NBC says it has surpassed $1 billion in Olympic ad sales

NEW YORK (AP) NBC says that it has surpassed $1 billion in advertising sales for the upcoming Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is on pace to set a record for the most national advertising sold for any single event.

By contrast, the network announced reaching the $1 billion sales milestone only two days prior to the opening of the 2012 Olympics in London.

Seth Winter, advertising chief for NBC Sports, said Tuesday that the sales are an indication of advertisers' desire for big-event programming. Unlike many Olympics, NBC will be able to televise live events in prime time from Rio; the Brazilian city is one hour ahead of the eastern United States.

The Brazilian Olympic games are set to begin Aug. 5.