Impressions on CBC coverage.

[Saundy]

I, for one, thought that CBC did a superb job. I thought that Tracy Wilson especially was great. Not to much pointless chit chat and she kept her comments short and to the point. I actually seemed to enjoy her over Kurt. He was good also, but I just found Tracy to be a little more...oh what's the word??...I'm trying to say professional, but that's not the word I was looking for.

Also, it was very nice not to have to hear Rod Black flappin' his gums too. I just find his commentary to be annoying. I'e actually muted the TV a few times when he's been on there. It's like hearing someone scratch their nails on a chalkboard. haha.

On the more negative note for the coverage though. I was disappointed that they didn't show the original dances. That's the equivalent to a pairs, ladies, or mens short program so why not show it? I know they can't show everything, but still.

What did everyone else think?

 

[rain]

I think Browning still sometimes sounds a little to close to being a skater, if that makes sense. Wilson is absolutely wonderful as a commentator. I loved that they all shut up and just let us enjoy the brilliance that was V/M's performance.

All in all, I thought the CBC coverage was pretty good. I'd still like to see all the skaters, but that almost never happens so.... Still though, I thought it was pretty glaring to eliminate coverage of Emily Hughes short, when she was in second in that portion of the competition. It's not like they didn't ditch other Canadian skaters during the broadcast (notably in pairs and dance).

I was disappointed in the online coverage. I'm in Canada and have high speed Internet and a good computer and it still didn't work very well for me. Friday, it worked well. Saturday it was extremely sporadic and frustrating to the point that it was useless. Sunday it didn't work at all. I think CBC needs to make sure their player works better than that.

 

[fumie_fumie]

I think the application for streaming video CBC is using is probably requires a lot of bandwidth and on weekends when a lot of us want to watch, then we've gotta a problem.

CBC has always been a cutting edge on Internet broadcasting. I remember CBC being one of the first one out there doing Internet radio, a way before satellite radio became popular. Hardware should catch up with the speed of progress in software (in this case, internet streaming broadcasting, I believe).

I think CBC/Skate Canada are taking a step in the right direction. I don't like the idea of us figure skating's way of charging a membership to watch skate America live on Internet. I think they are losing a lot of fans by doing it. Facebook doesn't cost a dime for membership, they are so profitable in other ways.

 

[billeh]

I, for one, thought that CBC did a superb job. I thought that Tracy Wilson especially was great. Not to much pointless chit chat and she kept her comments short and to the point. I actually seemed to enjoy her over Kurt. He was good also, but I just found Tracy to be a little more...oh what's the word??...I'm trying to say professional, but that's not the word I was looking for.

Also, it was very nice not to have to hear Rod Black flappin' his gums too. I just find his commentary to be annoying. I'e actually muted the TV a few times when he's been on there. It's like hearing someone scratch their nails on a chalkboard. haha.

On the more negative note for the coverage though. I was disappointed that they didn't show the original dances. That's the equivalent to a pairs, ladies, or mens short program so why not show it? I know they can't show everything, but still.

What did everyone else think?

As if the skating wasn't a treat enough, we didn't have to listen to Rod Black blab on about how much he misses Elvis. Rod always reminding me of those people who can kill a party with their poor timing and inappropriate comments.

As far as I'm concerned just let Ms. Wilson do what she's internationally respected for and drop S/P and Browning. I love Jamie, David and Kurt, but their inclusion too often leads to cluttered broadcasts.

 

[NorthernLite]

I'm in the US - only saw the regular CBC coverage.

Overall pretty decent. Saturday had some iffy moments. Had some tech glitches to rival the Worlds broadcast where they showed Mira twice. A couple times it switched from the taped broadcast to a live shot (or live audio) of the next event. Very bizarre.

Ans they got a little chatty during the Ladies LP. Made up for it by staying wonderfully silent during V & M's freekskate.

I think Kurt's commentary was perhaps even better than when he does US TV. And yep, Tracy's always been the class of the field.

 

[Hsuhs]

I'm not from North America, but had to listen to their comments too these last 3 days. Naturally, none of them is my hero. I thought that PJ Kwong was the least biased of the clique.

 

[astimegoesby]

I thought that Tracy Wilson especially was great. Not to much pointless chit chat and she kept her comments short and to the point. I actually seemed to enjoy her over Kurt.

I really appreciated the fact Scott Russell (the non-skater in the broadcast booth) mostly stepped aside and let Tracy and Kurt (or Jamie and David) handle most of the commentary during the skating programs.

I enjoyed Kurt, Jamie and David's commentary, for the most part, and actually thought all three of them were trying to make a concious effort not to talk too much. I did think Kurt sounded a little too much like a cheerleader for Joubert at times, but at least he didn't shortchange the other guys because of it.

Another thing I really liked was when the commentators said something along the lines of a skater needs around 70 points to win a medal and around 80 points to win the gold. Now that's the kind of simple explanation fans need to hear to understand COP better!

On the more negative note for the coverage though. I was disappointed that they didn't show the original dances. That's the equivalent to a pairs, ladies, or mens short program so why not show it?

Well, at least the main CBC network showed V&M's OD, which was better than nothing.

Saturday had some iffy moments. Had some tech glitches to rival the Worlds broadcast where they showed Mira twice. A couple times it switched from the taped broadcast to a live shot (or live audio) of the next event. Very bizarre.

I noticed that, too, especially where we could hear the music and commentary of one performance during another event's warmup and when CBC cut away from the very end of Duhamel and Buntin's LP to show us a lovely shot of the Zamboni. Perhaps there was a mixup between the main CBC network feed and the CBC Country Canada feed.

More of my $0.02 about this weekend's coverage...

I'd still like to know bright idea was it to schedule the SP coverage on the main CBC network for midnight? As wonderful as the online/CBC Country Canada coverage was, a lot of more casual skating fans still rely on the main network and would be unlikely to tune in that late at night...assuming they'd even know skating would be on that night.

I also think CBC could have done a better job advertising and promoting this weekend's broadcast, especially the online/CBC Country Canada broadcast. Again, as wonderful as the online/digital coverage was, it was barely mentioned during the main network broadcast and more casual skating fans wouldn't have known about it.

The main network broadcast also would have been tough for more casual viewers to find, but apart from the midnight SP broadcast, at least a good part of it was live. That's definitely a good thing. :agree:

And at least CBC will archive at least some of this weekend's performances on their website so people who missed seeing them this weekend can watch them there.

And I agree the commentators deserve a huge :agree: for remaining silent throughout V&M's FD.

All and all, I was pleased with CBC's Skate Canada broadcast, but I just wish they'd do a better job promoting their coverage to more casual skating fans. Those are the fans they need to encourage to return to the sport and increase its popularity in Canada again...and give us more great coverage like this for future events--especially Worlds!

 

[emma]

I only got to watch some of the live stream - and was really bummed that we couldn't get it for the FD and men's LP.

BUT, I really loved it when I could watch - it was fantastic, amazing even. AND was totally over the top for PJ Kwon - great commentator, imo, in terms of just laying out the elements, pointing out mistakes, but not talking over the program or distracting in any way. Plus she has great prununciation of names, I was impressed.

 

[Winnipeg]

I thought the coverage was great. I do wish the SPs were not on at midnight ......................why not reair the next morning.

They did not show Duhamel and Buntin. DOes anyone know what went wrong to place them in lst place?

 

[Winnipeg]

I thought the coverage was great. I do wish the SPs were not on at midnight ......................why not reair the next morning.

They did not show Duhamel and Buntin. DOes anyone know what went wrong to place them in lst place?

Sorry, I meant last place not 1st (typo).

 

[rochettefan]

I don't remember exactly, but I think most of it was actually Buntin's fault. Duhamel was quite good actually, landed all her jumps and I believe throws as well, but Craig popped a jump and fell on a jump I think. Something along those lines.

 

[Antilles]

The Country Canada broadcasts were great, but I was disappointed in the regular CBC coverage, as I usually am. They always seem to chack the OD coverage, which drives me nuts. The midnight thing was silly.

I never minded Rod Black, but Scott Russell did a good job here. Tracy Wilson does a great job, as long as there isn't a good Canadian losing out on a gold medal/podium spot. Her objectivity sometimes got away from her when commenting on B&K and D&L. National bias seems to happen to all broadcasters, though.