NBC "addressed a huge criticism" of its '96 Olympic
coverage yesterday "by disclosing that a record 334 hours of
Sydney Games tape-delayed coverage" will include 172 hours
on CNBC and MSNBC, according to Jim Baker of the BOSTON
HERALD. NBC was "roundly criticized" in '96 for "giving
boxing and soccer little more than lip service." But NBC's
2000 effort means that "near-voids in those sports and
others will no longer exist." NBC Olympics co-Chair Dennis
Swanson also said there has been little fallout from the
Olympic bid scandal: "We've met our sales target and based
on great response to the Sydney Games, should make a profit"
(BOSTON HERALD, 12/17). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports
on NBC's cable coverage and writes, "Considering the
limitations of an Olympics only on network TV, this plan
looks like a positive for viewers" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/17). But
the WALL STREET JOURNAL's Joe Flint writes that NBC's
reliance upon cable "could upset" the network's affils, who
fear viewers "will tune out in favor of cable." Swanson
"acknowledged that affiliates are wary" of such cross -
promotion efforts between NBC and its cable outlets, but he
added "it is just a reality of the business world today"
(WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/17). Meanwhile, DAILY VARIETY's
Michael Schneider notes NBC "has been tying an Olympics
surcharge to CNBC and MSNBC renewals with multisystem
operators such as AT&T" (DAILY VARIETY, 12/17). Currently,
CNBC is seen in 71 million homes, while MSNBC is seen in 51
million homes (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 12/17).
THEY'VE GOT THE SAME LOOK: In Riverside (CA), Evan
Tuchinsky reports that cable hosts Jim Lampley and Pat
O'Brien "will share a studio, as well as the same
supervising producer, Molly Sullivan." Swanson said that
the "idea" is to have "uniformity in coverage on all three
channels while at the same time allowing the hosts freedom
to be themselves" (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 12/17).