Dear NBC, please find attached...

... my application for Executive Producer, Summer Olympics, Tokyo 2020

To: Bob Greenblatt, NBC Chairman

Dear Mr Greenblatt,

What a tough couple of weeks! I can't believe people are being so hard on you and the team. I'm sure that Bob worked so hard and it's just unfair that two kids like Ally and Simone would take the piss out of him on-air like that. And a 17% drop in Primetime ratings? Can't people tell that's a good news story? It's not 20%!

I know what you're thinking: the model works! Who needs change when the same formula has worked since 1896? Keep the focus on women's gymnastics, track, basketball and volleyball.

And I applaud you for that, I really do. It takes some real determination to ignore the chattering West Coast elite who somehow believe that their "internet" technology has transformed media consumption. Seriously, what do they know? Why are they so upset when NBC (via Twitter) informs them that Phelps has another gold before they have any chance of watching the race? They should move into a better timezone!

Still, maybe you're thinking it's time to throw them a bone. Perhaps show a willingness to introduce some fresh blood? Well here I am, and I'm qualified! I've worked in media, traveled to Japan (twice!) and I'm a pre-millennial white male.

Please consider this letter as me throwing my hat into the ring. (The blue ring, in case the color is important.)

Here's my quick summary of how I'll help the team to reinvent Olympic coverage in time for 2020

Skip the tape

Wow, if pretending everything was live in Primetime was hard with a three hour time difference, imagine the chaos we'll have in Tokyo 2020 when the East Coast is 13 hours behind!

So, I had this crazy idea. Turns out, you don't need to put everything on tape and edit it before it goes on-air. Some broadcasters are now experimenting with this amazing technology that lets them "stream live." Literally, people could watch events as they're happening. I think it could be big.

Find the entertainment

It's The Greatest Show on Earth?. At least that's what I hear from folks who aren't stuck with NBC. Stories of personal triumph, heartbreak, endurance, and drunken did-he-didn't-he get robbed. Let's tell the best of them, regardless of where the athletes are from, or how many commercial deals they've signed.

It's true that in most sports, the North American teams are so good that other countries just can't come close to qualifying for World finals. It's almost as if the rest of the world couldn't care less about baseball and football... keep up the hard work guys, maybe you'll make the World Series sometime!!

But I digress... my point is: the Olympics is that rare exception where other countries take part and are quite good. Let's show them trying!

Let them watch

Hey, so I saw some stats the other day that show that when people have other options besides watching ads-stuffed primetime TV, they'll actually do other stuff! Crazy isn't it? I can't quite believe it myself, but, you know, those Nielsen charts have been hinting at it for a while...

I have an idea for a new slogan: "Bring the Games to the People." Catchy, huh? But really the idea is simple... let people watch whatever they want, whenever it's on, wherever they are—even on their phones!

If you accept my application, I'll spearhead the "post-Primetime" movement. We can be innovators!

But the $$$

Of course, you're probably nervous about what this all means for the money. You've paid $1.45 billion for the rights to the Tokyo games. You need eyeballs so Coke can sell High Fructose Corn Syrup. It's what keeps the American economy turning.

Well, I heard about this small company called Facebook. They just started experimenting with this thing called Live... and they pay broadcasters to give them content! If they paid BuzzFeed $3 million for all those food videos, imagine how much they'll give us for the Olympics?! Throw in a bit of Matt slurping a Coke, and Bob sharing Big Macs with Simone and Ally, and we'll easily make a profit.

See you in Tokyo!

Pete.