Holy Congested-on-Cable, Batman!
You gotta figure NBC will ponder moving the Winter Classic over to MSNBC now, and see if it can’t locate an ice dancing competition for New Years afternoon for the big outlet.
Tip of the hat to Steve Lepore of Puck the Media for rounding up more impressive TV numbers from Sunday night. The U.S.-Canada game outrated Stanley Cup Finals game 7 — on NBC — between Detroit and Pittsburgh last June. Imagine! Up in Canada, it was merely the most watched sporting event in that country’s history: 10.8 million viewers, or more than one out of every three Canucks sat before the tube glued to the action. And in Buffalo, N.Y., the game drew a larger audience on MSNBC than did the silly dancing on NBC.
13 Comments
that’s an amazing number. How can the NHL capitalize on it in a way that doesn’t reek of trying to turn the league into the NBA?
I don’t have any ideas. I don’t think the front office does either.
Great numbers, and I am thrilled to see them. But ice dancing–and be fair, ice dancers are also incredible athletes, even if some of the costumes are,uh,interesting–drew 22.4 million on NBC. Can you really blame NBC for their decision?
It would be very interesting if the US and Canada were to meet for the gold medal. THAT game would probably be on NBC, and THOSE ratings would probably be smashing.
Sherrie,
Since you asked, who is the Alexander Ovechkin of ice dancing?
The very fact that you have to speculate as to whether or not a US-Canada gold medal game would appear on the main outlet is indictment enough. Really, are there any decisions NBC has made in 2010 that instill confidence in its overall judgment?
You don’t need to get cute with me–I’ll guarantee you I’ve been a hockey nut since before you were born.
I couldn’t agree more with your comment stating that speculation proves the point. That was my point–it’s all about the ratings.
And I just read on Puck the Media that–surprise–the USA quarterfinal will be on NBC. I’m sure the fact that it’s at 3pm has nothing to do with that….
Sherrie,
My quibble was with your capricious use of the term “great athlete.” It cannot apply to any ice dancer, as ice dancing is not a sport. That’s not to say that its participants aren’t committed and devoted to their craft. Obviously they are. But there will never be a ‘Miracle on Dancing Ice.’ Neither NBC nor any other TV outlet will ever showcase ice dance highlights from games of decades ago. There is of course a tension NBC ever encounters between its news and entertainment instincts with its coverage. But to the extent that the broadcaster will loose hundreds of millions of dollars with its coverage of these Games, as has been widely reported, it’s more than fair to suggest that it has handled scheduling matters with something less than business savvy.
We will have to agree to disagree on the athleticism, or lack thereof, as it pertains to ice dancing. Your comments on Miracle on Ice Dancing, frankly, is far below what I’ve come to expect from your writing, and has nothing to do with the discussion. The fact that I find myself defending ice dancing to anyone is a real shock to me.
We have no quarrel over NBC and its business practices.
But there will never be a ‘Miracle on Dancing Ice.’ Neither NBC nor any other TV outlet will ever showcase ice dance highlights from games of decades ago.
Is this what defines a sport?
Yes, obviously, DMG; that’s why baseball, football, and hoops are not sports.
This article suggests that curling’s days may be numbered:
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/curling/news?slug=dw-curling021810&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
If true, one down, one more to go.
Please, let’s not get started arguing curling!!
Anyway, while we waste time quibbling, people like this
http://gawker.com/5476851/everyone-cares-about-hockey-all-of-a-sudden
are the real enemy.
hmmm, the alex ovechkin of ice dancing.
well, flamboyant costumes (see AO’s skates), dramatic routines (see AO’s goal celebrations) and floating through the air (see AO’s bodychecks)…
i’d have to say alex ovechkin is the alex ovechkin of ice dancing!
Something tells me that you will not be going to see the Smuckers Stars on Ice skating show at the Verizon Center on April 8th. NBC is all about the ratings and figure skating, including ice dancing, gets good ratings at the Olympics. Did you see the promos that NBC was running on their networks for ice dancing? NBC was not running those types of promos for the hockey games. Even tonight, at the end of NBC Evening News, Brien Williams is telling people to watch the coverage at 8 pm on NBC and completely ignores the Canada-Germany game on CNBC at 7:30 pm.
NBC does not care if the hockey finals were on and that ice dancing celebration was on, they would always show the ice dancing. Look, most of the US is ADD as far as watching TV, so why shouldn’t the coverage bee the same way. Show 2 runs of Bobsled, then flip over and show some Biatholon, then flip again to show figure skating. It is like the shotgun effect of broadcasting.
It is the same thing with the Summer Olympics and gymnastics, which I equally hate as much as ice dancing/figure skating.
I love hockey, especially the Sharks and Red Wings. Conflicted on cheering since most of them are playing for other teams. The best thing about being on PST is the hockey games don’t pre-empt ice skating. Worst – ice skating/dancing is on very, very late. Can’t we have reruns the next day – Please.
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