Olympic-Caliber Data

In my last post, I discussed how NBC might benefit by playing to the crowd in their partnership with Facebook for the upcoming Olympics, namely by letting the wags of the Internet have a little fun with it.  Today, I'd like to discuss something more weighty: the data that this partnership will generate.

A close reading of the article will reveal that no money will change hands between NBC and Facebook for this promotion.  I find this detail significant because it suggests to me that both parties recognize the value of the data that each will gain. While I have no more information about this deal than what the New York Times has reported, I assume that they have agreed to share the data gathered in some form.  Assuming this to be true, here's what I'd to do with those data if I were managing them for NBC or for Facebook.

Let the Wookiee Win

The New York Times reported today that NBC and Facebook will partner in the upcoming London Olympics.  The TV network and the social network will cross-promote Olympic coverage so that NBC will drive viewers to its Olympics Facebook page and app, which will in turn promote Olympic programming.

More interestingly, “Data from Facebook will inform television coverage on NBC and on the other channels that will carry portions of the Summer Games,” according to the Times article.  In other words, what people do in NBC’s Facebook presence may end up either as content on the broadcasts or, possibly, help NBC decide which events to show on which network based on chatter.

In a subsequent post, I’ll discuss the data implications for both NBC and Facebook, but today, I’d like to discuss Wookiees.  You remember Wookiees, the “walking carpets” who helped Han Solo and friends prevail over the Empire in the “Star Wars” epics?  Wookiees will get ahold of NBC’s Facebook presence and they will try to plan some mischief.

My advice: Let the Wookiee Win.