Olympic TV: News? or Reality TV? Criticizing NBC

[mominatrix]

NBC Responds: We Removed The Opening Ceremony Memorial To Terrorism Victims Because The Tribute Wasn’t About America
Timothy Burke

NBC finally responded to overwhelming criticism of its decision to heavily edit coverage of Friday's opening ceremony with an answer that satisfied neither American fans nor Olympic organizers. Claiming "our programming is tailored for our American audience," NBC spokesperson Greg Hughes defended the network's choice to replace the "Abide With Me" memorial performance with a Ryan Seacrest interview of Michael Phelps.

The segment's choreographer and visionary for the memorial to victims of London's 7/7 attacks reacted angrily at a press conference this weekend, being quoted by Reuters as having said: "Is it not accessible enough? Is it not commercial enough?"

As our friend Louis said over on Gawker this weekend, it's a remarkably tone-deaf response from NBC. It does, however, demonstrate exactly how NBC views the Olympics and how differently it does so compared to the rest of the world's broadcasters.

Everywhere else in the world—including places like China and Saudi Arabia—the Olympics are considered a major international news story, worthy of coverage as such and, thus, live and as uninterrupted as possible. Comparisons include the Royal Wedding (which NBC *did* show live in its entirety) or a natural disaster like a tsunami. Our editor emeritus Will Leitch says the Olympics aren't sports, but reality TV; he's right, only insofar as an American perspective goes, though. We're conditioned to think we should be fed our salad pre-tossed because that's how we've always received it; NBC has taken this liberty we've given them and used it to craft narratives that do not actually exist and to eliminate the ones they'd rather we not see.

What NBC did with the opening ceremony is, then, simply a stand-in for the manipulation they engage in with all their prime-time coverage. What you see at night on NBC's Olympic coverage didn't actually happen, but is instead an NBC-forged simulacrum of what the Olympic day was like. They recreate a sequence of events that never actually happened by using footage of things that actually did. Maybe we're okay with that, but NBC dismissing complaints of anyone who isn't okay with it is not, well, okay.

deadspin.com/5930048/nbc-responds-we-removed-the-opening-ceremony-memorial-to-terrorism-victims-because-the-tribute-wasnt-about-america

[mominatrix]

I have to say, the last several olympics, I've felt this...

that they're not broadcast live, and the network broadcasting them has a "story" they want to tell, and basically edit the footage, and what they show and when, to match that story, instead of simply letting it all unfold.

It was super obvious to me when the olympics were in the states, yet there were still looooooong tape delays of nearly everything (like 24 hours) so the story could be told.

It feels so manipulative, it's why I used to love watching the CBC coverage (but, alas, we don't have CBC on our Cable / Direct TV anymore).

[y4m]

I was really shocked to hear about this. When NBC cut out of that coverage in the version they broadcast, did they say anything about what viewers would be missing?

It's so irresponsible for journalists to act as though they are showing the unedited entirety of a news event and then not do so.

[heyjude]

What I don't understand is somehow we are all able to watch the world cup live but somehow not the Olympics? It's a big clusterfuck.

Also the tribute included dead American servicemen. So...#NBCfail.

[bqbride]

I'm also pissy with them over their craptastic web/streaming coverage. This is 2012, NBC! Not everyone has cable and satellite TV anymore, and your web coverage sucks balls!

[emilyj]

Jul 30, 2012 13:33:00 GMT -5 mominatrix said:

Claiming "our programming is tailored for our American audience,"

And if only they'd listen to their American audience, they'd realize that the American audience actually really wants to see other stuff besides "All America, All the Time"

NBC sucks. They are getting so shit hammered right now it's hysterical to see.

[y4m]

It's also just so disrespectful. Can you imagine if we found out on 9/10/01 that we'd be hosting the games, and then we did a tribute as part of our ceremony and another country chose not to air it and to show a bubblegum piece instead?

I'm sure it will be unity horse, but this makes me very angry.

Here's the piece if you haven't seen it: www.inquisitr.com/287657/watch-the-london-olympics-opening-ceremony-footage-censored-by-nbc-video/

[cattledogkisses]

Was I the only one watching in the US who saw the memorial and not the interview? I was in the opening ceremonies thread Friday night trying to figure out what on earth everyone was talking about with the Michael Phelps interview comments.

[passthewine]

Jul 30, 2012 13:43:48 GMT -5 @bqbride said:

I'm also pissy with them over their craptastic web/streaming coverage. This is 2012, NBC! Not everyone has cable and satellite TV anymore, and your web coverage sucks balls!

I have to admit that I chuckled when I read this. It's 2012, who doesn't have cable or satellite?
Yes, I realize that not everybody has one or the other but if I didn't have it I would never expect to be able to watch everything people with cable/satellite can.

[passthewine]

Jul 30, 2012 14:17:51 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Was I the only one watching in the US who saw the memorial and not the interview? I was in the opening ceremonies thread Friday night trying to figure out what on earth everyone was talking about with the Michael Phelps interview comments.

How were you watching it? I left the room for the interview but we definitely got the interview and not the memorial.

[heyjude]

Jul 30, 2012 14:24:19 GMT -5 passthewine said:

Jul 30, 2012 13:43:48 GMT -5 @bqbride said:

I'm also pissy with them over their craptastic web/streaming coverage. This is 2012, NBC! Not everyone has cable and satellite TV anymore, and your web coverage sucks balls!

I have to admit that I chuckled when I read this. It's 2012, who doesn't have cable or satellite?

It's 2012, who hasn't heard of Roku?

[wawa]

Jul 30, 2012 14:35:24 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Jul 30, 2012 14:24:19 GMT -5 passthewine said:

I have to admit that I chuckled when I read this. It's 2012, who doesn't have cable or satellite?

It's 2012, who hasn't heard of Roku?

But haven't sporting events been the blind spot in all the cable/sat alternatives all along? Football and baseball are the main reasons why we haven't ditched cable. Why would the olympics be any different?

[smock]

Jul 30, 2012 14:38:37 GMT -5 wawa said:

Jul 30, 2012 14:35:24 GMT -5 heyjude said:

It's 2012, who hasn't heard of Roku?

But haven't sporting events been the blind spot in all the cable/sat alternatives all along? Football and baseball are the main reasons why we haven't ditched cable. Why would the olympics be any different?

Maybe because NBC keeps repeating that you can stream any event for free. Except they actually meant it's only free if you have cable.

[cattledogkisses]

Huh. We get a whole slew of Canadian channels, could we have been watching on one of those? Would that even make sense? I watched from beginning to end, and there was definitely no MP interview (I wanted to see it from what people were saying!). Based on the commentary in that thread what I was watching was about 5 minutes behind what everyone else was watching too. I'm so confused by this now.

[heyjude]

Jul 30, 2012 14:38:37 GMT -5 wawa said:

Jul 30, 2012 14:35:24 GMT -5 heyjude said:

It's 2012, who hasn't heard of Roku?

But haven't sporting events been the blind spot in all the cable/sat alternatives all along? Football and baseball are the main reasons why we haven't ditched cable. Why would the olympics be any different?

Wut? I'm only countering her "but who doesn't have cable?" assertion.

Actually a growing number of people are cutting out cable for Roku, Netflix, Hulu, etc. 2011 saw a record number of people doing this and 2012 will see more.

[passthewine]

Jul 30, 2012 14:35:24 GMT -5 heyjude said:

Jul 30, 2012 14:24:19 GMT -5 passthewine said:

I have to admit that I chuckled when I read this. It's 2012, who doesn't have cable or satellite?

It's 2012, who hasn't heard of Roku?

What? I can't hear you over this awesome new walkman that I got.


No but really, I feel like an old lady now... off to look into this "Roku" you speak of.

[heyjude]

Jul 30, 2012 14:43:46 GMT -5 passthewine said:

Jul 30, 2012 14:35:24 GMT -5 heyjude said:

It's 2012, who hasn't heard of Roku?

What? I can't hear you over this awesome new walkman that I got.


No but really, I feel like an old lady now... off to look into this "Roku" you speak of. :-

I like you.

[msmerymac]

Jul 30, 2012 14:17:51 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Was I the only one watching in the US who saw the memorial and not the interview? I was in the opening ceremonies thread Friday night trying to figure out what on earth everyone was talking about with the Michael Phelps interview comments.

Where do you live? Are you sure you weren't watching CBC?

I'm on the west coast, so the opening ceremonies were MAJORLY tape-delayed and had been shown on the east coast hours beforehand. I'm sure the controversy had already started, but we still got the Ryan Seacrest interview.

[wawa]

Jul 30, 2012 14:40:32 GMT -5 smock said:

Jul 30, 2012 14:38:37 GMT -5 wawa said:

But haven't sporting events been the blind spot in all the cable/sat alternatives all along? Football and baseball are the main reasons why we haven't ditched cable. Why would the olympics be any different?

Maybe because NBC keeps repeating that you can stream any event for free. Except they actually meant it's only free if you have cable.

How does that work? I've got fios. So would I have to sign in through verizon or something to see the streaming feeds?

ETA: I've been out of town all weekend and lack a smart phone or tablet, so I haven't really been paying attention thus far.

[eclaires]

MH keeps trying to pry my DirectTV away, but I'm fighting it b/c of sports pretty much.

NBC can suck it. I love that they are getting hammered. They also got hammered after the 2004 Olympics b/c they basically didn't even offer coverage of anything except primetime edited shit even though we were fully in the age of the 24 hour news stations/etc., but they offered way more in 2008 and 2010 in response. Maybe by 2016 in Rio they will get it right.

HAHAHAHA.

NEWSFLASH NBC - I DON'T CARE TO SEE YOUR EDITED TAKE ON THE OLYMPICS.

Actually, maybe they should offer a completely unedited live feed on their 3 other cable stations (we have Bravo, MSNBC and some specialty sports NBC station in the 600s) and then they can torture anyone tuning into their local NBC news affiliate with this edited trash.

[passthewine]

Jul 30, 2012 14:45:47 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I like you.

Aw, thanks, you're not so bad yourself ;-)

[heyjude]

Jul 30, 2012 14:57:20 GMT -5 passthewine said:

Jul 30, 2012 14:45:47 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I like you.

Aw, thanks, you're not so bad yourself ;-)

[aurora]

Jul 30, 2012 14:24:19 GMT -5 passthewine said:

Jul 30, 2012 13:43:48 GMT -5 @bqbride said:

I'm also pissy with them over their craptastic web/streaming coverage. This is 2012, NBC! Not everyone has cable and satellite TV anymore, and your web coverage sucks balls!

I have to admit that I chuckled when I read this. It's 2012, who doesn't have cable or satellite?
Yes, I realize that not everybody has one or the other but if I didn't have it I would never expect to be able to watch everything people with cable/satellite can.

Lots of people who don't want so much TV in our lives don't have cable or satellite. I wish there were an easy way to watch more Olympics live (I'd pay NBC directly to be able to stream events), but it's not worth the hassle of getting cable just for this event.

That doesn't mean I *expect* to be able to watch as much as those who pay for subscription TV. Just that I wish NBC offered more options.

[bqbride]

Jul 30, 2012 14:59:18 GMT -5 aurora said:

Jul 30, 2012 14:24:19 GMT -5 passthewine said:

I have to admit that I chuckled when I read this. It's 2012, who doesn't have cable or satellite?
Yes, I realize that not everybody has one or the other but if I didn't have it I would never expect to be able to watch everything people with cable/satellite can.

Lots of people who don't want so much TV in our lives don't have cable or satellite. I wish there were an easy way to watch more Olympics live (I'd pay NBC directly to be able to stream events), but it's not worth the hassle of getting cable just for this event.

That doesn't mean I *expect* to be able to watch as much as those who pay for subscription TV. Just that I wish NBC offered more options.

Ditto all this, aurora. We haven't had cable or satellite in years. I'm actually surprised that people still pay for it, since we have very little trouble finding everything that we watch online for free. Except for the Olympics, that is. I would also gladly pay a one-time fee to stream the events, but I'm not signing another 2 year hostage agreement contract with a cable/satellite provider just for that purpose.

[y4m]

Do broadcast antennas not exist anymore?

[heyjude]

Jul 30, 2012 15:27:10 GMT -5 y4m said:

Do broadcast antennas not exist anymore?

No; you need a digital converter box now.

[pescalita]

It makes me laugh, but it really does show a lack of integrity the way they pretend they're showing things live when they're not. Like during the parade of nations when they show the countries that entered the stadium "while we were away".

[aurora]

Jul 30, 2012 15:27:10 GMT -5 y4m said:

Do broadcast antennas not exist anymore?

You mean antennas for regular over-the-air broadcasts? Sure, that's what I have. But NBC is not showing full coverage of all events that I would like to see on their regular broadcasts, which is why I'm saying I'd be willing to pay to get those Olympic events streaming if that service were available.

[beer]

I have a friend with a digital converter box and she can't even get NBC. We are in a decent sized city, not in the boonies somewhere. So she gets no Olympics.

[Deleted]

We got the memorial here in Canada on CTV. Our main sports station, TSN, showed the same thing.