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

[mjlarochelle]

How is it along the Mexican border? I've noticed that Televisa and TV Azteca both broadcasted the opening ceremonies live, which is neat if you live someplace like San Diego (where XEWT carried the ceremonies). Are those networks also showing sports coverage in a similar manner as CTV?

I can't speak for the border regions where the channel configuration is a little different, but in much of the country, the opening ceremonies were carried on XHGC (Canal 5), and all the events so far on XEW (Canal 2). I did spot a promo for some events being carried over on XEQ (Canal 9), another Televisa station. I know that Azteca 7 was promoting that they're showing the Olympics, but I do not get that station on cable because of a carriage dispute.

 

[TroyG]

It would have been possible for border cities (Seattle,Detroit, Buffalo) to get CTV to the North of the states, and Televisa to the South (San Diego, El Paso, Brownsville) in order to get live, nonstop coverage without waiting several hours to get the results on the spot.

 

[liradioisbad]

It would have been possible for border cities (Seattle,Detroit, Buffalo) to get CTV to the North of the states, and Televisa to the South (San Diego, El Paso, Brownsville) in order to get live, nonstop coverage without waiting several hours to get the results on the spot.

I don't think CTV is as widely avaliable near the border as CBC, mainly because CTV simulcasts a lot more American shows than CBC.

Well I'm Only watching the Boxing matches on CNBC I just think it more exciting than the other sports. I know in recent Olympics theres more hype in who took PED and who did not . I just think this year the USA Will suck in the Olympics simply because Theres too much hype over who took steroids from past olympics. Also US and China will be accused of Cheating the games its no surprise here.

On the other hand, Olympic boxing is long plagued with scoring problems. Even Jim Lampley went off on a rant after the gold medal basketball game in 2008 about this problem.

 

[ixnay]

There was a time in America when the circus was the sole and important entertainment event of the year. It was supplanted long, long ago but continues in a sad, small sort of way.

Frosty Little is on line 1, landtuna.

ixnay

 

[umfan]

I guess I'm in the small minority that thinks NBC is doing a fine job. Well, some of the other 40 million Americans that tuned into the opening ceremonies might agree too.

Can you blame them for tape delaying content and making an event out of it when they dropped $1 Billion for the rights?

Six different NBC owned channels are airing content.

Olympic fans have it pretty good.

 

[azumanga]

According to Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports spokesman Christopher McCloskey had this to say about the ceremonies, and why they did what they did:

"[the ceremonies] are complex entertainment spectacles that do not translate well online because they require context, which our award-winning production team will provide for the large prime-time audiences that gather together to watch them."

In other words, it's double talk for "we not only have the rights to the games, but also the right to insult the viewer's intelligence and to control their viewing options. So there."

When you describe your actions like that, chances are many people will not buy your explanation. This is one of the reasons why NBC has been in the toilet the last several years.

More here:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/07/27/nbc-opening-ceremonies.ap/index.html

 

[umfan]

Agree that the entertainment division has had troubles for many years, but NBC Sports has done extremely well including the Olympics coverage. I say that from a ratings/business perspective although I think the production quality is great personally.

 

[azumanga]

I guess I'm in the small minority that thinks NBC is doing a fine job. Well, some of the other 40 million Americans that tuned into the opening ceremonies might agree too.

Can you blame them for tape delaying content and making an event out of it when they dropped $1 Billion for the rights?

Six different NBC owned channels are airing content.

Olympic fans have it pretty good.

I agree their sports coverage is quite good, but the main issue is what bookends the Olympics -- the ceremonies. They need to treat them with respect, not overstuff it with commercials, dumb it down with unnecessary commentary, cut out segments that they feel is "inconvenient", or show it only on tape delay and only on TV, which, especially in the age of the internet and social media, gives outsiders a chance to say "neener-neener" to Americans.

 

[editthis]

NBC affiliates weren't going to dump their local friday newscasts 4p (in some markets) 5p and 6p with all of their lucrative local avails in favor of the opening ceremonies

 

[firepoint525]

Unless it was being simulcast over a radio station, the constant "play-by-play" is not needed. : We can see the visuals on our TV sets. Besides, Matt Lauer makes what, $17 mil a year? Show me a dj who makes that.

I don't care how much people make. TV does play-by-play of everything, every day, regardless of the pictures. It always has. It's what they do.

Your comparison of Lauer to a local (likely minimum wage) dj was nothing short of ludicrous. If anyone talks too much, I tune them out. I always have. It's what I do.

 

[Tom Wells]

NBC affiliates weren't going to dump their local friday newscasts 4p (in some markets) 5p and 6p with all of their lucrative local avails in favor of the opening ceremonies

Seems they can't make the commitment. Repackaged content to suit the network's profits is annoying enough.

Either it's important, or it's not. If you expect me to take it seriously, run it live.

I'm not ever going to get too excited about time delayed "pretend it's live" broadcasts.

I'd have 2 or 3 times the interest in a less-interrupted feed, especially one that isn't quite so USA-centric.

Far less commentary would be appreciated. Do other countries also have continuous yammering and cut-away side videos?

 

[DToTheJ]

Well, looks like the #NBCFail has really hit the fan:
http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php...itic-guy-adams-had-twitter-account-suspended/
http://deadspin.com/5930153/nbcs-no-1-tweeting-critic-has-been-suspended-from-twitter

 

[TheBigA]

If anyone talks too much, I tune them out. I always have. It's what I do.

The TV networks believe that their target audience wants to hear chatty hosts. I take it you're not a 30-40 year old woman. That's who they're aiming at. If you tune it out, they don't care.

 

[landtuna]

The TV networks believe that their target audience wants to hear chatty hosts. I take it you're not a 30-40 year old woman. That's who they're aiming at. If you tune it out, they don't care.

What they may not realize is that by irritating those who want only relevant talking they are making a negative impression of their network which will translate into a general dislike and they will lose a viewer. I don't think NBC can afford to lose many more viewers. After all, they aren't exactly the TV version of OWN.

 

[liradioisbad]

NBC affiliates weren't going to dump their local friday newscasts 4p (in some markets) 5p and 6p with all of their lucrative local avails in favor of the opening ceremonies

This is an important aspect. Local affiliates thrive on local news money. This is a big reason for the Conan fiasco due to the poor lead-in of Leno's 10PM show for newscasts. If I'm not mistaken, this is also a big reason why NBC's coverage airs even later on the west coast.

As for viewers, contrary to the neverending complaints online, they're getting more viewers per night than Atlanta so far:

http://nbcumv.com/mediavillage/spor...s/2012/07/30/nbcsthreedayave1343677084493.xml

 

[azumanga]

NBC affiliates weren't going to dump their local friday newscasts 4p (in some markets) 5p and 6p with all of their lucrative local avails in favor of the opening ceremonies

But can't they show it live on another channel and replay it on NBC? Or show it online?

 

[PirateJohnny]

I guess I'm in the small minority that thinks NBC is doing a fine job. Well, some of the other 40 million Americans that tuned into the opening ceremonies might agree too.
...

Remember, those who have been complaining have also been watching.

 

[Robnoxious]

Remember, those who have been complaining have also been watching.

I've think NBC coverage is deplorable and the biggest slap in the face was delaying the events in the Vancouver games by 3 hours to those that live in the same time zone as Vancouver. Unbelievable. I swore I wouldn't watch Olympic coverage on NBC ever again and I haven't.

I'm getting my LIVE (and commercial free) coverage on the BBC. NBC can go pound sand continue to wallow as an also ran network. NBC doesn't even deserve 4th place.

 

[TheBigA]

But can't they show it live on another channel and replay it on NBC? Or show it online?

Their goal was to build and concentrate that audience for the single prime time airing. It's not a live sports event, it's an entertainment show, no different than American Idol or even the Grammy Awards.

 

[azumanga]

But can't they show it live on another channel and replay it on NBC? Or show it online?

Their goal was to build and concentrate that audience for the single prime time airing. It's not a live sports event, it's an entertainment show, no different than American Idol or even the Grammy Awards.

I do not and I will not care -- the main thing is that every other country watched the ceremony live and unfiltered, while Americans could not, unless they were able to get an internet feed from another network, like the BBC. There are ways in which NBC can still rake in the dough, but pretending like it's still 1992 is not the way to go.