Columnists Criticize NBC For Tape-Delayed Coverage Of Wimbledon
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NBC Airing Taped Federer Match Brings
New Criticism To Its Tennis Coverage |
NBC Wednesday morning aired the Roger Federer-Ivo Karlovic men's quarterfinal match on tape delay, preventing ESPN2 from broadcasting or discussing the match in its live coverage, and if NBC Sports "can't carry Wimbledon matches live, especially crucial ones, it shouldn't carry Wimbledon at all," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. ESPN2 beginning at 8:00am ET Wednesday televised the Tommy Haas-Novak Djokovic men's quarterfinal live "until early in the third set," but the network "had to leave" at 10:00am when NBC's three-hour coverage window started. NBC then began airing Federer-Karlovic on an "unnerving two-hour delay." Sandomir: "This is how screwy it gets when two networks and their broadband services share an event: NBC didn't stream the match live because its broadband window started at 10 a.m., and ESPN360.com couldn't stream it because it was protected for when NBC wanted to show it on TV." After Federer defeated Karlovic, NBC "showed the rest of the Haas-Djokovic match on what was a four- to five-hour delay." ESPN Senior VP/Programming & Acquisitions Len DeLuca "praised NBC for letting ESPN2 go past 10 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday, but he knew that Haas-Djokovic would most likely need more than the 37 minutes that NBC granted ESPN2 on Tuesday to show the Dinara Safina-Sabine Lisicki match until its conclusion." DeLuca said NBC's model "predates the expectations of fans who want everything live," admitting it "has its challenges because it's from a different era." Sandomir writes, "NBC might have been following tennis history by choosing ... Federer for its time slot. But Federer on videotape?" Sandomir: "The network's tape-delay dance -- and its excuses -- have grown tired." Wimbledon officials "must require significant change," as no fan "should have to care that NBC's arrangements, in its world, or with ESPN, mitigate against live match broadcasts" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/2).
TIME FOR NBC TO PRE-EMPT PROGRAMMING? In DC, Tim Lemke notes NBC "declines to pre-empt its popular 'Today' show, forcing tennis coverage to start at 10 a.m., at least two hours after matches have begun." NBC also "refuses to pre-empt its daytime drama lineup -- leaving Wimbledon with a window" of 10:00am-1:00pm. The network thus "prefers tape-delay coverage because it fears it won't be able to show live matches in their entirety before going off the air." Lemke: "To its credit, NBC makes Wimbledon matches available live online free of charge. But such online broadcasts are meant to supplement, not replace, a network's television coverage." If NBC "wants to keep its rights to Wimbledon and the French Open, the network should pre-empt other programming to broaden its coverage window" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/2).
COURIER SERVICE: USA TODAY's Michael Hiestand reports CBS will use Int'l Tennis HOFer Jim Courier during its U.S. Open coverage, which begins September 5. Courier will "replace Patrick McEnroe for studio appearances and calling matches." McEnroe will "appear on ESPN's U.S. Open coverage." CBS Sports Coordinating Producer Bob Mansbach said it was McEnroe's decision to give up the role (USA TODAY, 7/2).
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