NBC Sucks Again... For NOT covering the Olympic Ceremonies LIVE.

[TheBigA]

This one of the reasons why I would rather have someone else do the Olympics other than NBC, which every time makes a mockery of the event.

Anyone else who does the Olympics in the US will do it exactly the way NBC does it. Everyone from the IOC down is in it for the money. That's just the reality of the situation. This isn't some romantic, pure, athletic event. And it hasn't been for a long time.

 

[OldNumber7]

But still, many of us would like to see the opening and the closing live and unfiltered -- the way NBC has been treating it is not only in the tape delay and editing of the broadcast, but also doing it with a "we don't care" air to it, until the US team walks onto the field. Secondly, NBC has been treating the Olympics as a whole more like a "US vs. the world" reality show than an international athletic competition. And finally, NBC's games are always top-heavy with commercials, while in other countries, they're either kept to a minimum or they're seen commercial free.

This one of the reasons why I would rather have someone else do the Olympics other than NBC, which every time makes a mockery of the event. If you don't like it, it's your opinion and your right to it, but we have our own.

The dirty little secret is that American television heavily subsidizes the International Olympic Committee. The US is by far the biggest country with commercial television bidding for the broadcast rights, while most other countries have state-run TV and make only modest payments to the IOC for the rights. Commercials in the US allow the networks to send the competitive bidding soaring, since they can recover a lot of the cost. In return, the IOC shapes the games in a number of ways to accomodate US television (putting swimming finals in the morning in Beijing so Phelps' races could air live in prime time in the US is one example). The problem, of course, is that the ratings drive the advertising rates -- requiring NBC to craft the most entertaining broadcast possible. If you want to see the games on conventional TV with no commercials, move to a social democracy or a dictatorship.

 

[landtuna]

You're trying to use advertisers to justify you getting content for free. The New York Times and lots of other papers also require subscritions to view content, and they're also advertiser supported.

Actually, the NYT just yesterday said they had more revenue from subscribers than advertisers so maybe the model is changing.

 

[roger2001211]

If advertisers want their message to get to the largest possible audience, why do they allow NBC (and others, like TNT) to limit access to the programs in which they advertise?

Advertisers know the package they're buying. I'm sure they all get an ample amount of placements in the broadcast coverage, and the cable placement counts for less. If you've ever dealt with an advertiser, they know exactly who's watching. Do they consider online viewers as bonus views?

In this Hulu/Netflix/online oriented day and age, I find it hard to believe that advertisers are happy with a not-as-large-as-possible online audience.

As sad as it is that you did not get exactly what you wanted, the property of showing the opening ceremonies was sold to NBC. NBC could show whatever they decide that they want to, and they felt that not showing it in prime time and cutting away some things that may not resonate with the American public made sense. If you want to watchn unedited opening and closing ceremonies in 2014, I would hurry up and get your tickets to go see it in person.

As far as wanting to watch it for free online, you need to stop thinking of Comcast and NBC as one and the same. NBC has agreements with other television providers (i.e. Time Warner, DirecTV, Dish Netork). They cannot just go put things online for free because you want to watch it for free. Sometimes to get what we want, we have to pay for it. I want to watch Phillies games, so I pay Comcast for that privildge.

 

[PirateJohnny]

...The problem, of course, is that the ratings drive the advertising rates -- requiring NBC to craft the most entertaining broadcast possible...

So why haven't they (crafted the most entertaining broadcast possible)? I have not read one good revue of NBC's coverage.

 

[PirateJohnny]

...As far as wanting to watch it for free online, you need to stop thinking of Comcast and NBC as one and the same. NBC has agreements with other television providers (i.e. Time Warner, DirecTV, Dish Netork). They cannot just go put things online for free because you want to watch it for free. Sometimes to get what we want, we have to pay for it. I want to watch Phillies games, so I pay Comcast for that privildge.

I never said they were one and the same. in order to watch online from NBC.com you must enter your cable or satellite membership information. If I already have cable/satellite, why would I need to go online? It's the same with TNT. There are shows on TNT I would like to watch, when I'm home, online, but i can't because I didn't have cable/satellite. I live alone and the spare time I have just isn't enough to justify paying for cable/satellite. I don't have time to watch all the shows I want that I can get with an antenna. I know about the shows on TNT because I have seen them on the weekends at work. Over-the-air TV and radio is free because advertising pays for it.

 

[landtuna]

NBC was my choice for national evening news on those occasions when I watched the news. No more. Tonight they spent more than half the program talking about what happened with swimmer Michael Phelps.

They didn't attract me with their carriage of the Olympics and now they've lost me as a news viewer.

 

[TheBigA]

The story was covered by all the networks, not just NBC.

However, Brian Williams did give a "spoiler alert."

 

[BlueWanderer]

I wasn't surprised by this. Keep in mind, they did tape delay the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver which were within America's time zones.

Personally, I'm not as interest in this year's Olympics compare to the previous two. It's just I've seen London on tv so many times before unlike with Vancouver and Beijing.

 

[rgseark2009]

This one of the reasons why I would rather have someone else do the Olympics other than NBC, which every time makes a mockery of the event.

Anyone else who does the Olympics in the US will do it exactly the way NBC does it. Everyone from the IOC down is in it for the money. That's just the reality of the situation. This isn't some romantic, pure, athletic event. And it hasn't been for a long time.

No "TheBigA", not everyone is a Comcastshill and most Americans are not happy about the NBC policies of Olympic coverage. #NBCFAIL

 

[stationless listener]

The Opening Ceremony is one thing but I have an even bigger problem with the NBCOlympics.com streams. After ten minutes or so, the video stream either starts and stops or freezes completely. I have had to close my browser a couple of times today (which is Google Chrome; I've also tried Firefox and IE and I still have these issues). What's going on? Is it me or is there something wrong with the streams?

Edited to add: It looks like I'm not alone in this. http://www.examiner.com/article/2012-olympics-nbc-working-to-fix-online-olympic-live-stream-problems

 

[liradioisbad]

Ah yes, the time-honored tradition of Olympic coverage bashing. I have to add it's not just NBC who has done it in the history of Olympic broadcasting. When CBS had the Winter Olympics in the 90's they didn't show most marquee events live, like Nancy and Tonya. I believe they waited nearly 24 hours in 1998 to show Picabo Street's gold medal. And ABC didn't show the Miracle on Ice live even though it was in America.

As for people who think everyone hates NBC's coverage thanks to twitter, I believe only a small percentage of the population uses twitter. There's a lot more people who just sit back and enjoy it. Especially non-sports fans who don't give a crap if it's live or not.

And just imagine if Fox or ESPN/ABC now had it, even if they did show marquee stuff live. Who would want to sit through something with Fox's attitude or Chris Berman.

That said, I'm anticipating this complaining to be worse come 2014.

And looking at the trending topics right now (11PM Eastern), people on twitter are into it. Not everyone is a hater.

Also, the highest-rated market for the Opening Ceremonies? San Diego, which had it aired even later.

 

[OldNumber7]

...The problem, of course, is that the ratings drive the advertising rates -- requiring NBC to craft the most entertaining broadcast possible...

So why haven't they (crafted the most entertaining broadcast possible)? I have not read one good revue of NBC's coverage.

The reviews mean nothing. The ratings were among the best ever.

 

[azumanga]

This one of the reasons why I would rather have someone else do the Olympics other than NBC, which every time makes a mockery of the event.

Anyone else who does the Olympics in the US will do it exactly the way NBC does it. Everyone from the IOC down is in it for the money. That's just the reality of the situation. This isn't some romantic, pure, athletic event. And it hasn't been for a long time.

No "TheBigA", not everyone is a Comcastshill and most Americans are not happy about the NBC policies of Olympic coverage. #NBCFAIL

Agreed:

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.co...o-bad-it-got-a-hashtag/media/2012/07/28/44910

 

[azumanga]

...The problem, of course, is that the ratings drive the advertising rates -- requiring NBC to craft the most entertaining broadcast possible...

So why haven't they (crafted the most entertaining broadcast possible)? I have not read one good revue of NBC's coverage.

The reviews mean nothing. The ratings were among the best ever.

Of course, most American viewers have no other choice than to watch the NBC coverage, as they are too far from the Canadian or Mexican border, or they could not find or get a live internet stream.

 

[landtuna]

The reviews mean nothing. The ratings were among the best ever.

Brian Williams on tonight NBC evening news said 40 million Americans watched the opening ceremonies (which is not a sporting event). 40 million out of an approximate total population of 311 million is just over 7% of the whole country. Even discounting for children who wouldn't normally be watching TV at all it is a very small percentage. Even worse when you notice that it was broadcast on a Friday without any serious competition. Literately, it was the only thing on.

 

[TheBigA]

Brian Williams on tonight NBC evening news said 40 million Americans watched the opening ceremonies (which is not a sporting event). 40 million out of an approximate total population of 311 million is just over 7% of the whole country.

To put 40 million in context, it is the most-watched opening ceremonies ever. Almost a million more than Atlanta in 1996, which was in fact broadcast live. Friday night is typically the lowest rated night of the week. I would expect the closing ceremonies on Sunday will beat it.

No "TheBigA", not everyone is a Comcastshill and most Americans are not happy about the NBC policies of Olympic coverage. #NBCFAIL

That's fine. Everyone likes to complain. You get what you pay for. Next time, maybe PBS will broadcast the Olympics, and it can be supported by taxpayer dollars as they do in England. When advertisers are footing the bill, then this is what you get.

 

[azumanga]

Next time, maybe PBS will broadcast the Olympics, and it can be supported by taxpayer dollars as they do in England. When advertisers are footing the bill, then this is what you get.

Actually, the PBS broadcast would be supported by grants from corporate America and philanthropical organisations, with additional support from "Viewers Like You". In addition, in the lulls in the action, stations would also pass the hat around for pledges, inviting viewers to make a donation "if you like to see more programming like this."

 

[BlueWanderer]

To put 40 million in context, it is the most-watched opening ceremonies ever. Almost a million more than Atlanta in 1996, which was in fact broadcast live. Friday night is typically the lowest rated night of the week. I would expect the closing ceremonies on Sunday will beat it.

That's interesting considering there were about 50 million less Americans in 1996 than current day.

 

[azumanga]

The one thing that many of us agree with is that the commentary should be kept to a bare minimum, outside the parade of athletes -- you wouldn't go see a KISS concert and have Matt and Meredith talk incessantly as they play, would you?