Fireworks light up the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics on Sunday, August 12. Check out photos from the opening ceremony.
(CNN) -- NBC was pummeled by viewers who took to social media after the network cut away early from the closing ceremony of the London Games on Sunday to air a new television show, drawing outrage from those who tuned in for the highly anticipated musical spectacle.
The Twitter-sphere exploded, with "#NBCfail" and "#closingceremonies" trending worldwide, after NBC cut out performances by Ray Davies, Kate Bush, The Who and Muse in favor of a commercial-free airing of "Animal Practice."
"I still don't understand, it's a tape delay, so can't you do the math in advance? Why do you need to cut off the closing ceremony? #nbcfail," Raj Sarkar wrote on Twitter.
Meet the man who started #NBCFail
Actor Nate Barlow posted to his Twitter account: "Why #nbcfail ranks last: no better way to turn people off a new show than to preempt @thewho & other rock legends for it."
#NBCFail?
Olympics close with fireworks display
Looking back at London 2012
The network was under fire for much of the 16 days of the Games by viewers who took to Twitter and Facebook to complain about its tape-delayed coverage of big-ticket events, which NBC has said was necessary to maximize its prime-time audience.
Earlier in the Games, NBC came under fire for filing a complaint over tweets by Guy Adams, the Los Angeles-based journalist whose Twitter account was temporarily suspended after he criticized NBC for its Olympics coverage.
In one tweet, Adams provided the company e-mail address of an NBC executive and urged followers to send him messages complaining about the tape-delayed coverage.
NBC confirmed that it complained and Twitter suspended him, saying it is a violation of the site's terms of service to post personal information. It later withdrew the complaint.
The network also came under fire for spoiling the results of U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin's gold medal-winning race when it ran a "Today" show promo that revealed the outcome of the race before it was telecast that night.
The network relented in its opposition to streaming the closing ceremony live, though it offered an English-language pool feed rather than its edited program.
NBC commentator Bob Costas appeared to acknowledge the issue with the network's tape-delayed coverage, saying during the broadcast that some of the challenges at the London Games would be eliminated at the Rio Games in 2016 because they will be held in a time zone only one hour ahead of Eastern Time. (The 2014 Winter Olympics, which will be televised in the U.S. by NBC, are in Sochi, Russia -- which is eight hours ahead of Eastern Time, four hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time.)
Live or later: What's your ideal Olympics coverage?
NBC did air The Who's performance at the closing ceremony in late night, following "Animal Practice." But that did little to calm the fury of viewers, many of whom said they tuned in to see the British band Muse perform the official song of the Olympics.
"Their broadcast was horrible! No Muse with the OFFICIAL song of the Olympics. Who made that call? @NBC #NBCfail," LoriAndJava wrote on Twitter.
NBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision to cut away from the ceremony, though it did appear to warn viewers that it was about to end its Olympic coverage.
"And that's a wrap! Thanks for enjoying the 2012 #Olympics with us! RT if you CAN'T WAIT for #Sochi2014!," read a post that appeared on the NBC Olympics Twitter page as the closing ceremony aired on the East Coast.
It also urged viewers to stay tuned for "#TheWho after @AnimalPractice :)"
It posted a similar message on Facebook, which drew similar reactions.
"I tuned out when NBC interrupted the closing ceremony," John Kwon wrote.
Earlier, NBC streamed the ceremony live on its Olympics website.
At least those in attendance at the closing ceremony in London enjoyed the show.
"What an incredible night! Closing ceremonies were unbelievable but I am EXHAUSTED!" swimmer Franklin wrote on Twitter. "I'll post a few pics before bed."
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Athletes from Great Britain parade during the closing ceremony.
From left, London Mayor Boris Johnson, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge and Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes enter the stadium.
A French athlete carries her nation's flag as the French team parades through the stadium.
British actor Timothy Spall portrays Winston Churchill during the closing ceremony.
Actors perform during the closing ceremony.
An actor waves a Union Jack from atop a mockup of the Big Ben tower.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
Artists wave Union Jack flags as they perform during the closing ceremony.
The ceremony featured replicas of several London landmarks, including Tower Bridge and the giant Ferris wheel known as London Eye.
Another view of the performance by the British percussion group Stomp.
Members of the British percussion group Stomp pound trash cans during their performance.
A rendition of London's Big Ben makes an appearance in the closing ceremony.
British cellist Julian Lloyd Webber performs.
Acrobats perform during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium.
Actors dressed as Batman and Robin perform a segment from an episode of the British television comedy, "Only Fools and Horses."
Actors perform in the closing ceremony.
The Household Division Ceremonial State Band perform the song "Parklife," originally done by the British rock band Blur.
Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sande performs "Read All About It" during the closing ceremony at Olympic stadium.
A general view of the closing ceremony.
The British pop group One Direction performs "What Makes You Beautiful."
Madness perform their 1982 hit "Our House" during the closing ceremony.
Annie Lennox performs.
Annie Lennox performs during the closing ceremony.
Brian May of Queen performs during the closing ceremony.
Artists form a sculpture representing the face of John Lennon during the closing ceremony.
A general view shows the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
Spain's sailor Marina Alabau Neira shows her gold medal during the closing ceremony.
The Pet Shop Boys perform their evocative song about London, "West End Girls." The duo originally released the song in 1985.
British group Madness, led by lead singer Graham McPherson, perform their 1982 hit, "Our House."
Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson is lifted into the air while playing "Our House," a reprise of what he did in the video for the song.
Chas Smash and lead singer Graham Suggs McPherson of Madness perform.
British artist George Michael performs at the Olympic stadium.
Global artist George Michael performs.
Athletes fill the Olympic stadium.
British singer George Michael performs.
Russell Brand performs during the closing ceremony.
Entertainer Russell Brand performs during the closing ceremony.
British comedian Russell Brand, center, performs at the Olympic stadium.
The athletes of the competing nations enter the stadium.
British comedian Russell Brand performs.
British DJ and producer Fat Boy Slim performs.
Brazilian artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
Dancers take part inside the Olympic stadium.
Fat Boy Slim, aka Norman Cook, during the closing ceremony.
General view taken during the closing ceremony.
British singer Jesse J inside the Olympic stadium.
Jessie J performs during the closing ceremony.
Brazilian artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Taio Cruz performs during the closing ceremony.
A general view shows the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
British rap singer Tinie Tempah performs at the Olympic stadium.
Fireworks explode over the stadium.
Brian May of Queen performs alongside Jessie J.
Fireworks explode over the stadium.
Matthew Bellamy of Muse performs during the closing ceremony.
A performer stands on top of a giant cannon.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
British comedian Eric Idle performs.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Eric Idle performs during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Dutch athletes parade during the closing ceremony.
Chachi Valencia, alias The Rocket Man, is propelled in the air at the Olympic stadium.
From left, Geri Haliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm, Victoria Beckham and Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls reunite for the closing ceremony.
Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls performs.
Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm of The Spice Girls perform.
The Spice Girls perform at the Olympic stadium.
A high-wire artist performs during a rendition of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here."
Roger Daltrey of The Who performs during the finale of the closing ceremony.
Girls perform at the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
From left, Spice Girls Victoria Beckham, Gerie Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Melanie Brown perform during the closing ceremony.
Actors ride scooters during the closing ceremony.
Fireworks explode over the stadium during the closing ceremony.
Ballerina Darcey Bussell performs with the Royal Ballet.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Ballet dancer Darcey Bussell descends into the stadium on a phoenix.
Athlete Mark Lewis-Francis of Great Britain films teammates.
From left, British models Stella Tennant, Lily Cole, Karen Elson, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn and David Gandy perform at the Olympic stadium.
Model Kate Moss performs during the British fashion portion of the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
British model Naomi Campbell, left, performs during the fashion segment of the ceremony.
Performers dance during the presentation by Rio de Janeiro, the next host city.
Fireworks light up the Olympic stadium during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
An athlete waves a German flag during the athletes' parade at the Olympic stadium.
Brazilian artists perform.
Singer Marisa Monte performs as Rio de Janeiro, the next host city, makes its presentation.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium.
The road to Rio is celebrated during the closing ceremony.
A general view of the stadium.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium.
A view looking down into London's Olympic stadium shows a rendition of the Union Jack on the stadium floor as the closing ceremony gets under way.
A Mexican athlete wearing a wrestler's mask parades during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform at the Olympic stadium.
Athletes wave Irish flags at the Olympic stadium.
An athlete from Germany parades through the stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Flagbearers carry the flags of the 204 countries that participated in the Olympics.
The Olympic cauldron burns during the closing ceremony.
Flagbearers parade during the closing ceremony.
Athletes gather in the center of the stadium to form a giant, living rendition of the British Union Jack.
A female athlete from Germany rides on the shoulders of a male teammate during the closing ceremony.
Artists perform during the closing ceremony.
Athletes from the 30th Olympics enter Olympic stadium in London.
Athletes form a living Union Jack on the floor of Olympic stadium.
Spectators applaud the ceremony from high above the floor.
A general view shows the vastness of the stadium.
The sun sets over the Olympic Stadium few minutes before the start of the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The Olympic Cauldron burns at the center of the stadium.
The Olympic Cauldron burns during the closing ceremony. Look back at photos from the 
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