NBC Olympic Coverage is Laughable Compared to BBC
NBC’s claim to be conquering “technological feats that have never been tackled” with its live-streams is ludicrous. It is ludicrous compared to what networks such as ESPN and CBS already do in the United States. It is especially ludicrous when compared to what the BBC is doing for these Olympics.
Instead of NBC’s tape-delayed and commercial heavy edited packages. BBC viewers in Britain have 24 television streams with everything live on demand.
There, the BBC is providing marathon coverage — 2,500 hours of programming during more than two weeks of the Games. At the touch of a button on their remote controls, viewers can choose among as many as 24 live feeds of various events, whether basketball or fencing.
Instead of taking the attitude that “it’s not everyone’s inalienable right to get whatever they want.” The BBC decided to provide viewers with everything they could possibly want.
“We wanted to give people every venue, from first thing in the morning to last thing at night,” said Roger Mosey, director of the BBC’s Olympic coverage.
Oh, and speaking of technological feats that have never been tackled, the BBC has been playing around with Super Hi Vision in closed circuit broadcasts, which is 16 times the quality of normal HD.
“It’s better than 3-D,” Mr. Mosey said. “It’s like looking through a glass window at an event.”
To reiterate. British viewers can watch every event live on the screen of their choice. American viewers, wishing to watch high-profile events live, must resort to illicit British or Canadian streams, as the NBC ones are non-functional. That’s not even addressing the difference in programming quality, providing comprehensive coverage rather than spoon-fed, jingoistic crap. #NBCFail is not a problem that started on Twitter. It is a problem that is vented about on Twitter.
Previously: NBC Olympic Coverage Critic Guy Adams Had Twitter Account Suspended [UPDATE]
Previously: NBC Claims Opening Ceremony Was Too “Complex” to Stream Live
Previously: NBC Execs Think You Should Stop Whining About Tape Delay, and Live Stream Issues Are Your Fault
[Photo via Getty]
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August 6th, 2012 at 10:20 AM
I’ve been happy with CTV’s coverage. Still waiting to see what CBC paid for 2014 and 2016.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:22 AM
I’m more fired up I can watch the NBA finals online yet the NFL wants 20 bucks to watch PRE-FREAKING-SEASON NFL games….This NFL Network/Cable TV beef is getting fucking ridiculous.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Listen, tape-delay is a bit archaic. No one is going to contest that. But stop and think about who is a.) hosting the Olympics and b.) the time zone differences. The vast majority of NBC’s audience, you know, the ones who don’t work from their homes while in their pajamas 9-5 M-F, don’t have access to a television when you’re requesting these live events be aired. They do, on the other hand, have access to the internet at work. They also probably shouldn’t be watching the Olympics games on company time.
As for the spoon-fed jingoistic crap you mention, exactly what percentage of the audience do you reckon is interested in seeing the Belarus pole vaulters? The South African competitors not named Pistorious? The German floor exercises? The Saudi fencing matches?
Sometimes I think you throw practicality out the window when writing pieces that are critical on how sports are covered in this country, Duffy.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:25 AM
To be fair. Im sure it’s easier for BBC as they actually have live events to air in primetime. It’s incredibly easy not to screw up if the Olympics are in your time zone.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:26 AM
I wonder if there are two dollar amounts – one with the NHL and one without.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:27 AM
I’m kinda confused by this. Every event I’ve wanted to watch live on NBColympics.com I’ve been able to watch. There’s a lot of commercials, but it works.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:27 AM
I really wish I was witty enough to create a “First World Problems” meme for this post.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Awesome. Really doesn’t matter though, since cable companies aren’t outputting higher than 1080 and our screen resolution is pretty well capped.
Also, how much money is the BBC making compared to NBC? That figure is conspicuously absent.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Who has generated more revenue with their approach?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
jesus, you sound like such a whiny little bitch…
August 6th, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Are you trying to tell me that you don’t run into as many infrastructure problems when your country is hosting the games?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:30 AM
UK residents pay for a BBC license, they’d have a bit more of a legit gripe than we do against NBC if the BBC pulled this stuff.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:30 AM
SC is right on. It’s real easy to get this right in your own country. When the 2016 Olympics are airing live in ET, no one will be complaining.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:30 AM
The time difference in Sochi will be even more difficult to figure out than London. Most of the events will be played live while we’re sleeping.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:30 AM
Pharm, that’s a interesting point. Doubt the IOC would go for it though.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:31 AM
I think we all know who will be complaining if he’s still writing for a blog in 2016…
August 6th, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Duffy must have mistakenly left this part out:
August 6th, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Multiple times the BBC announcers have mentioned that they have zero control over the video feeds, though. Somehow it’s all controlled by a Japanese crew.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:34 AM
Yes, totally impractical to have live feeds that work.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:34 AM
I really don’t have any complaints about the Olympic coverage. I can get the live streams whenever I want on my tablet through the NBC Olympics Live Extra app. While the commercials are annoying, some of the focus pieces have been quite good (the feature on Kerri Strug in particular was awesome) and most importantly, NBCs approach has been validated beyond any doubt. They are raking in cash.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Hmm, perhaps Duffy is suggesting that we all pay a fee to NBC to get the coverage we ‘deserve’?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Woah, there’s a Motherhood Maternity ad at the bottom of the page! Creepy, TBL!
August 6th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
I haven’t used the NBC streams because I have absolutely no idea what the login info for my cable account is because it’s been in the same person’s name at my house for the last decade and nobody knows who it is, but I haven’t had a problem with VIPstand working just fine. FirstRow couldn’t keep up with the traffic though.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:36 AM
And you guys are right. It’s totally impractical to show a 10-second race live at 5pm on a Sunday instead of tape-delayed after 11pm.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
I saw my cousin yesterday, who’s a VP for NBC and is deeply involved in Olympics programming. He basically said that they expected this type of criticism, and it really doesn’t matter to them as they’re making more $$$ than they imagined with their coverage. Bottom line is, well, the bottom line.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Another point, the US only has about 30% of the internet population on download speeds exceeding 2 MPS. The US has the worst internet speeds of any developed country. Do you think our monopoly of internet providers who still deliver internet via copper lines are going to upgrade to fiber? No.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:37 AM
The tape delay on the weekends is absolutely absurd.
In fact, the fact that it isn’t live every day is stupid.
It doesn’t mean that NBC shouldn’t package what they can and put it on prime time for working stiffs who can’t watch during the week, either.
It made no sense that the rest of the world watched the 100m live yesterday, while the US was subjected to 3+ hours of other stuff before they got to it last night.
I don’t think that live and heavily edited on tape delay have to be mutually exclusive.
And, as for the coverage that we’ve received on NBC. It is not good. The women’s gymnastics coverage for the overall showed a total of 4 gymnasts, whose total athletic endeavors took 2 minutes and 45 seconds each. Yet, the coverage was 1 hour and 55 minutes. How about showing some actual gymnastics to know what good and bad look like? It is a sporting event, not a soap opera.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:38 AM
There it is.
Of course he left it out. The entire thesis falls apart if you include economic realities. Duffy, if that’s an unfair characterization, please let me know.
I really liked what the NBC execs had to say. We aren’t entitled to get whatever we want all the time. NBC shelled out a shitload of cash for the rights to cover these games and they have the right to recoup their investment.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
I have a 40+ MPS connection and can’t run the NBC steam. It’s not home Internet connections.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Exactly, Comcast’s (NBC’s owner) obligation is to their shareholders. They don’t give two shits about what TBL or Duffy are complaining about.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Olympics coverage is targeted to housewives, not sports fans. We were going to watch anyway.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:40 AM
How is it not an economic reality to have a functional live stream?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:40 AM
you realize that most people who watch during primetime have no access to streaming, either due to being in an office that restricts it or they have more important things to do, like work or comment on a sports blog?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Could you please define functional? It functioned for me.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:40 AM
I can confirm that Spankwire is working without a hitch during The Games, as well. Not sure of their host country tho.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:40 AM
If the ad revenue would be less, then it is 100% impractical.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:41 AM
The Comcast execs would like to help, but they are busy rolling around in huge bales of money in their offices.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Duffy, NBC had to solicit advertisers months in advance of the Olympics. As soon as they tell Coke or IBM that the marquee events will air in both real time and prime time, they lose money on rates. Doesn’t matter if the prime time coverage would still draw monster eyeballs. The very idea that advertisers could see less viewership is enough to force a reduction in the rate card.
NBC had no other choice. And once again, their approach has been 100 percent validated.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:41 AM
We’ll let Dave Lessa know. Thanks for the heads up.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Which is why the NFL plays 100 percent of its games in primetime?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
woah, mr fancy pants fast internet over here.
did you call tech support yet, at least for a quote for your next article about the topic?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Exactly. I prefer the tape delay so I can actually see the events happening on my tv. I think it would be much worse if NBC aired it all live and did some lame highlight show in prime time.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Ditto.
Duffy must be running that Vonage wi-fi or something.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
NBC flexing marquee games late in the season from 1 and 4 o’clock start times to a prime time start doesn’t happen, you’re right, I’m an idiot.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:44 AM
It didn’t function for Duffy, and he’s the one with a national platform.
Ergo, the coverage has been shit.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:45 AM
First off, nice dodge, LeFlour.
Second, I haven’t had any problems on my tablet.
Third, that’s not the economic reality I was talking about. NBC spent billions on rights and infrastructure. The BBC is publicly subsidized. Do you not feel that NBC has a right to recoup its investment?
Not mentioning rights fees and ad revenue makes it seems like it’s purposefully missing because its inclusion would torpedo the argument you’re making.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:46 AM
We going to shift the argument just like the college football playoff discussions? Then I can find better things to do with my time. Again.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Still disappointed that the Roundup didn’t run with the one link and begin a discussion of AJ Pierzynski’s awesomeness
August 6th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
NBC/Comcast just signed a deal to broadcast PAC-12 games. Let’s see how they do when they’re not just broadcasting Notre Dame games.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
NBC does not have any announcers with a British accent. BBC > NBC
August 6th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Good lord.
95 percent of NFL games take place on weekends. You know, when people aren’t working. The five percent that don’t are in fact played in prime time. Also, the Olympics roll around once every other year for two weeks. Not exactly an apt comparison.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:47 AM
I remember when NBC cut off the Closing Ceremonies of the last winter Olympics to show The Marriage Ref. Never change NBC!
August 6th, 2012 at 10:48 AM
There’s a reason the NBC execs are in the position they’re in to run a $1.2B operation, while Duffy is complaining about their decisions for pennies-per-click on a dong blog.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:48 AM
i don’t know, it’s kind of fun tearing Duffy’s argument to pieces.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Holy shit you have to be playing dumb.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Do you take us to be some kind of morons?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:49 AM
They still don’t show live events on the weekend though…the one thing I watched through their site was the 400IM on the first day and the video kept buffering so there have been issues with the stream
August 6th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Stephen Douglas wears Star Wars feet pajamas. Allegedly.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Considering the current state of NBC I’m not sure this is a solid assumption
August 6th, 2012 at 10:50 AM
……..really? please keep this logic coming, big fella.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:51 AM
This post has a whole sports radio “let me say something stupid to get attention” vibe to it.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:51 AM
This discussion would also have to include those awful White Sox fans who jumped out of the way of his homerun ball only to have it land dangerously close to their toddler. Yeesh.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Showing events live on the weekend is the one criticism I can understand. I know why they don’t, but to me, that’s the lone complaint that has merit.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:52 AM
The ads are targeted per user via cookies, CJ. The ad at the bottom of my page is Jos. A. Bank. No Motherhood Maternity ads for anyone but you (unless other TBL users are perusing baby sites).
August 6th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Can’t be risking a fan interference call, trying to win a division here
August 6th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
no, it has the same obstinate narrative that brought us the “mental illnesses are make believe excuses from weak people” Ty Duffy post.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Has TBL wrote an Olympics ratings post yet? Or does the fact that NBC is getting incredible numbers don’t fit the narrative?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
And, to reiterate a few others…I have had zero problems with the NBC live streams. Have worked perfectly for me.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
My sarcasm meter must be off, but you are kidding, right? You do realize that you are watching a lame highlight show in prime time?
Above all else, this is my primary complaint. It’s bad enough that they can’t get the streaming right. But they treat it like a soap opera, rather than a sporting event. Out of 4 hours of prime time coverage, at least 2 is spent doing puff pieces and stuff leading up to the actual events. Don’t give me the “housewives are the main viewer so they have to cater to them” defense. You don’t know what the viewing number would be like if they treated viewers with respect and showed 90% sports with 10% puff pieces. Rather than 50% puff pieces and 50% sports. In 2006, ESPN got killed for their World Cup coverage. They treated their viewers exactly like NBC treats their Olympics viewers. In 2010, when they stopped apologizing for showing soccer and started treating viewers like adults, they were widely praised and had way better ratings. Concentrating on actual sporting event rather than human interest stories and good ratings aren’t mutually exclusive. But NBC is convinced that it is.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
It does, but the NFL comparison is ridiculous considering the NFL has a mechanism to shift a game from the afternoon to the more lucrative prime time slot.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:56 AM
NBC is a last-place network because the metrics for evaluating these things are woefully antiquated. If and when the models shift to reflect a new digital reality, CBS is going from first to ass and NBC is probably tied with ABC for No. 1.
They make mistakes, don’t get me wrong. But they’re not the inept organization they’re made out to be. Hell, they’ve got the best comedy (Community or P&R), drama (Parenthood) and reality show (The Voice) on network television. They’ll be OK.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
you do realize that not everyone has the ability to watch live streaming coverage, right?
and besides, what else is on TV this time of year?
August 6th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
The most popular and lucrative sport in this country is football, where in a three hour broadcast there is roughly six minutes of actual football being played. Let’s not blame this on the networks when people eat it up year round.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Who wants to talk about the competition? Like how Mckayla Maroney botched her vault? Or that Canadian girl that basically faceplanted? Or the women’s sand volleyball? Or the men’s pommel horse? Or hell, even the men’s tennis final which was incredibly disappointing from a competitive standpoint.
I watched those things. On my TV. Tape-delayed, well, except the tennis final. But I watched them.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
I know this, that’s why it’s creepy.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:58 AM
Gabby Douglas choked massively at the bars this morning, and was wearing a FUCKTON more makeup than previously.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
Yeah, that’s just false. No matter what metrics you use, they are not happy with their numbers. NBC exec outright said this during the TCA that just concluded. Gist of his message was, “we’ve done the shows that critics like. And we are in last place because of that. Now we will do broad shows that people actually watch”.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
No! Don’t you know that it’s more important to talk about the coverage of the games rather than the games themselves on a sports blog?
1/3 1/3 1/3
August 6th, 2012 at 10:59 AM
That’s how pretty much every single advertisement on the internet works.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
I find the real volleyball to be better TV, that US-Russia men’s match on Saturday was good stuff despite our boys blowing the lead
August 6th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Can you guys please keep it down. Michigan’s own Claressa Shields is about to box.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:00 AM
be sure never to go to the ASPCA, those ads won’t leave you alone.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
I don’t have an issue with most of the tape delay, but delaying the Men’s 100M final until after 11:00 is absurd. Two billion people around the world watched it live, and we got it on television after Dear Leader’s loyal subjects north of the DMZ.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
No, what I meant was a sc type of highlight show running through the highlights quickly. I have 0 problem coming home from work and watching at 8 or whenever they start. Even knowing the results hasn’t mattered much to me because seeing them happen is not the same as just knowing what happened. I still enjoyed seeing the swimming and gymnastics events unfold, even with knowing the results.
I am at work till usually 530 or 6 and can’t stream em live so to me, watching in prime time is just as good
August 6th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
I felt really bad for that Canadian girl. Looks like she injured her knee. They kept going back to camera shots of her after she pulled herself from the competition too. The Romanian girl who won the vault was decent, but I thought the competition as a whole was pretty slipshod.
I’d like to watch this tonight. Just don’t tell me who wins. I can wait.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
NAILED IT!
August 6th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Kaiser, we’re talking about the Olympics. Most viewers see these events once every four years. They need background, highlight packages, and human interest to get them invested in the narrative. Otherwise, who gives a shit about the Ukranian fencing team?
Again, their approach has been a rousing success. Why would they do anything differently to appease a vocal minority?
August 6th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Jesus, read what you said before.
Exactly. I prefer the tape delay so I can actually see the events happening on my tv. I think it would be much worse if NBC aired it all live and did some lame highlight show in prime time.
What you’re saying is that you are glad that NBC doesn’t show live events so you can watch the highlights at night. Rather than showing live event and still showing the highlights at night.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:03 AM
/shudders
August 6th, 2012 at 11:04 AM
I’ve only seen a little bit of this. I like the pace of the beach volleyball because each point is usually decided pretty quickly. You get the occasional long volley but the pace works better for my attention span.
I still have yet to see badminton or ping pong. Trampoline and the equestrian events are the best events I never knew existed so far.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:05 AM
That Olga Korbutt (sp?) package was pretty interesting. The one Mary Carillo did about James Bond was pretty good too. That Aston Martin she was driven in is fuckin awesome.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:05 AM
They’re in last place by an antiquated ratings standard. I’m sure they want to do better — who doesnt? But they’re not a laughing stock. Shows with strong cult followings tend to pay dividends on the back end through lucrative DVD sales and syndication dollars.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:05 AM
I’ve watched more BBC feeds online than NBC TV.
I’m certainly in the minority. Don’t care.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Sorry, mmonast said it. My point is still valid, though.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Community sucks.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:07 AM
What I’m saying is I dont give a shit if they show them live (they do anyways online) because I couldn’t watch them anyways.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Yeah, they’d trade places with CBS right this minute, DVD sales or not.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Oh God no. They need to get the horseys out of the Olympics.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
It certainly does have some hit and miss episodes but at least they’re trying different things. The Law & Order episode was one of the best things I’ve seen on television in some time.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Which is why the NFL plays 100 percent of its games in primetime?
Really? I think we found stupid.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:09 AM
i disagree, i’m curious to see these horses on the trampolines.
ratings gold.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:10 AM
The camera angles they’re showing for the men’s vault final right now are insane.
Also, Russia, China, GB, the podium finish for women’s bars. Stay off a blog if you don’t want spoilers.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Get A Life was on the air twenty years ago. Nothing Community does is groundbreaking at all.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:12 AM
they should bring back Friday Night Lights. Just move it to Ohio or something. We’ll still watch if it’s the same writers and directors….and probably story lines too.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Yes. But they’d wanna trade back in a few years when Nielsen is forced to incorporate time-shifting, online streaming, and re-runs into their formulas. Or, better yet, Neilsen dissolves entirely and our set-top boxes just record and transmit ratings data automatically.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:13 AM
I was really disappointed with team handball, it seemed to get a long hype but I was bored by it
August 6th, 2012 at 11:13 AM
There’s more than enough horribly written ham-fisted programming on television as is.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:14 AM
* a lot of hype
August 6th, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Landed on the dressage at one point since there was no warning beforehand…can’t agree with something being an Olympic quality event if it comes with wearing those little suits
August 6th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Yeah, and shows people actually watch (“Two and a Half Men”) are even more lucrative on the back end.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Is it in 16 times HD quality? Then GTFO.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
…but bad writing with football and good looking girls is a winner
August 6th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
People who are still impressed by anything relating to HD crack me up.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Yes and no. By ratings standards, Game of Thrones doesnt hold a candle to a modestly watched network show. It made $60 million in DVD/BD sales in the first week of home video release, covering it’s entire first-season budget.
People aren’t scrambling to pick up “Two and a Half Men” DVD sets.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:21 AM
7 figures and lots of free time during the day really opens up the viewing options. The rest of us are working during the day (when we’re not commenting on blogs). Our fearless leaders in Washington are making sure we have plenty of mouths to feed.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
No, but it and Big Bang Theory will be profitable in syndication just about forever. Community won’t make money like that.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Not sure what you mean here. Some of the new OLED tech that’s coming out will burn your corneas. Again, you need the source pushing out 1080p or 4K, but it will still turn a 720p Olympics broadcast into something transcendent.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Community will be syndicated. Hell, it’s the main reason Sony/NBC decided to grant it a fourth season.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
It’s laughable to claim that NBC is doing okay. Encouraging thing for them is at least their programming exec isn’t as delusional as some of you are regarding the health of their network.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
The fact that the infrastructure cannot and will never keep up with the technology, the source dependent nature of things.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
And will make less money in syndication than both Two and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Is ABC doing OK?
August 6th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Stop arguing with him. I like Queefer but you’re never going to be able to convince him that every single person in the country isn’t watching Community 24/7/365.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:35 AM
I’m not a massive Community fan, but people need to understand that overnight Neilsen ratings aren’t the be-all, end-all of any show’s health. There are lots of other revenue streams in this day and age. Quality shows with low ratings and passionate followings can benefit networks in a lot of ways, from critical prestige to home video sales.
If you were the showrunner of an edgy, non-traditional, non-laugh track single-camera comedy right now, would you rather be on NBC or CBS? NBC created a brand with Must-See TV, and running away from that to become more like CBS isn’t the answer.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:37 AM
90% of their market are people that can’t watch the events live, including me. I can’t get worked up over them not offering a product that I can’t even take advantage of. This is an issue that sports media is generating because it affects them and only them.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:37 AM
I’d probably kill myself for describing something I created as “edgy.”
August 6th, 2012 at 11:38 AM
August 6th, 2012 at 11:41 AM
I don’t disagree with any of this. Non-traditional is probably a better word. Community is not your typical middle-american comedy. The Office is now but it wasn’t when it premiered. I’m not sure there’s a network left where you can take a chance outside of NBC.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:42 AM
I believe they tied with NBC for last place. But that’s only because NBC had the Super Bowl. But that’s hardly relevant to this discussion. Shows like Community doesn’t even compare to Big Bang Theory, regardless of the metric you use. Rating? Syndication? DVD sales? Big Bang Theory and other broad shows kills NBC’s critically acclaimed shows.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:44 AM
I had high hopes at the beginning of the comments when Duffy was defending his article and ideas. Of course, that hope died when you guys started being so mean and using logic.
/LEAVE HUFFY PUFFY ALONE!!!
//crys
///does bong rip
////watches NBC live stream on shitty DSL with absolutely no issues
August 6th, 2012 at 11:47 AM
Does anyone know for a fact that the next Olympics will be live on the west coast? Or will east/west violence return to our fair country?
August 6th, 2012 at 11:51 AM
BBT is garbage, though. You left that out. Also, I’d love to see the ratings for all four networks with NFL factored out.
NBC has to have broad shows, no question. But it can’t take the CBS route and turn itself into a derivative, procedural-and-laugh-track heavy outlet targeting 65-year-old retirees. It won’t work, and any gains they do see will be wiped out when the metrics shift. They need to redevelop their Thursday night comedy block into true Must-See TV and lure a couple big-name showrunners back into the drama fold. They should also bring back the expensive miniseries.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:52 AM
I certainly wouldn’t want to work for NBC if this interview is to be believed.
http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/press-tour-2012-nbc-wants-broader-comedies-than-community
Becoming like CBS is precisely that answer. The niche shows are for Cable networks like FX, AMC, and Bravo.
August 6th, 2012 at 11:59 AM
There’s no reason those “niche shows” like Justified, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, or Always Sunny couldn’t live on network television. 10 pm is fair game for adult content. One of the big reasons networks are failing is because they’ve ceded that ground to cable.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Yes overnight ratings are the end all be all. Internet ads do not warrant a line item in their filings its so insignificant.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Kaiser, the counterargument to my above post is, “Why would Rupert Murdoch care if Justified is on FX or Fox when the profits all flow into the same coffer?” Corporate conglomeration has made that one is a little tricker to answer.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:05 PM
You ever watch a show online or on demand? You see the same ads four or five times. That’s a much more powerful, focused ad message than slapping
a commercial on in prime time.
Online ads, On Demand viewing, home video sales, syndication, iTunes downloads — they all make money for the network. The line of thinking where ratings are everything is tantamount to ignoring international box office grosses and DVD sales when determining a movie’s profitability.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
I’m with everyone else. No problems at all with the NBC stream so I don’t know what tech difficulties people are having. Home or office it has been fine. Too many ads, but I haven’t missed anything I wanted to watch. How many people can actually get to a TV during the day to watch events? I don’t see the ratings for Bravo,CNBC, or NBCSN so I don’t know what they’ve been doing.
Is the 2010 Winter game are any indication, it will be a debacle. The fact that West coast viewers couldn’t watch anything live when the games were in our time zone is way more a fail than anything NBC has done this year.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Sure, BBT is garbage. If by garbage you mean wildly successful. I don’t even watch BBT. But I do know that CBS execs aren’t up at night wondering how the hell they are going to make money off of that show.
You talk using such generic terms and act like this is all so easy. CBS has an older audience. But they still get good numbers in 25-49 demo. Even taking out the 60+ audience, they pull in great number for their show. So in order for NBC to do better, they need to come up with better shows? I’m pretty sure they are aware of that. Doing it is the hard part. Look at Smash. High budget. Marquee producers. Well known actors and actresses. And it turned out to be a dud. I’m sure NBC execs aren’t creating the second coming of Matlock. They are fully aware that 18-49 is the demo that they need to go after. Problem is, their current group of shows don’t even pull great numbers in that demo, as compared to other networks.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:20 PM
And yet Ad firms pay only about 5 percent of what they pay for prime time viewer.
In most cases no. The producers of a show make money on the other stuff. Some shows are produced by their network so in those cases they do make the money. Other wise its about the contract between the producer and the network on who sees what kind of money. On demand the network will see cash on syndication not very likely for successful shows maybe some on boarderline shows in order to get them to 88.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:25 PM
The problem with Smash is that the writing is TERRIBLE. NBC botched the execution, not the concept. Fox did the same thing with Terra Nova. When 18-49 are accustomed to well-written, fully developed concepts and characters, you can’t come to the table with a cliched mess like Smash and expect to be taken seriously.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Except they get crap ratings compared to network shows? Breaking Bad Justified and Mad Men get Playboy Club numbers. Always Sunny gets worse ratings then that.
These shows work on cable because of the cable model aka the duel revenue stream. Never mind that FX loses money on Justified but keeps it on in order to promote the rest of their product.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:32 PM
meh
August 6th, 2012 at 12:35 PM
All those shows would get better ratings on networks. Hands down.
What is “the rest of their product?” Justified is FX’s signature series. I understand Mad Men is a loss leader for AMC (WD pays their bills) but Justified has seen ratings gains in each of its three seasons. I’m highly skeptical that Justified results in a net loss for FX once you consider all of its revenue streams.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Breaking Bad draws the same number of viewers as The Glades.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:41 PM
Well written, full developed concepts and characters work in Cable where there is a lower viewer threshold to meet. You can take 2-3 episodes at a time to set up stories for later part of season and explore the characters within the show. That’s what makes Lost such an anomaly. It’s a quintessential cable show that became a hit on network. But that would never get picked up due to it’s budget nowadays. The guy who green lit Lost for ABC was actually on his way out. That was one of his last show that he approved. He had nothing to lose. Remember the crazy plane crash site that made everyone sit up and take notice from the get go? That would’ve looked lot less stunning if the new ABC head approved the show.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Is absurd that those making the capitalist argument are unconsciously supporting less progress. Where be your logical consistency brothers and sisters? Backlash in encouragement to being gouged for less?
Fuck you dumb cunts.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Above all else, this is my primary complaint. It’s bad enough that they can’t get the streaming right. But they treat it like a soap opera, rather than a sporting event. Out of 4 hours of prime time coverage, at least 2 is spent doing puff pieces and stuff leading up to the actual events. Don’t give me the “housewives are the main viewer so they have to cater to them” defense. You don’t know what the viewing number would be like if they treated viewers with respect and showed 90% sports with 10% puff pieces. Rather than 50% puff pieces and 50% sports. In 2006, ESPN got killed for their World Cup coverage. They treated their viewers exactly like NBC treats their Olympics viewers. In 2010, when they stopped apologizing for showing soccer and started treating viewers like adults, they were widely praised and had way better ratings. Concentrating on actual sporting event rather than human interest stories and good ratings aren’t mutually exclusive. But NBC is convinced that it is.
Kaiser gets it.
Except they get crap ratings compared to network shows? Breaking Bad Justified and Mad Men get Playboy Club numbers. Always Sunny gets worse ratings then that.
Nevermind that…you wouldn’t be seeing Don Draper fingerbanging chicks, or the decapitations in Breaking Bad, or the twisted humor in Always Sunny. You think NBC would put Louie in their Thursday comedy block?
August 6th, 2012 at 12:49 PM
hey soused, what’s a bergin?
August 6th, 2012 at 12:53 PM
/Bracing myself for Moleman hating that too
August 6th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
I dont buy that argument.
The networks have the money to spend on quality series, far more than cable networks. They can do a Lost. If they want to conserve funds then they should take the cable route and cut their ridiculously long 24 episode seasons in half. Leads to more focused storytelling and less expense.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
this post needs some dirt
August 6th, 2012 at 12:56 PM
The only non-Big 4 show I think could perfectly translate to network is Downton Abbey. Of course, you’d be asking a network to take a chance on an English period drama.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:56 PM
If they want to conserve funds then they should take the cable route and cut their ridiculously long 24 episode seasons in half. Leads to more focused storytelling and less expense.
Those season orders are all about money both for the year and on the back end. So that wouldn’t conserve funds very well.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:57 PM
And who has 24 episode seasons. (looks at DVD sets)
Well. 24 did. Buffy didn’t.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:57 PM
I’m just wondering if they save the absolute worst parts of the show for those commercial promos? Because all of those suck and are unfunny, which turns me off from giving the show a try.
August 6th, 2012 at 12:59 PM
The networks have the money to spend on quality series, far more than cable networks. They can do a Lost. If they want to conserve funds then they should take the cable route and cut their ridiculously long 24 episode seasons in half. Leads to more focused storytelling and less expense.
I’d be fine with this. Shorten the seasons to maybe 16 episodes, and with that money left over you can invest in other show ideas, with the thought being that if something succeeds then it’ll recoup that investment.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Apparently some vikings raped the shit out some Irish villagers 700 years ago.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:09 PM
The problem is that for a network head to do this, he’s got to convince his bosses that it’s okay to get his clock cleaned by a four multicam sitcoms, a legal drama, and a handful of cop procedurals. Because that’s what CBS is running out there, and it’s what’s always made them money. I do find it interesting that Queefer is arguing for niche type programming on broadcast networks after defending NBC’s coverage of the Olympics and its overly broad nature.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:11 PM
It’s not a show that I think really works for sound bytes in an ad…kinda got to see a story play out to enjoy it, it’s very weird but I love it
August 6th, 2012 at 1:20 PM
The problem is that for a network head to do this, he’s got to convince his bosses that it’s okay to get his clock cleaned by a four multicam sitcoms, a legal drama, and a handful of cop procedurals. Because that’s what CBS is running out there, and it’s what’s always made them money. I do find it interesting that Queefer is arguing for niche type programming on broadcast networks after defending NBC’s coverage of the Olympics and its overly broad nature.
That’s why CBS wouldn’t do this. They’re winning right now. NBC is in a position to do this because they’re getting their shit pushed in on the reg. And that’s WITH your compliment of legal dramas, cop shows and the like. Look, FOX has actually taken many chances over the years and that’s what put them on the radar. They put animation in primetime, they took a chance with the concept of 24, etc.
August 6th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
The Olympics take place for two weeks once every two years. In that isolated case you have to appeal to the largest common denominator because its a completely different business model.
Also, why would shorter seasons automatically get their asses kicked by crappy CBS shows? And I don’t agree that Mad Men, Justified and Breaking Bad are niche shows. They have broad appeal. They’re only considered niche because they air on cable. NBC airs shitty multi-cams, cop/doctor/lawyer procedurals and turd reality TV. And failed. So why not try something else?
August 6th, 2012 at 1:33 PM
See moleman’s comment above about Breaking Bad and The Glades.
Because it’s worked for them in the past. The heyday of Must See TV was built on multicam sitcoms and cop/doctor/lawyer procedurals. NBC’s problem isn’t one of style, it’s one of substance. Their development pipeline is garbage.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Literally everything on CBS outside of 60 Minutes is garbage. People don’t watch CBS because they make great television. I don’t think NBC is making killer shows that are ignored and I won’t claim their stuff is great. But it’s certainly not worse than their competitors.
The past is past. TV has changed. If the past was the past, people wouldn’t be watching cable shows. It is absolutely a style and substance problem, but NBC in not uniquely failing in the latter.
August 6th, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Re: Cable shows on network TV:
They put Dexter, a huge hit on cable, on CBS during the writer’s strik.
It got terrible ratings.
August 6th, 2012 at 9:43 PM
Not that anyone is following this anymore but anyways
http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/press-tour-2012-live-blog-fx-executive-session-with-john-landgraf
They make their money on Transformers and Fast Furious movies.
Its much cheaper to go for a full 22/24 for a network show then 13. Using the west wing for example they might have 5 million in sets during the course of a season they can spread out the cost over 22 episodes its lower per then over 13. Is also much cheaper to promote 1 show in a time slot then 2 shows in a time slot.
You don’t care for their shows but millions more do and that is why they are winning. They are smart enough to look at the data instead of listing to the vocal minority. NBC has kept shows like Chuck, Community, and 30 Rock on why longer then they should have. The internet loves these shows but viewers don’t. They listened to critics and hardcore fans all of these shows bomb. CBS on the other hand has the luxury of canceling a comedy that kills the ratings of every other networks comedies save Modern Family.
August 6th, 2012 at 9:45 PM
lets talk about bbq.