China's CCTV Draws 842 Million Viewers For Opening Ceremony

CCTV's Opening Ceremony Ratings Highest During Torch Lighting

COMPARE & CONTRAST: The GLOBE & MAIL's William Houston compares the coverage of NBC and the CBC so far. The CBC "took the lead by airing the big events in real time," but NBC "grabbed a share of first place by producing content that was equal to or better than the CBC's." NBC's coverage of the Opening Ceremony "outshone the work of the CBC, mainly because co-hosts Bob Costas and Matt Lauer brought more information and enthusiasm to the show than did the stolid, rather dull presentation" of the CBC's Peter Mansbridge. NBC Saturday night led the broadcast by reporting on the fatal stabbing of the father-in-law of the U.S. men's volleyball coach. But the CBC's Ron MacLean "didn't mention the attack at the start of the CBC presentation" (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/11). In Seattle, Ron Judd noted Costas for the Ceremony was "ready with names and careers of all the Chinese athletes who carried the torch around the stadium, making it much more meaningful," but MacLean and Mansbridge "fumbled the same scene badly" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 8/8). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich wrote, "Most confusing is the matter of what's live and what isn't, because CBC doesn't do a very good job of explaining that. In fact, in most cases, it leaves it up to the viewer to figure it out." Zelkovich: "Now if NBC, which shows most of its prime-time stuff on tape, can be up-front about what's live and what isn't, surely the CBC, which takes pride in its live-when-possible approach, can" (TORONTO STAR, 8/10).

TALENT REVIEWS: The TORONTO STAR's Zelkovich writes in a separate piece CBC boxing analyst Russ Anber "didn't pull any punches yesterday in offering his opinion on why Canada had only one boxer qualify for the Beijing Games." Anber said Boxing Canada "never gave the fighters the tools they needed to perform on the world stage" (TORONTO STAR, 8/11)....The GLOBE & MAIL's Houston writes the CBC's swimming coverage "has been excellent," as announcer Steve Armitage's "big voice keeps our attention." Analyst Byron MacDonald also "uses his expertise ... to tell us what's going to happen before it does" (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/11).

AROUND THE WORLD: Australia's Channel Seven said that it drew an "average audience of more than 3.3 million viewers -- a 52% share -- in the country's five state capitals" for its coverage of the Opening Ceremony. The ceremony was the "second most watched ever, behind" the 7.3 million viewers for the '00 Sydney Games. In Manchester, Leigh Holmwood reports German broadcaster ARD for the Ceremony drew 7.7 million viewers, France broadcaster France 2 drew 4.4 million and Italy broadcaster RAI drew 5.5 million, which marked a 49% share (Manchester GUARDIAN, 8/11).

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