If you're planning to watch the Sochi Olympics next month, you'd best stock up on batteries for your remote.

It's going to get the workout of a lifetime. You might also want to get a good back rest.

The CBC announced its coverage plans for the Winter Games and they include 1,500 hours of coverage on six channels meaning that an awful lot of Canadians are going to be spending the better part of a month in front of their TV sets.

That's pretty ambitious considering that the entire 17-day Olympics cover only 408 hours. That's the beauty of having multiple channels.

The downside to the multiple channels is that you'll have to check daily to find out what's airing where and when. Another is the fact that many Canadians will either have to add to their cable or satellite subscriptions or turn to the Internet. But this is the way things have been going for several years now and that's not about to change.

CBC will still provide a daily synopsis of all events in prime time in addition to live coverage, so those who don't get Sportsnet One or TSN2 will still be able to find out what's going on.

As has been the case for the past few Winter Games, Canadians will be able to watch just about everything live. Americans will even get that opportunity for the first time as NBC has (finally) decided to offer the entire Olympics in real time for the first time. Most of the live stuff will be streamed online rather than on TV and the opening ceremonies will be shown on tape in the U.S., but it's a start.

Welcome to the 21st century, NBC.

In Canada, viewers will get English-language coverage on CBC, TSN, TSN2, Sportsnet and Sportsnet One. French coverage will be on SRC.

CBC is also offering live streaming of 12 feeds on its Olympic website, a Canadian first, as well coverage as on its mobile Olympics app.

Most of the big-ticket events will be on CBC, with live coverage of all Canadian men's and women's hockey taking centre stage. The main network will carry most of the medal events during its round-the-clock coverage.

TSN will carry figure skating, speed skating and hockey while TSN2 will air speed skating, bobsleigh and snowboarding.

Sportsnet will take curling, skiing, figure skating and snowboarding while Sportsnet One will air the sliding sports.

Coverage also features several simulcasts. The opening ceremonies will air on CBC, TSN and the two Sportsnet channels. All networks will carry the gold medal men's hockey game.

Because of the nine-hour time difference, many events will get several airings, especially during the prime-time shows. CBC's prime-time show will be hosted by Ron MacLean, with Scott Russell manning the afternoon stuff.

Diana Swain and David Amber will take care of the mornings with Andrew Chang and Andi Petrillo doing the post-midnight show.