Olympic Screw-ups

[paulcs]

I believe NBC paid US$700 million for these games. A figure in excess of a billion dollars, I think, was for rights to the games through 2008.

I understand NBC's decision to show many of the marquee events on tape. However, I doubt it does them or the viewers any service to show certain events well past midnight PDT on tape when they could have shown them live on MSNBC or CNBC. I stayed up into the wee hours watching the US/Russia basketball, only to wake up a few hours later to read about the results of the US/Lithuania game. I think they've gone way overboard, and they are being punished for it. Ratings are reported to be 10 points below NBC's expectations.

Also, there is evidence that NBC has paid the IOC so much money, that it has tainted their coverage of corruption amongst IOC officials. They have been soundly criticized by other news organizations for a naked attempt to whitewash the aftermath of the Salt Lake City scandal.

I think their website sucks as well.

Although it's been getting progressively worse, in my opinion, I still think coverage of the actual events has been far more balanced then it was in Atlanta.

Paul
paulcs@flashcom.net

[HedsSpaz]

Yep, that sounds right paul. I heard the exact figures a few weeks ago on NPR, I just couldn't remember what they were exactly. The only thing that stuck in my mind was that it was over 1 billion for rights for the next several years.

Anyway, a thought just occured to me(scary huh?). Thinking back over the years, coverage of the summer games is consitently worse than the winter games. By in large, I think this is because the winter games are just plain more popular than the summer games. Also, over the years, NBC and the other various networks have figured out exactly what part of the winter games the general populace wants to see, of course, it helps immensely that the number of 'sports' in the winters games is substantially lower than the summer games.

Anyway... hmmm... I was going to say something else, but I don't remember what it was now. So if I think of it I'll spout off some more later.

[DentyCracker]

As an avid sports fanatic (esp. track and field) It pains me to have to endure another NBC olympics. Thank God the Caribbean countries bought a package which allowed us to see most of the Track and Field live. NBC sux sux suf'nx. Their coverage really blows. I mean who the f*ck wants to see the 4x400m relays 1 f'ing day after it happens. Yeesh. Now what I would have given to see that Female Cuban volleyball team nude *drool*. Them women pack some serious BOO-TAY

[Electric Amish]

In 2 years (2002) y'all are going to get a nice close-up of my home town.

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Site of the 2002 Winter Olympics (unfortunately)

I, on the other hand, am going to try to be as far away from this place as possible at that time.

amish

[Gurm]

Electric Amish,

Not to bad mouth you personally, but I am still rather appalled that the IOC didn't reconsider Salt Lake City.

I mean, c'mon - if I paid millions of dollars in bribes, I could get the Olympics hosted in my backyard!

- Gurm

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Listen up, you primitive screwheads! See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! Etc. etc.

[Electric Amish]

Why should SLC be reconsidered for doing the same thing that every other city has done??

amish

[Gurm]

'Cuz THEY got busted. That's all.

And the bribes were particularly ridiculous this time around and the decision was particularly biased. That's all.

- Gurm

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Listen up, you primitive screwheads! See this? This is my BOOMSTICK! Etc. etc.