NBC Sports has been playing the races on a delay most times and with the addition of the time-of-day offset between the USA and NZ, it's sometimes hard to figure out where to find the races to record on your DVR. Add to this the lack of detail provided by NBC Sports in the online cable-guide it is hard to tell which race they are actually playing, so in the US it is quite a challenge.
(Real-time online race streaming is blocked in the USA. See comments about VPN below)
Here is what I THINK I figured out (ET = Eastern Time USA):
Prada Semi Finals
Thu, 28 Jan -> Airs Fri, 29 0030hrs ET
Fri, 29 Jan -> Airs Fri, 29 2200hrs ET
Sat, 30 Jan -> Airs Sun 31 1400hrs ET
Mon 1 Feb -> Airs Mon 1 2230hrs ET
where you say it starts:
"Thu, 28 Jan -> Airs Fri, 29 0030hrs ET"
That doesn't sound right to me. I think it starts 3pm NZ time on Friday which should be 9PM Eastern US on Thursday, (today in the East I guess) on you tube live. Maybe NBC is delayed a couple of hours? As noted above the Youtube feed should be up but quiet, well in advance.
Bob
They blocked access to online sources in the US, thus the need to route through a VPN and Canadian server.
It is live and free in New Zealand on Television One (TV 1)....could try On Demand service as well.....The coverage starts with interviews etc an hour earlier if you are interested