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Olympic coverage - some random observations
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Does anyone get more excited about swimming than Rowdy Gaines? Why is Bob Costas always out of focus? Jennifer Hedger is the hottest sportscaster (sorry America, she's on a Canadian network). Paula Findlay is an even bigger idol of mine. I'm very thankful I can watch field events on a Canadian network - the British system of measurement is completely inferior to the metric system for reporting distances. Also thankful that the Canadian broadcasters give a blurb about everyone in a race, not just Americans or the fastest. Any other observations?
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [TriBiker] [ In reply to ]
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TriBiker wrote:
Does anyone get more excited about swimming than Rowdy Gaines? Why is Bob Costas always out of focus? Jennifer Hedger is the hottest sportscaster (sorry America, she's on a Canadian network). Paula Findlay is an even bigger idol of mine. I'm very thankful I can watch field events on a Canadian network - the British system of measurement is completely inferior to the metric system for reporting distances. Also thankful that the Canadian broadcasters give a blurb about everyone in a race, not just Americans or the fastest. Any other observations?



Nauseating Bland Coverage..





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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [TriBiker] [ In reply to ]
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the american commentators over emphasize the "ham" in "buckingham palace" i.e. buckinghammmmm

come on! it's pronounced bucking'm
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [TriBiker] [ In reply to ]
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If you were watching in the US, especially the prime time coverage, you'd think we were the only country who sent a team to the Olympics. NBC is doing their best to apply their human-interest-sob-story template to the Olympics and it's ruining the coverage. I've seen more coverage of parent reactions to performances than I have of the entire Chinese Olympic team, and they're currently leading the medal count. I expect them to focus on the US, but I want to see other countries compete too. This is supposed to be about the best in the world coming together to compete. Instead, it's been about watching Phelp's mom. Who gives a shit?
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [Supersquid] [ In reply to ]
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Supersquid wrote:
If you were watching in the US, especially the prime time coverage, you'd think we were the only country who sent a team to the Olympics. NBC is doing their best to apply their human-interest-sob-story template to the Olympics and it's ruining the coverage. I've seen more coverage of parent reactions to performances than I have of the entire Chinese Olympic team, and they're currently leading the medal count. I expect them to focus on the US, but I want to see other countries compete too. This is supposed to be about the best in the world coming together to compete. Instead, it's been about watching Phelp's mom. Who gives a shit?

The free streaming coverage (if you have the right service provider) is much, much better than the normal coverage. I discovered it last night when trying to see the women's triathlon. The women's marathon coverage this morning was good; very exciting race!
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [Supersquid] [ In reply to ]
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Having now watched the US, British, and French coverage (with many years worth of watching Canadian coverage) - it's clear that while the US coverage may be disliked, it's not the worst.

For example, having watched three days of British coverage, the online stuff is awesome and second to none (which, for the most part, the online US stuff is good too). However, the regular BBC 'highlights' coverage is probably worse than the American highlights coverage. Aside from Bolt tonight, it's pure British athletes 100% of the time. Obviously catering to the home crowd, which is fine/cool - but I'd point out that there's an extra million people in town watching for other countries/events. I will say that the British live event commentary is downright awesome however. Hilarious.

Looking at the French coverage, I've got an excellent opportunity to see Ping-Pong, Fencing and Judo. That's it. Gymnastics, most swim events and other major events aren't even acknowledged as existing. The road bike event was shown for a while, until they switched to basketball - France playing. Unless a French athlete is on (and playing ping-pong), and they are going to win - that's all you're going to see. We did however get to see all of Phelp's races, albeit the focus after the race was always on the French athlete - regardless of how they did. Again, on the bright side - I've learned a lot about Fencing and Ping Pong.

My point being - it's not as bad as you think. It could be worse.

(Note, I spend the second half of the week in Germany- it's plausible their coverage is better/worse, we'll see).


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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [dcrainmaker] [ In reply to ]
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The best ever Olympic coverage I can remember of was Barcelona 92 (i.e. before Internet live streaming and Co) and was in France. Canal+ (needed to subscribe to that channel to receive a decoder to watch it) did 24/7 during the Olympics and while there was obviously a focus on French athletes, you could actually pretty much watch everything and anything!


Fred.
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [TriBiker] [ In reply to ]
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TriBiker wrote:
Does anyone get more excited about swimming than Rowdy Gaines? Why is Bob Costas always out of focus? Jennifer Hedger is the hottest sportscaster (sorry America, she's on a Canadian network). Paula Findlay is an even bigger idol of mine. I'm very thankful I can watch field events on a Canadian network - the British system of measurement is completely inferior to the metric system for reporting distances. Also thankful that the Canadian broadcasters give a blurb about everyone in a race, not just Americans or the fastest. Any other observations?

I think it's cool that Gaines gets so excited, clearly he is very passionate about the sport, as one might expect from a triple gold medalist in the'84 Games. It would be quite cool if Phelps teamed up with him in future coverage.


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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [TriBiker] [ In reply to ]
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from what I can tell from the first week of US coverage, the only events at the Olympics are swimming, riding your horse around, volleyball (several kinds) and synchronized diving
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [fred_h] [ In reply to ]
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fred_h wrote:
The best ever Olympic coverage I can remember of was Barcelona 92 (i.e. before Internet live streaming and Co) and was in France. Canal+ (needed to subscribe to that channel to receive a decoder to watch it) did 24/7 during the Olympics and while there was obviously a focus on French athletes, you could actually pretty much watch everything and anything!


Fred.

Agreed, same here in the US. We had a red channel, white channel, and blue channel and the coverage was 24/7.

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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [TriBiker] [ In reply to ]
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TriBiker wrote:
Does anyone get more excited about swimming than Rowdy Gaines? Why is Bob Costas always out of focus? Jennifer Hedger is the hottest sportscaster (sorry America, she's on a Canadian network). Paula Findlay is an even bigger idol of mine. I'm very thankful I can watch field events on a Canadian network - the British system of measurement is completely inferior to the metric system for reporting distances. Also thankful that the Canadian broadcasters give a blurb about everyone in a race, not just Americans or the fastest. Any other observations?

Am I missing something here? I thought Metres and centimetres was metric?
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [ericmulk] [ In reply to ]
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Joannne.Malar, much easier on the eyes than rowdy...

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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [chunkytfg] [ In reply to ]
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Um.. he's pointing out that imperial measurements suck and that the Brits invented it. The French invented metric.

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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [fred_h] [ In reply to ]
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Coverage in South Africa is awesome.

5 dedicated channels, 4 showing live events and the other providing highlights. Almost feels like there's too much to watch at times.

Then again, we do have grinding poverty, massive unemployment and AIDS, so it's not all moonshine and roses.
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [TriBiker] [ In reply to ]
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NBC has officially brought Olympic coverage down to the level of Kona coverage. At least they don't have Masback doing Kona coverage any longer that was comical.
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [realAlbertan] [ In reply to ]
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realAlbertan wrote:
Um.. he's pointing out that imperial measurements suck and that the Brits invented it. The French invented metric.

Who cares who invented either systems I still dont get the point he is making?
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [alexaqui] [ In reply to ]
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What coverage do you have for streaming?
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [tiptopshop] [ In reply to ]
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tiptopshop wrote:
What coverage do you have for streaming?

I'm in the UK so I get the best coverage but some very suspect pundits.
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [ollie3856] [ In reply to ]
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ollie3856 wrote:
from what I can tell from the first week of US coverage, the only events at the Olympics are swimming, riding your horse around, volleyball (several kinds) and synchronized diving

Add gymnastics and shooting guns.

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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [trackie clm] [ In reply to ]
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At least you get coverage. Our TSN has had periods where all they do is the same retrospective (The Difference Makers or something like it) and then commercials for over half an hour. Apparently there is nothing good to show sometimes even though NBC and even the other two Canadian networks are showing events.


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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [David B] [ In reply to ]
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If you poke around, you may have been gifted some channels in the PPV section that just show raw feeds all the time. We've been going to them when TSN/CTV get all soft-focus "Won't somebody please think of the parents!" on us. They're around channel 300 on our bell satellite service.

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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [Supersquid] [ In reply to ]
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Supersquid wrote:
NBC is doing their best to apply their human-interest-sob-story template to the Olympics and it's ruining the coverage. I've seen more coverage of parent reactions to performances than I have of the entire Chinese Olympic team, and they're currently leading the medal count. I expect them to focus on the US, but I want to see other countries compete too. This is supposed to be about the best in the world coming together to compete. Instead, it's been about watching Phelp's mom. Who gives a shit?


It sickens me as well, but it must sell to your average joe or jane doe out there who is interested in the stories and not so much the competition.


My random observation would be, Al Michaels sounds drunk half of the time, and Bob Costas interviewing Phelps is cloying and creepy. My 9 year old son even commented on how weird it is.
Last edited by: ThisIsIt: Aug 6, 12 5:15
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [sluiper] [ In reply to ]
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sluiper wrote:
Coverage in South Africa is awesome.

5 dedicated channels, 4 showing live events and the other providing highlights. Almost feels like there's too much to watch at times.

In all fairness, NBC does have five channels showing live events throughout the day. NBC, NBC Sports, CNBC, MSNBC and Bravo. They're not showing the primetime level stuff during the live broadcasts but you can watch the shit out of everything that's not swimming, gymnastics, and marquee track & field events.

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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [GMAN19030] [ In reply to ]
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GMAN19030 wrote:
sluiper wrote:
Coverage in South Africa is awesome.

5 dedicated channels, 4 showing live events and the other providing highlights. Almost feels like there's too much to watch at times.


In all fairness, NBC does have five channels showing live events throughout the day. NBC, NBC Sports, CNBC, MSNBC and Bravo. They're not showing the primetime level stuff during the live broadcasts but you can watch the shit out of everything that's not swimming, gymnastics, and marquee track & field events.


I would disagree with that. I like weightlifting and their coverage of that has been very spotty, same for judo & wrestling. Coverage of weightlifting in the last Olympics was very good, pretty much showing most of the A pool competitions. This time almost no snatch and just the closing of clean & jerk of the top few lifters. Pretty sure they've only shown some of the weight classes as well.

Track cycling has been spotty too.


They seem to be showing the shit out of the team competitions; soccer, handball, water polo, field hockey & then the equestrian events. Volleyball and beach volleyball seem to be on non-stop.
Last edited by: ThisIsIt: Aug 6, 12 5:29
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Re: Olympic coverage - some random observations [TriBiker] [ In reply to ]
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All the technology, planning, high-tech gear, training, etc, and the safety pin is still the best way to keep a bib number on an athlete??? Helloooo.....?



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