Live Coverage vs. Primetime Coverage: Which Is Better, In Your Opinion?

[R.D.]

Live Coverage vs. Primetime Coverage: Which Is Better, In Your Opinion?

The change to NBC's US Nats schedule to move the Men's FS event from live in the afternoon hours to delayed in early primetime hours sparks this new debate. I've been pondering this, and I think I posted it on FSU but I think what skating needs in the US is more exposure, and prime time coverage will help in that regard, even if means delaying the telecast by a couple of hours. Anyway, sound off...what do you think; will this help or hurt the ratings for the program, and will it help or hurt skating in the short run?

 

[Hsuhs]

Live, available in Europe and earlier in the afternoon so that it's not 3-5 a.m. over here, b/c some ppl have to work the following Monday.
They can apply this to mens only. Wait... they can apply this to Johnny's and Evan's skates only.

 

[SusanBeth]

I think not having it live is only a problem for some fans But most of us will watch it regardless of the time it's broadcast. If a delayed. broadcast gets a wider audience, then that's the way to go. Figure skating needs to attract new fans. Let's hope the ratings are good.

 

[merrybari]

I've given this a bit of thought and come up with this.

For myself, I like LIVE, but I'll watch anytime, so to attract a larger audience, I think prime time is the way to go.

 

[Mathman]

To me, it's the same old question. Sport or art?

If you are a sports fan, the only thing that matters is, who won? If I really, really, really care who won, and I can find out at three o'clock, I don't want to wait until six.

On the other hand, if a figure skating competiton is art, then I don't care who wins or loses, I just want to see beautiful skating. In that case it doesn't matter if I see it three hours later or three weeks. There is no reason why the exhibition gala can't be shown on TV a week later after the event, for instance -- it's a show, not a sports contest.

Imagine you were put in a sensory deprivation tank around the time of the Super Bowl. When they finally let you out, your first question would be, who won, who won, who won?

Someone tells you, "New England, 35 to 28. Do you want to see the tape?"

Um, ...not really.

 

[PolymerBob]

Let me throw you guys a wild curve ball. How about holding all events in the competition during prime time over the course of a week?

 

[merrybari]

Let me throw you guys a wild curve ball. How about holding all events in the competition during prime time over the course of a week?

Only in our dreams - but oh what a dream that would be!

 

[Mathman]

Let me throw you guys a wild curve ball. How about holding all events in the competition during prime time over the course of a week?

Count me in! Now if we can just get the networks and the sponsors to cancel American Idol, Survivor, and "24" for a week, we're in business!

Maybe the writers' strike will give us a boost after all. :yes:

 

[Jaana]

For a live competition I would stay awake for late hours, but not for a delayed one which I would tape and watch the performances by certain skaters next day. A delayed broadcast does not have the same feeling at all as the live broadcast, even if I don´t know the result.

 

[Bennett]

When my favorite skaters perform, I watch it online ASAP and then rewatch it many many times.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I want to know the results and if I get the results, I can watch the event on TV or video later. One thing though, I want to see ALL the skaters.

Joe

 

[jennylovskt]

To me, live on TV will be the best. If not, I will definitely get the result on line as soon as possible and watch it later on TV. I won't have the will power to wait spoil-freely.

I do think to change live coverage from the afternoon to recorded coverage at prime time will attract more viewers. I agree that the ultimate solution will be to move all the major competitions to the prime time for the Nationals.

 

[perlla]

Well I personaly prefere the competision LIVE. When I watch is live i well the emotion what will happen. When the competiosion is over and no metter how intersting the program is it past and I don't feel this emotion even if i don;t know the results.

 

[Eddie Lee]

I remember hearing on the radio on that winter day in 1998 that Tara had narrowly captured the Olympic gold. I could hardly wait until the taped prime time show that evening to see how she accomplished it! Upon seeing Michelle's fantastic LP first out of the gate in the last group, I began to doubt the news I had heard earlier in the day. Sure enough as Tara took the ice in the penultimate skate of the evening, I could see the news was correct--but barely! What performances!

 

[merrywidow]

If I preferred seeing a competition "live" I'd buy tickets & sit in the audience. I prefer it in primetime on a sports network. Surely, basketball fans can afford to miss a few games? Does anyone know the ratings for womens basketball? It seems to get plenty of airtime & I've never met anyone who actually watches it.

 

[sillylionlove]

Well i am one of those people that no matter what I am getting the results on line and then watching later. I can't helpmyself.

I dont' really care whether it's taped delayed or live, just as long as they play it on the air sometime.

I enjoy watching it live when I am actually in the arena!!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I wonder how many fans still do not read the results because they want to feel some excitements watching the taped TV.

Joe

 

[Tinymavy15]

i think it is better that they are delaying it. When it is live they wind up ith WAY to much freetime while the lower groups skates and the ice cuts and warm-ups etc.. This way it will be all cut so we see what everbody wants to see without the filler.

 

[R.D.]

^ That is one of the perks of "delayed" coverage, but there's nothing like LIVE coverage, even when you're watching delayed coverage and don't know the results (like I did during the Olympics).

But this thread is Live vs. PRIMETIME coverage, not necessarily delayed coverage in general. Of course, combine the two for the maximum amount of viewers. I'm happy that the ladies event will still be live, though...*knock on wood* I remember the 2003 and 2004 live broadcasts were especially thrilling for me to follow (and 2005 to a lesser extent). 2006 and 2007, not so much. 2008- we'll see.

 

[werelump]

I wonder how many fans still do not read the results because they want to feel some excitements watching the taped TV.

Joe

Me, but not completely for the excitement. The knowledge of the results would color my enjoyment of the competition for what it is. It’s hard for me to watch when I know that someone is going to choke, or if they do spectacularly and win, knowing the results would dampen some of the surprise that I might have otherwise felt.

Agreed with what a lot of people have said before me: live coverage is very different from delayed coverage. I am more emotionally invested when it’s live. Taped, I feel disconnected. It’s still exciting if you don’t look at the results, but it's not the same type of excitement. Primetime might be better for ratings but for me live is so much more enjoyable than delayed, that I would rather they just show it live than primetime.

Of course if they scheduled the events to be both live and primetime...!