As part of its Olympic preview, NEWSWEEK's Frank Deford
profiles NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol ("the most powerful
figure ever in sports TV") and his role in signing up the
Olympics for NBC through 2008. There is also a Q&A with Bob
Costas (NEWSWEEK, 7/22 issue). Noting Ebersol's belief that
"storytelling" is the key to the Olympics, the L.A. TIMES' Larry
Stewart reports that Ebersol has promised no "fragmented
coverage" of events (L.A. TIMES, 7/14). In Chicago, Michael
Hirsley notes the technological advances NBC will employ,
including dive-cams and "SWAT" teams that produce and edit
coverage on the road for use through immediate satellite uplink
(CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/14).
NOT A HARD HAT AREA: Several media writers contrast HBO's
hard look at the IOC and Games in tonight's edition of "Real
Sports" with NBC's "Sports Illustrated Olympic Special: A
Prelude to the Games" on Wednesday. In K.C., Randy Covitz calls
it "more fluff than grit." NBC Coordinating Producer Paulette
Douglas: "We didn't feel our mission was to be investigative"
(K.C. STAR, 7/15). But in Houston, Mike McDaniel calls the
NBC/SI show "a remarkable collection of vignettes" (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 7/15).
