Let’s do your Monday links and somehow, I’ll try to write The Week Ahead.
I am not in a position to see the new live SportsCenter that debuted at 9 a.m. ET today. However, other people are keeping track of the Josh Elliot-Hannah Storm pairing including Awful Announcing which is doing a live blog.
Newsday’s Neil Best noted the first thing Hannah did on SportsCenter was to tease a Brett Favre story! Neil was also happy to hear the old NBA on NBC theme music during the USA-China men’s basketball game on Sunday.
USA Today’s Michael Hiestand says more is not less for NBC as far as Olympic ratings are concerned. Robert Bianco of the Nation’s Newspaper says so far, NBC’s coverage is looking like a winner.
In his Monday wrap, David Scott of Boston Sports Media Watch writes about Gordon Edes making his Yahoo debut and how NBC is already ahead of ESPN in the disclosure department.
We’ve got a few things from a very busy Darren Rovell from CNBC. First, he writes how the Beijing Organizing Committee’s choosing of Li Ning to light the cauldron might have rubbed addidas and Nike the wrong way. Darren says Li Ning’s sporting apparel company came out a big winner after the Opening Ceremonies. Darren also discusses an elaborate Olympics ticket scam that duped many people around the globe. And Daren writes that Speedo is coming out a big winner thanks to 22 of 24 swimming races won in the new LZR suit.
Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun says his city ranked first in the nation of those watching the Olympics. Ray also mentions that he likes the world record line shown in swimming.
From the Schenectady Gazette, Ken Schott has some thoughts on the Olympics including his dislike of the world record line shown in swimming.
The New York Post’s Phil Mushnick is very grumpy today.
The Sports Media Watch talks about NBC’s successful online streaming of the Olympics.
The Seattle Times says even NBC’s online coverage has limitations.
Matthew Futterman and Sam Schechner of the Wall Street Journal says it’s apparent with the Olympics that online streaming will not hurt overall TV ratings.
Tony Pierce of the Los Angeles Times appeals to NBC to stop saying “live” when the Olympics are not actually live on the West Coast.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says NBC is going live in primetime, except in the Mountain and Pacific time zones.
David Carr of the Times says NBC, more or less, tried to TiVo the Olympics Opening Ceremonies from us.
Also from the Times, George Vescey says NBC is in Michael Phelps Standard Time.
The Sports Business Daily/Journal’s Olympic website has some news and notes from Communist China including some ratings news on the first two days of the Games.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star goes over the best and worst CBC Olympic analysts. And Zelkovich says CBC still needs to work out some kinks.
Les Perraux of the Toronto Globe and Mail says if you’re wondering why the Olympics are being held in hot and humid August in Communist China, then you might want to ask NBC.
Paul Farhi of the Washington Post says there’s a reason why you won’t see boxing or other Olympic sports in primetime … women.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News wonders how Meet the Press suddenly appeared in NBC’s Olympic primetime coverage on Sunday.
Mark Madden (I’m wondering if this is the former Pittsburgh sports radio talk show host) writing for the Beaver County Times, wonders what happened to the crusading sports journalist.
David Goetzl of MediaPost writes that Time Warner Cable is continuing its talks with the Big Ten Network.
Terri Trespicio writing for the Boston Sunday Globe magazine writes about her experience being cast on NESN’s reality show abomination, Sox Appeal. Pink Hat Hell looks at her date on season premiere of the show.
And that will do it. I expect another NBC press release about the Olympic overnight ratings coming very soon and when I get it, I’ll post it immediately.
