All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Let the games begin! The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics launched with an extravagant Opening Ceremony, featuring performances from Lady Gaga and Celine Dion and a cameo from Beyoncé.

The Olympic games officially start on Saturday (July 27) with rugby, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, cycling, surfing and swimming among the roster. Coverage of the Summer Olympics will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock.

Below, find out ways to stream the Olympics online for free from anywhere around the globe.

Where to Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics

The Olympic games will broadcast live on NBC and stream on Peacock from July 26-Aug. 11. Olympics coverage will also air on USA Network — including men’s volleyball, water polo and fencing. Simulcast coverage will be available on E!, Telemundo, CNBC and Golf Channel.

NBC will air live coverage of the Olympics in the morning and afternoon. Primetime coverage starts at 8 p.m. If you need access to local channels like NBC or USA and other cable networks, you can stream them live with a free trial from DIRECTV, Hulu+ Live TV and Fubo.

Verizon Fios offers live TV and affordable internet plans, and ExpressVPN allows you stream internationally.  

You can access these platforms from any compatible device — a TV, laptop, smart phone, etc.

How to Watch the Olympics on Peacock

The 2024 Summer Olympic games will stream exclusively on Peacock.

Plans start at $7.99/month for Peacock Premium, the ad-supported package with access to the 2024 Olympics, and thousands of hours of other sports and entertainment.

Peacock Premium Plus is $13.99/month to stream without commercials and live access to NBC.

Want to watch the Olympics in Spanish? Peacock will livestream coverage from Telemundo and Universo in addition to offering 50 hours of replays and other content in Spanish.

How to Watch the Olympics on DIRECTV

In the internet age, streaming is the easiest way to watch the Summer Olympics online. Thankfully, there are a few ways to watch the games without spending extra money up front. For example, you can subscribe to DIRECTV Stream and score a free trial for the first five days, plus access to NBC and other local channels: USA, ESPN, Bravo, E!, TBS, TLC and much more.

DIRECTV Stream plans start at $79.99 a month, plus you get free Max, Paramount+ Showtime and STARZ for three months when you subscribe to the Choice or Ultimate plan. Peacock is also available at a discount for DIRECTV subscribers.

How to Watch the Olympics on Sling TV

Sling TV offers cable channels such as USA, ESPN, TLC, Disney Channel and FX in addition to local channels in certain regions.

Sling’s Orange streaming packages start at $40/month. Sling Orange offers 34 channels, and Sling Blue has 46 channels. Sling also offers a combination of both tiers for $60 a month.

All three Sling TV packages include DVR storage and streaming from multiple devices. You can subscribe to Sling for as low as $20 for the first month, or secure a discount by prepaying Sling Blue two months in advance.

How to Watch the Olympics on Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is another affordable streaming platform that comes with a free trial, and access to NBC, USA and other channels. The membership includes Hulu’s streaming library, over 90+ live channels, plus Disney+ and ESPN+.

2024 Summer Olympics Schedule: Basketball, Gymnastics & More

The Olympic games will feature archery, artistic swimming, badminton, basketball, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, breakdancing, canoeing, cycling, diving, equestrian, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, handball, judo, modern pentathlon, rhythmic gymnastics, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, skateboarding, soccer, sport climbing, surfing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, trampoline, triathlon, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling.

Simone Biles, Shakari Richardson, Katie Ledecky, LeBron James, Steph Curry and other star athletes will be competing for Team USA this year. If you want to catch Team USA Gymnastics featuring Biles, Jade Cary, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera, competitions start on Sunday, July 28.

The women’s gymnastics qualifications will be held from 3:30 a.m.-4:30 a.m ET on Sunday. The men’s gymnastics round was held on Saturday.

The men’s team final is scheduled for Monday, July 29, followed by the women’s final on Tuesday, July 30. The all-around finals for the men’s team will be on Wednesday, July 31, and women’s all-around finals will be on Thursday, Aug. 1.

Men’s basketball kicks off on Saturday with group stage matchups between Australia vs. Spain, France vs. Brazil, Greece vs. Canada and Germany vs. Japan.  

On Sunday, Team USA will face off against Serbia in men’s basketball, while South Sudan will face Puerto Rico in the men’s group phase. Team USA men’s basketball returns to the court on July 31 against South Sudan.

Women’s basketball also starts on Sunday with Spain vs. China and Serbia vs. Puerto Rico. Team USA will play Japan on July 29 and Belgium on Aug. 1

Men’s and women’s first-round tennis matches will be held on Saturday and Sunday. The first, second and third round matches are scheduled for July 29-30. The men’s singles third round, women’s singles quarterfinals, men’s doubles semifinals, women’s doubles quarterfinals and mixed doubles quarterfinals are on July 31. The men’s singles quarterfinals, women’s singles semifinals, women’s doubles semifinals and mixed doubles semifinals are on Aug. 1.

Swimming starts Saturday and will be held each day through Aug. 4. The women’s 10K open water finals are slated for Aug. 8. The men’s 10K open water finals will be on Aug. 9.

Olympics track and field competitions will be held from Aug. 1-11.  

If you’ve ever attended a K-pop concert, holding an artist’s official “light stick” is a crucial aspect of the viewing experience. At the Paris 2024 Olympics Games, Team Korea will embrace this special aspect of K-pop super fandom with its own light sticks, an official cheer song, and more in partnership with industry leader HYBE.

Usually a handheld device ​with a plastic tubing and a glowing top, light sticks aren’t one-time-use glowsticks but are personalized for each act with specific colors, markers, and designs that become a way for fans and artists to enjoy the live experience together. BTS has an “ARMY BOMB” light stick with a black stand and clear globe atop that can represent said “bomb” and glow a spectrum of colors in rhythm to the group’s music thanks to Bluetooth technology. An artist revealing an official light stick is considered an important career step and signals upcoming concerts.

While HYBE just unveiled the light stick for one of its newest boy bands, BOYNEXTDOOR, less than six months ago, the company’s business unit, HYBE IPX, has been simultaneously in conversation with the Olympic Games to bring its technology to inspire similar fandom to Paris. The company will provide specially designed “Team Korea Light Sticks” to support South Korea’s national team competing in the games. Designed with inspiration from the Olympic torch and stadium, the light sticks utilize the same tech and expertise at HYBE artists’ concerts to change colors and glow in sync with chants.

“Centralized control is the most outstanding technology that differentiates us from others,” explains Seung Suk Rhee, President of HYBE IPX, in an exclusive interview with Billboard. “Simply put, we can easily control light sticks dispersed in a large space from a centralized console box. We can make variations according to the occasion, starting from K-pop concerts to theme park rides.”

The newly unveiled light stick for Team Korea coordinates with this year’s official cheer anthem, “Fighting,” by SEVENTEEN’s BSS and Lee Young-Ji, which comes with its own accompanying challenge.

“It’s going to be incredibly moving to see the large crowd coming together with one spirit, singing our song in unison to cheer for the athletes,” BSS tells Billboard in a statement. “We’re very proud and honored that ‘Fighting,” featuring Lee Young-Ji, could contribute to the excitement for Team Korea athletes at such a historic sports festival.This is all thanks to [our fans] CARATs, who have shown so much love for the song since last year, and we’re once again filled with gratitude for our fans. Through the song’s energetic beat and fun lyrics boosting the passion and enthusiasm for cheering, we hope to pass on BSS’ positivity and energy to Team Korea athletes. We’re rooting for them all the way to enjoy their moment and achieve their goals with all our hearts.”

Speaking more about how the K-pop light stick made its way to the Olympics and where it can go next, read on for more with HYBE IPX President Seung Suk Rhee.

When did the opportunity to create light sticks for Team Korea come about?

Starting early summer last year, with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 generating significant global momentum, we explored ways to integrate this event into HYBE. We decided that introducing light sticks would be ideal, as they represent the concept of “cheer” and “support” which is equally crucial for both music fans and sports enthusiasts. We approached the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee with this idea and found a mutual understanding to lead the cheering culture, setting sail on the light stick project.

The most crucial factor was the design. We couldn’t just create any light stick but had to come up with a design that symbolizes our country as the national flag, Taegeukgi, does. To maintain the unique shape of a light stick while making it instantly recognizable as a national flag, we incorporated motifs of a torch and a stadium into the final design.

The design is centered on a simple white aesthetic with a shape that echoes a torch or a flame. The light rays, which change colors or flash with each button press, are inspired by the Olympic symbols — including the five circles of blue, red, yellow, green, and black. Since black cannot be produced with light, we replaced it with white, the background color of the Olympic flag, and added a touch of gold, inspired by the logo of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Considering a design that reflects the identity of the Olympics, we also ensured that it blends in with Team Korea’s official uniforms. 

What should fans and viewers look out for when the light sticks are televised Opening Ceremony?

Personally, what makes it even more exciting, is that it will be the first time that HYBE’s light stick will be showcased in front of a worldwide audience of each and every nationality. Since Team Korea athletes will make an entrance to the Opening Ceremony holding Team Korea Official Digital Flag, we hope to contribute to spreading out the Olympic spirit, even if it is in the slightest way possible. 

The light stick carried by Team Korea athletes features the Korean flag attached to the Team Korea Official Light Stick, standard version provided to the Korean audience. Firstly, we wanted to strengthen the connection between the athletes and their fans. Secondly, we aimed for it to represent the Taegeukgi in a new form rather than just being a light stick. That’s why we also named it the Team Korea Official Digital Flag.

What was the most challenging part of creating this opportunity?

All members part of my team have been working on this project with great gravity. Of course we’ve experienced pressure coming from the magnitude of the event, even with concerts hosted by HYBE artists in arenas. However, this is the first time that we will be putting out our light sticks in front of the world to see. Even more so, this will be the first time that Team Korea athletes will be holding a light stick instead of an ordinary national flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. We hope that our light sticks can contribute to igniting the Olympic spirit amongst Team Korea.

How did discussions to bring SEVENTEEN’s BSS and their song “Fighting” as the official cheer song for Team Korea come together?

BSS’ “Fighting,” featuring Lee Young-Ji, emits the most fitting message and the mood for a festive event, especially when the athletes need all the support that they can get. We wanted to keep the excitement going throughout the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for Team Korea, and make it a song that the fans will remember for years to come. We will be playing “Fighting” as one of the cheering anthems at Korea House in Paris, where the cheering event for Team Korea will take place.

What does an opportunity like this say about K-pop and K-pop fandom?

At HYBE, we don’t see K-pop fans and sports fans as different. We believe that fandoms, whether they’re for sports, games, movies, anime, or theme parks, share a common core “passion.” While they may look different on the outside, they are all driven by the same heartfelt desire to cheer for and support something or someone they love. Whether sports fans wear jerseys and chant slogans, or K-pop fans wave light sticks, they are sending the same message: “I support you.” From this perspective, we realized that we could create a new form of cheering culture by introducing HYBE’s light stick to the sports world. We believe that fans are constantly evolving by actively participating and sending their energy to artists and athletes in various ways.

HYBE IPX first extended this tech beyond music with the Korean esports team T1 for the League of Legends Champions tournament this summer. How did this idea come to be?

It’s been long since we have been preparing for an outbound project that could showcase our light stick technology to a wider audience, even beyond the music industry. With this in mind, we’ve been discussing new opportunities with partners in various fields. We’re currently discussing various collaborations for a long-term partnership, the first of which is the T1 OFFICIAL LIGHT BAND that was first showcased at T1’s “Home Ground” event in late June. HYBE’s production team helped direct the light bands throughout the event.

Can you share more about HYBE IPX and your role in the company?

HYBE IPX is a business unit that focuses on creating boundless opportunities based on artist IP and delivering fresh experiences to fans. We develop official merchandise for events like tours and birthdays, offer licensed products that bring artist characters and IP into everyday use, and host global pop-up stores that provide fans with unique and immersive experiences. HYBE’s light sticks, now expanding into sports and esports beyond music, are designed, produced, and supplied by HYBE IPX, the mastermind behind the light stick technology.

In addition, HYBE IPX spearheads the planning and execution of collaborative IP projects with multiple labels and other business units within HYBE, including BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA in 2023 and “THE CITY” projects…SEVENTEEN ‘FOLLOW’ THE CITY BANGKOK in 2023, with another exciting edition coming soon in August at ENHYPEN World Tour “FATE PLUS” THE CITY JAKARTA. Brand ambassadorships, commercials, and various partnerships involving HYBE artists are also part of our business.

As the leader of the organization responsible for these various initiatives and projects, I’m fully committed to ensuring that fans have an exceptional experience with the artists they love, as well as creating opportunities for them to connect and enjoy memorable experiences together.

HYBE said, “With this original light stick system, HYBE aims to extend the K-pop-originated innovations to festivals and arenas worldwide.” Can you explain this more?

I’m sure you’ve been to concerts hosted by K-pop artists or labels. The moment you step foot in the arena, you’ll see fans waving light sticks to support their favorite artists. It is a special culture and technology nurtured within the K-pop industry. “Superfans,” which may be the most trending keyword in the music industry these days, are not limited to the music industry, but they also exist in other industries such as sports, esports, and animation. We’ve witnessed K-pop fans crying, laughing, cheering in happiness [while] raising their light sticks up high. We wish to extend this stirring moment to worldwide fans, no matter who their favorites are.

From the executives interested in this technology to the fans who buy and use light sticks, what else do you want readers to know at this time?

At HYBE, we believe that light sticks are more than just a tool for cheering. It is a way that fans use to show their support for their favorite artists, and athletes, and a medium to create a sense of fellowship with other fans and a “fan culture” that has ripened over time. It’s also a way for fans to take part in stage performances or events and interact with other fans as well as the artists who are on stage. Cherishing the value, we will continue to make efforts to further expand the K-pop originated light stick culture to various areas.

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

The 2024 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony is here! After much speculation on who would perform, we finally got answers. Lady Gaga was the first performer to hit the stage at the opening ceremony belting out French song, “Mon Truc en Plumes” in Paris on Friday (July 26). Celine Dion also delivered a show-stopping performance of Édith Piaf’s “Hymne A L’Amour.” As the festivities and games kick off, gear up to show your support and celebrate Team USA in style. Check out top apparel picks from QVC, Pacsun, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Amazon, Walmart, Skims, Old Navy, and Target.

Whether you’re gearing up to cheer for your favorite athletes or simply soaking in the excitement of one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events, you’ll be able to show your Team USA pride with a range of options including tanks tops, lightweight jackets, hats, and more.

If you’re shopping on Amazon, consider taking advantage of all Amazon Prime has to offer and sign up for a 30-day free trial, which also comes with access to Prime Video, Prime Gaming and Amazon Music. And to help make sure you get your beauty essentials, being a Prime member means you get fast, free shipping in two days or less with Prime Delivery. Want free shipping? Join Walmart+ for free for the first 30 days. The membership includes free shipping and free delivery from your local store, free Paramount+ and so much more!

How to Stream Summer Olympics 2024

Subscribe to Peacock to catch all the action from the 2024 Paris Olympics. Once subscribed and logged in, visit PeacockTV.com/Olympics via the web browser or install the Peacock app on your phone, tablet, or TV device.

Although there is no free trial available for new users, Peacock provides budget-friendly options with plans starting at $5.99/month.

For more product recommendations, check out these maxi dresses for the summer, alternative tank tops, and this Outdoor Propane Griddle to celebrate the upcoming game days.

South Korea-based music distributor YG PLUS, a subsidiary of K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment (BLACKPINK, BabyMonster), signed a licensing deal with African streaming and download service Boomplay that will bring YG’s catalog to the platform. According to a press release, Boomplay boasts 70 million users. “We look forward to a successful partnership with YG PLUS that will bring their catalogue to new listeners and help connect their artists with music lovers and fans in the African region,” said Boomplay in a statement.

Hitmaker Distribution struck a distribution deal with indie label Blac Noize! Recordings, in which Hitmaker founder/CEO Tony Bucher is a partner. Blac Noize’s roster includes HitKidd, Jdot Breezy, Nevi, Toure and Marc Nasty.

Tunespotter, an audio-visual clip database that allows users to search, listen to and view “synch moments” from movies, TV shows, trailers, games and commercials, acquired What-song.com. The deal effectively combines “the data and search power of two leading music search platforms – letting users see, hear, and learn more about sought-after TV or movie moments in a single, easy-to-use place,” according to a press release. “The database we’ve established gives Tunespotter an immediate aggregator and audience,” added What-song.com founder Tom Andrew. “Their ability to empower the user journey with their incredible visual tool chest and social app capabilities extends our reach and consolidates our strengths, positively impacting consumers with more rewarding, long form engagement.” Tunespotter claims that What-song.com attracts more than 1 million unique users per month.

Warner Music Brazil invested in and partnered with Sua Música Group, which owns the Sua Música Brazilian music platform and distributor Sua Música Digital. Through the deal, the companies will team up to develop regional artists and songwriters. According to a press release, Sua Música Digital manages the digital careers of and handles royalty management for more than 1,000 artists across Brazil, including Tarcísio do Acordeon, Vitor Fernandes and Thiago Aquino. “The combination of Sua Música’s significant presence in regional music with our national reach and global network will amplify the efforts of both companies and offer artists new creative and commercial possibilities and opportunities,” said Warner Music Brazil president Leila Oliveira in a statement.

Private equity company Goldman Sachs Alternatives acquired a majority stake in live experiences company TAIT from Providence Equity Partners, subject to regulatory approvals. No financial details were disclosed. “Goldman Sachs’ network and expertise will enable us to grow our global footprint and offerings, empowering the company to better serve clients, drive innovation, and pioneer new technology,” said TAIT CEO Adam Davis in a statement announcing the deal. TAIT has worked with artists and brands including Taylor Swift, Cirque Du Soleil, Beyoncé, Royal Opera House, Nike, Google and The Olympics.

Downtown-owned business-to-business distributor FUGA announced partnerships with three U.K. music companies: One House, drum and bass label Critical Music and Berry’s Room, an imprint of British-Nigerian Afrobeats artist Maleek Berry. One House (Eliza Rose, Pretty Girl) will take advantage of FUGA’s global distribution and marketing services, including physical distribution, synch, YouTube channel management and access to FUGA’s trends and analytics platform. Critical Music (QZB, Mefjus, Waeys, Ivy Lab) will use FUGA’s global distribution and marketing services to support its current and future releases. And Berry’s Room will utilize FUGA’s distribution, marketing and YouTube channel management services for Berry’s catalog and the release of his upcoming debut album; FUGA will als help the imprint support other Afrobeats artists.

Shamrock Capital‘s Content Strategy division acquired a film, TV and music portfolio from Vine Alternative Investments. The portfolio boasts an ownership interest in more than 450 songs, according to a press release. Shamrock would not confirm which songs were included in the deal.

Producer and creative executive RedOne’s 2101 Records imprint signed a distribution deal with Vydia, a distribution service under the gamma. umbrella. Vydia will support 2101’s roster and manage the rights and distribution of RedOne’s back catalog.

Independent dance music label Armada Music partnered with electronic music duo Deep Dish in a deal that will see Armada managing part of Deep Dish’s music catalog — namely, the duo’s 2005 album George Is On. Through the deal, the album returned to DSPs and download portals worldwide on Friday (July 19) for the first time in several years.

Global growth firm Triple G Ventures, led by CEO Gregg Stein, announced a partnership with Revelator, which provides digital IP infrastructure to independent music businesses. Through the deal, Triple G will help to enhance Revelator’s market presence, drive growth and increase awareness of Revelator’s end-to-end digital rights and royalty management solutions. Stein will also now serve as Revelator’s new chief marketing officer.