NBC's attempt at humiliation avoidance (?)

[escapist]

As with many people who immigrate here.....all we hear is how much better everything was in the old country, if it was oh so much better back in Sweden, why are you here?

Hey, man, I don't see myself emigrating from Sweden anytime soon. I'm just hanging out here for a couple of months.

All countries have advantages and disadvantages - living in California means better music and better weather, but a worse government and hockey broadcasts that are delayed or cluttered with commercials. It's kinda nice to see something different, but I still reserve the right to whine just a little bit..

 

[braincramp]

. . . Sure, that's a good reason... if you like money more than hockey.. which I guess they do. Good, now that's established. . . .

You are about to discover many more cultural differences between Sweden and the US than the broadcast style of hockey games. We have a culture of entrepeneurship (yes, money-making) which, indeed, often requires financial justification for most undertakings, as opposed to the substantial public funding of similar items in many parts of Europe.

Does escapist mean you have escaped from Sweden?

Welcome, anyway, and good luck in adjusting.

EDIT: Sorry, somewhat overlapping post.

 

[escapist]

If a two hour tape delay is the worst thing they've done and a few ill timed commercial breaks, then it's a pretty good job they are doing.

Nah, one ill-timed commercial break is enough for me to think that they're doing a bad job. The guys actually in charge of cutting back to the game, that is, the network gets due credit for showing all games, regardless of commercials.

As to the delay, I'm still only voicing what someone else should've. If they had delayed any of the other games I wouldn't have said anything, but they delayed Team USA's game and showed all of the other ones live. Bad job.

What I don't understand is why they don't show the game live for the _real_ fans that don't mind getting up at 10:55am, and then re-run it at 2pm and/or at 7pm. That would really maximize the audience. (And don't give me any "that's not economically viable", because Olympic hockey games with your own national team is about as good sports entertainment that you're likely to find.)

 

[escapist]

You are about to discover many more cultural differences between Sweden and the US than the broadcast style of hockey games. We have a culture of entrepeneurship (yes, money-making) which, indeed, often requires financial justification for most undertakings, as opposed to the substantial public funding of similar items in many parts of Europe.

Yeah, I know, that's one of the bigger ones. And so far I actually don't think your system is as bad as people make it out to be.

About the public funding, international championship hockey games sadly became too expensive for public television a couple of years back. The Olympic Games are an exception though. All of it is on public TV.

Does escapist mean you have escaped from Sweden?

Nah, but, I did manage to escape the rainy and cold winter on the west coast of Sweden actually. Lucky me..

Welcome, anyway, and good luck in adjusting.

Thanks.

 

[ScottyBowman]

Hey, man, I don't see myself emigrating from Sweden anytime soon. I'm just hanging out here for a couple of months.

All countries have advantages and disadvantages - living in California means better music and better weather, but a worse government and hockey broadcasts that are delayed or cluttered with commercials. It's kinda nice to see something different, but I still reserve the right to whine just a little bit..

All the US games are in high definition and commercial free. I'm not sure what you're complaining about. All hockey games are also in HD. I don't think you guys got that in Sweden.

 

[Blades of Glory]

All the US games are in high definition and commercial free. I'm not sure what you're complaining about. All hockey games are also in HD. I don't think you guys got that in Sweden.

Yeah, but coverage in California is terrible compared to other parts of the country. Tape delay has never enticed more people to watch, especially on Saturday afternoon, when people are almost always doing other things. A Saturday morning game draws more people, and not to mention, shows the game live, when the suspense is still there.

 

[Scotty Hockey]

Let me let you guys in on a lil something. In U.S. network television terms, you have a certain number of commercials that were sold to advertisers that must be put on air during a certain period of time, called your inventory. Due to contractual agreements with the hosts there are specific times that you are allowed to go to commercial during the game. The NHL has specific time outs to allow for those commercials, the IOC does not. But the networks still sell commercials to air during the games nonetheless. This leads to the TV producer's hands being a bit tied - they have to crash to break as soon as possible at a stoppage in the hope that they can get back on air in time for play to start. Between the timing of the producer and the speed of the game's officials, this is a hit-or-miss exercise, as you can clearly see.

So basically what I am saying is give them a break. Without the income derived from commercials, NBC would not have the money for the insane cost of broadcasting rights. No money = less if any coverage. They are airing parts, if not all, of every single hockey game played. Be thankful you are getting to see it at all, they could just show the U.S. game and that is it ...

 

[danaluvsthekings]

NBC is airing 12 hours of hockey per day. Considering some of the games are taking place simultaneously or are overlapping one another, in duel venues, that's an impressive logistical challenge and it demonstrates quite a commitment to the event during these crowded events-filled Olympics.

Sorry, but if anything, the network's sheer volume of men's hockey deserves a grateful nod. They're only showing every single game, and every minute of the US games, commercial free.

I've been impressed that they've shown as much hockey as they have but I sure as heck would have taken a few commercials during the USA game today in exchange for actually seeing the game live. There is no reason whatsoever to justify the fact that I could watch 5 hockey games live today featuring countries other than the United States but I couldn't watch the US game live. Most people in the western United States had no clue the game was going to be tape delayed. Heck, the Kings put together viewing parties for the game today at 4 different Hooters around southern California and in their promotions they told people to show up at 11 AM to watch the game. What really gets me is this more than likely means that the medal games next weekend on NBC will also be tape delayed for those on the pacific and mountain time zones. It wasn't like the game started live at 7 or 8 am pacific time, then the tape delay would be more justifiable. I know this morning I was trying to get stuff done before 11 so I could watch the game without interruptions. Instead I was treated to biathalon and cross country skiing.

I understand why they tape delay the figure skating and stuff so they have something for prime time coverage, maximum ratings, etc. In Salt Lake City, everything in prime time was tape delayed even though California is one hour behind Salt Lake City. I'm really curious what they're going to do in Vancouver in 2010 when it's actually in the same time zone. They'll still probably tape delay anyways. People on the west coast are used to things like the Academy Awards and Grammys being on tape delay. It was inexcusable for NBC to say that they were covering every game of the tournament live without including the typical *except on the west coast* line they usually use. Everyone I know was expecting the game to be on at 11 AM live.

 

[braincramp]

For anyone confused about broadcast times, I would recommend visiting www.nbcolympics.com. Navigate to TV LISTINGS and enter your zip code. It will display the schedule for all the NBC stations in your area, specified in local time, indicating which events are live (if it doesn't say LIVE, it's not).

http://www.nbcolympics.com/tv/index.html