I have a random, slightly unrelated thought. If the Writers Guild of America strike goes through and scripted TV shows run out of new episodes, the networks are going to be scrambling to fill the time. I know the number one source of non-scripted TV shows is reality TV, but I do wonder if it'd be in NBC or ABC (through their affiliation with ESPN)'s interest to show more sports coverage. More specifically, expanded coverage of sports like skating to fill their primetime schedules....? The strike is supposed to go into effect Oct. 31 at midnight, and there has been talk that it'd affect shows that aren't planned to start until Jan or Feb, so it definitely would overlap with the skating season...
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- Thread starter IDLERACER
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well some shows are already showing reruns because of the fires in So Cal and having to stop production from that... I wouldn't be surprised if we were just stuck watching reruns of everything...
My problem with Dick is that he tends to go on rants whenever he finds something he dislikes. That's why I found this broadcast (and the Ice network coverage w/Nancy) a "breath of fresh air" so to speak. Although I wouldn't be shocked if they brought him back for Nationals coverage.
They're striking?
my goodness...Reality shows are much easier to put together; sports programming would require the network to purchase TV rights from whatever body governs that sport.
I say maybe news specials, Hollywood movies, reality shows, game shows, etc. are much more likely. Nice thought, though...(I wish)
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I wouldn't be surprised either. I'm thinking more like, someone should propose to the networks to air more skating in the event of a writer's strike
. They're going to have their camera crews at the events already anyway. Show more! Show more! Given that there won't be much in the way of alternative programming for viewers to tune into, maybe skating can benefit from this the same way it benefited from the baseball strike and other strikes back in the 90's....Red Dog: Viewers will suffer if TV writers strike
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I was surprised by how critical Nancy was, not much more forgiving than Dick, though she has her own biases and pet peeves. She, like Dick, also dislikes the lack of turnout in the layback spin, which somehow all Asian skaters seem prone to.
She also doesn't like the low back on the spirals, or the lack of facial expressions during the performance, especially the footwork sequence. Somehow, this wasn't quite what I expected from her as a commentator. I wonder if Michelle Kwan got into commentating, she would also turn out to be surprisingly critical.I was surprised by how critical Nancy was, not much more forgiving than Dick, though she has her own biases and pet peeves. She, like Dick, also dislikes the lack of turnout in the layback spin, which somehow all Asian skaters seem prone to.
well...she does talk a lot as well. I dunno, maybe her voice was just easier to take than Dick's...
I think it's because she usually backed up every criticism with almost an apologetic laugh, kinda acknowledging that it's a pet peeve.
American Idol should be fine - reality show "writers" either aren't in the WGA or aren't covered under the same contract clauses (I forget which), which has actually been a beef for reality show writers in the past. That's why there's talk of lots of reality programming on TV should this strike take effect.
Do they have to purchase additional broadcasting rights from the governing bodies if they're already airing the competition? I was thinking how NBC already is going to broadcast Nationals, couldn't they lengthen the broadcasts or move more of them to primetime? I guess maybe they'd have to renegotiate the contract. Though even if they did have to pay more for the privilege of airing more, they're not paying the writers during this strike so it's not like they don't have spare change (though I realize it's probably not coming from the same budget).
BTW I think movies are also affected by this strike, but of course you're talking about movies that have already been released that are now airing on network TV. It does sound like the networks are pretty much only thinking about reality and game shows at this point, though. Would be nice if skating could somehow benefit from this, though.
BTW, in regards to something said earlier in this thread, is ESPN going to air Worlds? I thought that was still up in the air.
Do they have to purchase additional broadcasting rights from the governing bodies if they're already airing the competition? I was thinking how NBC already is going to broadcast Nationals, couldn't they lengthen the broadcasts or move more of them to primetime? I guess maybe they'd have to renegotiate the contract. Though even if they did have to pay more for the privilege of airing more, they're not paying the writers during this strike so it's not like they don't have spare change (though I realize it's probably not coming from the same budget).
BTW I think movies are also affected by this strike, but of course you're talking about movies that have already been released that are now airing on network TV. It does sound like the networks are pretty much only thinking about reality and game shows at this point, though. Would be nice if skating could somehow benefit from this, though.
BTW, in regards to something said earlier in this thread, is ESPN going to air Worlds? I thought that was still up in the air.
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Both baseball and hockey had strikes in 1994. CBS also lost their NFL broadcasting contract that same year. I remember CBS first tried to fill their old NFL timeslots with cheesy Harlequin made-for-TV movies for a couple of weeks before deciding to show skating instead...lots and lots of skating.
Of course, this was right after the 1994 Olympics when skating was at the height of its popularity in North America and before reality TV took over the networks, so I'm not sure if that same strategy would work today...as much as I'd love to see it!
BTW, I wonder if North American TV would ever broadcast this kind of reality show?
Syumi Yuu-yuu - Ice Skating, Leisurely Hobby - Ice Skating School
Starring :
Hiroshi Nagakubo (former coach of Shizuka Arakawa, Takeshi Honda, etc.)
Utako Wakamatsu (former Canadian National Team Member)
Shizuka Arakawa (Worlds & Olympics Gold Medalist)
etc.
This show is scheduled to air on Japanese TV over the next few months, and I'd actually watch a North American version if anyone decided to broadcast one.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I think ESPN still has another year or so left on its Worlds contract. It's the Canadian Worlds broadcast rights which are still up in the air, as far as I know.
Does anyone know what the ratings were for Skate America? The lead-in here was a hot-rod pick-up truck race, which ought to have boosted ratings for all the people who were looking for something to watch besides NFL football.
You asked about ratings?
Here you go
Go to the bottom...it says SA picked up a 1.4 rating (Halloween on Ice Saturday got a 1.0). That seems about in line with how much skating typically gets...maybe down slightly.
That's a site I particularly frequent because I seem to have this sudden newfound interest in sporting event TV ratings, and this blogging site's about as good as it gets.
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