I’m trying to provide linkage whenever I can, but I’ve been swamped lately and traveling between two offices. It’s driving me crazy so apologies for not giving them to you. They’ve been rarer than a steak these days.
Starting with USA Today’s Michael Hiestand who says we should be comparing this year’s Olympic ratings with 2002 in Salt Lake instead of 2006, but that’s not really accurate as even 2002 was a different TV landscape than now.
Sports Business Daily/Journal’s Winter Olympics site tells us that last night’s coverage on NBC was the lowest rated of the Olympiad to date.
Tripp Mickle of SBD/SBJ says the Visa congratulatory ads to the USA’s gold medal winners are striking a chord with the athletes.
Rick Krakauer of Mediaite says some cable systems aren’t airing NBC Universal’s coverage of the Winter Olympics and are getting horrid programming in return.
Writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center, Eric Deggans of the St. Petersburg Times interviews NBC’s Ted Robinson about calling Short Track Speedskating.
Glen Dickson of Broadcasting & Cable says the Today Show is offering a 360 degree view of its Vancouver set online.
Mike Reynolds of Multichannel News says the Winter Olympics have been a ratings juggernaut through the first four days of competition.
Marc Berman of Mediaweek breaks down last night’s ratings battle between American Idol and the Olympics.
Steve McClellan of Adweek says NBC is noticing a spike in searches after certain ads air during the Olympics.
Jack Neff of Advertising Age writes that Proctor & Gamble is making a big Olympic push for its brands.
Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch gives us a viewer’s guide for today’s competition at the Olympics.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell says the ice problems at the Richmond Speedskating Oval in Vancouver became a marketing nightmare for one company.
Eric Wilbur of the Boston Globe says NBC isn’t apologizing for delaying certain events.
To Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News who is not a fan of Al Trautwig’s Olympic work.
Richard Sandomir of the New York Times finds a veteran Westminster Kennel Club photographer who was snapping away during the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garaden.
Clark Hoyt of the Times says some readers don’t want to be spoiled on Olympics results.
Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union has some early Olympic announcing likes and dislikes.
From the Washington Examiner, Jim Williams writes that NBC’s Tom Brokaw was a big hit on the first day of Olympics coverage.
Barry Sviruga of the Washington Post was dismayed at how NBC butchered coverage of the men’s downhill on Monday. Thanks to The Big Lead for the link.
Also from the Post, Leonard Shapiro feels NBC was right in airing the footage of the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, but not more than once.
Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News tells us not to get so riled up about NBC’s taped delay action during the Olympics. But it’s maddening, Barry.
Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business talks with a Blackhawks official who is bullish on the NHL’s participation in the Winter Olympics.
Bob Wolfley looks at baseball crackpot Bill James’ latest player rankings and at the local ratings for the Daytona 500.
Tim Goodman of the San Francisco Chronicle asks NBC to show the Olympics live.
Ron Judd of the Seattle Times is fed up of the NBC Olympics tape delays.
Alex Strachan of the Canwest News Service says Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert will be part of NBC’s speedskating coverage.
Lowell Ullrich of The Province likes some of the new voices that the Olympics Broadcasting Consortium have brought to the small screen.
Chris Zelkovich of the Toronto Star says it’s wash, rinse, repeat for Olympic record ratings in Canada.
William Houston in Truth & Rumours writes that some announcers are rooting for the home team a bit too much.
Sports Media Watch notes that even though last night’s Olympic ratings were down from the first four nights, they’re still better than Turin’s.
SMW also has some idle notes other than Olympic ratings.
Steve Lepore at Puck The Media feels NBC’s cable networks failed to pick up the slack for Olympic hockey coverage.
Christopher Byrne at Eye on Sports Media has a suggestion for the US Olympic Committee’s website.
Michael David Smith of Fanhouse says ESPN’s Barry Melrose had to apologize for swearing live during ESPN2’s First Take program.
Joe Favorito says team mascots are playing a bigger role in helping to expand branding.
Dave Kohl in the Major League Programs blog says a Dallas sports radio station promotion became too unruly and had to be shut down.
And we’re done for today.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
