NBC To Take over US Skating Coverage through Next Olympics

[nymkfan51]

The USFS - NBC deal certainly appears to be part of an NBC plan to put it's promotional brand on U.S. skating leading up to and including the 2010 winter games. It makes perfect sense, and this being the case, look for them to pick up the ISU contract when the current ESPN contract concludes with the 2008 World Championships. (IMO ABC/ESPN are done with figure skating!)

I for one do not really give a rusty hoot about the commentators - just extremely happy that figure skating continues to be covered on U.S. TV. Understanding how poorly figure skating has done in ratings ( I believe mostly due to how the sport has been presented since 2000) it is a major coup for the new leadership of U.S. Figure Skating to have concluded any deal (whether they get any revenue from the deal or had to pay NBC) to get skating on the air!

Major kudos to President Hershberger and Executive Director Raith for the steps they have taken to expand coverage of U.S. skating both on the web (Ice Network) and now successfully concluding this deal with NBC. Anxiously awaiting for details coming Monday.

I couldn't agree more! Great post!!!

 

[R.D.]

I agree as well. Although I was starting to care less whether skating went off the air or not, it is nice to know that I can still tape shows on DVD instead of having to rely on pulling stuff off Youtube. I think I'll just wait until the details come out Monday, but LIVE coverage will definitely help maximize ratings more than anything because in that case, you don't run the risk of losing viewers due to them looking up the results online/knowing the results beforehand. NBC knows this from their Torino Olympic coverage and therefore I see them bringing as much live coverage as they can (whether it's on cable or broadcast).

But this is a big deal for US skating. Staying on the air especially in a time of floundering ratings is a pretty amazing feat. I look forward to the schedule (and hopefully to the coverage- depends on who's skating).

 

[R.D.]

Of course it is NBC connected. That's what this whole thread is about. NBC has taken over television coverage of Skate America. How will this affect the event? Will NBC decide that since they are footing the bill they want some input with USFS about which skaters will be invited in order to maximize the appeal of the show? This is absolutely on topic in this thread.

Until Monday we are still unsure of who's paying for the broadcast, but I'd imagine the three Americans Meissner, Hughes, and (Czisny?) will be the selection, regardless of who's showing it. The only difference I see is that if there's going to be live primetime coverage on the network, they might push as hard as they can for Cohen to come back at least for that event.

Surprised no one has mentioned this yet but think they'd recruit MK for the broadcast booth? not that they haven't tried already...*runs*

 

[visaliakid]

Though I'm already dreading the worst for their broadcasts, I sent an email to NBC Sports thanking them for picking up skating to air. I also gently said I hope they'll minimize the "fluff"(...I called it "human interest stories") and show more skating. But mostly I thanked them for airing skating, hoping that they'll at least know there are skating fans out there who still watch.

Yes, NBC needs to be thanked! LIkewise, I sent an email expressing my thanks and appreciation for their decision to sign with USFS.

I made a respectful point of whom I would prefer to see on their commentating team without any disparaging comments, with a point to bring respect for the sport to the viewers. Here is some of what I wrote:

"I don't know who you will have on your broadcast team, most likely those who commentated at the previous Olympics. My only wish is that whomever they are, please have someone on the team that "knows" the new scoring system and can explain it to the average fan. For the most part your coverage of the Olympics was very good. I am not a fan of Scott Hamilton or Sandra Bezic, would rather hear Dick Button, Suzie Wynne, and Tracy Wilson as skating experts. But your presentation of Olympic Ice on USA network was best view of skating "Ever Done" on American Television. Mary Carillo has my utmost respect as a host commentator... she is brilliant! Funny, yet serious when you need her to be. She has always demonstrated a commitment to any sport she has commentated on. I would much prefer her to Tom Hammond. (Please... no more Al Trautwig!)"

 

[nymkfan51]

Surprised no one has mentioned this yet but think they'd recruit MK for the broadcast booth? not that they haven't tried already...*runs*

Well if she isn't skating, then I would love seeing her in the broadcast booth.

But I really, really think she will be skating.

 

[R.D.]

well, if she does end up skating I think we'll know who has the upper hand in that TV deal. :yes:

(to some extent, same if Cohen ends up skating there.)

But more so than ABC, NBC seems to live off of "big names" to draw attention and viewers. If not skating, expect them to be interviewers or broadcasters. That's their style of coverage. A lot seem to dislike it, but I like NBC's "drama/excitement" style coverage a lot better than ABC/ESPN's "let's make this a fluff show with some skating in it" approach. But who knows...it will be strange seeing non-Olympic skating on a network other than ESPN/ABC...

But I think we will get much better Olympic-oriented coverage, maybe complete with some replays of Oly action.

 

[Jimmy Hoffa]

OH! ??? Was that in regards to her "California Girls" #? ANd how is a 15 year old sexy????

No. It was 1994 Worlds and Kwan was thirteen.

 

[R.D.]

More details:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-skating22apr22,1,1664853.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

Now that NBC has become the broadcast network of the major U.S. skating events, beginning with Skate America next fall, Button's future on those telecasts is uncertain, but it would not be a surprise for NBC to keep him in a prominent role.

"No one (from NBC) has talked with me yet,'' Button, 77, said Saturday, "but I would love to keep doing the national championships and Skate America. I am delighted to see this new deal, and I think it augurs well for the future of skating in this country.''

[snip]

Given both a 60 percent drop in ratings over the past decade for the women's final at the U.S. Championships and changes in the TV marketplace, the USFSA did well to get what is a revenue-sharing deal with NBC. Both parties will profit once advertising revenue reaches a predetermined level.

-- There will be format changes at the nationals so all finals can be televised live, and the finals likely will take place Saturday night (a three-hour, prime-time telecast) and Sunday afternoon...

remarkable they were able to come to some kind of agreement with those kinds of stats (steep drop in ratings) haunting them.

 

[visaliakid]

More details on new contract emerge in follow-up article by Hersh...

Will Button make the move to NBC?
Now that NBC has landed a three-year deal to show Skate America and U.S. championships, the face of the sport is likely to join the broadcast team. Article Here!

 

[R.D.]

Hmm, I don't hear anything about plans to show any of the medal ceremonies. come on, this is the one chance to improve the overall coverage...

 

[SeaniBu]

No. It was 1994 Worlds and Kwan was thirteen.

Canadians I swear.


J/K, but a odd thing to say, I bett he wasn't really thinking about the appropriate choice of words. Mature acting for her age to be doing a programme like this, something I hear Peggy say. I bett that is what he meant. I hope.

 

[Tinymavy15]

as long as we get to see the skating, i don't care who is broadcasting it. I didn't really care for NBC's coverage of the olympics, but ABC is no good either. Too many commercials and fluff. I hope that Dick will follow that skating, whereever it goes.

 

[iloveaxel]

I hope that Dick will follow that skating, whereever it goes.

No Dick please. He is awful.

 

[jennylovskt]

No Dick please. He is awful.

Sorry, I love Dick Button's commentary very, very much! He is quick, sharp, smart, and knowledgeable. To me, he is the best commentator in North America.

 

[Tonichelle]

yeah missing jumps is sharp...

 

[visaliakid]

Those who don't want Dick commentating... Sorry! He will get a call from NBC... count on it! Ebersol loved his work at the Olympics. With no contract with ABC/ESPN now, they will grab him up soon!

 

[R.D.]

I agree, especially since it's only 3 years...and he's getting to that age where he may not last much longer...count on him to stick around. I don't mind that (although IMO it would be refreshing to get some new blood in the broadcasting booth)...but I hope Peggy doesn't jump ship...please no she's the one I can do without. Other than that the commentators really don't bother me that much. I like Scott's enthusiasm. Someone needs to pump some excitement into these broadcasts. I find ESPN's coverage lacking that very much. Just look at the NBA coverage...I thought NBC did a significantly better job than ABC or ESPN does now.

 

[iloveaxel]

Sorry, I love Dick Button's commentary very, very much! He is quick, sharp, smart, and knowledgeable. To me, he is the best commentator in North America.

He is terrible. I hate the way he screams like a teen girl and salivates over every 'pointed toe'. He really makes me cringe.

Seriously, what has he brought to the table? All of his comments are extremely superficial.

He, and Peggy, shudder, and I have to run fast...

 

[R.D.]

ah. You can't please everyone when it comes to TV coverage. You just can't. No matter how you set it up, SOMEONE is going to find fault with it and complain.

 

[purplecat]

ah. You can't please everyone when it comes to TV coverage. You just can't. No matter how you set it up, SOMEONE is going to find fault with it and complain.

Ain't that the truth! I'm just going to expect the worst and hope for the best. At least we know we'll get to see something of next year's Nationals versus nothing. The best thing would be if the ratings could do well, then we could hopefully get more coverage in the subsequent years and networks might be more willing to bid on a contract to show Worlds, etc. after 2008.