![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poltr1I've been watching the Olympics on NBC this past week. I've been somewhat satisfied with their coverage, but not overly impressed. ABC Sports still holds the gold standard, in my opinion. I realize that TV is a numbers game, and they're trying to deliver the maximum amount of viewers for their coverage.
If I were in charge of programming, what would I be doing differently?
First of all, I'd cover every sport. Some sports, like fencing, aren't getting any coverage whatsoever, except for online video feeds. Granted, NBC has 5 cable channels to spread their coverage -- NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, and Oxygen. Why not use these channels to cover the lesser-known sports, instead of time-shifting what's been shown on other channels?
Second, I'd not be so USA-centric. Thankfully, NBC has been moving away from this type of coverage, but it still has a ways to go. I'm glad they're showing short features on athletes from other countries. One of them that sticks out in my mind is the one on the female Russian pole vaulter.
Third, I'd try to downplay the "cheesecake factor". As much as I hate to say it, scantily-clad women from any nation are always a big draw for the male 18-49 demographic. Perhaps that explains the popularity of beach volleyball. (Go Misty and Kerry!) Are women as drawn toward scantily-clad men? Or do those Speedos give away too much information?
Fourth, I'd employ higher-speed cameras for the finish lines. Maybe this is already being done. I know there are film cameras out there that can shoot several thousand frames per second. Are there video cameras that can match that?
Who else has been watching? What are your opinions of the coverage? Is the coverage different in other countries?
If I were in charge of programming, what would I be doing differently?
First of all, I'd cover every sport. Some sports, like fencing, aren't getting any coverage whatsoever, except for online video feeds. Granted, NBC has 5 cable channels to spread their coverage -- NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, and Oxygen. Why not use these channels to cover the lesser-known sports, instead of time-shifting what's been shown on other channels?
Second, I'd not be so USA-centric. Thankfully, NBC has been moving away from this type of coverage, but it still has a ways to go. I'm glad they're showing short features on athletes from other countries. One of them that sticks out in my mind is the one on the female Russian pole vaulter.
Third, I'd try to downplay the "cheesecake factor". As much as I hate to say it, scantily-clad women from any nation are always a big draw for the male 18-49 demographic. Perhaps that explains the popularity of beach volleyball. (Go Misty and Kerry!) Are women as drawn toward scantily-clad men? Or do those Speedos give away too much information?
Fourth, I'd employ higher-speed cameras for the finish lines. Maybe this is already being done. I know there are film cameras out there that can shoot several thousand frames per second. Are there video cameras that can match that?
Who else has been watching? What are your opinions of the coverage? Is the coverage different in other countries?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-08-20 12:40 am (UTC)