thx Xia

NBC withholding live Olympic events from west coast viewers
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijin ... =oly,99683

NBC went to a lot of trouble in order to get major Olympic events like swimming and gymnastics on the air live in primetime in the United States. Now, after getting their wish, the Peacock Network is inexplicably showing those events on tape delay on the west coast.

Because the time difference from Beijing to the United States wouldn't allow NBC to air live coverage of events from China, swimming and gymnastics finals were moved to the morning in Beijing. The network paid $894 million to broadcast these Olympics and didn't want a redo of 2000, when every major event in Sydney was shown on tape delay (it's no coincidence that the ratings for those Games were the lowest in history).

But after enduring months of tough negotiations with the IOC to get the events moved, NBC is doing exactly what they tried to avoid: showing events on tape. Tonight's swimming finals with Michael Phelps, Dara Torres and Katie Hoff were not shown live in the Mountain or Pacific time zones, nor will they be shown for the entirety of the competition. NBC will instead run the east coast feed three hours later; at 8:00 p.m. PT. So, at the moment (midnight on the east coast), viewers on the other side of the country still haven't seen Phelps shatter his own world record in the 400-meter individual medley.

This is a baffling decision by NBC. It's hard to recall any other occasion when a sporting event has been shown live in one half of the country, but not the other. It's unheard of. Sure, some sporting events start at weird times on the west coast, but that's the norm and people adapt. Like earthquakes, wildfires and actors-turned-governors, it's just how things are. That's why bars have breakfast buffets and bloody mary specials during football season for 10:00 a.m. kickoffs. If live mid-day weekend telecasts are good enough for the NFL and college football, why not the Olympics?

If the network plans on continuing the delay of the west coast feed, they're subjecting themselves to viewer backlash, poor ratings and upset advertisers. Essentially, NBC strong-armed the IOC into changing around a bulk of the Olympic schedule in order to broadcast live events in two time zones. Great business decision, guys. Why not just push Jay Leno out the door too while you're at it. (Oh, wait.)

Why is the basketball not in HD on NBC? I really don't want to listen to the CBC commentators, but I guess I have to since they are showing it in HD.

ETA: Maybe it was just my television for the first quarter, it seems to be in HD now.

I've heard a lot of viewer backlash in Australia because of the decision to broadcast swimming finals at primetime in the states.

Swimming is BIG in Australia.

They were amazing in the second half with Wade and James leading the charge. I was afraid they try to make it the Kobe or James show with them driving to the basket everytime, but instead they moved the ball around and nobody really dominated the game. Although, Wade and James both came close with their defense presence.

Gooooo Canada Goooo

I can't wait for diving... Alexandre Despastie better medal... or he's going to the dark room with Kyle Shewfelt and Perdita Felicien.

I love criticizing ppls efforts that I cannot even come remotely close to achieving.

I know, it's so much fun!



I laughed so hard when Perdita Felicien stumbled in Athens CBC had been hyping the hell out of her, and WHOOPS sorry, you're gone, next person please.


Ahahaha, so mean, so true, so funny.

My friend and I got a picture of her stumbling and used it as our MSN picture for like 1 week... it was so bad. LOL. Now Adam Van Kouverdan.... if he doesn't medal, my friend and I are planning to drive to Oakville and heckle him nonstop... but then we'd run away very quickly, his arms are like 5x my arms; he can rip people apart!

He's so full of himself, urgh.


I kinda wish Canada won 0 at these games, so they could be shamed into giving more funding to athletes, etc. Like what Australia did in the 1980s. I mean, it's not as if the Aussies are inherently better than we are, and we have 50% more humans than they do, and kangaroos are not allowed to participate!

Seriously. Ever since the Sydney Olympics, I've always wished that my parents immigrated to Australia rather than Canada... but only during the olympics. LOL. I hope Canada is at least spending money on the winter olympians... or else it's going to be a bit embarrassing in 2010.

Physical Education is compulsory until 10th grade here. What about you guys?

Only up until grade 9; however, the government is really considering making it until Gr. 12 because of increasing obesity rates.

That's not what I meant, though. I was thinking more of supporting people that want to become athletes, and providing opportunities for those who are interested.

Medal standings after Day 2:

China 6 2 0
United States 2 2 4
South Korea 3 2 0
Italy 1 2 1
Russia 0 3 1
Japan 1 0 2
France 0 2 1
North Korea 0 1 2
Czech Republic 2 0 0
Australia 1 0 1
Netherlands 1 0 1
Spain 1 0 1
Cuba 0 1 1

Great Britain 1 0 0

That's a nice gold in cycling, under pretty bad weather condition.

So I just discovered handball last night. It was awesome.

What are your favorite events? (Summer Olympics)

Mine are Track & Field (mostly Javelin and Hurdles), Most of the Swimming and Beach Volleyball.

Swimming, gymnastics, and athletics.

OHHH I forgot about Gymnastics...I think that is the most beautiful sport (when done right of course.)

I like to watch loads of other events, but they are the main ones.

I like the diving a lot

BEACH VOLLEYBALL IS BEING RUINED BY RAIN!!!!

How can they look up at the ball??? Haha that damn rain's gonna hurt my eye...

I know! I feel so bad for them...