Recording The Olympics On Tv

[Durban Sandshark]

Promised you that I was going to start this new topic. So this is where we will discuss our recording plans for the upcoming games and what we already have. This topic grew out of the private messages that a few of us, including myself, sent and received to each. As a matter of fact, this is a splinter topic from Some Olympic TV Updates. Because of the limit to three PMs on these boards, I think this would solve the issues to what we could say and more frequently.

For my part I, sadly, can't really take part in this Beijing Olympic go round. But it's actually made easier by the fact that almost 4000 hours of NBC's coverage is going to be archived and on-demand for future and frequent consumption online. I don't have a computer of my own that contains some of the more advanced technology like Windows Vista that is required to have access to all of the immense video coverage, either live or on-demand. My school's library lacks this feature in their computers stations (I don't know it will upgrade to that service), and time constraints can't get me to do it as often and much as I would like in its present form. Hopefully, and I think this is a very good possibility in the next year, I'll get a computer that will have Blu-Ray recording capabilities that may serve as the ultimate set for us.

Ever since 1992 when I was an early adolescent, I recorded stuff from the Olympics (or had friends to do so). I missed out on some stuff, and I would like to reclaim the footage. I would also like to get into the 1980-1988 Olympics, if possible. This is intended for who like watching the Olympics over and over at their leisure. Those outside the US and Canada, we haven't forgot about you. Actually you are more than welcome to participate in this. We'd like to get your contributions if possible.

Here was what I had recorded:

1992

Albertville Opening Ceremony w/preliminary men's ice hockey, and CBS preview

Barcelona Opening Ceremony, Guardians of the Flame, NBC's Barcelona Olympic Preview, Barcelona Closing Ceremony

1994

Lillehammer Opening Ceremony

Lillehammer Closing Ceremony

1996

USA vs. Brazil Women's Gold Medal Basketball Game, Atlanta 1996 Closing Ceremony

(would've recorded the Opening Ceremony but accidently broke my VCR months earlier)

1998

Nagano Opening Ceremony

Recorded 80-90% of CBS' Nagano coverage

Nagano Closing Ceremony

2000

Sydney Opening Ceremony

Did at least the weekend NBC Olympic coverage, possibly some weekday stuff

Had a friend did the MSNBC portion of the NBC Sydney coverage

Sydney Closing Ceremony

2002

almost recorded (if not entirely) all of NBC's coverage including both ceremonies

Had another friend recorded MSNBC's coverage

Another did CNBC's

2004

90% of NBC's portion for Athens, including both ceremonies

all of USA's portion

No Telemundo

60-80% each of MSNBC's and CNBC's portions that other friends did

2006

had a friend record 70% of MSNBC's portion of Torino

Another did some NBC's, but never got a chance to get them all, don't think he did all of the days

I recorded 70% of USA's coverage

No CNBC

Sadly, I lost a lot of the tapes due to theft on separate occassions by a crackhead who broke in my home and ransacked the place in 2002, and when I was living with my paranoid schizophrenic cousin and his parents. He angrily came downstairs when I was away for school and work and took several of my NBC Athens tapes as his younger brother failed to stop him. Apparently he recorded over them.

I'll present more details as to how to deal with this coming up for Beijing and what I just mentioned tomorrow.

[Quaker2001]

For a while I thought I was the only person crazy enough to make such an effort to record the Olympics. I know of a few people (online, no one I know personally) who have big collections of other sports, but it's good to see there are people on this forum who have the same passion that I do. Here is what's in my collection. If you're interested in making a trade, please let me know, although I'm probably going to hold off on any trades until at least after Beijing.

1992 Albertville - Pretty much everything but late night, including almost all of the TNT coverage. I've gotten some of the late night coverage through a trade, but otherwise this Olympics is virtually complete.

1992 Barcelona - Most of the NBC coverage, although nothing from the Triplecast. I'm missing a few nights of primetime (including the opening ceremony), plus some of the morning and most of 1 of the weekend days.

1994 Lillehammer - Again, almost everything, this time including late night.

1996 Atlanta - Needed help to record these since I was away from home the whole Olympics. I'm missing a lot of the weekend coverage, especially the middle weekend, and lost some of the Primetime and Late Night coverage due to NBC's coverage running long every night.

1998 Nagano - Good on about 90% of the CBS coverage and most of the TNT coverage. In addition, that's to a wonderful quirk of my university's cable system, I have about 80% of CBC's coverage as well.

2000 Sydney - 100% of the NBC coverage, virtually all of the cable coverage, and about 90% of CBC's coverage

2002 Salt Lake - About 95% of the NBC coverage, but I'm pretty spotty on the cable coverage. And thanks to a source in Salt Lake for the games, I even have some of the world feed coverage as produced by ISB.

2004 Athens - It's like NBC was challenging me to record everything.. which I did, save for missing a grand total of about 20 hours worth of coverage (excluding Telemundo, I only recorded a soccer game here and there from them). With very few exceptions, if NBC broadcast it from Athens in English, I recorded it.

2006 Turin - Again, tried to record everything and did. Might have a thing or 2 that's not good, but for all intents and purposes, I have everything.

Once again, for Beijing, I'm trying to record as much as possible and have an arsenal of electronics that will allow me to do so. I'm gonna do my best to record everything on NBC and the cable networks and I'm trying to work in recording some of the basketball and soccer games as well. I haven't thought about working on any of the online coverage, but as Durban mentioned, it should be up online for a while, so hopefully there's a way to keep some of that permanently.

For reference, I live in New York and have Time Warner (which gives me access to what I hope will be the full slate of NBC's Video On-Demand offerings) and intend to record the other Olympics-related and local programming such as the Today Show and MSNBC's Olympic Update show, which I read will air weekdays at 5pm during the games. In my planning efforts, I made an Excel spreadsheet showing when all the coverage is which I'd be happy to share with anyone who's interested.

[4gamesandcounting]

Either of you kind souls willing to help me get a copy of Lillehammer 94 ceremonys?

[pacey988]

As some of you know, I lost all of what I had (2000, 2002 and 2004) in Katrina, I have 2006 but it is not complete, and possibly not in good condition due to a poor cable feed, so this year is probably the first chance I will get to have at least a substantial amount of coverage. The picture quality should be improved since on my end it is going to be from the DIRECTV feed. I plan on recording all of NBC's coverage, as was the case before, plus almost all coverage from Oxygen and USA, and possibly some from CNBC.

[Jonafin]

Hey Everyone,

Well I only got into the Olympics when Sydney hosted it in 2000, so yeah. That was when I was 12 years old, but I managed to get someone to record the Opening and Closing ceremonies..... though I lost the Closing ceremony tape along the line somwhere. And now, since I bought the dvd to the Opening Ceremony last year, I am thinking of re-using the tape that has the Opening on it.

Salt Lake City Opening Ceremony, my grandma taped it for me too, but I also lost this one. But that's ok, since I didn't really get into the Winter Olympics..... does any one remember that cocky guy who slipped in the Opening Ceremony part.... lol

Athens 2004, I also taped the Opening and Closing ceremonies. As well as a few sporting events. But also, since I now have the dvd, (which I had to source from Greece on EBAY)........ I am re-using the tapes.

Also have the Torino 2006 Ceremonies, as well as some of the figure skating events and that event where Dale Begg Smith won a gold......

I plan to record as much as I can, mainly the Opening & Closing Ceremonies from Beijing 2008 on new tapes, and as much of the key sporting events (that feature Australian Athletes.....as well as the main team sports of Soccer & Hockey) on some older tapes...... getting off the subject a bit, but does anyone know how long it takes for a Organising Committee, to bring out a dvd of the Ceremonies?? I am assuming that they will, since they partially did for Sydney, and Athens had the whole thing with Olympic highlights as well..... and since these 2008 Games are more commercialised, its only a matter of time before they bring out the official dvd set....

Also, does anyone here like the commentaries on the Olympic Ceremonies?? I personally find them annoying at times, its like they don't know when to keep quiet and just let us watch!!!!

[micheal_warren]

I have an extensive dvd record from the games going back to Barcelona 1992. I have a dvd recorder and will be recording the majority of TVNZ coverage from beijing... It should be great!!!

[mattperiolat]

Oh lordy lordy lordy....

Behold, the the official Olympic tape recording thread...

Where I may be a charter member.

A ROUGH listing:

Calgary - About half of the last day of coverage, figure skating exhibition and Closing Ceremonies. ABC

Seoul - NBC's wrap up of the Games about 3 days after Closing.

Albertville - Still going over what I got from a recent trade (thanks, quaker!) but Opening and Closing plus say about 75% of event coverage. CBS

Barcelona - Opening and Closing plus about 85-90% of event coverage. NBC

Lillehammer - I think my coverage is virtually complete, but I need to double check. CBS.

Atlanta - Aside from a tape miscue from the Women's Marathon and a bit here and there with event coverage running long, complete, including about 4 hours of local news coverage of the Olympic Park bombing. NBC

Nagano - I suspect problems with the late night hockey matches, otherwise pretty complete. CBS

Sydney - I need to rewatch, but I'll go out on a limb and say... 95% including ceremonies. NBC.

SLC - I have mislaid my tape of the Men's Hockey Gold Medal final, otherwise, feel pretty safe in saying virtually complete. NBC.

Athens - I need to review as I suspect I had problems with CNBC and MSNBC on the second week of the Games. Including ceremonies, say... 85-90& complete. NBC.

Torino - I missed a day of NBC's coverage due to a taping error, otherwise... say about 96-97% complete, including ceremonies. NBC.

Oh and I do have Olympic Trials from 96, 2000, 2004 and some from 2008.

I am willing to trade, but probably not until after Beijing and I must ask for patience as I will have college classes starting the Monday after the Games.

[baron-pierreIV]

I have EVERY Olympic Games since 1896 on tape; and all recorded from the Deafmute Channel.

2 first-class, roundtrip tickets to Tahiti will get you a copy of this EXCLSUIVE collection!

Edited July 23, 2008 by baron-pierreIV

[Torchbearer AA]

I have only 4 hours Sydney, 6 hours Salt Lake, 25 hours Athens and 40 hours Torino.

Now I am going to buy a dvd-recorder and I want to record all day long during the Games (because I am in Beijing). I think it will be some 300 hours for the first 12 days. Don't know what I am going to do with the last four days (when I am again at home).

[Olympian2004]

Either of you kind souls willing to help me get a copy of Lillehammer 94 ceremonys?

If the Norwegian original broadcast of the opening ceremony and the CTV broadcast of the closing ceremony are sufficient for you, then here they are:

Opening Ceremony on YouTube

Closing Ceremony on YouTube

[micheal_warren]

Oh lordy lordy lordy....

Behold, the the official Olympic tape recording thread...

Where I may be a charter member.

A ROUGH listing:

Calgary - About half of the last day of coverage, figure skating exhibition and Closing Ceremonies. ABC

Seoul - NBC's wrap up of the Games about 3 days after Closing.

Albertville - Still going over what I got from a recent trade (thanks, quaker!) but Opening and Closing plus say about 75% of event coverage. CBS

Barcelona - Opening and Closing plus about 85-90% of event coverage. NBC

Lillehammer - I think my coverage is virtually complete, but I need to double check. CBS.

Atlanta - Aside from a tape miscue from the Women's Marathon and a bit here and there with event coverage running long, complete, including about 4 hours of local news coverage of the Olympic Park bombing. NBC

Nagano - I suspect problems with the late night hockey matches, otherwise pretty complete. CBS

Sydney - I need to rewatch, but I'll go out on a limb and say... 95% including ceremonies. NBC.

SLC - I have mislaid my tape of the Men's Hockey Gold Medal final, otherwise, feel pretty safe in saying virtually complete. NBC.

Athens - I need to review as I suspect I had problems with CNBC and MSNBC on the second week of the Games. Including ceremonies, say... 85-90& complete. NBC.

Torino - I missed a day of NBC's coverage due to a taping error, otherwise... say about 96-97% complete, including ceremonies. NBC.

Oh and I do have Olympic Trials from 96, 2000, 2004 and some from 2008.

I am willing to trade, but probably not until after Beijing and I must ask for patience as I will have college classes starting the Monday after the Games.

wow you do have extensive coverage!

[mattperiolat]

wow you do have extensive coverage!

Thank you for that, it's been a lot of hard work and an extreme amount of patience to get as much as I have. I already know it'll be nearly impossible to do all of Beijing up to those standards, but I'm going to give it a good shot.

Incidentally, there is a SMALL chance, repeat, SMALL chance... that I might have Opening and Closing from LA in '84 from ABC.

My aunt recorded those on Beta years ago. If I can find the old tapes and get them transfered to ether VHS or DVD... we'll see, have to ask next time I see her!

Anyway, as I said, anyone who wants help with their own collections (saw someone asking for Lillehammer's ceremonies a post or two back), let me know and we can talk. I work trade for trade though.

[Durban Sandshark]

I just knew this thread will quickly get popular for us "Olympic crackheads" just when we get into the Olympic Christmastime!

I since got myself, as some know and have themselves, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony 2-DVD set that I got from a Sydneysider's shop via eBay. But that was from the Seven Network's feed as it was commercial free and uninterrupted.

Does any of the Olympic videotapes or DVDs you have recorded contain any commercials at all? If so, I actually don't mind them at all. What I may ultimately do is make them as extra features for my Olympic rebuilt collection, which I'm targeting as done on Blu-Ray and make into a mega-DVD set! Who among us has TSN/RDS/Radio-Canada?

I wish I had cable (for TNT and the Olympic Triplecast), a lucky quirk or location (getting the CBC), or digital satelitte (for Telemundo) back then. For some older stuff like LA 84 we would have to be patient on that and look towards others outside (unless they're willing to step in here to discuss) these forums. In my case for a trade would work I really still need to see exactly what I got and need to have to complete--hope my second cousin didn't take those too, but I also need to transfer onto DVD since it all still on videotapes. That will take at several months.

[BTHarner]

I have the opening ceremonies of every games since Seoul, as well as about 50 hours from Sydney and over 200 hours from Athens, plus a smattering from Salt Lake and Torino, and truth be told, I watch them once (except for the ceremonies) and then they just sit on the shelf, yet I don't want to tape over them for fear I may actually watch them again some day.

With the advent of the online, on-demand coverage, I will not be using the VCR for the upcoming Games. I may use the DVR to record a few must-see middle of the night events (for example, the men's soccer final) that I'd rather see on the TV as opposed to the computer screen.

[pacey988]

BT,

What do you have from Athens? I have a few things from Barcelona, maybe we could trade?

[BTHarner]

I'd have to go through them. It's fair to say there in probably a bit of everything other than the main NBC offeringof track, swimming, and gymnastics since I didn't tape any primetime shows. It's mostly the cable coverage. I know I have every US women's soccer match, but my wife would kill me if I got rid of them since she is a big Mia Hamm fan.

[Guardian]

Thank goodness I have a DVR now. It was not easy to deal with the VCR then, now that the tape for it is no longer being made for sale.

[pacey988]

Is there any way you can make copies of them without having to give them away?

I'd have to go through them. It's fair to say there in probably a bit of everything other than the main NBC offeringof track, swimming, and gymnastics since I didn't tape any primetime shows. It's mostly the cable coverage. I know I have every US women's soccer match, but my wife would kill me if I got rid of them since she is a big Mia Hamm fan.

[BTHarner]

Is there any way you can make copies of them without having to give them away?

That is a good question, but I am one of the most technology-challenged people around. Ever since I got my satellite dish, I have no clue what is hooked into what or how I would even hook anything else into it.

[Fox334]

Honestly, a bunch of you guys should invest in a VHS-to-PC converter and an external hard drive. It would save a bunch of space and preserve the quality of the footage.

Oh, and trading videos is much easier when you eliminate the physical storage device...

[mattperiolat]

Does any of the Olympic videotapes or DVDs you have recorded contain any commercials at all? If so, I actually don't mind them at all. What I may ultimately do is make them as extra features for my Olympic rebuilt collection, which I'm targeting as done on Blu-Ray and make into a mega-DVD set! Who among us has TSN/RDS/Radio-Canada?

Absolutely. I retain all the commercials to protect the original integrity of the broadcast, plus it's great fun for nostolgia, especially with Dan and Dave ads from Albertville and Barcelona.

[mattperiolat]

I actually still get VHSs from Target plus DVDs for recording from Beijing. I refuse to kow-tow to Bill Gates and give up my Apple just for the Olympics.

For my trading, I just transfer from my VHSs to DVD and send those out, strictly reel-to-reel as it were. If anyone wants to trade, y'know, let me know here on the boards and we'll talk. Just be aware of my limitations of time, that's all.

[pacey988]

Durban,

You're doing this set on Blu-Ray? I don't have a Blu-Ray player. Do you think you could make a set for those who have standard players?

[Torchbearer AA]

If I have 250 gigabite hard disc on my dvd recorder, how many hours could I record in a good quality? (not the best quality is necessary, just something better than VHS).

[Quaker2001]

If I have 250 gigabite hard disc on my dvd recorder, how many hours could I record in a good quality? (not the best quality is necessary, just something better than VHS).

Torchbearer.. I have the same thing, a DVD recorder with a 250 GB hard drive. Calculating how much fits on 1 disc, the HDD holds the equivalent to 53 discs. Assuming your unit is approximately the same, figure that's a little over 100 hours at good quality (2 hours per disc) or about 210 ours at okay quality (4 hours per disc). If you do eventually transfer your recordings to DVDs (and remember, a hard drive is NOT designed for permanent storage of recordings), you can buy your blank DVDs in bulk and they're dirt cheap then, as little as 25 to 30 cents per disc.