NBC Schedule for US Nats

[Joesitz (RIP)]

NBC Television Schedule (all times are Eastern)

Jan. 26: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.: Pairs Free Skate

Jan. 26: 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.: Free Dance/Ladies Free Skate

Jan. 27: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Men's Free Skate

Feb. 2: 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Skating Spectacular (taped on Jan. 27)

These are weekend schedules, and the coverage seems to be good. Pairs and Mens get 2 hours each; Ladies and FD get 1-1/2 hrs each and in prime time.

No SPs listed but given the times for Pairs and Mens, I think they could squeeze in some tapes of the top SPs, We'll see.

Hopefully the sports events before the start of Nationals will end on time!

Joe

.

 

[Pikachuusb]

I surely hope they will show some SPs especially for Ladies. But Id love to see SPs for all the top teams/people

 

[Tinymavy15]

please bring back ABC. i though that thier coverage left a lot to be disired, but no SP's??? this is awful!

 

[R.D.]

There is a short Ice Resurfacing break in between the Free Dance and the Ladies free skate for the primetime broadcast so I think (and hope) they will show at least the top 3 SP's for the ladies during that time period.

For men and pairs, the network can either take the first hour to show the SPs and then have live coverage of the final group (like ABC did in their pre-2006 coverage) or they can forgo SPs altogether and provide live coverage of 10 free skates (like ABC did in 2006 and 2007). For the primetime broadcast, I think there will be time for the final group of ice dance (don't think they'll have time to show anything else), maybe some SPs from the ladies before showing the top 10 competitors that night.

As for the quality of the coverage, I'll reserve judgement till I see it. Having High-Def coverage though will be a nice addition.


______________


If you go to nbcsports.com, the US championships are featured on a banner under "Coming Up on NBC" (the link just takes you back to the home page, though). Keep going back there to see if maybe they will put some features there the week of Nats.

 

[Tonichelle]

thanks for the webpage heads up, RD!

 

[momjudi]

I read today that some of the men's short programs will be shown prior to the pairs' free skates. Most likely the top three men like ABC did last year.

 

[PolymerBob]

Will the short programs be on the Ice Network?

 

[chuckm]

IceNetwork is reportedly planning to show live the SPs and the first 11 Ladies FSs (which won't be shown on TV).

But if NBC is going to show tapes of some of the SPs, I don't know how that will fit in with IN's plans.

 

[R.D.]

Not everyone has high-speed internet and can watch Ice Network's feed. Plus, TV coverage is ALWAYS superior to internet coverage in terms of picture quality, even in SD.

ETA: not to mention that the NBC telecast is what the casual fans will know about. Only the USFS insiders and hardcore fans know about IN.

ETA II: On ice network, there is info about the broadcast schedule that contradicts what we already "know" about. Looks like the Saturday afternoon broadcast may be a "recap" episode after all of what's already happened in the competition; then the primetime telecast will be live coverage of the ladies' free skate. Here's where it gets weird: they say there will be a SECOND prime time broadcast on Sunday that will feature coverage of the exhibition. (I thought this was scheduled for Feb 2nd??) So, I'm and maybe they have not quite sorted out how the 7 hours will be "delegated". I think they are still working out details (notice in the Nationals ads they have not given out any times yet).

 

[Pikachuusb]

Thanks for the heads up guys I hope they show some of the SPs especially the ladies, since its going to be tight.

If only I could watch ice network on my tv instead of sitting infront of my computer

 

[PaulE]

Does anyone know what NBC is going to do on the west coast in the Pacific Time Zone? Will it really be live coverage so I can just subtract 3 hours from the Eastern Time Zone? I need to preset my recorder before I leave for the Nationals.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Does anyone know what NBC is going to do on the west coast in the Pacific Time Zone? Will it really be live coverage so I can just subtract 3 hours from the Eastern Time Zone? I need to preset my recorder before I leave for the Nationals.

I don't see why not! Always check local listings though. Usually Sunday newspapers have a weekly listing of TV shows.

Any newsmedia can change its schedules so keep tabs on NBC.

This Nationals is important to NBC for the beginning of the hype it's planning for the Olys so I don't think any kind of events prior to the scheduled time will run over into the skating time.

Come to think of it, has the all important 2009 Worlds (before the Olys) being covered by NBC? It is in the USA.

I presume there is nothing further on the 2009 US Nats in Cleveland. I believe at this Nats, the USFS will decide which skaters will be part of the US Team after the number allotted to it from results of the 2008 Worlds which is why it is important to send the strongest team from the 2008 US Nats. phew.

I think I understand what I just wrote but, please, correct and by all means, say it better.

Joe

.

 

[Tonichelle]

Joe - the problem PaulE has is the same I have - we're leaving for US nationals

so we won't have time to set up the recorder....

Paul - do like I have email both the NBC network and your local NBC affiliate and ask for the times they have slotted for the event to be shown... if I hear back I'll post here as I'm just one hour behind you (but Alaska sees the same 'broadcasts' as the west coast, so your info would just have an hour differnce)

 

[R.D.]

Like I said in my earlier post, the times don't seem to be set in stone yet. There has been no announcement from NBC as to the actual broadcast times, and the times on the USFS site are preliminary; there is contradictory info on the IN site like I mentioned. You may not know till the week of the competition what the final TV schedule will be.

ETA: They just updated their info. Note the change in the broadcast times, and that the Pairs and Men's events will NOT be shown live (they seem to be delaying the Men's FS so it can be shown in primetime hours; this is controversial since it's on the weekend and it's not like more people will watch a program at night). In addition, the Ladies SP is scheduled to be shown in the Saturday afternoon time slot.

Watch NBC from 4-6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 26, for coverage of the Senior Pairs Free Skate and other highlights from the competition, particularly the Senior Ladies Short Program. Then, from 8-11 p.m. ET, watch LIVE coverage of the Senior Ladies Free Skate and Senior Free Dance.

Tune into NBC again on Sunday, Jan. 27, from 7-9 p.m. ET, to watch coverage of the Senior Men's Free Skate. NBC will then air the Exhibition of Champions the following weekend, on Feb. 2, from 4-6 p.m. ET.

So the revised schedule is:

Jan 26

4-6 PM ET Pairs Free Skate, Ladies Short Program

8-11PM ET (LIVE) Free Dance, Ladies Free Skate


Jan 27

7-9PM ET Men's Free Skate (note that this will be shown in the first 2 hours of Sunday Prime Time)



Feb 2

4-6PM ET Exhibition of Champions

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Thanks for the update, RD. If I have time, I'll set my VCR accordingly. Are they going to repeat the telecast on another day when Toni gets back from St. Paul? I believe ESPN used to reshow the Nats from ABC on another date.

OT: That new schedule has the Men's LP all by itself on Sunday which would make it live but it's unusual for the USFS to push Mens over Ladies.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

with all those prime time hours, though, the good news is that you can expect more promotion of the competition on the network. Whether that decision translates to higher ratings remains to be seen; without MK or SC there is no real draw for the casual fan to tune in. Maybe Emily Hughes will be good enough- and Meissner will get folks in Maryland to tune in but not sure about the rest of the nation.

As for repeats...I dunno, I doubt it. The only way to see this one again may be to catch it on ESPN Classic if something great happens.

 

[merrybari]

Thanks for the updated TV schedule. :agree:

I am more and more confused by the changes and conflicts in coverage.

For example, how can the Men's FS be live at 7-9 pm when the competition schedule still shows that the men will be competing between 1:30 and 5 pm. and the EX will be taking place between 7 and 9:30 pm?

I've emailed usfsa expressing extreme frustration and seeking clarification but don't hold out too much hope of getting anything definitive in time to set the VCR before I head for St. Paul.

This is ludicrous. There is so much conflicting information posted that it's impossible to sort it out or know which is correct. :banging:

Check my local listings doesn't help much when I'm not there to check 'em.

I really appreciate there are so many here trying to keep us up to date. We couldn't do it alone.

Mega thanks, everyone!!

 

[merrybari]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...ating,1,2283876.column?coll=cs-home-headlines

Here's a link to an article by Phil Hersh that sheds a bit of light on the subject.

 

[PolymerBob]

Now, has anyone explained to these network types that the Superbowl would be one tenth as popular if it was broadcast two days later?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...ating,1,2283876.column?coll=cs-home-headlines

Here's a link to an article by Phil Hersh that sheds a bit of light on the subject.

It's a fascinating article irrespective of the schedule in St. Paul. Among several topics, the subject of 2009 Worlds in LA does not yet have TV coverage. and Cinquanta would give away the rights to ensure the Worlds will get coverage. Will that help? Hersh also talks of gloom and doom for the next 3 years for skating. Also, due to dwindling ratings, the USFS has lost State Farm sponsorship.

Hopefully NBC can bring back the glory of figure skating. Stay tuned.

Joe