NBC To Take over US Skating Coverage through Next Olympics

[iluvtodd]

Give me Uncle Dickie! I've learned so much from him through the years. Figure Skating coverage just won't be the same without him! NBC, contact him!

 

[nymkfan51]

I agree, iluvtodd!!!:agree:

I also share the same sentiments as visaliakid ... I'm just grateful that someone ... anyone ... wants to televise figure skating! While I certainly have my favorites (and not so favorites) as commentators, in the end, just seeing the competitions is what's most important.
I also sent an email to NBC thanking them, and hope the ratings pick up and that they are encouraged to expand the coverage as time goes by.

 

[flying camel]

Well you have to think they are going to hire a man and a lady. They are probably going for some people a little younger. What about Brian Boitano & Rosolyn Sumners. I just hope they don't hire Katarina Witt. I just can't take her.:agree:

 

[Jhar55]

purplecat give us nbc's email link then more of us could also send an email thanking them and maybe hint about who we wouldn't like to have as commentators and drop little hints as to whom would be good . just a thought
omg no Roz forgot all about her. As for Michelle I thinks she's trying to move on from skating and don't expect to see her skate anymore. She wasn't even with COI this year not sure if it's due to her hip.

 

[SeaniBu]

purplecat give us nbc's email link then more of us could also send an email thanking them and maybe hint about who we wouldn't like to have as commentators and drop little hints as to whom would be good .

I think that is a good Idea.

Dear NBC,
Please oh pleases please please keep Suzy for commentating on Ice Dance.

Please get Terry Gannon over too.

I like Peggy, except when she talks thru the start of programmes or just to many comments.

Dick Rocks, but wouldn't mind if he didn't comment during routines at all and just did side pieces.

Peter has gotten better at the after Ice interviews but you might want to get a translator to ask some of his questions - or just give him a class that teaches him how to say "so how do you think you did out there?" and "what was your favorite part of tonight's performance?" in 20 different languages.

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

As for Michelle I thinks she's trying to move on from skating and don't expect to see her skate anymore. She wasn't even with COI this year not sure if it's due to her hip.

She is saving the world now.

 

[hockeyfan228]

Bring in Dick Button as a features person, but please, not as a commentator.

 

[R.D.]

Well, I would not want a) Peggy and b) Peter to jump ship, although if NBC just wanted to "throw" a team together, the easiest thing would just be to pick up ABC's commentators.

Another note...I have a funny feeling that this coming season will be the last year we get to see all of the GPs (so enjoy it!). I think afterwards whichever network decides to pick it up might only be interested in Worlds (and maybe 4CC's).

 

[Mathman]

I have a funny feeling that this coming season will be the last year we get to see all of the GPs (so enjoy it!). I think afterwards whichever network decides to pick it up might only be interested in Worlds (and maybe 4CC's).

I have that same sinking feeling. At first I was happy about this announcement -- a fresh tack always promises a better wind. But the more I think about it, the more worry that NBC will focus entirely on the Olympics, and on prospective U.S. Olympians at that.

ABC/ESPN did at least try to portray figure skating as a sport in its own right, with a "regular season" leading up to a World Championship. If NBC bought the rights to Skate America and U.S. Nationals solely to hype the Olympics, that's a step backward, IMHO.

 

[R.D.]

I don't see anything wrong with NBC's decision just to broadcast those two events. That's a different contract altogether. The real question is whether they want to promote international skating as well. If they do, I just don't see them committing to ALL the GPs PLUS the GP final PLUS 4CC's and Euros PLUS Worlds. I would think they would like 2009 Worlds (for sure) and maybe 4CCs if it returns to the US. I see less coverage but it's definitely better than none at all.

Also, here's something else: I'm not sure how much coverage they'll give SA (I'm sure we find out tomorrow, though) but that will feature some international stars. That may be enough for them to feed on and might lead them to pass on a larger skating package. But, if SA and Nats get decent ratings this year, that may change things a bit.

This coming season we needn't worry, though. Hopefully ESPN doesn't start cutting coverage now that they no longer have US Nats. Let's hope the ISU has at least as much competence as the USFS in getting a new TV skating package here in the states. Whether it's on broadcast or cable TV, ANY agreement is a good thing, no matter how much or little coverage it is.

 

[purplecat]

purplecat give us nbc's email link then more of us could also send an email thanking them and maybe hint about who we wouldn't like to have as commentators and drop little hints as to whom would be good . just a thought
omg no Roz forgot all about her. As for Michelle I thinks she's trying to move on from skating and don't expect to see her skate anymore. She wasn't even with COI this year not sure if it's due to her hip.

Not positive if it's the best link, but the email address I found on their site and used was:

[email protected]

Let them know that there are skating fans out there!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Apparently this thread is not all that simple to understand. There is more to it, and we should watch tomorrow for the Report by the USFS.

What the USFS agreed to with NBC and at the same time what and how the USFS placated with ABC/ESPN. Hopefully all the questions about speculations will be answered.

I doubt the staff of NBC will be revealed Immediately. I doubt we will know much about the ABC reactions to all of this.

We have to face the fact that the sport has been dying since the SLC scandals (nobody wants a fake sport), and the silly competitions that ensued with the Tonya Harding episode (nobody wants makeshift teams and dumb costumes in a sport). Fact: NBC was a big part of that. I hope they understand their mistakes and now have a good plan to bring the sport back to the masses and not just the crowd at the forums. TV ratings will keep NBC happy. Hopefully, they have a plan for just that.

(BTW, there is no need to rewrite this. However, if one has a different aspect on this, please let us know.)

Joe

 

[R.D.]

Apparently this thread is not all that simple to understand. There is more to it, and we should watch tomorrow for the Report by the USFS.

I agree. :yes:

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Bring in Dick Button as a features person, but please, not as a commentator.

I hate to defend Dick like this but it's true. He is getting on, (Aren't we all) but when posters hate, dislike, can't stand (whatever adjective) someone in any field and do not mention someone they do like in their place, all I can say is so what if you don't like the bloke. However, if one mentions the replacement, then it gets me thinking.

When you spent your life as an administrator and cite a problem, it's absolutely essential that a solution should be suggested along with the problem. That's the way it is in Adminland.

Joe

 

[SeaniBu]

When you spent your life as an administrator and cite a problem, it's absolutely essential that a solution should be suggested along with the problem.

:agree: ed
I believe the "fluff" and pre or post comments would be nice to continue to have, it is the commenting during the events that I think are slowing and seem to be "over explained" - much like I do - and hear a lot of 2 commentators talking at the same time, it is usually Dick that is talking along with as he continues trying to explain. Or it is a comparison to "someone / past skater" that could be interesting as reflection or something to look for but during the programme it is distracting and frustrating at times.

I really like Push Dick's Buttons. And the "post / pre routine comment booth" I see him as the Lead instead of Terry - Terry and Suzy I like the best for during skate comments. I could also see Dick as a fantastic judge. AAMOF Dick comes to mind when I think of having a panel of Judges for "-3 to +3" and a separate for PCS. I think Dick is a great judge of PCS in particular. I hate when he says "ugly" but see what he is looking at to say that is not as "pleasing" as ....... I see what he means and do generally agree. If I try to think what would a "ugly" comment from Dick acutely score if Dick was scoring, I bet he is fair. His pointing out how Alissa's "candle spin" is better do to her torso position and the way she is turned in it is very informative, but negative comments about others during .... I hope that makes sense.

One main thing I believe is the generation gap with the younger audience. I hear comments from younger viewers of Amr. Football about John Madden being "not liked" often from them. They all seem to respect him, but the commentary they have the same kinds of comments about "generation issues," and "slow comments."

 

[just wondering]

As we await the official announcement from USFS & NBC, I want to add that, regardless of the specific details, it will be nice to have figure skating broadcast over a network and its cable stations that have a vested interest in seeing figure skating increase in popularity over a period of time.

Having the USFS teamed with NBC during the pre-Olympic seasons may be just the pairing that the two struggling entities need to revive mass interest in skating, and ultimately, the Olympic broadcast.

Given some clever marketing and forward thinking, I truly believe this partnership could work to the benefit of both. As is said in business, "Looks like the makings of a Win-Win." Let's hope so any way!

JW

 

[purplecat]

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?

 

[R.D.]

So, we get 7 hours of Nationals coverage (+ 1 hr. of the gala, it seems) and 2 hours of SA coverage.

8 hours of Nats coverage on the broadcast network is definitely a step in the right direction. More than we got on ABC. Sounds like we'll be getting coverage of the last two groups (like ABC did this year and last). And I like the HDTV coverage (although I don't get HD right now)...hopefully in the future I will though.

however, seems like we will only get a few ladies from SA on TV. But it's live (has SA ever been broadcast live?). There are tradeoffs but I say this is better than what we had before. Props to USFS for pulling this off :agree:

Hopefully the schedule will be expanded further as the dates get finalized.

 

[hockeyfan228]

I hate to defend Dick like this but it's true. He is getting on, (Aren't we all) but when posters hate, dislike, can't stand (whatever adjective) someone in any field and do not mention someone they do like in their place, all I can say is so what if you don't like the bloke. However, if one mentions the replacement, then it gets me thinking.

When you spent your life as an administrator and cite a problem, it's absolutely essential that a solution should be suggested along with the problem. That's the way it is in Adminland.

Joe

However, that is not the way it is in armchair critic land, or always in business, where positions can go unfilled long after a problem employee is addressed. In Button's case, the problems are a diminishing professionalism, a shrill delivery (although not quite in Hamilton's league), and obsession with specific aspects of technique to the exclusion of others and misidentifying elements. None of these matters in features reporting, but they do in play-by-play.

The strongest commentators in the US, in my opinion, are Wylie and Wynne. I don't know what their contract obligations are. I suspect that NBC will go with big names, when, in my opinion, the way to go would be to look at lesser-known former skaters, which is how Wynne got her start.

However, I don't need an alternative to think that a Button-less play-by-play broadcast with whoever is left is a stronger option than Button in the mix.

 

[gsrossano]

Inquiring minds would also like to know what the financial arrangements of this deal really are. PH's articles don't say, nor does the the USFSA release. The proposed USFSA budget for next year has a tentative figure for TV and Sponsorship, but it also includes a rather large expense item for TV production costs. Production costs for what? Also, one of PH's articles seems to be saying USFSA will get some fraction of advertising revenue, after some unspecified minimum in sales is met. The exact numbers are significant, since the proposed budget this year has a projected 1 million dollar loss.

Also, interesting is that the deal seems to include a major change to the format of the senior events at U.S. Nationals, even though rules to change the competition format have yet to be passed. What if the Governing Council does not go along with the proposed format? Will they have a say? Or does the contract lock them in, so it doesn't matter what the GC thinks?

 

[Mathman]

The exact numbers are significant, since the proposed budget this year has a projected 1 million dollar loss.

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