics to military members and their families, wherever they are called to serve,” said Tom Shull, director/CEO of the Exchange. “Few events unify the world like the Olympic Games, and the Exchange is looking forward to helping service members cheer on Team USA.”
Service members can access NBCUniversal’s coverage from their computers or personal devices by visiting NBCOlympics.com or the NBC Sports app and choosing the Exchange as their service provider.
“When the world reunites for one of the most anticipated events of our lifetime, we’re excited to continue our relationship with our valued partners at the Exchange and military members globally,” Carol Eggert, senior vice president of Military and Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal, and Craig Robinson, chief diversity officer, NBCUniversal, said in a joint statement. “Like the athletes representing us in this year’s games, our service members inspire us every day.”
Because of content rights restrictions, an active ShopMyExchange.com account will be required. Content rights restrictions will also apply to OCONUS locations where on-base residents must subscribe to internet service through an Exchange-contracted provider.
2020 Mission Report chronicles pandemic support, initiatives
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is giving warfighters, military families and stakeholders an inside look at efforts to serve those who serve during the COVID-19 pandemic with the release of its 2020 Mission Report.
The annual report recounts the Department of Defense retailer’s agility in protecting and strengthening the Exchange benefit as COVID-19 transformed the day-to-day lives of warfighters and their families.
“With 100% of Exchange earnings supporting the military community, it matters where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families shop,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull. “Thanks to military shoppers’ continued investment in their communities and prudent financial management, the Exchange is on track for growth in the post-pandemic era, continuing to honor its nearly 126-year commitment to improve quality of life for warfighters and their families.”
The Exchange, which offers tax-free shopping and military-exclusive pricing to military communities worldwide, ended the 2020 fiscal year with $7.5 billion in revenue and $218 million in dividend-eligible earnings. Installations worldwide received $153 million in dividends that support critical quality-of-life programs such as child, youth and school services; Armed Forces Recreation Centers and more. In the past 10 years, the Exchange has distributed more than $2.1 billion to such programs.
The report also details the Exchange’s efforts to:
- Ensure a safe, sanitized and secure access to necessities during the pandemic;
- Provide military children attending school virtually overseas with grab-and-go meals;
- Establish a personal shopper program for quarantined troops;
- Launch curbside pickup and aggressively expand in-store pickup services;
- Deploy mobile field exchanges, 53-foot-stores on wheels;
- Launch the Digital Garrison app, a one-stop resource for installation-specific information in partnership with U.S. Army Installation Management Command;
- Support military communities through nine hurricanes and tropical storms;
- Provide meaningful career opportunities for veterans and military spouses, drawing closer to its goal to hire 50,000 Veterans and spouses.
Financials included in the Exchange’s 2020 Mission Report are audited by EY, a third-party global financial services company. The report can be found at the Exchange’s online Community Hub at https://publicaffairs-sme.com/Community/.
About the Author