CBC Receives Positive Reviews For Final Year Of Olympics Coverage
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CBC Receives High Marks For Olympics Coverage
Despite Calling Equestrian Events From Toronto |
The CBC, after a 12-year run as Canada's Olympics net, this year "leaves the arena with a record that includes thorough coverage, live programming any time of day and a high standard of broadcasting," according to William Houston of the GLOBE & MAIL. The net's decision to "call several competitions, including soccer and the equestrian events, off a monitor in Toronto was a money saver, but unfortunate, given Canada's two medals in equestrian events." However, what the CBC "did give Canadians, by way of a free, over-the-air broadcast, was a big menu of Olympic sports programming around the clock" that was mostly "solid and dependable." Track & field announcer Mark Lee in his first Olympics "was outstanding -- good play-by-play, smooth delivery and plenty of information." Track & field analyst Michael Smith was "low-key and incisive," and there "can't be a better swimming play-by-play analyst" than Bryon MacDonald. Also, the CBC's Scott Russell and Diana Swain "did a good job with the closing ceremony, talking just enough to keep us interested, but, for the most part, letting the spectacle speak for itself" (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/25). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich writes, "If there was a weakness in CBC's coverage it was that TV was restricted to the main network, a few hours a day on TSN and equestrian and sailing events on CBC Bold" (TORONTO STAR, 8/25).
TALENT REVIEWS: The GLOBE & MAIL's Houston wrote CBC reporter Elliotte Friedman's work at the pool and the track "rankles some because he's serious, doesn't flatter the athletes and asks good questions." Houston: "In other words, he's doing his job. His work stands out, but also jars some viewers because it is so different from the sort of doting, congratulatory conversation that we hear in the studio" (GLOBE & MAIL, 8/23). Houston added, "Below average Canadian performers at Beijing have been praised way too much by CBC broadcasters." But following Canada kayaker Adam Van Koeverden Friday finishing eighth in the men's K-1 1,000m final, an event in which he was "expected to win a medal," CBC reporter Karin Larsen "handled this situation appropriately." Larsen "usually asks good questions and she did again" with Van Koeverden (GLOBEANDMAIL.com, 8/22). The STAR's Zelkovich noted Lee "handled his first Olympics track assignment remarkably well." He did a "good job of calling what was happening, never got caught up in sideshows and let his analysts -- Michael Smith and Dave Moorcroft -- do the heavy lifting" (TORONTO STAR, 8/24).
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Writer Says Diving Should Not
Appear On Primetime Telecasts |
TIME FOR A CHANGE: Zelkovich wrote it is time to ban from TV Olympic sports "that don't make good television." Zelkovich: "First to go are the sports that even the experts can't figure out." CBC analyst Tino Dossantos during Friday's taekwondo comptition was "mystified by what was a point and what wasn't." Zelkovich also noted BMX is the IOC's "latest attempt to attract the youth market." But as an "unidentifiable bunch of riders in confusing outfits raced down the track, even analyst Kevin O'Brien seemed lost" in covering the sport. Zelkovich: "Add judo to the list because it's all but impossible to tell who scored or how" (TORONTO STAR, 8/23). In DC, Paul Farhi listed the sports that "should be banned from primetime next time," awarding the Gold to synchronized diving, the Silver to diving and the Bronze to "any other kind of diving" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/24).
AROUND THE WORLD: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Jonathan Landreth cited Nielsen data showing that 96% of Chinese families "watched at least some portion of the Olympics" on China state broadcaster CCTV (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/24)....The BBC through Friday had drawn about 40 million total viewers in the U.K. who "have watched at least 15 minutes of the Beijing Olympics -- up from 32 million" through the first week of the Games. BBC1 for the first week of the Games "had its best viewing figures for two years" (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 8/22).
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