USFS Will Select 3 for Skate America, but WHO?

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The free dance is scheduled (tentatively) for about 2pm Sunday, and the ladies' free skate at about 4pm. NBC could televise, for instance, from 3pm-5pm and show live coverage of parts of both events. I think they were planning live coverage of "parts of [these two events]" and possibly taped coverage of some of the other finals on Saturday. But remember, what's not shown on TV we can probably find online.

But the order of skate is important as to what will be shown. If they show an hour of Dance, then go into Ladies for an hour. Who will we see in that hour? The top finishers after the SP will skate in the latter half of that hour.

This is not much different from ABC which, with the strange exception of last season, never showed any SPs and showed three hours (or was it 2?) of freeskates, taped.

ESPN manage to have skating from 8 - ll pm, so 3 hours by ESPN is more than 2 hours of NBC.

 

[chuckm]

ESPN manage to have skating from 8 - ll pm, so 3 hours by ESPN is more than 2 hours of NBC.

So much for all the hoopla about how great it was that NBC was taking over. :sheesh:

 

[R.D.]

haha, actually I thought the reaction was fairly mixed. Many happy for continued tv coverage, others B!ing about commentators, gymnastics coverage, etc.

But what's more important is what the coverage is composed of. I thought NBC's 3-hour coverage of the Olympic free skate, although taped, was tops. They even showed the last 4 or 5 skaters in the final flight commercial-free.

ESPN in 3 hrs, on the other hand, from what I have seen they show only the top 4-5 skaters in each discipline with lots of commercials and fluff. Remember, live coverage does not leave all that much room for commercials and fluff.

 

[attyfan]

So much for all the hoopla about how great it was that NBC was taking over. :sheesh:

Well, it is great that NBC is taking over -- after all, two hours of NBC is better than nothing at all on the USFS events -- which is what we would get (since the contract expired) on ESPN

 

[R.D.]

Actually, my times are off a little. The free dance is scheduled for 1pm and ladies' free skate is scheduled for 2:50pm (tentative):

http://www.sovereigncenter.com/contact/press/fullstory.php?id=111

So the televising window could easily be 2-4pm...or 2:30-4:30pm. Get an hour of dance in there, maybe show some mens and pairs in between events, and switch to the relevant part of the ladies' free skate. Don't expect to see very much- this will likely be more like we had back in 2002 and 2003.

or who knows, maybe there's some flexibility in their agreement to adjust the amount of coverage time? Even then I still don't expect to see more than 3 hrs. coverage.

 

[R.D.]

Well, it is great that NBC is taking over -- after all, two hours of NBC is better than nothing at all on the USFS events -- which is what we would get (since the contract expired) on ESPN

I'm sure that if USFS were unable to get TV, they would still find a way to cover the event on Ice Network. They're doing that anyway, it seems, so the TV coverage could be looked at as a sort of "bonus" to skate fans (and serves as a showcase to more casual fans and the general public). I don't think broadcast TV coverage of sports really appeals to hardcore sports fans anyway.

and remember US nats, at the current time looks like we'll be getting decent tv coverage, all on the air. (it remains to be seen whether some of the other stuff will be put on a cable station though.)

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I don't understand no SPs on TV and less time for the four disciplines is considered better than ABC/ESPN?? ESPN often had SPs later on for viewing No word about showing them on an NBC affiliate.

There are twelve Ladies, e.g., in the mix. If they show a seeded 6 of them after the SPs, that would take 6x 2minutes to get to the ice x 4 minutes ea. of programs, then the time in the K&C for each skater. Thats 12+24+the K&C.plus the commercials and opening and closing blurbs, we could never get two complete disicplines of seeded skaters into this framework. But I am willing to wait an see what NBC can come up with, but I am sure they are in contact with ABC on how to handle this

It really is easier to tape and edit out.

Joe

 

[R.D.]

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.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

On a personal level, I do see a lot of LIVE figure skating but not everything. What I miss from TV are the skaters they don't show. I like competitive figure skating in all its disciplines and I want to see all of it. But that's me. Most fans are content to see the top 5-10. ok. no problem.

What NBC shows will be of utmost important to the TV watchers (including me).
I'm not going to Reading. I'm going to Quebec City - a town I've never been to.

Jod

 

[R.D.]

if you subscribe to the ice network you SHOULD be able to see everybody (assuming you're on broadband). According to the TV contract details NBC will also have additional videos on their sports site.

What the network shows on TV isn't all the coverage we'll be getting- I think we need to realize this.

 

[Mathman]

Who is this Ashley Wagner? Sorry, it's the first time I heard the name.

Trivia question: Who are the only two ladies to do a triple/triple at 2007 Junior Worlds?

Caroline Zhang and Mirai Nagasu?

Ashley Wagner and Alena Leonova? :yes:

In fact, Ashley did 3T+3T seq, 3Lz+2Lo, 3F+2Lo+2Lo, 3S, 2A, 3Lo and 3Lz!

 

[mskater93]

Ashley Wagner - two time US Junior Ladies Medallist, reigning US and World Junior Ladies Bronze Medallist! :thumbsup:

 

[Nigel]

Trivia question: Who are the only two ladies to do a triple/triple at 2007 Junior Worlds?

Caroline Zhang and Mirai Nagasu?

Ashley Wagner and Alena Leonova? :yes:

In fact, Ashley did 3T+3T seq, 3Lz+2Lo, 3F+2Lo+2Lo, 3S, 2A, 3Lo and 3Lz!

Here is Ashley's bio from USFS:
Competitive History
2007 World Junior Championships - 3rd
2007 State Farm U.S. Championships, Junior - 3rd
2006 Junior Grand Prix Final - 2nd
2006 Junior Grand Prix (Netherlands) - 1st
2006 Junior Grand Prix (France) - 1st
2006 Triglav Trophy, Junior - 1st
2006 State Farm U.S. Championships, Junior - 4th
2006 Pacific Coast Sectional, Junior - 1st
2006 Northwest Pacific Regional, Junior - 1st
2005 North American Challenge Skate (Pierrefonds), Novice - 1st
2005 State Farm U.S. Championships, Novice - 7th
2005 Pacific Coast Sectional, Novice - 1st
2005 Northwest Pacific Regional, Novice - 1st
2004 Pacific Coast Sectional, Novice - 10th
2004 Northwest Pacific Regional, Novice - 2nd
2003 U.S. Junior Championships, Intermediate - 17th
2003 Northwest Pacific Regional, Intermediate - 2nd
2002 Northwest Pacific Regional, Juvenile - 2nd


Ashley did do the 3T, 3T sequence (not combo)....what did Alena do?

 

[Mathman]

what did Alena do?

Also 3T+3T SEQ. But unlike Ashley, Elena did not do much else, scoring only 43.06 points on the tech side.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

if you subscribe to the ice network you SHOULD be able to see everybody (assuming you're on broadband). According to the TV contract details NBC will also have additional videos on their sports site.

What the network shows on TV isn't all the coverage we'll be getting- I think we need to realize this.

I watched all the Regionals and Sectionals last season on IceNetwork. There were no GPs and Nats on it. If the USFS is really going to show the GPs and Nats on IceNetwork, I won't hold my breath in anticipation.

I'm a 'wait and see' kind of guy. I'm not praising NBC as others do for something I haven't seen yet.

Joe

 

[Mathman]

To me, the live coverage of the finals, even if we only get to see the top competitors, is the main thing. I have little interest in watching a sporting event after it is already over and the winner long decided. It's the thrill of victory, agony of defeat thing that makes it an exciting sports broadcast. For the rest, there's always You Tube. (JMO.)

 

[nymkfan51]

ITA, Mathman. While I would love the opportunity to see all the competitors, it's the live broadcasting that makes it seem like a real sport. So it's okay with me if we see only the top skaters on live TV, and have the ability to watch all the others after the fact on the internet.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

To me, the live coverage of the finals, even if we only get to see the top competitors, is the main thing. I have little interest in watching a sporting event after it is already over and the winner long decided. It's the thrill of victory, agony of defeat thing that makes it an exciting sports broadcast. For the rest, there's always You Tube. (JMO.)

Thats a good enough reason for me to spend my hard earned pension money to these thing Live.

 

[R.D.]

I watched all the Regionals and Sectionals last season on IceNetwork. There were no GPs and Nats on it. If the USFS is really going to show the GPs and Nats on IceNetwork, I won't hold my breath in anticipation.

I'm a 'wait and see' kind of guy. I'm not praising NBC as others do for something I haven't seen yet.

Joe

Yeah, in that case you really should "wait and see" as the rest of us should as well. But, NOW it's looking like whatever is NOT shown on TV (count on top 3-4 for SA and top 10 for Nats) will be shown somehow on either Ice Network or NBC's sports website nbcsports.com.

MM- ITA! Live coverage is what it's all about...even if it's only the last group, or just the freeskates. But ESPN went over their heads to provide live coverage of the ladies' SP last year.

I can put up with a few hours delay though (i.e. the Olympics due to time differences). Not days or weeks like the GP events though.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Yeah, in that case you really should "wait and see" as the rest of us should as well. But, NOW it's looking like whatever is NOT shown on TV (count on top 3-4 for SA and top 10 for Nats) will be shown somehow on either Ice Network or NBC's sports website nbcsports.c
.

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?

If all goes well with IceNetwork, I can see them taping 48 skaters and teams for payment for the SA; but 90 for Nats????? I would think they would want more money. btw, do you think fans will pay for these?

I can't help being skeptical about all this. I don't see anything that says NOW it's looking like whatever is NOT shown on TV (count on top 3-4 for SA and top 10 for Nats) will be shown. I don't see this.

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.

Joe