Well, the Olympics are over, but not according to NBC. The network is showing taped boxing on the East Coast instead of showing the Closing Ceremonies. This is one of the reasons why NBC’s ratings are so low on the last three days of the Games. Instead of showing live action, they decide to string things out for primetime. I give the network credit for showing the men’s gold medal basketball game live in all time zones, but I couldn’t stay up. I fell asleep as the game began. Oh well. From what I read, the game was a good one and was close until the end.
To your links now.
We’ll start with the always angry, bitter and caustic Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News. Today, Bob backs the cause of Screamin’ Gus Johnson who has yet to sign a new contract with MSG Network to continue to call Knicks games.
Over to the New York Post where Phil Mushnick is angry over the Mets having their September 7th game against the Phillies switched from 1:10 p.m. to 8 p.m. to accomodate ESPN.
Paul Farhi of the Washington Post has NBC News’ response that it helped NBC Sports to cheerlead for Communist China during the Olympics. And Paul has some thoughts as the Olympics end.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News says NBC is looking at another ratings opportunity with the Olympics closing ceremonies tonight.
Steve Springer from the Los Angeles Times says the ratings bonanza for NBC began with the Opening Ceremonies and went swimmingly from there.
Mark Millan of the LA Times writes that market research is to blame for the Olympics not being live on the West Coast.
Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News opines that Olympic athletes should not become guns-for-hire.
Ron Judd of the Seattle Times live blogged last night’s primetime coverage on NBC.
Barry Rozner of the Chicago Daily Herald enjoyed watching the Olympics on NBC and suggests the network manipulate the schedule in London as it did this year in Beijing. I can tell you that will not happen.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says NBC Universal is just shy of a record viewing total for these Olympic Games.
Jonathan Landreth of the Hollywood Reporter says a record audience in Communist China watched the Games.
David Barboza of the New York Times echoes what Landreth wrote.
Bill Livingston of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says NBC showed too much beach volleyball.
Stu Whitney of the Sioux Falls (SD) Argus Leader writes that NBC has helped to flame the interest in these Olympics.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says the CBC’s Mark Lee did a very good job calling track & field in place of the late Don Wittman.
Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that the SEC is about to sign a new 15 year deal with ESPN which would end any speculation about an SEC Network.
Robert Weintraub of the New York Times’ Play magazine says WFAN’s Mike & the Mad program was one of those few radio programs that played better on TV.
Bryan Curtis of the Times says Mike & the Mad Dog were the real deal.
Kyle Neddenriep of the Indianapolis Star was inside the ESPN production truck that televised the nation’s first high school football game of the season yesterday.
That’s it for now. I may have a couple of more posts today before all is said and done.
