NBC To Take over US Skating Coverage through Next Olympics

[R.D.]

It's also up on NBCSports.com:

NBC to show U.S. skating champs live

http://www.nbcsports.com/sports/1397791/detail.html

Summary:

- all the coverage (as of right now) will be on the NBC network.

- The highlight of this deal is really the US Championships; there will only be limited coverage of SA.

- We will go back to live prime-time coverage of the ladies FS (but this time, no NFL game to compete against ).

- There will be 10 total hours of broadcast time, including one hour of the Nationals gala

- TV coverage of the Nats will be on Sat afternoon and evening, and again on Sunday afternoon. All coverage will be live and in HD.

- TV coverage of SA will be two hours on Sunday, live.

- Coverage will also be on USFS's Ice Network and the NBC Sports website. Between digital (online) media and television, full coverage of both events is promised (for the first time ever).

 

[gsrossano]

Does the USFSA have a million dollars in the kitty to cover this loss, if it comes to pass?

They have over 50 million in the kitty. I am not sure of the exact number. But even so, running such a large loss has to give one pause. Think of it as hoping to set up an annuity where you want to live of the interest, only to find you have to dip into the principle to make ends meet. OK maybe for one year, but not a good long term situation.

 

[Dee4707]

IPlease give Kurt another chance, he has expanded his vocabulary now and can add a lot of fun and life to a telecast.

Bite your tongue Sean, I think Kurt is just AWFUL!!! I would even take Peter C. before I would even give Kurt half a chance.

Dee

 

[Mathman]

Thanks, GRossano. Do you have any inside dope about the possible fate of the ISU contract with ABC/ESPN?

 

[layman]

For those complaining about Peggy Fleming...I shudder to think of the alternative...Sandra Bezic.

I find Bezic snide and catty and snobbish...I can't stand her. I think Peggy Fleming is ten times better as a host...she makes constructive criticisms (even if they are mild) but Bezic makes snide put downs...I just really, really dislike her style. Bezic only seems to like certain male skaters who she finds hot (like the way she gushed about Tomaz Verner during the Olympics telecast) or skaters that she has choreographed for (Chen Lu, Tara Lipinski, Kurt Browning...). I think Sandra Bezic is seriously biased and I don't like the way she plays favorites. I would rather have Peggy Fleming any day.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The article is also on the USFS site:

http://www.usfsa.org/event_story.asp?id=38462

I found this part interesting:

“Between NBC's broadband platform and U.S. Figure Skating's icenetwork.com, the events will be covered in their entirety for the first time ever."

Hmm, might have to subscribe to icenetwork next year! And I wonder if NBC's broadband stuff will be free?

It's beginning this year for Skate Amerca and 2008 for Nats. Not 2009

I also found this part interesting. I am a subscriber to IceNetwork and I got to see all of the Junior Sectionals. I think the subscription is for one year. It was, I think, $25 which isn't expensive and worth it if you like competitive skating.

Now with this tid bit of information, I will resubscribe but I would like to know if I get to see ALL of the skaters in IceNetwork because prime time viewing will include the requisite adverts that NBC will be able to secure, and that will take up some of the prime time broadcast. I'm just not sure of what is meant by 10 hours of coverage of US Nats and Skate America or just US Nats.

It seems they will begin with the 2008 US Nats in St Paul. Coverage will include 7 hours of 4 disciplines. That doesn't sound like it will take in all the contestants
in each discipline. I should hope IceNetwork would pick up what they don't
show.

Apparently, Skate America will get 2 of LIVE hours? I presume there will be an hour LIVE in two different disciplines in which the US will be most competitive.
(ESPN's coverage was on tape but it covered more skating.)

I think this new system is a wait and see. Hopefully it will bring in more new fans to watch competitive skating.

BTW, since I am computer dumb, what is meant by NBC's broadband platform? Does that mean I can also watch it on my computer with more skating than is shown on TV?

Joe

 

[Mathman]

To me, the LIVE coverage of Skate America is huge. That was my biggest complaint about the GP coverage in past years. All we got was a warmed-over serving of a contest that had been decided weeks before. Where's the excitement in that?

It seems that a big part of the negotiations was over making the coverage more interesting to a wide audience. Unfortunately for the more serious fans, this does mean a concentration on only the top group. Maybe for Skate America they will schedule the final five ladies and the final five dance teams in the two hour slot.

I also note that the Olympic tie-in is starting already. Skate America is billed as "an Olympic style international sking event" rather than as a Figure Skating Grand Prix event.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Unfortunately for the more serious fans, this does mean a concentration on only the top group. Maybe for Skate America they will schedule the final five ladies and the final five dance teams in the two hour slot.

Well, we are not 100 per cent certain of the Ladies. Johnny Weir's fame may take over Kimmie Meissner's.

But what do you think of the other disciplines? Where will they go. On Broadband or IceNetwork? or worse we just read about the results.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

To me, the LIVE coverage of Skate America is huge. That was my biggest complaint about the GP coverage in past years. All we got was a warmed-over serving of a contest that had been decided weeks before. Where's the excitement in that?

I think the delay on SA was only a couple of days though, as opposed to the other events, where in the past as much as two weeks would go by between the event and the broadcast. That to me was just unnecessary (although I will admit coverage after the fact is better than no coverage at all). I assume next year we'll get SA live (on TV and the web), then there may be a week or so with no skating before the (delayed) ESPN coverage begins.

But what do you think of the other disciplines? Where will they go. On Broadband or IceNetwork? or worse we just read about the results.

They DID promise complete coverage of both events so my guess would be on Ice Network or NBC website (I'm thinking the way they offered Olympic performances on the net during and after the event).

I hope there's time to show the SPs of Nationals, even if they're delayed.

 

[visaliakid]

A poster at USFS boards mentioned he spoke with Terry Gannon at Gym he uses. Says Gannon mentioned that Button is in negoiations with NBC, that he and Peggy are not!

 

[R.D.]

^ Not surprising. Also, sounds like most peoples' fear will be confirmed , that the same people who covered Torino will cover Nats and SA (Scott, Sandra, Tom, maybe Dick)

 

[SeaniBu]

^thanks for the semi bad news.

 

[layman]

^ Not surprising. Also, sounds like most peoples' fear will be confirmed , that the same people who covered Torino will cover Nats and SA (Scott, Sandra, Tom, maybe Dick)

Please...no Bezic...and she was so rude to Dick Button during the Olympic telecast...constantly cutting him off in mid-sentence, so she could make a snide, catty comment...they had no chemistry together whatsover.

NBC please fire Sandra Bezic!

 

[SeaniBu]

NBC please fire Sandra Bezic!

Agreed - sorta, she might have another purpose there. Just not commentating during routines. Dick is not exactly the kind to not be cutting people off and continually talking along with others either - Karma maybe? Who knows, maybe the headsets "short out" or something and they occasionally can't hear each other.

Can't say I am excited about Scott. I like him, but acutely would rather have Paul in that spot (and I think Paul is a rambler).

 

[Sylvia]

I am a subscriber to IceNetwork and I got to see all of the Junior Sectionals. I think the subscription is for one year. It was, I think, $25 which isn't expensive and worth it if you like competitive skating.

Hey Joe, did ever you watch Rohene Ward's impressive free skate performance from Upper Great Lakes Regionals in October 2006 (video from UGL was the last Regional to be added in late February) on the Ice Network? I believe it was the first time that Ward ever landed 7 triples (including axel) in competition. Also worth watching on Ice Network are Mirai Nagasu's great performances at Southwest Pacific Regionals and senior man Braden Overett's at Southwestern Regionals in October 2006.

Now with this tid bit of information, I will resubscribe but I would like to know if I get to see ALL of the skaters in IceNetwork because prime time viewing will include the requisite adverts that NBC will be able to secure, and that will take up some of the prime time broadcast. ...
It seems they will begin with the 2008 US Nats in St Paul. Coverage will include 7 hours of 4 disciplines. That doesn't sound like it will take in all the contestants in each discipline. I should hope IceNetwork would pick up what they don't show.

I believe that Ice Network will webcast whatever NBC's broadband platform doesn't show. I'm sure all the details eventually will be made clear to the fans who want to see ALL the Novice and Junior events at Nationals, along with the Seniors who aren't shown by NBC.

 

[R.D.]

Tribune article with more detail and the preliminary broadcast schedule:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-kwan24apr24,1,5051979.story?track=rss

This is how the NBC broadcast schedule will work: Skate America, two hours live, Sunday afternoon, including the women's and dance finals. Skate America previously has been shown on tape at least a day after the competition.

U.S. Championships: Saturday afternoon, pairs final, two hours live. Saturday night, dance and women's finals, three hours. Sunday afternoon, men's final, two hours live.

Format changes at nationals are necessary to allow for that broadcast schedule.

Only the top eight going into the free skate of each discipline would skate during the live telecasts, with the others relegated to an earlier session that would be webcast. That will create a better program not only for TV but the stadium audience at the finals.

Skating's new scoring system made such a change possible, since judges no longer are to measure skaters in relation to each other but against a series of fixed standards. It should be possible for a skater who does not make the live telecast to make a significant jump in the final standings if the judges really are honest enough not to score based on reputation.

Also says MK is being considered for a position on the broadcast team!! (is someone over there reading GS? )

 

[Mathman]

Also says MK is being considered for a position on the broadcast team!! (is someone over there reading GS? )

:chorus:

Or if not, they could just play some old tapes of Michelle's greatest hits whenever there is a lull in the action.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Hey Joe, did ever you watch Rohene Ward's impressive free skate performance from Upper Great Lakes Regionals in October 2006 (video from UGL was the last Regional to be added in late February) on the Ice Network? I believe it was the first time that Ward ever landed 7 triples (including axel) in competition. Also worth watching on Ice Network are Mirai Nagasu's great performances at Southwest Pacific Regionals and senior man Braden Overett's at Southwestern Regionals in October 2006.

Yes, and then came the Sectionals and then Rohene bowed out. Someday he will hit all of this at the right time and win the Worlds. To be honest, I don't remember Mirai. I will now if she shows up again;. Braden Overett is an artists' artist. I felt for him in Spokane. So sad, but even there he was so much more an artist than anyone else.

I believe that Ice Network will webcast whatever NBC's broadband platform doesn't show. I'm sure all the details eventually will be made clear to the fans who want to see ALL the Novice and Junior events at Nationals, along with the Seniors who aren't shown by NBC.

Well, I'll be in Spokane so I will see everything anyway but when I return I hope I will be able to get another view on either Broadband or IceNetwork.

BTW. Any news of Middle Atlantics?

Joe

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Tribune article with more detail and the preliminary broadcast schedule:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-kwan24apr24,1,5051979.story?track=rss

Also says MK is being considered for a position on the broadcast team!! (is someone over there reading GS? )

Thanks RD. This article was much clearer than the Chicago Trib. I suppose one would have to look up the calendar days of the week, but by the time we are anticipating all the events, we will all know the schedule.

BTW. I just can't see MK doing this especially if Sasha is in the mix.

Joe

 

[gsrossano]

Regarding the quote in post in #96. I must be dense, because I don't get it. The ladies and dance final broadcast would be three hours. Only eight ladies would be in the final it is said.

For the ladies that's eight 4 minute performances (32 minutes) in 1 1/2 hours. What goes on for the rest of the broadcast?

Does anyone understand how this would really work without being excruciatingly boring for the people in the arena? Men would be worse with eight 4 1/2 minute performances (36 minutes) in 120 minutes.

Then there is the comment about whether a skater in the reject group can move up. With IJS, the ninth place skater in the SP has a chance to move up quite a few places. Conceivably even into fourth place for a medal. However, that is unlikely if the competition is broken up into two parts over a whole day or more. (Maybe even with different panels?) And it has nothing to do with honesty. It is extremely difficult for anybody, no matter how hard they try, to show consistent judgement on an absolute scale for any significant period of time to the degree needed for this to work.

Qualifying rounds at Europeans and Worlds say that more than likely the skaters in the reject group have little chance of breaking out of their group with this approach. This does not seem fair to me. But the main concern seems to be that it should make better TV, not a better competition.