Peacock Streams 6.3 Billion Minutes as NBCUniversal Reaches 200M in 'Legendary February'

NBCUniversal's streaming and broadcast coverage of the Milan Cortina Olympics and other major events saw record-breaking viewership.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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This month has been a historic one for NBC Sports, with Peacock's live sports streaming reaching a massive audience. Citing Nielsen Big Data + Panel reach data and digital analytics, NBCU says 200 million viewers have watched the company's 'Legendary February' presentation, underscoring the streamer's ability to handle live sports at scale. The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics is averaging 25.7 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and NBCUniversal's platforms, roughly double the average at the same point in 2022. Peacock streamed 6.3 billion minutes of Milan Cortina Olympics content, topping the combined minutes from the previous two Winter Games.

Why it matters

The 'minutes streamed' metric is a key indicator of streaming's growing influence, as audiences watch extended live windows rather than just sampling highlights. As the U.S. media home for the Olympic Games through 2036, these streamed minutes convert into higher ad inventory value, stronger retention signals, and greater leverage in future sports-rights negotiations. The numbers show a hybrid future where big-event TV and big-event streaming feed each other.

The details

NBCU says 200.1 million Americans watched its 'Legendary February' coverage, which included the Super Bowl, the Milan Cortina Olympics, and the return of Sunday Night Basketball. The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics is averaging 25.7 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, and NBCUniversal's platforms, roughly double the average at the same point in 2022 (12.8M). All six days of Milan prime + primetime coverage have topped 20 million viewers, with one show averaging 21.5 million. Peacock streamed 6.3 billion minutes of Milan Cortina Olympics content, topping the combined minutes from the previous two Winter Games (Beijing + PyeongChang = 6.1 billion minutes).

  • The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics runs from February 5-22, 2026, with the Opening Ceremony on February 6.
  • The Games begin a day before the ceremony with select events on February 5.

The players

NBCU

NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC Sports, Peacock, and other media properties.

Rick Cordella

President of NBC Sports.

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What they’re saying

“This level of audience accumulation over just an 11-day period is exceptional in today's media environment.”

— Rick Cordella, President, NBC Sports (NBCU statement)

What’s next

The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will continue to be a major focus for NBCUniversal's coverage and streaming efforts, as the company aims to build on the record-breaking viewership from this year's 'Legendary February' period.

The takeaway

NBCUniversal's ability to drive massive audiences across its broadcast and streaming platforms for major live sports events like the Olympics underscores the power of a hybrid TV-streaming model, where traditional linear viewership and digital streaming complement each other to deliver unparalleled reach and engagement.