US Tweeters hammer NBC as Olympic opening is not shown live
NBC, the US network with exclusive access to the Olympics, was caned by angry US viewers after they decided not to show the opening ceremony live.
Twitter frustration
Instead they showed it in tape delay three hours later - during evening primetime. .
Viewers vented their frustrations on Twitter, said the Wall Street Journal which reprinted some of the Tweets. A number were disappointed they couldn’t watch the ceremony while simultaneously live-tweeting it, as British viewers did.
Typical sarcasm: "From the Twitter comments, Olympics opening ceremony sounds kind of cool. Too bad I can't see any of it because of tape delay. Thanks, NBC!"
More comments reported by the WSJ:
"Whoa whoa whoa, wait a second - NBC is broadcasting the opening ceremony on TAPE DELAY? It's 2012! I need to live-tweet!!"
"NBC showing complete contempt for its audience by not showing or streaming Olympics opening ceremony live."
"NBC making an incredible bid for gold medal for Stupidest Network Ever. No livestreaming, no broadcast, just pretending it doesn't exist."
"Wow, you serious NBC? The Olympic opening ceremony is on a tape delay 3 hours after it happens? Ya'll can't be serious..."
"Incredible that #Olympic sponsors thought they could hold out until prime time to show the opening ceremonies. Rookie move in a @twitter age"
An NBC spokesman responded to the WSJ on the network’s presentation of the ceremony: “They are complex entertainment spectacles that do not translate well online because they require context, which our award-winning production team will provide for the large primetime audiences that gather together to watch them.”
The Los Angeles Times also published a number of choice comments:
"Apparently they (NBC) cut out the tribute to those who lost their lives in the 7/7 terrorist attack in London! Imagine if the situation were reversed and any other nation cut out the tribute to 9/11 victims....What kind of editorial choice was that?"
"The NBC broadcast was just sad. For one, it seemed to be much much more about making lots of money off of advertising instead of honoring a world wide unifiying event (go capitalism?). Second, I felt horrible that they sped through so many countries with barely enough time to read their names so they could squeeze in so many commericials. I watched the BBC live broadcast ealier in the day and was very happy with all the factoids they provided as well as the fact that they took the time to honor each country by giving everyone their appropriate amount of screen time. Something that was sorely missed in the NBC broadcast. All in all, NBC, I got so much more context from BBC than I ever got from you. If you're going to spend all that money for the rights, at LEAST do it right!"
Twitter reported that there had been more Tweets on the opening day of the London Olympics than during the entire Beijing Games.