NBC to tape-delay Olympics coverage for West Coast viewers again

[Auggie]

Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle / 1-30-09

You'd think that because we're in the same time zone as Vancouver, we'd have that ever-so-rare privilege of enjoying Olympic coverage live. But you'd be wrong, because NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol and his cronies consider us a bunch of idiots.

See, according to NBC, we don't want to watch the Olympics live. The evidence is right here in this 678-page volume on "demographics" and other material that has no basis in reality. Apparently, we want everything placed into a neat little package in prime time.

There will be some live daytime coverage, but the heart of NBC's telecasts will be nighttime packages starting at 8 p.m. on weeknights - and that's East Coast time. The time slots also apply to West Coast, meaning we get a three-hour delay. Isn't that special? First of all, when it comes to really important sporting events, "prime time" starts around 6 p.m., OK? You're home from work, you made sure the kids finished their homework, and you're ready to go; dinner by the TV set. Being forced to wait until 8 p.m. - and actually much later, because NBC invariably makes you wait hours for the really good stuff - is simply cruel.

Through it all, there's a bit of good news: NBC expects to lose some $200 million on the Olympics, citing the bleak advertising climate and the massive rights fee. Look for the end of NBC's reign after the 2012 London games, and with any luck, ESPN will take over - showing everything live.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/29/SPI71BPSIH.DTL
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Jenkins says it better than I could, except for lavishing heaps of praise on Bob Costas :puke:

Another reason to look forward to ESPN coverage someday. Or better yet -- streaming video over the Web.

[Renew Deal]

1. Dick Ebersol is a clueless dick

Especially his handling of Conan

[Onceuponalife]

2. DICK ruined Saturday Night Live

for the the 5 years he produced it. He's a jackass. Thanks, DICK. Hmmmm, I have a friend in Vancouver....maybe I should just visit her so I can watch the olympics live.

[fishwax]

3. wow, that's disgraceful

:wtf:

[El Supremo]

4. And I suppose, the forgotten Mountain Time Zone.

We get screwed along with the Pacific Time Zone.

But I don't care. Because all they show during prime time is fucking Ice Capades.

[Onceuponalife]

5. Ice Capades!!

:rofl:

Definitely not a sport. Even curling, which is a sport, though an incredibly boring one, generates more excitement.

[El Supremo]

6. The only sport I like that is based on judges points is...

diving and maybe ski jumping.

[Captain Hilts]

7. Ugh! If it's judged and involved a 'costume', it's NOT a sport, even if it is athletic. nt

[El Supremo]

8. And if it also involves Bob Costas...

it's time to watch my Netflix movies.

[Iggo]

9. And I won't watch it...again.

[Auggie]

10. What will drive me absolutely fucking insane about NBCs Olympic coverage

will be the air time devoted to talking heads. Show the damn event -- not Bob Costas talking about the event. Costas is not the fucking star.

Human interest? I don't need 10 minutes on the athlete's childhood. Just the stuff pertinent to the event. Hell, the event announcers could handle that. Just show the damn event!

Oh, I know -- premature! The games haven't started yet! But you know what the coverage will be like! You've seen it before! You know it'll drive you crazy! You do! Fucking NBC!

:rant:

Lest we forget, the wonderfully produced "NFL Primetime" on ESPN was displaced by the woefully boring "NBCs Football Night in America" featuring none other than...

Fucking Bob Costas!

:wtf:

NBC -- everything you touch turns to shit!!!

No wonder GE is selling you.

[El Supremo]

11. They did get rid of "Up Close and Personal"...

a couple of Olympics ago. But I want to see more racing and Hockey (believe it or not).

[PVnRT]

12. Just don't cut into my curling coverage

[lazarus]

13. Amen

I flove curling.

[Onceuponalife]

14. *snorf*

If ever the was a "sport" that should be tape delayed, that is it. Delayed for a few years, at least.

[Auggie]

15. Curling happens to be very hot right now n/t

[lazarus]

16. the naysayers

will see when professional curling takes over the sports world. :)