305 replies to this topic

[Rei]

NEW YORK, Feb. 23, 2006– With the Winter Olympics taking place several time zones away in Torino, Italy, daily results are announced long before United States primetime television hours. To find out the medal winners and losers, Olympic fans are turning to the Internet to get up-to-the-minute results on their favorite sports...

hitwise.com

[mr.x]

Rei, on Mar 18 2009, 09:56 AM, said:

what's your point?

There's no point, I was only responding to Mo's request for something to read about the ratings failure. I don't know why you're taking it so personally.

Fact is, tv ads are where NBC makes most of its Olympic revenues and the tv ratings they got for 2006 were lower than those they promised their advertisers. And given that Torino is halfway around the world, yes it is quite obvious that ratings would be lower.

[mr.x]

NBC Universal, Microsoft keep Olympics pact in play

Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:50pm EDT
By Mike Shields

NEW YORK (Mediaweek) - NBC Universal will once again partner with Microsoft to support its online delivery of the Winter Olympics in 2010.

As it did during NBC Universal's much-ballyhooed Web coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Microsoft will provide the video-streaming technology for the Games as well as prominent distribution on its MSN portal. From February 12-28, fans will be able to access live and on-demand footage from various events via NBCOlympics.com on MSN.

A similar arrangement last year resulted in a traffic windfall for NBC, which streamed more than 2,000 hours of live events during the Beijing Games. NBC Universal executives claim that online coverage reached more than 52 million unique users -- the kind of numbers rarely, if ever, seen in online video.

Besides tapping into MSN's high reach as a promotional platform, NBC's online coverage of the Vancouver Games also will once again employ Microsoft's Silverlight technology, which promises to deliver high-definition-quality video within a standard Web browser.

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)

[Durban Sandshark]

mr.x, on Mar 20 2009, 01:30 AM, said:

NBC Universal, Microsoft keep Olympics pact in play

Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:50pm EDT
By Mike Shields

NEW YORK (Mediaweek) - NBC Universal will once again partner with Microsoft to support its online delivery of the Winter Olympics in 2010.

As it did during NBC Universal's much-ballyhooed Web coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Microsoft will provide the video-streaming technology for the Games as well as prominent distribution on its MSN portal. From February 12-28, fans will be able to access live and on-demand footage from various events via NBCOlympics.com on MSN.

A similar arrangement last year resulted in a traffic windfall for NBC, which streamed more than 2,000 hours of live events during the Beijing Games. NBC Universal executives claim that online coverage reached more than 52 million unique users -- the kind of numbers rarely, if ever, seen in online video.

Besides tapping into MSN's high reach as a promotional platform, NBC's online coverage of the Vancouver Games also will once again employ Microsoft's Silverlight technology, which promises to deliver high-definition-quality video within a standard Web browser.

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)

The details adds that it will have an adaptive Smooth Streaming 720p HD with more enhanced and evolved technology than it was in Beijing: pausing, rewinding, viewing in super slo mo, real time video alerts, take advantage of metadata overlays, perform high resolution frame capturing, all live. For now, no announcement for multiple camera angles. But I hope to see that happen. Silverlight's already used right now with March Madness On Demand, but since I lack its capabilities, is it enhanced a little bit since Beijing?

[Durban Sandshark]

...and multiple language coverage to click on as an option at least for online (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Inuit, etc. on select events where applicable)

A row has developed between the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations and the USOC over the latter's alleged greed on the IOC's revenues. The sports governing bodies are attacking it by passing a non-binding resolution, to be presented to the IOC, to end the USOC's open-ended contract giving it 20% of the IOC's global sponsorship revenue and pressure the USOC to scrap that for a new renegotiation pact. Though Chicago is one of the frontrunners for 2016, this could, if not resolved soon, derail Chicago's prospects, something the USOC is pushing. The USOC says it gets that because of the huge amount in billions the US gives from NBC's lucrative TV broadcast rights as the largest global market for the Olympic movement. You know, maybe it's time the USOC/NBC should give up some of its revenue percentages for the greater good. All that said, the IOC really has gotten greedy by turning to News Corporation to jack up the revenues in many territories like NZ, Turkey, Canada, and much of Europe. Surely, cooler heads will prevail.

Meanwhile, NBC has been mum on the matter. But in Denver, where the SportAccord is having its meetings right now, while the TV rights negotiations for 2016 and beyond are presently on ice. NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol named the American Winter Olympians that will be promoted for NBC's coverage in Vancouver: Shani Davis, Lindsay Vonn, Shaun White, and Apollo Anton Ohno. Bode Miller could be added on later if he comes out of his noncommittal status and skis again. I would like to see NBC emulate somewhat close to what CTV is doing for its "Do You Believe?" campaign for its Canadian Olympics. Because we Americans know we'll perform well medal-wise north of the border, no need to overdo it.

Nice segue. Some Canadian Olympians, as part of the consistent pub the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics gets throughout the CTVglobemedia-Rogers Media consortium up to February in the minds of the Canadian public, including Jeremy Wotherspoon, Melissa Hollingsworth, Denny Morrison, Steve Omischi, Ashleigh MacIvor, Charles Hamerlin, Emily Brydon, and Paralympian alpine skiers Lauren Woostencroft and Karolina Wisniewska all appear along the etalk red carpet at the 2009 Juno Music Awards, "Canada's biggest music night" and its equivalent to the Grammys south of the border, on March 29 in, of course, Vancouver, live on CTV at 8pm Central time that is hosted by comedian Russell Peters. Wotherspoon and Hollingsworth will also present Juno awards.

[Durban Sandshark]

Just had to mention that the venue is General Motors Place, which will be called for the Olympics the Canada Hockey Place.

[Durban Sandshark]

One aspect I was hoping to mention about NBC's Vancouver 2010 coverage plans that I only got last night from NBC Universal's press release was of the fact there will be more than 1000 hours of on-demand full events replays, highlights, feature, interviews, and encore packages with accompanying stats, results, comprehensive athlete bios, expert analysis (so I take there won't be any of that no announcer footage during the action), and rules to the sports with the video alerts like they did with Beijing. Now NBC aired the Torino Winter Olympics for a combined 416 hours among members of the NBC Universal family. Given that the hours of broadcasting could go up to an additional 40-100 hours, and the networks were almost complete in their coverage while missing a few women's ice hockey games and the full prelims of athletes in sports like figure skating, what other than the aforementioned will fill it up? Will we NBC viewers get the pre-Opening Ceremony festivities at BC Place? I think so on that.

Something tells me there has been an increase in the Spanish-language coverage from Telemundo that boosts it to 1000 hours. Surely, they saw what CTVglobemedia-Rogers was planning to do with theirs (2100 hours in total from them) and thought, "We gotta stay with them on that". I don't believe NBC is going to air that many hours, not with the ancillary stuff with the likes of MTV Canada involved north of the border and Rogers-owned radio stations. Again as a reminder, much of the hours come from simultaneous and comparable coverage in French, Chinese, Portuguese, Inuit, Hindu, Italian, and Korean aside from English. Unless that same footage NBC will use will offer multiple language commentary under the Silverlight technology online and announce that soon, we will have to wait and see outside of Spanish.

Only one Rogers Media-owned station is confirmed for the Vancouver 2010 coverage: CJCL, Toronto's Fan 590 AM. Others will be announced shortly. CTV, TQS, OMNI, Rogers SportsNet, TSN, RDS, and APTN all will do HD coverage.

Solar Sports will cover the Vancouver Olympics in The Philippines. SKY Sport 1 & 2 HD will cover the NZ's Games satelitte/cable HD coverage down in New Zealand. Prime HD, though not yet officially announced, surely will cover over-the-air portion.

[Quaker2001]

Durban Sandshark, on Apr 3 2009, 03:15 PM, said:

One aspect I was hoping to mention about NBC's Vancouver 2010 coverage plans that I only got last night from NBC Universal's press release was of the fact there will be more than 1000 hours of on-demand full events replays, highlights, feature, interviews, and encore packages with accompanying stats, results, comprehensive athlete bios, expert analysis (so I take there won't be any of that no announcer footage during the action), and rules to the sports with the video alerts like they did with Beijing. Now NBC aired the Torino Winter Olympics for a combined 416 hours among members of the NBC Universal family. Given that the hours of broadcasting could go up to an additional 40-100 hours, and the networks were almost complete in their coverage while missing a few women's ice hockey games and the full prelims of athletes in sports like figure skating, what other than the aforementioned will fill it up? Will we NBC viewers get the pre-Opening Ceremony festivities at BC Place? I think so on that.

Durban.. what press release are you referring to? I saw the one NBCU put out a couple of weeks ago, but that was all about the online coverage, it didn't mention the TV coverage. And the extra hours will come from 2 things. First off, I see them covering more curling from Vancouver than they did from Torino where there were matches at 3am. And second, because events will be covered live, much moreso than from Torino, that leaves NBC less time to edit them before they air, meaning they'll be shown more in full.

[Durban Sandshark]

Quaker2001, on Apr 5 2009, 12:10 AM, said:

Durban.. what press release are you referring to? I saw the one NBCU put out a couple of weeks ago, but that was all about the online coverage, it didn't mention the TV coverage. And the extra hours will come from 2 things. First off, I see them covering more curling from Vancouver than they did from Torino where there were matches at 3am. And second, because events will be covered live, much moreso than from Torino, that leaves NBC less time to edit them before they air, meaning they'll be shown more in full.

Quaker2001, you are right. I was actually referring to the NBCU press release regarding its Vancouver Olympic Internet plans. Those 1000 hours come from just the Internet, not the overall total coverage with the broadcast. You're also right about since the time zones are more favorable for NBC's broadcast, there will less time to edit the footage for live airing (a good thing). Curling will get more love through online. I also presume NBC will install cameras throughout events like cross country skiing and biathlon as opposed to just leaving it to the world feed upon broadcast. Apologies for the confusion.

It just came out from down under yesterday regarding Australia's winter Olympic broadcast plans in Vancouver next year. FOXTEL plans to feature four channels of Vancouver Olympic coverage with a separate HD channel for extra coverage to boot, unlike what Seven did up to Beijing. FoxteliQ disc drive units and its mobile and broadband units will enhance the Australian coverage with choice, customization, and control. But there's a price, literally: a subscription price stands in the way if any diehard Aussie Winter Olympic fan wants all of that. Nine Network, the free-to-air broadcast holder, assumes nobody wants all that wall-to-wall coverage FTA in nation, despite recent medal success in the Winter Olympic (most notably its first golds in Salt Lake City), not known for its snow and questions the Winter Olympics' potent and broad commercial appeal in Australia, where snow and cold weather are anomalies. Formerly, especially more so with the WOG, networks would delay coverage if held at time zone that don't comply with the Australians. I have come to understand that the problems Seven endured wasn't entirely its fault: Australian federal government broadcast regulations prevented the network from multichanneling its coverage, something that will alleviate all those constant complaints about jumping from one to another with commercial breaks interrupting important moments. Kinda makes you wonder come 2012 Australia will successfully make its transition into digital television from analogue and if the National Broadband Network propels the way Aussies can watch Internet TV. Look for Harvey Norman to participate as a sponsor. Hours have not yet been mentioned in total, but I suspect Australia will finally overtake New Zealand in its Winter Olympic TV coverage in that regard.

[Durban Sandshark]

I'm not really a fan of this development (and it's because of the fact I don't have my own computer and cable/satelitte subscription): NBC and many of the top cable/satelitte TV companies plan to authorize a sophisticated authentication system to allow access to live and some archived Internet streamings of those 1000+ hours of the Vancouver Winter Olympics only to those pay-TV subscribers--and make it less easy to hack. It's a contrast to what CBS and the NCAA did for their annual March Madness On Demand that allows you to watch every game live in their entirties with no regional interference. Things are still under negotiations with the networks and the system is still under development. The need to raise revenue is paramount for both the NBC network and the cable companies obviously. We'll see how things shake up in the early going when premium cable TV network HBO does with their Internet video subscription (to HBO subscribers) and Comcast rolls out Internet channels when those start later in the summer.
Olympics A Test Case For Web Video

Also, don't look for NBC's cable networks like MSNBC and CNBC transmit their share of the footage into Canada because, like with Beijing and Torino, it'll be blacked out to ex-pat Americans living in Canada perhaps wanting US-centric stuff.

If you haven't noticed already, Rogers Sportsnet has the Olympic rings underneath its logo as a broadcasting bug.

Here's the latest Believe in 2010 ("Do You Believe?") commercials featuring hockey star Gillian Apps, who comes from a legendary hockey family, and ski crosser Chris Del Bosco. Are there any plans for French-language versions on those networks? Too bad Gillian and her teammates lost in the IIHF Women's final to the USA in Finland over the weekend.