Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee announced that NBC will retain the exclusive United States broadcast rights to televise the next four Olympic Games, including all summer and winter competitions through 2020. The "Peacock Network," which already holds the rights for the 2012 Summer Games (London), bid nearly $4.4 billion to air the four Olympics to be held between the 2014 Winter Games (Sochi, Russia), the 2016 Summer Games (Rio de Janeiro) and the following two Games in 2018 and 2020, whose sites have not yet been chosen.  

The big question, following the announcement in Lausanne, Switzerland, is whether NBC and its parent company Comcast will stick with the antiquated policy of former NBC Olympic chief Dick Ebersol. Ebersol received huge national criticism for showing the most popular events on a delayed basis, rather than live, and emphasizing too many "up close and personal" features. Ebersol resigned his position at NBC last month, after a contract dispute with Comcast.

Today's runners-up, ESPN and Fox, were both committed to live coverage. A victory by ESPN would have been great for Olympic fans, as the Disney-owned network was committed to live coverage of the 27 Olympic sports. 

NBC has televised every Summer Games since 1988 and every Winter Games since 2002.