J
Joseph_Gallant
Guest
In the weeks prior to the Winter Olympics, I noted (and a lot of people did too) a lack of "buzz" surrounding these Games, in comparison to prior Winter Olympics.
There are two storylines that should have been creating considerable "buzz" in the last few weeks and a third storyline over the two days prior to the Olympics opening that also should have people talking. They are:
* Whether Michele Kwan will finally win the one honor in figure skating that had eluded her, the Olympic gold medal.
* Whether the outspoken Bode Miller can deliver on the slopes; he is expected to win at least a couple of medals, maybe more.
* And this past week (February 6th-10th), new "buzz" surrounding Canada: Whether it's men's hockey team can still win a medal of any kind (they had been considered a "lock" for gold) after goalie Jose Theodore was caught using a hair-loss product whose active ingredient masks steroids (and which is against IOC rules), and more importantly, the gambling scandal swirling around former NHL star Wayne Gretzky, the general manager of the Canadian men's hockey team. Many wonder if the scandal will affect the team's performance on the ice and turn what had been considered a "sure-thing" for gold to a team that might not even win a medal of any kind. The fall-out could even affect other men's hockey teams, including Team U.S.A.
These storylines should have created much interest in the Olympic coverage on NBC and it's sister cable networks, but seemingly hadn't as of yet.
Tonight's (February 10th) telecast of the Opening Ceremonies and tomorrow's (February 11th) telecasts of the first competitions should do very well in the ratings, but that's because Friday and Saturday are the two weakest nights of the prime-time week. The real test will be Sunday night, when NBC's prime-time broadcast (including the men's downhill ski race taped earlier that day, in which Miller is a favorite) will have to face a first-run episode of "Desperate Housewives".
This time, NBC's Olympic coverage will also have to face "American Idol" five times (for seven hours total) during the Games (four years ago at this time, "Idol" had yet to premiere).
There are two storylines that should have been creating considerable "buzz" in the last few weeks and a third storyline over the two days prior to the Olympics opening that also should have people talking. They are:
* Whether Michele Kwan will finally win the one honor in figure skating that had eluded her, the Olympic gold medal.
* Whether the outspoken Bode Miller can deliver on the slopes; he is expected to win at least a couple of medals, maybe more.
* And this past week (February 6th-10th), new "buzz" surrounding Canada: Whether it's men's hockey team can still win a medal of any kind (they had been considered a "lock" for gold) after goalie Jose Theodore was caught using a hair-loss product whose active ingredient masks steroids (and which is against IOC rules), and more importantly, the gambling scandal swirling around former NHL star Wayne Gretzky, the general manager of the Canadian men's hockey team. Many wonder if the scandal will affect the team's performance on the ice and turn what had been considered a "sure-thing" for gold to a team that might not even win a medal of any kind. The fall-out could even affect other men's hockey teams, including Team U.S.A.
These storylines should have created much interest in the Olympic coverage on NBC and it's sister cable networks, but seemingly hadn't as of yet.
Tonight's (February 10th) telecast of the Opening Ceremonies and tomorrow's (February 11th) telecasts of the first competitions should do very well in the ratings, but that's because Friday and Saturday are the two weakest nights of the prime-time week. The real test will be Sunday night, when NBC's prime-time broadcast (including the men's downhill ski race taped earlier that day, in which Miller is a favorite) will have to face a first-run episode of "Desperate Housewives".
This time, NBC's Olympic coverage will also have to face "American Idol" five times (for seven hours total) during the Games (four years ago at this time, "Idol" had yet to premiere).