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NBC’s Paris Olympic coverage

I think the size of the markets you brought up has something to do with that, like we see when teams in the major cities play NFL primetime games, where the number isn't so high, even though I'm sure many were watching. I'd be curious to see how Phoenix (KPNX) did ratingswise considering they air Primetime in Paris out of the normal primetime pattern airing it at the same time as West Coast primetime. I'm sure it probably ate a bit away from the 10pm news ratings over on 3/5, 10, & 15.
Interesting point. I thought it was odd that KPNX chose to air primetime at 8-11 instead of 7-10. Come to think of it, I haven't watched the 10pm news on 3/5 for the last two weeks due to watching the Olympics.
 
I thought it was odd that KPNX chose to air primetime at 8-11 instead of 7-10.
I'm sure this has to do with them, along with Tucson & Yuma showing the West Coast only portion of Olympic coverage from 3-6 Pacific because they aired the Today Show from 7-9 MST which is the same as PDT & they obviously, alongside Nightly News, wanted to preserve time for local news & then Olympic Zone leading into primetime.
 
That would be a suicide mission for NBC, going against college and NFL football on various networks. NBC is very happy to have only baseball to compete against in July and August.
Not that it would be NBCU's decision either way, but the Olympics coverage would decimate any other sports at the same time.
 
Frankly, the early season NFL is hardly a “suicide mission.” The Olympics are a multi week, full day, multi-network event. Trailing on a Sunday, and two weeknights is not somehow the end of the world.
I know, what a bizarre claim that somehow NBCU decides when the Olympics are held and should see that they're held in the Fall. That, and the whole; 'Boo-hoo, my appointment TV watching is all disrupted for sixteen days.' Like the world has somehow been tilted off its axis.
 
I know, what a bizarre claim that somehow NBCU decides when the Olympics are held and should see that they're held in the Fall. That, and the whole; 'Boo-hoo, my appointment TV watching is all disrupted for sixteen days.' Like the world has somehow been tilted off its axis.
There may be others, but I can think of only two which were held in the fall: the 1964 Games in Tokyo, on NBC, which did not have pro football (ABC had the old AFL, now the AFC) but did have college football, and the 1968 ones from Mexico City on ABC, which had college football and the Saturday telecasts of the Games on both networks were scheduled around that. Both. as I recall, were held in October. In '68 ABC had some weekday coverage from 1-2 (ET), preempting a couple of game shows (All My Children wouldn't start until 1970, and Let's Make a Deal would move from NBC to ABC in December '68).
 
There may be others, but I can think of only two which were held in the fall: the 1964 Games in Tokyo, on NBC, which did not have pro football (ABC had the old AFL, now the AFC) but did have college football, and the 1968 ones from Mexico City on ABC, which had college football and the Saturday telecasts of the Games on both networks were scheduled around that. Both. as I recall, were held in October. In '68 ABC had some weekday coverage from 1-2 (ET), preempting a couple of game shows (All My Children wouldn't start until 1970, and Let's Make a Deal would move from NBC to ABC in December '68).
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.
 
I almost never watch NBC but am glad this two week debacle is ending. Nothing like watching the same professional athletes you'd ordinarily watch the rest of the year in other venues or a plethora of non-sports (break dancing anyone?).
 
I wish NBC would let the closing ceremonies breathe and not talk over every little thing. Less is more.
I don't know what's worse: The "vocal diarrhea" coming from Tirico and Fallon, or the superimposing of the athletes' entrance and commercials. Yes, I know that somebody has to pay for this coverage, but to me, it shows disrespect for the athletes. Let them have their night in the spotlight without interruptions. Many will not be there in 2028.
 
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.
Minor point, but the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo were delayed until 2021 due to Covid. The 2022 Winter Games in Beijing went pretty much as scheduled.
 
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
 
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I'd be curious to know the total cume number for the actual athletics events (not the open and close broadcasts). How many adult Americans watched at least some of the competitions?

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.


In my most direct family in the LA-Palm springs area, nobody... from late 20's to late 70's... watched at all.

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.
 
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