NBC Gives HDTV a Bronze Medal

[Gregg Lengling]

However, the uproar over the network's delayed
HD Olympic coverage shows the technology's
growing popularity.

By Phillip Swann

Washington, DC (August 18) -- If you're watching the Summer
Olympics in High-Definition TV, you might not be surprised if Mark
Spitz is suddenly a contestant in the Men's 200-meter individual
swim medley.

NBC's HD coverage is so far behind its broadcasts on the main
network and its cable sisters (Bravo, MSNBC, etc.) that it seems like
the events occurred years ago. The high-def feed, which can be seen
on local digital channels and DIRECTV and EchoStar's Dish
Network, has been delayed by at least a day and sometimes two.
Even worse, on day one of the 2004 Summer Games, when most
viewers were watching the Opening Ceremonies, high-def owners
were treated to replays of the 2002 Winter Games.

NBC says the HDTV feed is delayed (that is, delayed even more than the regular coverage, which is delayed by just hours rather than days) largely because of a lack of high-def equipment in Europe. This prevents NBC from recording a majority of events in high-def.
Therefore, NBC says, it's not logistically possible to simulcast the
regular coverage on the HDTV channel.
           _______________________________________

"NBC's argument is as flimsy as the excuses made by the members of the U.S. Men's basketball team."

          ________________________________________

That sounds plausible, but NBC has known for months that it would
broadcast the Games in high-def. Is the GE-owned network so financially strapped that it could not make arrangements for more HDTV cameras and recorders?

NBC's argument is as flimsy as the excuses made by the members
of the U.S. Men's basketball team. If the network wanted to
simulcast in HDTV, it could have. But it seems clear that NBC
concluded that the HDTV audience, which now numbers around two
million homes, is not sufficient enough to warrant the expense.

Afterall, the network says it will simulcast the 2006 Winter Games in HDTV. Will the cost of HDTV cameras and recorders decline that much in two years? Of course not. But studies indicate that the number of HDTV homes could be between 10-15 million by then. At that point, advertisers will support a simulcast HDTV feed.

Steamed
According to news reports, the delayed HD coverage has left many
high-def owners steamed, particularly those who purchased a new
set just for the 2004 Games. Although NBC announced in advance
that the high-def feed would be delayed, that fact was not widely
reported in the media. Plus, print and TV advertisements from
electronics companies that encouraged people to buy HDTVs to
watch the Olympics also failed to note the delayed coverage.

Several TV critics at major newspapers have also criticized NBC for
its decision. For instance, David Bianculli of The New York Daily
News wrote this:

"The most absurd moment of the 2004 Olympics so far arrived the first night. While NBC was showing the visually opulent spectacle of the opening ceremonies from Athens, NBC's HDTV channel had, get this, images from the 2002 Winter Games. The station called it a 'look back.' All it did was make you want to look elsewhere.' "

Silver Lining
There is a silver lining to this summer cloud. The uproar over NBC's policy is more evidence that HDTV is rapidly becoming more popular -- and accepted in the mainstream media. Remember, NBC also delayed its high-def feeds for the 2002 Winter Olympics by a day or two. But there was little media coverage of the 2002 decision because very few people then had a high-def set. However, now the audience is up to two million -- and many influential TV writers have one. The turning point for the technology is getting closer.

So, although high-def owners now have to make do with the delayed
coverage, they can take comfort in knowing that it will be the last time.

Phillip Swann is President & Publisher of TVPredictions.com. If you
would like to contact Mr. Swann, he can be reached at 703-505-3064
or at Swann@TVPredictions.com

[StarvingForHDTV]

I'm glad other people noticed NBC's lame HD coverage.

I see they added more HD content commercials to the mix.  It doesn't take a genius to figure out you are better off pitching HD content to your HD viewers than HD equipment.  We already have our equipment if we are watching the HD channel....

What a bunch of boneheads.

[mhz40]

Coverage is one issue...
I also think the quality is not up to par with regard to motion artifacts.  Just look at the edges of the olympic rings graphic each time they run a slow motion replay to see an example.