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Dear NBC,
Hi, how are you? What was that? Not so great? I'm sorry to hear that. Howcome? Ohhh, the ratings for the Olympics were not what you really expected when you laid out all that money. Well, I have a few suggestions for you, and if you implement them before 2010, you may find the viewers coming back.
First, show the events live whenever possible.
Because the next Winter Olympics is going to be held in Vancouver which is only two hours behind EST, there is really no excuses for "pre-packaging" the events. For me (and most people I know) the ability to stay unspoiled is very difficult due to the internet, the other networks, radio, etc. And if I find out who won ahead of time, I am highly unlikely to watch the actual competition. Yes, even figure skating. So, just stop it. I have fond memories of the way the Olympics used to be when the networks showed most of the events live, switching between them, focusing on the stories as they happened.
Which brings me to my next suggestion.
Just stop it with the "human interest stories" already.
You guys hyped up Bode Miller, Michelle Kwan, Irina Slutskaya, Lindsey Jacobellis among other American athletes, only to have them flame out, drop out, fall out and slip out--by showing off. Not to mention that, because you spent all that time and money to film all of those "stories" beforehand, you feel the need to use them anyway regardless of how the athlete is performing. I can tell you that there was so much eye-rolling going on here that both hubby and I got headaches. Why not just do the research and then put something together once the true stars begin to shine at the Games? I mean, I would have loved to have learned more about Ted Ligety (for example) but because he wasn't one of the "stars" beforehand, there was nothing.
My last suggestion is a more personal one.
FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS HOLY: DO NOT ASK DICK "I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT MODERN FIGURE SKATING" BUTTON TO COMMENTATE. EVER AGAIN.
Thank you.
Hi, how are you? What was that? Not so great? I'm sorry to hear that. Howcome? Ohhh, the ratings for the Olympics were not what you really expected when you laid out all that money. Well, I have a few suggestions for you, and if you implement them before 2010, you may find the viewers coming back.
First, show the events live whenever possible.
Because the next Winter Olympics is going to be held in Vancouver which is only two hours behind EST, there is really no excuses for "pre-packaging" the events. For me (and most people I know) the ability to stay unspoiled is very difficult due to the internet, the other networks, radio, etc. And if I find out who won ahead of time, I am highly unlikely to watch the actual competition. Yes, even figure skating. So, just stop it. I have fond memories of the way the Olympics used to be when the networks showed most of the events live, switching between them, focusing on the stories as they happened.
Which brings me to my next suggestion.
Just stop it with the "human interest stories" already.
You guys hyped up Bode Miller, Michelle Kwan, Irina Slutskaya, Lindsey Jacobellis among other American athletes, only to have them flame out, drop out, fall out and slip out--by showing off. Not to mention that, because you spent all that time and money to film all of those "stories" beforehand, you feel the need to use them anyway regardless of how the athlete is performing. I can tell you that there was so much eye-rolling going on here that both hubby and I got headaches. Why not just do the research and then put something together once the true stars begin to shine at the Games? I mean, I would have loved to have learned more about Ted Ligety (for example) but because he wasn't one of the "stars" beforehand, there was nothing.
My last suggestion is a more personal one.
FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING THAT IS HOLY: DO NOT ASK DICK "I HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT MODERN FIGURE SKATING" BUTTON TO COMMENTATE. EVER AGAIN.
Thank you.
