USFS Will Select 3 for Skate America, but WHO?

[R.D.]

I don't think NBC has any control over the privately owned IceNetwork, and I am not aware of any USFS contract with them either. Anyone know for sure?

Yes, right here. Bolded are the relevant parts:

NBC will broadcast live all four finals of the 2008 U.S. Championships during the weekend of Jan. 26-27, 2008. The pairs final will be shown Saturday afternoon, with the ladies and ice dancing finals live in primetime Saturday night. The men's final will be shown live during the afternoon on Sunday, Jan. 27.

How many athletes and/or teams to be shown during the live broadcast coverage for each event is still being determined.

“It could be anywhere from the last group of dance, which is five, or the last two groups, which is 10,” U.S. Figure Skating Executive Director David Raith said. “We are looking at the ability of doing 10 or 12 [athletes] in the singles … whatever works best with NBC to put into their live window, we will ensure that that happens.”

The ladies free skate is the only competition that is projected to have a “split” event on Saturday. The initial group or groups of ladies will skate earlier on Saturday, with the last groups skating as part of Saturday night's primetime live coverage. Again, how many ladies will be part of that live coverage is still to be determined. Men's, pairs and ice dancing finals will be seen by spectators at the event in the normal fashion.

Between NBC's broadband platform, NBCSports.com, and icenetwork.com, the U.S. Championships will be covered in their entirety for the first time ever, including live and on-demand coverage of the novice and junior events. Fans will finally be able to see every twizzle and jump in the U.S. Championships at every level, including short programs, compulsory dances and original dances.

“This arrangement with NBC allows U.S. Figure Skating to ensure that our U.S. Championships from the novice to the junior and to our senior levels will be the widest-exposed championships … than has ever happened in the past,” Raith said. “Every one of our competitions will either be on NBC television, NBCSports.com or icenetwork.com.”

Parts of the ladies and ice dancing finals at 2007 Skate America will be shown live during a two-hour broadcast on Sunday, Oct. 28, on NBC. The two-hour show may also include taped coverage of the pairs and men's finals taking place Oct. 27. Icenetwork.com and NBCSports.com will also provide a combination of live and on-demand domestic coverage of the remainder of the entire competition.

The one question that remains is how they are going to set this up. This looks like it could be a winning arrangement if the computer video quality is good (i.e. not Youtube quality!). But it's not quite like watching it on TV.

It depends...if the video is downloadable I might sign up for it. Otherwise, if not I'll stick with what they choose to show on TV...and usually the skaters I wish to see get on TV anyway.

To me, NBC is not doing this for us. They are doing it to get revenue producing commercials for the Olys. Hope all the hype helps.

Of course; this whole thing with TV is all business.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Much of the above has to do with US Nationals and not Skate America which, for me, will be the test case for NBC and whatever is included with the showing of only parts of SA. the Men and Pairs, being taped for another time slot..(sic) Hopefully, the time slot for that which is NOT being shown LIVE, isn't preempted for a Championship NASCAR, Golf tourney,Poker trophy.

For Skate America the top five SP finishers of Ladies will be seen LIVE in their,presumably, reverse order. What happens if Kimmie or the Japanese Lady finish 6th in the SP? Either of them may will skate incredibly good in their LP which will not be shown because of the time slot. Quick, Henry, get the the tape.

For the US Nats, NBC must already have the Schedule of Events and discussions between NBC and USFS have or will be taken place on just what to show LIVE. What isn't shown LIVE, will be shown on Ice Network at a later date, if I read this correctly. Hope one of your favorites does not wind up eleventh after the SP. You'll have to pay to see it.

I wonder what commercial organizations NBC will be lining up to sponsor this.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

Much of the above has to do with US Nationals and not Skate America which, for me, will be the test case for NBC and whatever is included with the showing of only parts of SA. the Men and Pairs, being taped for another time slot..(sic) Hopefully, the time slot for that which is NOT being shown LIVE, isn't preempted for a Championship NASCAR, Golf tourney,Poker trophy.

NBC no longer has NASCAR: that went to ABC/ESPN. Fox also televises some races.

For Skate America the top five SP finishers of Ladies will be seen LIVE in their,presumably, reverse order. What happens if Kimmie or the Japanese Lady finish 6th in the SP? Either of them may will skate incredibly good in their LP which will not be shown because of the time slot. Quick, Henry, get the the tape.

You know, for SA I really don't expect much on TV. I think it's much hoopla over nothing- ABC gave us two hours of coverage in the past (plus maybe the gala). The only thing different here is NBC may try to present some of the action Live (a welcome improvement, BTW).

I wonder what commercial organizations NBC will be lining up to sponsor this.

The interesting thing about all this is I went to the 2008 US Championships website and I notice State Farm is no longer listed as a sponsor for the event (it's just simply called the "2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships"). Did they pull out- or is their sponsorship being re-negotiated? The US Championships may end up getting a new sponsor name as well.

The ABC/ESPN era of skating exclusively on television is over...we will clearly see more coverage online and on digital media. I get the feeling that maybe with the exception of the live Nationals coverage that TV coverage will start its steady decline.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

NBC no longer has NASCAR: that went to ABC/ESPN. Fox also televises some races.



You know, for SA I really don't expect much on TV. I think it's much hoopla over nothing- ABC gave us two hours of coverage in the past (plus maybe the gala). The only thing different here is NBC may try to present some of the action Live (a welcome improvement, BTW).

thats a personal take from a Ladies Figure Skating fan. cause no men will be shown LIVE on SA. It is not the wish of figure skating fans. Your opinion is fine, but it doesn't hold water for figure skating fans. Fans of figure skating like to see the Skate America in toto. You must use the imo phrase and speak for yourself that your interest in figure skating is limited to Ladies.
(they may or may not is not any kind of special insight.) We all wonder about that. Something is either yes or no but not both. Brilliant!

The interesting thing about all this is I went to the 2008 US Championships website and I notice State Farm is no longer listed as a sponsor for the event (it's just simply called the "2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships"). Did they pull out- or is their sponsorship being re-negotiated? The US Championships may end up getting a new sponsor name as well.

God knows, NBC is not going to take a loss on sponsorships. They'll find one or give it back to ABC or sell it to CBS.

The ABC/ESPN era of skating exclusively on television is over...we will clearly see more coverage online and on digital media. I get the feeling that maybe with the exception of the live Nationals coverage that TV coverage will start its steady decline.

Ah, all that hullabaloo you were giving about how great NBC was is now becoming better understood.

Check out my new thread on IceNetwork which you will have to pay for and you will not see anything LIVE.

Joe

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The TV schedule probably hasn't been finalized yet (and for that matter, neither have the skate times). Let's wait on the preliminary TV schedule on the USFS site and see what is being scheduled.

I'm sure Nats coverage can be worked out pretty easily. SA is another matter...still, while it may be easier to edit and show taped coverage, we all know live coverage tends to get higher ratings because you can't look up the results beforehand and get disinterested. I'm not sure if Nielsen counts those who tape shows to their VCR/DVD/Tivo though.

You can be sure NBC has the schedule. They are Pros when it comes to TV. BTW, comparing Olys and Worlds is like comparing oranges and limes.

 

[Mysticchic]

I typed out the Teams and where they skated last year. Sorry if anyone's name is worng or omitted.

2006

Team A

S1 Cohen (none)
S2 Meissner SA TEB
S3 Hughes SA CoC
S4 Taylor SA NEB SC

2007
S2 Hughes
S1 Meissner



Team B 06

S6 Zukowski TEB NHK
S7 Czisny SC CoR
J1 Hyatt JGP 2
S5 Liang NEB CoC NHK

2007

S3 Czisny
S11 Oster
J2 Zhang
J1 Nagasu JGP
J3 Wagner
S4 Liang


Team C -06

S14 Oster JGP 2 \
J Cannarozzo JGP 2
J2 Flatt JGP 0
N Rizo
J Buhanhagui JGP 2
J8 Zhang JGP 2

S Kahle Sr B

N Brammeier JGP

J4 Wagner JGP

S William-Stewart Sr B

2007

Alba
S Cannarozzo
S6 Flatt
S Bulanhagui
Giles
Hughes
S Kahle
N Maxwell
N Musademba
J Rosenthal
S Taylor
S William-Stewart
S Hyatt

Reserve

Oberstar JGP
Archambault Sr B
Hacker JGP

2007
S10 Zukowski

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Thats a lot of work, Mysticchick.and thank you.

I don't think the rationale for 2006 will apply to 2007. There is the business of giving a few Ladies some LIVE exposure. NBC will want ratings to go up so the USFS must come up with a good slate of popular contestants. There will be a top Japanese Lady there.and it's difficult to figure out who else will be at SA.

Again, how many skaters and depending on the SP, who will be shown on TV, it's anybodty's guess.

Joe

 

[Nigel]

Team C -06

S14 Oster JGP 2 \
J Cannarozzo JGP 2
J2 Flatt JGP 0
N Rizo
J Buhanhagui JGP 2
J8 Zhang JGP 2

S Kahle Sr B

N Brammeier JGP

Rhiana, IIRC, was monitored last season, but was not sent out to the JGP.

 

[Mysticchic]

Team C -06

S14 Oster JGP 2 \
J Cannarozzo JGP 2
J2 Flatt JGP 0
N Rizo
J Buhanhagui JGP 2
J8 Zhang JGP 2

S Kahle Sr B

N Brammeier JGP

Rhiana, IIRC, was monitored last season, but was not sent out to the JGP.

Your very welcome Joe! I was trying to figure out who would get what for this year. And Nigel your right she was monitored. It was late when I went over these.
That would make 2 in team C that didn't get assignments. Flatt was injured so she missed hers. To bad they couldn't have added a skater in Mexico.
Also if I remember correctly, novice go to NACs (if they are still going to have them) 6 novice and 4 Jrs
Correct me if I am wrong. There are:
12 Ladies spots for the Sr GP (top ladies are assigned 2).
5 Sr B (Liang and Taylor got 2 spots and 2 GPs each)
16 JGP openings (if they finsh 4th or above they recieve a 2nd one). (9 ladies competed last year. 4 went to the finals)
1 spot for the Universty games. (Roth)

 

[Sylvia]

I was trying to figure out who would get what for this year.

Just be aware that: "The [USFS] envelope level is used to determine funding levels. It is not used as a strict guideline for selections to international competitions."

The North American Challenge Skate (for U.S. and Canadian novices and juniors) no longer exists.

Last fall, USA sent 5 men and 5 ladies to 3 Senior B competitions (Nepela, Nebelhorn, Finlandia), but it's unknown at this time how many will be sent this year.

USA isn't guaranteed a specific number of Senior Grand Prix slots per discipline -- it will come down to how the selection draw goes on June 5th. 6 U.S. female singles skaters received 2 Sr. GP apiece last season, but the numbers will likely be different this year. See: http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16529

 

[Mysticchic]

Just be aware that: "The [USFS] envelope level is used to determine funding levels. It is not used as a strict guideline for selections to international competitions."

The North American Challenge Skate (for U.S. and Canadian novices and juniors) no longer exists.

Last fall, USA sent 5 men and 5 ladies to 3 Senior B competitions (Nepela, Nebelhorn, Finlandia), but it's unknown at this time how many will be sent this year.

USA isn't guaranteed a specific number of Senior Grand Prix slots per discipline -- it will come down to how the selection draw goes on June 5th. 6 U.S. female singles skaters received 2 Sr. GP apiece last season, but the numbers will likely be different this year. See: http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16529

Thanks Sylvia! I was just throwing it up there.