CBS's coverage of the Winter Games continues to invoke
some pointed criticism. However, others point to the lack
of story lines and events at the Winter Games. A sampling:
DOES CBS "GET IT"? In DC, John Carmody writes, "CBS's
Winter Olympics coverage continued to suffer from
ineptitude, postponements, weird scheduling and bad luck"
(WASHINGTON POST, 2/17). In L.A., Randy Harvey: "Is it
possible CBS has forgotten how to cover sports?" (L.A.
TIMES, 2/14). In K.C., Greg Hall: "Do we really want these
people covering the AFC next season?" (K.C. STAR, 2/16).
USA TODAY editorialized that CBS "continues to ruin the
Games by sitting on good stories and drawing out
inconsequential ones. ... CBS still doesn't get it. Viewers
want to see Olympic competition" (USA TODAY, 2/16). A
HARTFORD COURANT editorial stated that Olympic and network
officials "are risking their franchises if they believe that
most people will sit in front of their sets for 84 minutes
to watch 5 minutes of competition" (HARTFORD COURANT, 2/15).
In DC, Tony Kornheiser adds that CBS "doesn't seem to get
it. We are a culture of immediacy" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/17).
ON THE OTHER HAND: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick noted that
before the Games are over, CBS "will air more live action
from Nagano than NBC chose to show two summers ago from
Atlanta" (N.Y. POST, 2/15). In Boston, Howard Manly wrote
that CBS is still "delivering a huge audience" and "cannot
be held responsible for the lack of drama" (BOSTON GLOBE,
2/15). On ESPN, Jimmy Roberts noted the lack of drama/
events: "CBS is doing a fine job. ... [I]t's not about the
messenger, it's about the message" (ESPN, 2/16).
