SA Schedule and What We Will See on TV

[R.D.]

The Sunday competition leads off with the FD at 1 pm, followed by an ice remake and the Ladies FS beginning at 2:50 pm.

The broadcast will probably begin at 2 pm, and most likely, they will start off the top Ice Dance teams live. Then, during the zamboni break and the first flight of Ladies, they will show tapes of the Pairs and Men medalists. Then they will come back to show the final flight of Ladies live.

2:00-2:30 Ice Dance live.
2:30-3:15 Taped Pairs and Men
3:15-4:00 Ladies live

Of course, all will be packaged up with commercials and the inevitable fluff.

Sounds good...except that I don't think that two groups of six ladies can skate FS's in an hour. Like I said before, at US Nats it took about 2 to 2.5 hours to show live coverage of the last two ladies' groups on ABC. I think 2:30 to 4:30 is more likely, considering the event time holds. Long enough for the medalists to skate, then the break and the first group just like you described above.

I knew I wasn't the only one who looked favorably upon this new TV package. ITA with MM.

 

[chuckm]

I don't think NBC is intending to show TWO groups of six ladies--just one final group of 6. I think they will show taped coverage of the men and pairs during the zamboni break, and while the first ladies flight is skating.

I don't think they'll do 2:30 to 4:30 because by 2:30, the FD will be about over and the zambonis will be in operation to clear the ice for the ladies, who start at 2:50. Likewise, the ladies' event will be over by 4 o'clock.

 

[R.D.]

Likewise, the ladies' event will be over by 4 o'clock.

You think so? 12 skaters can skate 4 min. programs (automatically 48 minutes), plus warmups, plus scores, plus waiting? If the event starts at 2:50 I find it hard to believe they can finish by 4.

I don't think NBC is intending to show TWO groups of six ladies--just one final group of 6. I think they will show taped coverage of the men and pairs during the zamboni break, and while the first ladies flight is skating.

I fully concur. In the meantime (assuming this is the way they will do the coverage) I hope there'll be online coverage for the first group (even if it's a GS member doing PBP )

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I think Chuck is right about that. I really look forward to it. To me, showing the final flight of ladies live trumps other considerstions. It will be like a real sports event, with the audience actually watching in anticipation of seeing who is going to win.

In the delayed broadcasts of ABC/ESPN, they treated it more like a show. Here is some skating that happened a week ago. I think sports fans are more "in the moment."

This is true. But you will never get LIVE from China, Paris, Tokyo, Moscow. This will be a one time thing. Nothing has come up for 2008 GPs other than SA

While I am hoping Chuckum is correct, it is still a wait and see for me. Apparently the delayed broadcasts of other than Ladies events will be shown on NetSkate as per USFS. Anyone hear further on this?

There is a corps of Figure Skater lovers that go beyond the Ladies championships. NBC has not addressed this. If they show Pairs and Mens during the Zamboni break, that will only mean the winners of those respective contests. Time is of the essence.

Only the USFS has mentioned the NetSkate. While we know where ABC was at on these other championships, we can not count on NBC. Those competitions are not inducive to getting people to watch the 2010 Olys. Again, let's see what happens.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

Agreed...we must wait on the schedule.

But...if anything, I thought ABC had an incredible bias toward the Ladies. Only they got shown last year (ESPN had the other disciplines). Even on ESPN they save the Ladies for last. I thought NBC was pretty balanced in their Olympic coverage, and it remains to be seen if it carries over into their non-Olympic coverage.

 

[R.D.]

This is true. But you will never get LIVE from China, Paris, Tokyo, Moscow. This will be a one time thing. Nothing has come up for 2008 GPs other than SA

But to tune into live coverage of these events, you'd have to wake up at funny hours of the day or night. Only Paris could be done reasonably (i.e. a nighttime event there could get afternoon live coverage here), but everywhere else is questionable. The least we could ask for from ESPN is same weekend coverage- have a competition summary every Sunday as soon as the event ends wherever it's held. But they'd rather wait a week or two to edit it to their heart's content. It's not a sport any more but a form of entertainment, just like MM described.

We always got Live coverage from US Nats. I think it's great that we get at least part of another event- a GP event of all things- live as well, and the additional coverage. But we'll sit here and argue and argue till the final schedule is released, then we'll argue some more, lol

 

[LizzieBeth]

Agreed...we must wait on the schedule.

But...if anything, I thought ABC had an incredible bias toward the Ladies. Only they got shown last year (ESPN had the other disciplines). Even on ESPN they save the Ladies for last. I thought NBC was pretty balanced in their Olympic coverage, and it remains to be seen if it carries over into their non-Olympic coverage.

At least NBC's Olympic experience made them aware of Ice Dance because of all the drama!!

Maybe this has already been stated, but does NBC have a cable partner similar to ESPN to televise additional coverage?? (IPlease forgive me for asking. I am ignorant because I don't regularly watch sports channels unless they carry skating.)

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

At least NBC's Olympic experience made them aware of Ice Dance because of all the drama!!

Maybe this has already been stated, but does NBC have a cable partner similar to ESPN to televise additional coverage?? (IPlease forgive me for asking. I am ignorant because I don't regularly watch sports channels unless they carry skating.)

NBC has a number of cable affiliates. They all have regular scheduled programs. I think the one I heard being a possibility was the USA Network. Let's hope this is true and they utilize it. ABC had ESPN cable devoted to Sports only so it was easy for them to put on addional sports on ESPN.

I am the pessimist here but I do have all the hope other posters have. One should, however, consider the core of the problem which I believe was a drop in revenue for ABC and therefore ABC will not renew the contract. I do believe NBC picking up this venture is purely for the anticpated revenue it will bring to the Olys. Apparently Torino did not bring in much advertising monies. However, plans by NBC will give American fans a boost but I don't see much else.

NBC has partially picked up the baton for showing figure skating on the TV but not GPs (excepting SAs). They will show live ladies and dance for the SA. We presume, we will get live ladies, again and maybe Dance too, for the Nationals in Cleveland and Los Angeles. The USFS has to schedule Dance on the same day they show ladies at Nats to have 2 disciplines going live. Since NBC requires these comps be on a Sunday,and timed not to go into Dateline, the USFS will have to get the Nats scheduled, accordingly. Check S.Paul for a schedule of events at some point to see if this is true. Exhibitions wll not be on TV but may show up on Ice Network. It would be advantageous if they were shown on USA network which could bring in some revenue for NBC.

There is no point in speculating about Pairs and Men. We know they will be taped but when they are aired is not yet clear and in what media will the tape be seen (NBC or USA). The tapes could also be handed over to IceNetwork to be shown when that company is ready to show them.

Also to think about, will any of these tapes be show again later in the year as ESPN did?

The above is about my curiosity of the operation and it is not meant to be antogonistic. I've just never gotten jubilated with a change for the sake of change.

Joe

 

[Mathman]

IMHO, from the point of view of USFS the biggest change is not so much the coverage as the financial deal. The old ABC contract paid big bucks (well, medium bucks) to USFS and to the ISU for the rights to these broadcasts.

Under the new deal, as I understand it, the figure skating organizations won't get a dime unless private sponsorship comes through to push the total revenue over a certain threshold.

 

[R.D.]

and with that, they seem pretty confident they can continue to make as much or even more than they did before. The USFS will apparently now have direct relations with its sponsors, whereas earlier that was left up to ABC/ESPN.

 

[R.D.]

Maybe this has already been stated, but does NBC have a cable partner similar to ESPN to televise additional coverage?? (IPlease forgive me for asking. I am ignorant because I don't regularly watch sports channels unless they carry skating.)

Ebersol (NBC Sports president) mentioned promoting the US Nats broadcast on the USA cable network, but that's about it. From the sounds of everything, it sounds like all the broadcasts (or at least the 10 hours specified) will be carried on the broadcast network. They never said USA (or any other cable channel) would be involved in televising any of the events. It seems like it would either be the NBC network or online coverage.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

How is that 10 hours broken down?

2 hours for SA 2007

2 hours for Nats 2008

2 hours for SA 2008

2 hours for Nats 2009 (The Hollywood one)

2 hours for Olys. (Live figure skating from Vancouver) Contract fulfilled.

Contract to be discussed, I presume after Olys.

 

[R.D.]

No, it's 10 hours of coverage per SEASON:

2 hours for 2007 SA

7 hours for Nats 2008

1 hour for the Nats Exhibition

plus possible bonus coverage of any invitational events.

 

[Kypma]

No, it's 10 hours of coverage per SEASON:

2 hours for 2007 SA

7 hours for Nats 2008

1 hour for the Nats Exhibition

plus possible bonus coverage of any invitational events.

Hang on a sec... does ABC still have Worlds, then?

 

[R.D.]

Yes...via ESPN

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Hang on a sec... does ABC still have Worlds, then?

The ABC contract expires after 2009 Worlds. However, the 2009 Worlds will be undertaken by NBC, I believe. (it's inside N.America). I doubt ESPN will be involved with that Worlds. Please check me out on this. How much NBC Live shows of Worlds is a wait and see. It is an ISU event and the USFS will have a lot of explaining to do on when the Ladies' Finals will be shown Live. Japanese Fed may object. Who knows? It will be a good rehearsal for the 2010 Olys and the use of NBC's affiliates.

NBC will not handle any international competitions except SA and Olys and possibly 2009 Worlds, so the 2009 GPs, and 2010 Worlds need a network to negotiate their showings. Hopefully NBC takes this on, but NBC has not shown any interest in international competitions unless they are shown in the US. It's all about getting sponsors, imo.

Joe

 

[Kypma]

ok thanks... I was getting kind of worried there.

 

[R.D.]

Actually, the ABC contract expires after next season...2008 Worlds would be their last broadcast.

We don't know which network (if any!) will take over afterwards, so it's anyone's guess. If you hear anything else it's only speculation.

 

[R.D.]

NBC will not handle any international competitions except SA and Olys and possibly 2009 Worlds, so the 2009 GPs, and 2010 Worlds need a network to negotiate their showings. Hopefully NBC takes this on, but NBC has not shown any interest in international competitions unless they are shown in the US. It's all about getting sponsors, imo.

I believe Ebersol (NBC Sports' president) WAS asked about potential interest in international competitions, to which he responded something to the effect of, "It depends on how innovative (the ISU) is." Of course, he's referring to how "innovative" the USFS was in their willingness to change the event layout of the US Nats to suit NBC's broadcast schedule.

 

[sillylionlove]

Here is my questions....who will be the announcers? Has anything be posted about that? I know that they were trying to get Dick Button over from ABC to NBC...there were also other rumors out there...any ideas?