(Rant) American coverage of the Olympics

Platapus · 02-13-10, 01:19 PM

Here I am near the nation's capitol with stupid FIOS. Over 900 fricking channels of crap and not one is covering the Olympics!

The closest we have is some Vancouver Olympic news station which is just talking about the Olympics and giving us the results. I don't care about the frickin results, I want to see the performances!!

I have such fond memories of watching the Olympics with my family I was growing up. What happened.

I bet when the Americans are doing their snowboarding crap we will get coverage. Grrrrrrr

The Olympics are supposed to be about international events, not just the few that are custom made for American's to get their medal count up.

Rant off, I am just pissed.

Anyone else getting a chance to see the Olympics broadcast live to where you are?

CaptainHaplo · 02-13-10, 01:57 PM

Platypus - are you near Vancouver?

Where I am coverage starts at 2:30 eastern - with Speed Skating, Men's 5000m, Biathlon, Ski Jumping, Indivual K-95 (have no clue what that is), and the women's 7.5km sprint.

My lady is waiting on the figure skating, as she really likes the graceful performances. I recall those are usually later in the day or evening, though I don't know if that is live coverage. My son, daugher and I may watch the ski jumping, as I started teaching them how to ski last year.

*ok - to be honest - I started teaching them the skill I know - how to fall down a mountain covered in snow, repeatedly.....

Platapus · 02-13-10, 02:13 PM

No I am in swampy North Virginia. I just found out that starting at 1400 we will have recorded coverage of some of what happened this morning.

Better than nothing but not by much.

Platapus · 02-13-10, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

*ok - to be honest - I started teaching them the skill I know - how to fall down a mountain covered in snow, repeatedly.....

I think that is what skiing is: A controlled (somewhat) fall down a mountain keeping your head up and your butt down.

krashkart · 02-13-10, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

*ok - to be honest - I started teaching them the skill I know - how to fall down a mountain covered in snow, repeatedly.....

I have a friend who, years ago, fell down a very rocky slope holding a machete in each hand.

If what you are seeing out there in Virginia is live via pre-recorded taping, Platapus, we've the same thing out here in the Midwest. Hang in there, bud. It is better than nothing... or at least, better than infomercials.

Highbury · 02-13-10, 03:51 PM

I am in Vancouver (well Richmond actually, close to where the speed skating oval is)

My wife is at home in San Diego though and coverage of the Opening Ceremony didn't start until 9PM PST. No idea why.

I did catch the late night repeat of the coverage on Seattle's NBC affiliate and I did think it was very well done. Anybody wants their home country to come off well in things like this, and I thought the NBC profile on the relationship between the US and Canada was quite good, as well as the feature on the Vancouver region itself.

It is just unfortunate that the weather is so bad for it right now. It is even raining at Whistler

Oh well.. won't be the first rainy Winter Olympics, won't be the last.

XabbaRus · 02-13-10, 04:06 PM

I'm watching the Ski jumping live. BBC is great.

Letum · 02-13-10, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

I'm watching the Ski jumping live. BBC is great.

This.
About half an hour ago anyway.
Cheers BeeB

Torplexed · 02-13-10, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Here I am near the nation's capitol with stupid FIOS. Over 900 fricking channels of crap and not one is covering the Olympics!

Things are not much better on the US West Coast. It annoyed me no end that I had to stay up until midnight to see an event that had ended three hours earlier and was only 200 miles away. Shame on NBC for that. Also, the sound kept dropping out, although that may have been the local cable company.

And unfortunately, the only Canadian channel we have is CBC, which apparently doesn't have the coverage rights. They did spend pretty much their entire newscast showing protests in downtown Vancouver, although they neglected to ever mention exactly what the protesters were unhappy about.

Oberon · 02-13-10, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

...although they neglected to ever mention exactly what the protesters were unhappy about.

Probably lack of television coverage on the Winter Olympics

Highbury · 02-13-10, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

Probably lack of television coverage on the Winter Olympics

nah.. there is great coverage IN Vancouver

3 different CTV affiliate stations and whatever NBC decides to play.

It is just the usual stuff.. if the government ever puts money into anything that is not education, healthcare or some form of social assistance these people protest.

CaptainHaplo · 02-14-10, 12:34 AM

All I can say is Kim Jong (mentally) Ill probably had another stroke tonight. NK had a locked podium, all three medals, locked up in the last corner of the 1500m speed skating, and the guy in third tried to pass for silver, and took out his teammate. So a silver and a bronze lost. Americans then took the silver and bronze, while the gold still went to the Korean (who almost got taken out as well). I do have to say though, it was justice, since the koreans intentionally worked together to block the faster of the 2 Americans on the previous lap and corner.

Torvald Von Mansee · 02-14-10, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

All I can say is Kim Jong (mentally) Ill probably had another stroke tonight. NK had a locked podium, all three medals, locked up in the last corner of the 1500m speed skating, and the guy in third tried to pass for silver, and took out his teammate. So a silver and a bronze lost. Americans then took the silver and bronze, while the gold still went to the Korean (who almost got taken out as well). I do have to say though, it was justice, since the koreans intentionally worked together to block the faster of the 2 Americans on the previous lap and corner.

The Koreans don't have a good record on sportsmanship.

Highbury · 02-14-10, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

All I can say is Kim Jong (mentally) Ill probably had another stroke tonight. NK had a locked podium, all three medals, locked up in the last corner of the 1500m speed skating, and the guy in third tried to pass for silver, and took out his teammate. So a silver and a bronze lost.

Kim Jong-il was probably amused...

All 3 of those skaters were SOUTH Korean... not North...

http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic..._277216LP.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

I do have to say though, it was justice, since the koreans intentionally worked together to block the faster of the 2 Americans on the previous lap and corner.

The American NBC analyst said before the race that the Americans would do the same if running together late in the race. That is just the way the game is played in Short-Track.

The moguls at Cypress was a good show tonight. Really nice job by Hannah Kearney to pip the home favorite on the last run. Congrats to the US on their first (of many I'm sure) Gold of 2010!

nikimcbee · 02-14-10, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Things are not much better on the US West Coast. It annoyed me no end that I had to stay up until midnight to see an event that had ended three hours earlier and was only 200 miles away. Shame on NBC for that. Also, the sound kept dropping out, although that may have been the local cable company.

And unfortunately, the only Canadian channel we have is CBC, which apparently doesn't have the coverage rights. They did spend pretty much their entire newscast showing protests in downtown Vancouver, although they neglected to ever mention exactly what the protesters were unhappy about.

ditto, tape delay here. I haven't seen 1 thing regarding the olympics.

02-13-10, 01:19 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,365 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	(Rant) American coverage of the Olympics Here I am near the nation's capitol with stupid FIOS. Over 900 fricking channels of crap and not one is covering the Olympics! The closest we have is some Vancouver Olympic news station which is just talking about the Olympics and giving us the results. I don't care about the frickin results, I want to see the performances!! I have such fond memories of watching the Olympics with my family I was growing up. What happened. I bet when the Americans are doing their snowboarding crap we will get coverage. Grrrrrrr The Olympics are supposed to be about international events, not just the few that are custom made for American's to get their medal count up. Rant off, I am just pissed. Anyone else getting a chance to see the Olympics broadcast live to where you are? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

02-13-10, 01:57 PM	#2
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Platypus - are you near Vancouver? Where I am coverage starts at 2:30 eastern - with Speed Skating, Men's 5000m, Biathlon, Ski Jumping, Indivual K-95 (have no clue what that is), and the women's 7.5km sprint. My lady is waiting on the figure skating, as she really likes the graceful performances. I recall those are usually later in the day or evening, though I don't know if that is live coverage. My son, daugher and I may watch the ski jumping, as I started teaching them how to ski last year. *ok - to be honest - I started teaching them the skill I know - how to fall down a mountain covered in snow, repeatedly..... __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

02-13-10, 02:13 PM	#3
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,365 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	No I am in swampy North Virginia. I just found out that starting at 1400 we will have recorded coverage of some of what happened this morning. Better than nothing but not by much. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

02-13-10, 04:06 PM	#7
XabbaRus Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 5,330 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	I'm watching the Ski jumping live. BBC is great. __________________

02-14-10, 12:34 AM	#12
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	All I can say is Kim Jong (mentally) Ill probably had another stroke tonight. NK had a locked podium, all three medals, locked up in the last corner of the 1500m speed skating, and the guy in third tried to pass for silver, and took out his teammate. So a silver and a bronze lost. Americans then took the silver and bronze, while the gold still went to the Korean (who almost got taken out as well). I do have to say though, it was justice, since the koreans intentionally worked together to block the faster of the 2 Americans on the previous lap and corner. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

02-13-10, 03:51 PM	#6
Highbury The Old Man Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 51.557, -0.102 Posts: 1,311 Downloads: 177 Uploads: 0	I am in Vancouver (well Richmond actually, close to where the speed skating oval is) My wife is at home in San Diego though and coverage of the Opening Ceremony didn't start until 9PM PST. No idea why. I did catch the late night repeat of the coverage on Seattle's NBC affiliate and I did think it was very well done. Anybody wants their home country to come off well in things like this, and I thought the NBC profile on the relationship between the US and Canada was quite good, as well as the feature on the Vancouver region itself. It is just unfortunate that the weather is so bad for it right now. It is even raining at Whistler Oh well.. won't be the first rainy Winter Olympics, won't be the last.