Coverage of the bombing raised new questions on NBC's dual
role as rights-holder and news reporter, as well as the access of
other networks to the story. In Philadelphia, Marcia Smith
writes, "At risk was [NBC's] image as a credible news
organization." The piece quotes several unnamed sources at rival
networks who questioned the speed and tone of NBC's coverage
Saturday (PHILA. INQUIRER, 7/28). The WASHINGTON POST examined
the response of other networks, with restrictions on airing live
news conferences lifted for 24 hours. CNN Senior VP Ed Turner:
"For the most part, there was no problem" (Tom Shales, WASHINGTON
POST, 7/28). In Baltimore, Milton Kent notes, by noon on
Saturday, the other nets were back to being "severely hindered"
by venue camera restrictions (Baltimore SUN, 7/28).
REVIEWS: In S.F., Bruce Adams: "NBC had a shaky but
relatively quick response to the story, staying with it all
night. But once the competition resumed, it was forgotten" (S.F.
EXAMINER, 7/28). NEWSWEEK's Larry Reibstein noted the bombing
coverage allowed the critics "to forget, for the moment at least,
a week's worth of Olympic coverage that they had lambasted for
turning sports into canned sappy entertainment" (NEWSWEEK, 8/5
issue). USA TODAY's Matt Roush: "No news is good sports" (USA
TODAY, 7/29).
NETWORK RESPONSE: NBC Sports President Dick Ebersol, when
asked if news updates provided by Bob Costas and Greg Gumbel were
sufficient post-bombing: "We said every time there was a news
story along the way, we would break in and cover it. We did
that, with more than 10 hours of coverage from NBC Sports people.
And when there was no more news, we returned to the Games
(Saturday noon), which, by us being the rights-holder, is the
only place where viewers can see the Olympics" (Rudy Martzke, USA
TODAY, 7/29). Ebersol said he told NBC announcers on Saturday:
"When there are exciting moments, get excited. But the one gene
they should lose is the humor gene" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 7/28).
CHANGED VENUE: ESPN was forced to move its "SportsCenter"
set to the swimming venue yesterday, since the Chamber of
Commerce building was roped off as part of the investigation
(TAMPA TRIBUNE, 7/29).
