My Wish List for NBC's Olympics Coverage

I've been complaining to NBC because the HD feed is delayed at least 24 hours behind the already delayed standard broadcast. What they've said: "HD is hard to do". What I've heard: They are afraid of losing Nielsen points to their fuzz-o-vision broadcast, because HD viewers don't count.

Notice all those empty seats in the Olympic arenas? They really show up clearly in HD.

*Don't start an event and then interrupt it for three hours only to return.

*Don't bore me silly with all those personal interest stories. Believe it or not, I'm more interested in the competition than in the athletes. I'm sure behind every great, semi-great, near-great, and not-so-great athlete is a story that will bring a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. If I want teary eyes and a lumpy throat, I'll watch the soaps.

*Don't show only events in which Americans are contenders. I'd love to see sports I'm not especially familiar with. I don't expect Americans to contend in every event.

*Don't show those horrible extreeeeeeeme closeups of gold medal winning American athletes during the national anthem. I know you're hoping that one of them will manage to work up a tear or two. So what.

*In fact, don't show me the full medal ceremony for every American gold medal winner. I'm as patriotic as the next person, but how many times does anyone want to hear the whole national anthem in one day?

*Think of the time that could be spent on showing events if the personal interest stories and national anthems were eliminated. Aren't the events the Olympics?

kind a boggles you mind this much $ for 10,000 athletes
06 July 2004
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today confirmed that the contract for the Olympic broadcast rights for Europe for the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010 and the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012(1) was officially ratified by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) during its General Assembly held on 1 and 2 July in St Petersburg.

51 countries
The agreement, announced recently by the IOC covers 51 countries, excluding Italy, and a wide range of media categories, including for the first time multi-media and mobile telephony.

EUR 614 millions
The agreement is valued at €614 million (US$746 million) an increase of around 40% from the previous contract(2). With respect to Italy, the IOC will commence direct negotiations with different broadcasters and media groups in due course.

Promotion of the Olympic ideals
In addition to the contract value, the EBU and its members have committed to major additional Olympic programming and promotional efforts to support the Olympic brand and promotion of the Olympic ideal outside Games time which the IOC values at a further €125 million.


Building on conclusion with GE for the US Olympic Broadcast
Building on the successful conclusion of the US Olympic Broadcast negotiations in June of last year, which were awarded to General Electric and NBC for a total package of US$2,201 billion(3) and with many important territories still to be negotiated, the European contract puts the IOC on track to reach financing of over US$3billion, monies that it will then redistribute to the world of sport, via the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games, the National Olympic Committees and the International Federations.

Growing value and significance
Commenting on the awarding of the European TV rights, IOC President Jacques Rogge said: "The IOC is delighted to confirm the signature by the EBU of the contract for broadcast and new media rights to the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games. The EBU's offer recognises the ever-growing value and significance of the Games."

Widest coverage guaranteed
According to Rogge the agreement not only guarantees the widest coverage of the Olympic Games throughout the European territory but also ensures the promotion of the Olympic values on an on-going basis, allowing the IOC to fulfil its mission as laid out in the Olympic Charter