Pulling no Punches - Your Comments on Opening Ceremony Coverage
Saturday February 11, 2006
Lots of comments on NBCs coverage of last night's Olympic Opening Ceremony. Not a single comment so far has been complimentary.You hated the high definition television signal that looked and sounded like crap on your expensive, large screen, digital "regular" televisions. You disliked all the political commentary and gratuitous comments on the low possibility of success for small countries not known for winter sports.
You hated Costas and Williams and despised the politics that crept into their commentary.
Ok, so the next time I sit down for a big platter of Pasta alla Puttanesca with them, I will relay your sentiments. Given the nature of your comments, I will warn them to dress like the boys on the left, shields included. Until then (don't hold your breath), you'll have to rely on NBC taking a peek at this blog to get your word across.
I can't weigh in on the issue, because I watched the decent, non-political coverage by Eurosport, the folks who do a bang up job at the Tour de France.
Why wasn't I there? Well, you don't just get in on a pass. This is a huge event. Top Tickets, according to a CNN report, cost 800-1000 Euros. That's my whole food and clothes washing budget for a month in Torino.
Tickets to the opening ceremony were available even as the the spectacle was getting underway. As I walked near the stadium, scalpers were offering tickets for 200 Euros, no haggling. Probably official scalpers trying to fill the seats.
People lined up outside the Olympic stadium early in the evening. By 7pm, an hour before the event, side streets were full of folks and tripods, waiting for the grand finale.
And grand it was. Floors shook; the clear and crisp night came alive with color and light, and fire shot from the stadium up 57 meters to the top of the Olympic cauldron, where it will burn for the duration of the games.
Then, finally, those guys on the upper left could relax.
Picture © 2006 by James Martin.
Comments
Yes I agree: tell Brian Williams to SHUT UP!
NBC’s coverage is terrible. Before you can see the TV schedule you have to enter your Zipcode. Then there is no provision for us old time C/Ku band people.
Where’s Canadian Broadcasting when you need them?
-Joe
The Opening Ceremonies would have been great if Costas and Carillo had a MUTE BUTTON! I would have liked to watch it without them explaining every single thing that was happening. Despite what NBC might think, most Americans probably could have figured out the meanings of much of the pageantry without the inane babble of the two.
Talk about broadcasting to the lowest level of intelligence…NBC has once again managed to make Americans just feel dumber and dumber.
In the future, might i recommend Costas take a night off and let us enjoy the splendor without having to hear babble every 30 seconds.
you would think that after all these years, NBC would realize that the only person who loves Bob Costas is Bob Costas.
I really didn’t have a problem with the commentary, but as a true olympic buff I was dissappointed with the lighting of the caldron. Although impressive, I doubt that was the same flame that was marched around since November that actually lit it. Any thoughts?
I agree! There is no way that same flame lit the caldron. Get real!
Bill and Dan, do you mean that you don’t believe the flame that did the initial lighting in the stadium actually ignited the caldron? Or are you saying it wasn’t the light that started out on the journey?
james
Totally! I couldn’t wait for this morning to ask what NBC and Brian Williams what they were thinking! Obviously he failed to grasp the meaning of the Olympic spirit. I know damn well that there is war and strife in the world. For two weeks, I want to see people get along through sport. SHUT UP BRIAN!
Tell Williams to stop politasizing everything. These are mostly kids here having fun and competing. they don’t give a hoots ass about politics right now. Williams shut your pie hole.
Is it possible for a commentator to NOT comment? Some facts and information is helpful and interesting but the never ending talk!!!! Why not “crawl” the information along the bottom of the screen? That way, the points/information is out there and we can enjoy the event. Costas in particular is so annoying - I couldn’t watch it anymore. NBC - if you are reading this -LESS TALK PLEASE - and the Olympics will be more enjoyable.
Forget Williams and Costas, what was with the rolling painted cows? And dancers in cow costumes? They made the guys with the flames coming out of their helmets look normal!
What’s with the sexist comments by Carillo? Her bigotry was totally offensive and insensitive. Obviously, someone made the decision to use an all female Olympic flag carrier team (why not all men?) but Carillo’s making a bigger deal of it only highlighted her anti male opinions and politics which no one needs or wants to hear.
I am so happy to read that others were troubled by the political commentaries that invaded the coverage of an event celebrating peaceful global participation in sport. As the athletes entered the Olympic stadium to stand together in peace, the commentators seized the opportunity to make political propaganda comments. I had been waiting weeks to watch this event and turned off my TV in disgust.
My question is: Who at NBC decided this was acceptable content?
Forget the annoying commentary, how about the sub-par HD broadcast quality? It looks like the techs at NBC must be in a learning curve with new equipment, or something.
From the first moment thru the entire 4-hour opening ceremony broadcast, there was an annoying echo in the audio. Sounded like having your TV and stereo feeds going with a lag between them. Maybe they’re trying to do some enhanced surround foo-foo, but it sounded like crap, either thru plain stereo or 5.1.
Now this morning I’m watching hockey on the Universal HD station, and they’ve got obvious switching problems. Every time they switch to the feed where they can put up graphics overlays, the sound gets louder and the picture clearer. Then they switch back to the primary feed, and there’s a jarring glitch to the picture, and it gets darker, muddier, and quieter.
C’mon NBC! Work this stuff out pronto so we don’t have to see this for two entire weeks.
I don’t believe the flame that did the initial lighting in the stadium actually ignited the caldron.
What was NBC thinking or not with Brian William’s commentary. They should be ashamed,embarressed, and humiliated. The olympic’s are above poltics, religion as the President of the Olyimpic’s stated in his speech. It is the Brian William’s and the Jimmy Carter’s that make it political. No wonder public opinion suggest of journalist that it is now a bottom feeding profession. I hope NBC gets the message that Brian William’s is not acceptable, I’d rather listen to Katie Curic….OOOCH!!!
Bob Costas sounds like a teenager making snide comments during a high school assembly all through the opening ceremony but at least he didn’t TALK OVER the entire Olympic hymn (as he so rudely did in prior Olympics.)Can’t NBC get someone with some sensitivity and class who actually understands and appreciates the Olympic spirit instead of this smarmy wiseass? He ruins it for me.
I agree completely with the disgust over the political commentary and quality of the broadcast for those without HDTV. And why did cameras ruin views of some of the entertainment with views of the backs of the USA team’s hats and other audience shots? All of the above are extremely unprofessional, and insulting to the athletes and viewers.
I watched both the NBC and CBC version’s of the opening cerimonies. I liked the CBC version better because….
1. They showed the parade of nations with no commerical interuptions.
2. I discovered that the Denmark contingent was made up of curlers and wasn’t given a diatribe about the Islamic cartoon controversy.
3. CBC commentators had a more knowledgeable/cheerful outlook and knew when and when-not to speak.
Hooray! My faith in America, the ‘real’ America, is restored. So glad everyone else realizes that NBC’s team of knuckleheads almost ruined the night.
Have to say, Al Trautwig, what a great announcer. He can even make cross country skiing exciting. Give him a promotion and send Costas and Carillo back to HBO where we have to pay to listen to their mindlessness.
I would have felt better without the right wing commentary about Italy being one Dubya’s partners in Iraq. The last I heard was that they were pulling out. Sports NOT Politics
the problem im having with the coverage is the delayed coverage of events..in this day and time of coverage why cant nbc show medal events live?….in particular im wondering about the mens 5000m speedskating..
Oh for the love of everything good and holy. I’m so embarrased. Out of all the citizens in the good ‘ol US of A…Susan Sarandon was picked to represent North America?? A loudmouth liberal who creates more problems from her mansion in the hills? She’s only an actress!! She doesn’t save lives, protect our country, protect the community with her life like thousands of female officers who make little money. Lets choose a female who’s fought in both wars and who has made it high in the chain of command, you know…someone who fights for their country making only fractions of the salary Sarandon does. Or gee, how about thousands of other women who live in reality and is a part of the solution our country most desperately needs, not a problem maker. Whoever was in charge of chosing our representative was obviously Hollywood brainwashed and more concerned with celebrity asskissing than really thinking about who REALLY should represent the REAL hardworking female from our nation.
Dick Button -
Is there a more jingoistic comentator than Dick Button? NBC needs to put this guy into permanent retirement. If figure skating of any kind is on, I turn off the sound so I don’t hear him nit-picking all the skaters who are not in his favored zone…
Again, another night of no surprises due to tape delay. All you have to do is check this website, and you know the news ‘before it happens’. No suspense. Cmon, it’s Saturday, for goodness sake, and NBC did do a good job showing the women’s hockey live and without commercial breaks, what’s up with only showing 3 heats of the 5000M speedskating? The real story there is, yes, it’s cool we won a gold, but the home team Italian getting Italy’s first medal ever in speedskating. Oh, he’s not American, never mind…
Oh, I forgot, we need time to show ALL the skating, the Holy Grail of the Winter Olympics. Wouldn’t be any ratings without it.
And, we know we need another Nancy Kerrigan-Tonya Harding thing with Michele Kwan to get people interested. It doesn’t start for 10 MORE DAYS! Is that all we’ll hear about for the next week and a half?
Oh, by the way, Candice, Sophia Loren is an actress also. Lighten up, I suppose you didn’t like the choice of Yoko Ono asking people to “Imagine” all the people living in peace, either.
Dick Button, what can you say, he should go judge Skating with Celebrities, but then, who else would they get, Bob Costas?
Oh, sorry, he does know about every sport , doesn’t he.
Gretchen Bleiler of the US at the opening ceremony: totally inappropriate to be on the cell phone while in the presentation walk.
Perfect picture of the “Ugly, Rude American”.
NBC coverage has been horrible. These folks can see what’s going on and don’t bother to communicate it to those of us watching the lame coverage on TV. The events coverage has been similarly amateur. The Russian pairs skaters do an impressive short program and NBC cuts to commercial immediately afterward, without showing us the scores and returns to coverage with another pair skating. Obscure sports like Free Style Skiing get little to no explanation on what is going on out there. Hey folks, we don’t watch much Free Style Skiing. How about explaining some of these obscure sports to us, how about showing us a leader board, how about bringing us to the event. I turned the coverage off way early, knowing full well that the US gold medal in the 5000 meter speed skating would be the last event of the night around 11:30 PM. So predictable, NBC, have some class and let the little kids see the top events instead of placing them at midnite, in hopes of keeping an audience. The internet is going to be providing better coverage than NBC this Olympics. It would help if they hired some professionals for the coverage. It just flat out sucks. The viewership ratings will definitely reflect the poor quality of the coverage.
I fully agree with all the previous comments…Costas has outlived his useful lifespan in the olympics…guy’s a joke. The political commentary is unnecessary. The technical presentation is terrible, Skiing coverage: the picture is totally overmodulated, everything white is flickering and glowing, and that is with my lo-def tv settings turned all the way down. Then there is the basic presentation: They have three channels available, yet Sat afternoon USA and CNBC had infomericals and Rastelling on. This morning is more infomercials and religious programming. Nothing but hockey is shown start to finish…which would be nice for the medal games but quarter-quarter finals? Come on. Has NBC not learned anything from their past botched coverages.
I always look forward to the olympics, yet am always disappointed with the coverage. Perhaps the time has come for pay per view ala-carte. Watch what you want from start to finish. Oh yeah, the primary goal is to satisfy the sponsors.
NBC reminds me of a rule we have back home in Wyoming, There ain’t no fix’in stupid. They don’t seem to learn from previous broadcasts. The coverage is just poorly done. What’s the deal do these people just hate sports and love disaster and failure. I will hope for a new broadcaster next time….
Overall, NBC’s coverage SUCKS! The ladies Frestyle moguls had 20 finalists and they showed perhaps 6. Each run is less than 30 seconds. They are too cheap too show them all, or perhaps they think we have no attention span. They think all we want to see are Americans and the other top competitors. In Europe and Canada viewers generally get to see everything. Why do we put up with such crap?
You know the video quality is bad when you can pick up compression artifacts on standard def 27″ TV. I thought it was my cable company, but it seems others have observed this as well. Technology was supposed to give us better quality, and I hear not even HD is good–what happened? Also, let me add my “thumbs down” to “play-by-play” style commentary of ceremonies. Broadcasters have been guilty of this for decades, and it has always bothered me. Someone needs to tell the sports broadcasters that the opening and closing cermonies are NOT sporting events that require “stats” to add to enjoyment. Maybe they should broadcast commentary on SAP (Second Audio Program) so we can choose whether to hear it OR NOT!
Good Lord! Do all of you complainers have nothing better to do than sit and watch something you apparently watch only to complain about?! The broadcast was fun to watch and I enjoyed the parade of athletes as well as the theatrics. I sat down to enjoy myself and did so by watching the show, not by looking for aspects to complain about. The coverage is the same as it has always been. You can’t get away from at least some degree of political input and some skating commentators (for example) who are in love with the sound of their own voices. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it!
Ann, Ann, Ann.
Sometimes its time to get off the couch and raise ones voice in disagreement. I don’t call that complaining. The commentators either did not do their homework or where totally clueless about what the Olympic games are all about.
Transcending all politics and borders of each country is the ultimate purpose for all participating athletes.
How do you think the Danish felt as they came into the arena and all that was mentioned is the current controversy regarding a published cartoon they had nothing to do with?
That said, may I mention the Latvian team in their dark red and white outfits, didn’t they look sharp?
P.S. I watched it on my 15 yr old 20″ RCA and enjoyed it just as much. At times I muted the dumb commentator.
About the women parade with the olympic flag, Susan Sarandon wasn’t chosed for her actorial ability, but for her role as a Unicef ambassadress (and her fame as a good actress, why not?
); Sofia Loren being a well-known italian female icon (still more than Monica Bellucci), involved in many charities; Nawal el Moutawakel as the first arab gold medal athlete; Wangari Maathai won the Peace Nobel Prize in 2004; Somaly Mama as a uman right activist; Maria Mutola another gold medalist.
Those to recognize the primary role of women in contemporary society, and to say friendly to all muslim women that they are important too for sport, friendship, peace, umanity.
Ciao from Torino!
I’m now beginning to understand that the HD Broadcast quality is an NBC issue not a cable company issue related to ‘compression’. Is anyone else furious about this? EVERY day so far the HD video quality has been sub-par. Someone at NBC should be fired for this. Does anyone know any more details as to why this is happening? How do you get in touch with NBC to complain? Thanks!
Re:NBC Coverage
I feel sorry for the average citizen of the United States who does not have satellite or cable. As noted elsewhere, the NBC coverage of the Olympics is abbreviated and too late. The broadcasters shows events about 12 hours after they occurred and then, as in alpine skiing, shows about six competitors with the top three and the American contestants. I was amazed that their weekend coverage did not start until 3:00 EST. It was quite ludricrous on Saturday as they were showing some insignificant snowboard slalom event. NBC has followed the “magazine” and “story” format for too long and show give the public what they want - comprehensive and timely coverage.
You may know this already but in Canada (and other countries) the CBC provides extensive coverage in mornings, afternoon, and then an evening wrap-up of the day’s events. I know NBC must give time to local broadcasters and they would not interrrupt the afternoon soaps but it is time for a change in their programming of the Olympics.
Robin
Saskatchewan
Canada
Agreed that NBC has some major problems with HDTV not found in the other networks. Numerous glitches including a frozen picture that lasted for nearly 25 minutes, right through the torch lighting ceremony. Unclear if it was the network or the local station causing the problem. The event was supposed to be in 5.1 surround but not happening here. Again could be the local. At any event, overall, the HDTV coverage has been lousy.
Dave
Janesville, WI
Bob Costas was inappropriate when he said that for most of the athletes at the games, the opening ceremonies were as exciting as the games would get because they didn’t have realistic chance to medal. What about the Olympic Creed, Bob? How about competing in a sport they have trained in for years would be the most exciting part for them? He is annoying to listen to.
Robin in Canada, you don’t have to convince me.
You should see my bloodshot eyes trying to stay awake watching the Luge competition about 1:00 this a.m.
It was worth it though, Latvia won its 1st medal.
Sleeping in Wanamassa, USA
I missed the opening ceremony, but my roomate called me to make sure she was watching the right channel. She said that she couldn’t believe how insulting the NBC commentary was … something about Iceland being alcoholics? India being a huge country and only sending a couple people?? Some political comments on Iran?? I guess that the whole thing was very condescending and in poor taste … I wish I had some transcripts.
As far was what I have seen … no mention of any other country’s athletes and their backstories. Isn’t this event supposed to bring people together? Learning about other cultures?
Oh wait; USA #1. Nothing else matters.
Gee, I wish NBC would show more commercials and less sports.
What’s the problem NBC ??? This is the Olympics!! You show one thing then break to commercials. Tee..di..ous coverage.
The open ceremonies was awful thanks in part to your coverage and the blah blah blah commentaries..always pushing your political agenda.
How sad for us who are stuck with NBC having the Olympic contract.
To Stefano in Torino, Ciao! Reference Susan Sarandon…come over here to the USA. You’ll see your opinion could change. You probably don’t hear as much over there about our issues as you would over here. I realize all the other women you mentioned deserve to be there; I completely agree. Yes I know Sophia Loren is an actress, but she doesn’t seem to be as ‘loud-mouthed’ as SS. Trust me…there are so many other women worthy of that spot.
To Marty-to ASSUME that I didn’t agree with Yoko Onos appearance based on me not liking SS is about as presumptive and condescending as you telling me to lighten up. The Yoko thing; I liked; liked a lot actually. Why wouldn’t I? Did I say I was anti-peace? Gee, you sure did seem to have a problem with voicing an opinion! I can go on and on as to why I am about this issue in particular, but I think it would be met by more…uninsightfulness
i.e. waste of time. By the way… comparing Kwon with the Karrigan/Harding thing…hmmm…not even close.
My enjoyment of the skating coverage has been completely ruined by the commentators. The negative and unprofessional comments are out of place. Please, someone, stuff a sports sock in their mouths and let us enjoy the skating and accompanying music without their constant drivel about whether the couple has done it better elsewhere, whether they think the couple will make it through 4 minutes, or whether they hope the Russians don’t get good marks!
We need a new Olympic event: Bob Costas’ Judo ass kickin death match….WOOT!!!
Did you hear that the US is lobbying for a new sport? It is a two man team sport. First the team will cross country ski a kilometer on a on the same set of skiis, the for giggles, we’ll switch forms of measure and ice skate a mile, jump out of the skates, spin three times fast and try to shoot a pheasant with birdshot. Fortunately our veice president tested the safety of the event, and it was determined to be unsuitable for olympic competition.
Are the Olympics being televised this year? I’m not sure unless Katie Couric is an athlete. NBC, imo. is doing a pathetic job.
How can I tell NBC that Dick BUTTons is ruining it all for me!!!!! GOD! I wish I have another provider
NBC has so many talented people and good stuff, but that rude/crude/crust DICK Buttons makes we want to watch with the sound OFF!
Bob,
Have enjoyed you for years! You are loosing you positive edge that has seperated you from the rest. Why??? Remember, Silver and Bronze are not a color but 2nd and 3rd in the world! Don’t loose what so many people have enjoyed about you. Your positive but to the point perspective. Watch your own interview and see what im saying.
Sincerly,
Chris K.
Anchorage, Alaska
The smug comments that the announcers seem obliged to add during each and every performance are the most annoying in olympic history. It is no wonder that people would rather watch American Idol than olympic coverage. The stupid interview questions after someone wins a silver medal arent helping ratings either. You should be embarrassed by the lack of professionalism your network has shown so far. Your ratings suck because of your coverage, not the teams performance.
It is time for the Olympic committee to dump NBC and get a new provider for the events. The start of the closing was so bad I changed channels. Who the hell wants to want a history of soldiers? Not Me.
The Olympics are supposed to be about sports not history.
The coverage of all games was so horrid I changed channels most if not all of the time. Who wants to see just the best contenders? Not Me, I want to see them all regardless of how good they are.
When ABC covered them we got full coverage, but not now and I say kick NBC out.