We watch the Olympics to remember. National pride. Youth. Beauty.

We watch to see a perfect moment. We share the triumph over adversity or the agony of defeat.

We watch because we’ve always watched, because the Olympics remains one of the few galvanizing mass cultural events left to us.

(Kerry Strug)

We watch because there is still the chance of actual news interrupting the slickly packaged spectacle that is a revenue-generating 17-day binge for a commercial TV network.

Atlanta 1996 brought a bomb scare. Berlin 1936 featured Jesse Owens defying Adolph Hitler’s ideology by winning four golds. Munich 1972 saw the massacre of Israeli athletes. The real world does occasionally intrude.

We watch because after a certain number of hours, we become emotionally attached to the cleverly crafted personal stories of athletes. We care deeply that some weightlifter/pole vaulter/sprinter from a broken home/tiny hamlet/impoverished family has a dying sibling/history of abuse/pulled muscle.

We watch the opening parade of nationalities (Friday, 6:30-11 p.m. on KUSA) to check wardrobe choices. You go, Bermuda shorts! We watch the opening spectacle to study creative stadium-sized choreography and lighting. We sit through the closing ceremonies (Aug. 12, 6-10 p.m. on KUSA) to finish out the obsession. The full schedule, times adjusted for Colorado viewers, will be our reference guide for the next 2 ½ weeks.

We watch because it’s July (TV’s dog days) and what else is on? Also because, after sitting through hours of trials, we can’t stop. Admit it, it’s addictive. And now that we’ve been programmed to root for certain “stars” who will be emphasized in prime time, notably Michael Phelps “in pursuit of history,” we are invested.

Some 200 million of us will watch (a few in 3-D for the first time). And in many places beyond the tube.

For the 2012 Summer Games in London, more streaming at nbcolympics.com will mean more live events on computers, less tape-delayed action, smaller risk of spoilers. The website plans to live stream every event in every sport for the first time.

All told, NBC will offer more than 5,500 hours across multiple platforms, which, the network likes to say, if you were to program across one linear channel, would be 7½ months of continuous coverage. If the hyperbole were stacked end to end, it would stretch to the moon and back.

They know how to get the hooks in: Jim Bell, executive producer of “Today” and a former NBC Sports & Olympics producer, will oversee the network’s coverage across multiple networks — CNBC, Bravo, Telemundo, MSNBC and NBC Sports Network. Bell knows emotional storytelling and will capitalize on the tales of tough personal lives seeking redemption in one jump, one dive, one landing.

They’ve preframed the drama: The Ryan Lochte-Michael Phelps rivalry must be the world’s focal point. Usain Bolt is a required priority as the world’s fastest human. Swimmer Missy Franklin, Centennial’s own! has been pre-ordained as America’s sweetheart. Ginned up or not, the stories suck us in.

Along the way, there’s education to be gleaned: NBC is providing “science of the Olympics” videos to local stations. Who knew the science behind the fluid dynamics of Franklin’s strokes? The engineering behind the agility of “the bladerunner,” South Africa’s double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius?

Beyond prime time on NBC, a key destination will be NBC Sports Network, formerly Versus and before that Outdoor Life Network. It’s Comcast’s rebranded sports channel, which will compete with ESPN and others. During the Olympics, Comcast aims to make the most of its takeover of NBC, with 293 hours of coverage from London on the cable channel. That’s some 14 hours per day throughout the Games, with team sports (soccer, field hockey) pegged to the cable channel.

Those are 293 hours you won’t see on “free,” over-the-air broadcast TV. A cable connection will be required for a number of events, like the debut of women’s boxing (on CNBC) or tennis (on Bravo). Per NBC: “The vast majority of content will only be available to authenticated cable, satellite or telco customers.” Ka-ching! There are also cable “speciality channels” devoted to basketball and soccer.

Expect more daytime coverage, locally flowing directly out of “Today.”

In primetime on NBC, expect the recaps, stories and tear-jerking profiles in sports courage that make the spectacle irresistible. In ratings terms, the host network usually can count on 50 percent of the television audience each night for the 2½ weeks of the Olympic telecast. That’s why Comcast figured it was a good deal when it paid $4.3 billion for the privilege of broadcasting the next four Olympic Games, keeping the Olympics in the NBC family.

Bob Costas is back for his ninth stint as host in prime time. Al Michaels and Dan Patrick handle daytime, Mary Carillo takes late-night. Media marathoner Ryan Seacrest, radio host, “American Idol” emcee and newly crowned TV producer, will add another title, debuting as an NBC contributor.

John McEnroe, Bela Karolyi, Shaun White and Jimmy Fallon will also chime in. On NBC Sports Network, Michelle Beadle debuts as a host (doing double duty for “Access Hollywood”) with Liam McHugh and Willie Geist of MSNBC.

Suit up and strap in. The impending 17-day slog — starting Friday — will include 302 medal competitions, a zillion crazy trivia notes and maybe even some inspiration to get off the couch.

Joanne Ostrow

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TV HIGHLIGHTS OF THE XXX OLYMPIAD

Everyone has a favorite. Women’s javelin throw finals? In the 11:35 p.m. after-hours show on NBC, Aug. 9, locally on Channel 9.

Exact times for live streaming of each event are available online, and the full TV schedule, by network, by date, by sport is online at nbcolympics.com. Here are a few highlights:

Friday: Opening Ceremonies, Channel 9, 6:30-11 p.m.

Saturday: Missy Franklin and first night of swim finals.

July 30: Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte head-to-head, Channel 9, prime time

Aug. 1: Swimming and diving finals begin, Channel 9, prime time

Aug. 3, 4: Swimming concludes

Aug. 4: Tennis, singles and doubles gold/bronze, Bravo

Aug. 5: Track & field, Channel 9, prime time

Aug. 7: Gymnastics finals, Channel 9, prime time

Aug. 9: Equestrian dressage finals 7-9 a.m. MSNBC

Aug. 9: Track & field finals, Channel 9, prime time

Aug. 11: Gold medal men’s soccer, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Telemundo

Aug. 12: Closing ceremonies Channel 9, 6-10 p.m.

Joanne Ostrow