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NBC’s Paris Olympic coverage

In my most direct family in the LA-Palm springs area, nobody... from late 20's to late 70's... watched at all.
So, is it safe to assume you weren't invited to the watch party?
On the other hand, one of my neighbors had a party / gathering for one of the events and there were ten or twelve cars parked up and down the street.
At least they didn't park on your lawn.
 
NBC Sports says "28 million". In a nation of 330 million that is not even 10%. Assuming most viewers were adults, still not even one out of ever 8 or 9 people watched at all.
That claim looks like 28 million on a single day, and 31.5 million over the course of the event (2nd paragraph). Which isn't all that different.

I watched one evening of swimming, purely because I am friends with a brother of one of the team USA swimmers. I guess I saw some other events because they happened to be on while I was at a bar/restauarnt.
 
U.S.A. Today says that NBC's ratings are up 79% ( apparently due to the live afternoon coverage of events), but two-thirds of the audience is still in prime time, viewing. the events presented in the format of features.
CT Listener above commented on the jingoistic and mawkishly sentimental nature of NBC's coverage, which is something they've been doing at least since 1984.
I agree, and I think that the tendency to present the Olympics as an emotional soap opera has ruined the viewing experience for many. It "dumbs down" the nature of the Games and turns it into a reality show.

My sympathy goes out to athletes whose family members have recently passed on; but milking every last ounce of emotion by interviewing a grieving athlete, seems very exploitative. This is usually done by young female interviews who seem to try their hardest to provoke grieving athletes to weep, along with a very tight close-up of tears running down their face. "But how did you FEEL when you lost your mother/sister-in-law/ cousin etc. passed away? What does this loss MEAN to you?" It's just so cheap.

I thought the stunt of Tom Cruise in the parachute was ridiculous and brought nothing to the closing ceremony.

Females age 25-44 who want to see the Olympics as a saccharine soap opera should be directed to Peacock, along with the crew of the Today Show ( Hoda and Savannah add NOTHING), and the rest of us can watch the individual sports without the constant yammering of announcers. Or ridiculous comedy skits like Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg, which are apparently aimed at middle age or senior viewers.

I used to be fascinated with the Olympics, and NBC has cheapened it beyond recognition. Any alternative is better, including Telemundo. JMO. -- D.

NBC defends performances of Peyton Manning, Kelly Clarkson on opening ceremony

The last time another American network other than NBC had Olympic coverage was CBS for the 1998 Winter Games. NBC knows a subsegment of viewers (including myself) doesn't care for their coverage, but as long as it brings in eyeballs, they're not going to change their formula. They're certainly not going to give up the rights without a fight when that time comes for contract renewal.
 
What difference does any of this make? The Winter Olympics were delayed by a year because of COVID. That wasn't NBC's decision, but the International Olympic Committees.
So what if soap operas or game shows are preempted? Life goes on.
Someone gives a thoughtful answer and you snap at him. Why?
 
So, is it safe to assume you weren't invited to the watch party?
I was but I mentioned that we don't follow the Olympics. I got a plate of hors d'oeuvres anyway... and a pour of a wine the host had brought from Napa (he's an ex-Apple engineer).
At least they didn't park on your lawn.
I let three of them park in our driveway. The HOA has a $600 fine for lawn parking.
 
The last time another American network other than NBC had Olympic coverage was CBS for the 1998 Winter Games. NBC knows a subsegment of viewers (including myself) doesn't care for their coverage, but as long as it brings in eyeballs, they're not going to change their formula. They're certainly not going to give up the rights without a fight when that time comes for contract renewal.
Univision had and Telemundo has the rights now. Both are American networks.
 
They are but they are Spanish-language networks and Eric Stein may have simply overlooked that or thought they were from Mexico.
Telemundo's rights are packaged with NBC (along with USA and Peacock). I consider this to be the "NBC Olympic Rights Package."
 
Univision had and Telemundo has the rights now. Both are American networks.
Was there a time (probably before NBC's Telemundo ownership) where Univision had the Spanish-language rights while NBC had English-language? If so, I apologize for that mistake.
 
After seeing the latest complaints rolling into this thread, I'm not feeling any more doubts about suggesting PBS get the Olympics. Who else would do it all-live, all commercial-free, with sane announcers, and without all the tabloid magazine cut-away garbage pandering to morons? :)

By the way. If anyone thinks the complaints about NBC's Olympics coverage are harsh here, try https://deadspin.com/readers-share-even-more-nbc-olympic-outrage-5473840/. It is from a different broadcast, but that's immaterial. NBC's coverage sucks just as much every single time.
 
Wait till the World Cup Soccer gets cranked up. 1st and 2nd generation immigrants around here have watch parties that are on par with Super Bowl parties.
It's been my lifetime experience Super Bowl parties are more just social events than actual sporting events. 10 percent of the attendees actually watch the game and the rest hang out in the kitchen or next to the BBQ. Just like the Olympics the BS factor rises every year with less and less real sport.

As for soccer, it is a great kids game but at the top level it is a boring spectator sport. And I say that as a player, coach and administrator going back to my high school days. But as with the Stupor Bowl, great excuse to invite a yard full of your relatives, friends and neighbors.

Here in my neck of the woods the NFL Cardinals are getting tons of media attention in the preseason despite falling flat on their face in the first preseason game (usually they wait until the season begins before doing that). The BIG media takeaway? Why the cotton candy burrito of course! :sick:
 
After seeing the latest complaints rolling into this thread, I'm not feeling any more doubts about suggesting PBS get the Olympics. Who else would do it all-live, all commercial-free, with sane announcers, and without all the tabloid magazine cut-away garbage pandering to morons? :)

By the way. If anyone thinks the complaints about NBC's Olympics coverage are harsh here, try https://deadspin.com/readers-share-even-more-nbc-olympic-outrage-5473840/. It is from a different broadcast, but that's immaterial. NBC's coverage sucks just as much every single time.
I could have done without Jimmy Fallon.
 
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