Explanation for NBC's non-sports Olympics
Ed Suranyi
of the Olympics, in particular the fact that it isn't covering
100% sports. Lot's of people have complained about the side
shows such as the athlete's stories, the Enberg Moments, etc.
I'm in moderate agreement with many of you. However, there turns
out to be a very specific reason for why NBC is doing this.
According to one of the heads of NBC sports, they intend to include,
at least once every fifteen minutes, something that appeals to the
female non-sports fans, because "they control the remote control
during prime time."
Sullivan
Looks more like the Olympics according to Geraldo and MTV. The only
good thing about it is that there is the triple-cast alternative to
those who are more interested in the Olympics than what's on prime
time. I, unfortunately, live in a cable-less area. I'd pay.
I found myself longing for Jim Mckay and Chris Schenkel yeeccch.
MUSIC VIDEOS!
Mike.
vincent peter hradil
Was 'female non-sports fans' thier words or yours? Pretty sexist.
If this is really NBC's attitude, then it is just one more reason
to get steamed and write a really nasty letter.
What a bunch of horse-shit.
Vince
Stan Macasieb
>In article <132...@lll-winken.LLNL.GOV> e...@wente.llnl.gov (Ed Suranyi) writes:
>>A lot of people have been complaining about NBC's coverage
>>of the Olympics, in particular the fact that it isn't covering
>>100% sports. Lot's of people have complained about the side
>>shows such as the athlete's stories, the Enberg Moments, etc.
>>I'm in moderate agreement with many of you. However, there turns
>>out to be a very specific reason for why NBC is doing this.
>>
>>According to one of the heads of NBC sports, they intend to include,
>>at least once every fifteen minutes, something that appeals to the
>>female non-sports fans, because "they control the remote control
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>during prime time."
>>
>
>Was 'female non-sports fans' thier words or yours? Pretty sexist.
>If this is really NBC's attitude, then it is just one more reason
>to get steamed and write a really nasty letter.
>
>What a bunch of horse-shit.
>
Hey, hey, calm down. Sexist or otherwise, those are the demographics
NBC is aiming for. Remember, they'll always get the male audience because,
like you, they'll always watch for the athletic events. The female
non-sports fans (flame me, you fool!) are being served by the "up close
and personals" and the storybook-style reporting you are seeing.
And, darn it, NBC is doing quite well with it, as the summer ratings
are showing so far. You want sports, get the TripleCast Finale Package!
:)
--Stan Macasieb (st...@comm.mot.com) Wow, I can feel my hair grow during
the Olympics!
Ed Suranyi
>Was 'female non-sports fans' thier words or yours? Pretty sexist.
This was definitely their words. I remember it clearly. But I don't
think they meant that non-sports fans were all female. Just that many
were, and those were the ones that had to attracted.
Brett Schultz
: >A lot of people have been complaining about NBC's coverage
: >during prime time."
: >
: >Ed
: >e...@wente.llnl.gov
: >
:
: Was 'female non-sports fans' thier words or yours? Pretty sexist.
: If this is really NBC's attitude, then it is just one more reason
: to get steamed and write a really nasty letter.
:
: What a bunch of horse-shit.
:
: Vince
I totally disagree with those people that claim everything to be a sexist
remark. People need to distinguish between a FACT and a sexist remark.
Regardless of who made the 'female non-sports fans' comment, all that is
trying to be said is that is just so happens there are a lot more female
non-sports fans than male non-sports fans. This is a FACT. And if NBC
wants to attempt to appeal to this audience that's fine. I think that during
the olympics, anyway, many non-sports fans would tune into the olympics
even if they didn't show those stupid music videos.
--Brett
sven hauptfeld
>>
>>According to one of the heads of NBC sports, they intend to include,
>>at least once every fifteen minutes, something that appeals to the
>>female non-sports fans, because "they control the remote control
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>during prime time."
>>
>If this is really NBC's attitude, then it is just one more reason
>to get steamed and write a really nasty letter.
>
First of all, the reason seems plausible. NBC has spent hundreds of millions
to do this program and I am sure they are trying to please most of the
viewers. It would be hard to believe that they did not do comprehensive
surveys on what the viewers would like to see, including details like who
controls the remote. So they have composed the program that should keep the
highest possible percentage of viewers. That's how free market works. If you
thought it had no side effects, it's time to wake up.
Secondly, what is sexist in 'female non-sports fans'? Most of the time
(Olympics being one of rare exceptions) I am a 'male non-sports fan'. Is
that bad? Does it sound offensive? Maybe 'male' is not PC, maybe it should
be 'birth-giving-impaired'? ;-)
>What a bunch of horse-shit.
I apologize for our Institution. Not all people at U of Chicago talk like
this. ;-)
>Vince
Sven
vincent peter hradil
>If this is really NBC's attitude, then it is just one more reason
>to get steamed and write a really nasty letter.
>
>
>Vince
I apologize for my above comments. I was upset, and misinterpretted
the original poster's comments. I'm sorry if I offended anyone.
Vince
Timothy Smith
>Hey, hey, calm down. Sexist or otherwise, those are the demographics
>NBC is aiming for. Remember, they'll always get the male audience because,
>like you, they'll always watch for the athletic events. The female
>non-sports fans (flame me, you fool!) are being served by the "up close
>and personals" and the storybook-style reporting you are seeing.
So the obvious answer is for us SPORTS fans to write off the NBC
olympic coverage. I taped the stuff I wanted to watch (bicycling and
whitewater) and ignore the rest. I wrote a letter to NBC telling them
they went too far with the fluff instead of sports and will not watch.
I also told them that my grief at missing the olympics will probably
last for a year or two, and that I will avoid NBC for the duration.
For me, a boycott is called for.
Normaly I would be glued to the set for the entire olympics. I am
sort of a fringe sport junkie. However, NBC in it's infinite wisdom
shows fluff instead of sports, and virtually no fringe sports. Where
is fencing? Team handball?
So in this case NBC is NOT getting this male audience because I'm
pissed that they are not realy showing the athletic events. What we
get are closeups of parents and touchy-feely stories that have NOTHING
to do with what the atheletes do best. I'd rather watch the athelete
doing what atheletes train to do - be excelent at their sports.
As some other poster elegantly stated, we the veiwers are the PRODUCT,
not the CUSTOMERS. The only way NBC will listen to the viewers needs
are for us PRODUCTS to not show up for the CUSTOMERS.
Oh, and as a fringe sport junkie I wouldn't pay for the triplecast
anyway. Re-runs of bad exhibition basketball games are a waste of my
time. I'd rather ride my bike.
Tim Smith
PS: The whitewater coverage was a bright spot in the NBC coverage.
Even though they only showed a few runs it was almost pure slalom coverage.
NBC did well getting a 9 time national kayak champion to cover the whitewater.
(Though Eric "Hammer" Evans was hamming it up a bit. Hi, Hammer! Say
hello to your dad for me.)
Scott Bayes
> at least once every fifteen minutes, something that appeals to the
> female non-sports fans, because "they control the remote control
> during prime time."
>
My wife, a female (reasonably obviously) non-sports fan, likes to check
out something else during "Where Are They Now", Music videos, announcer
popularity contests, etc. Domestic agreement==domestic harmony==bliss.
ScottB