I am finding the NBC coverage of the Olympics very USA-centric..

[ddeclue]

they always focus on the Americans and whether the American won the medal.. it's always X (the American) takes the silver instead of Y (some other country's guy) won the gold...

:eyes:

[undeterred]

1. Always has been that way

always will be.

[liberalhistorian]

92. I agree; I'm in my mid-forties and I have yet to remember an

Olympics that wasn't like that, no matter what network carried it.

[Monk06]

100. And sports where Americans don't medal? Don't exist. Canada does the same thing. Especially this

Olympics. If Peter Mansbridge says Canada one
more time today...just today...I will kill the
insufferable prick.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NYC_SKP]

25. Former DU member americannative47 is no longer with us. Short life for that one.

:rofl:

Fool...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=255005

[wtmusic]

35. *bows head respectfully*

We hardly knew ye! :cry: :rofl:

[NYC_SKP]

41. Oh, lookie!

I'm stealin' those hearts!

:rofl:

Well, borrowing... :thumbsup:

[wtmusic]

50. *sings* "Oh won't you steal away...steal aaaa-way...." nt

[FrenchieCat]

3. I was tired of Matt Lauer in the first 2 minutes of the opening ceremonies......

He was especially snarky when describing other country's atheletes..."They have never won a Gold in all of their time trying", ....Yuk-yuk I guess, we were supposed to respond.


Since, I only watch the television muted via on-Demand.

[CBR]

4. Is coverage in other countries the same? Do they focus on their athletes?

I know I root for the Americans in every event.

[ddeclue]

8. that's one thing while the competition is ongoing.. minimizing another country's win

after it is over is just bad sportsmanship and childish behavior.

[CBR]

15. I was just watching the Nordic Combined and they were focused

on the three Americans, who were all contending for our first medal ever in that event. One of the Americans got silver (exciting race) but the Frenchman caught him at the end. They were complimenting the French for the great day they had on the cross-country course today (gold in Nordic Combined and 10K biathlon). I do not like all of the fluff (personal, cry-inducing stories).

[FSogol]

54. Yes, I was in Argentina for the last Olympics and it was hard to

tell if any other country won a medal for anything.

[vadawg]

5. kinda like the bbc is british centric, canadian tv just sucks,

china news probuably is china centric as well.... pretty much all the worlds news are like this...

[tridim]

6. NBC is broadcasting in America.

Hardly surprising they'd root for Americans.

[ddeclue]

10. I'm talking about AFTER a contest is over, ignoring the other country's win

to focus on an American second or third place or just blowing off the medal ceremony altogether.

[Ex Lurker]

30. I don't know how they're doing it this year, but for the most recent summer olympics

the NBC website had multiple live feeds of other sports that didn't get much TV coverage. The best part was there was no running commentary other than the PA announcer at the event.

[tigereye]

36. yes, I've watched some skiing on that website- pretty cool, no commercials,

just the action.

[wtmusic]

38. Didn't know, thanks for info. nt

[wtmusic]

7. What else is new.

At the last opening ceremonies, the Iranian team was announced with dire reminders of Iran's "ongoing weapons program".

By dickhead pseudopatriot Brian Williams.

[ddeclue]

13. because the Iranian athletes had taken a break from their weapons building

to compete in the Winter Olympics?

:shrug:

:crazy:

[wtmusic]

18. Exactly - because 12 eager, talented young men and women

who have worked their asses off to be the best in the world are responsible for the politics of their dingbat leaders.

Wave that flag, baby.

[Ex Lurker]

32. as long as they don't have to compete against an Israeli n/t

[MadBadger]

42. +1

[CBR]

22. That is annoying as hell. I do not mind the focus on American

athletes but the politics crap needs to stay out!!

[malaise]

9. So what's new about that

That's GENBC - same old jingoistic madness.

[virgogal]

11. Weeellll-----NBC is an American network,broadcasting to Americans.

[Swede]

12. I just watched women's hockey USA beat China- on Canadian TV.

USA won 12 to 1.

[ddeclue]

14. That's only because they get to use aluminum bats in Olympic competition..

:rofl:

oh wait.. that's baseball not hockey.

:rofl:

[DFW]

16. Not surprising--here in Germany, it's very Germany-centric

If you want objective coverage, you'd probably need to watch coverage from Botswana,
or some other country with little interest in winter sports.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

102. Now that's funny.

[LostInAnomie]

17. Who cares how other countries do?

Honestly, most Americans have very little connection to any of the sports that take place in the Olympics. If it wasn't for the fact that Americans were competing in these sports 99% of us wouldn't give a shit if they took place or not. The Americans competing are our only connection.

Why wouldn't we want them to come out on top?

[ddeclue]

20. That's NOT what I mean.. I'm talking about AFTER the competition is over

and we come in second or third or not at all.

[LostInAnomie]

26. My answer will be the same.

Who gives a shit how other countries do?

I couldn't care less if another country gets a medal. These are sports that we only give a shit about once every four years. For the most part, I and 90% of other people watching the Olympics in non-winter sports countries don't give a damn about the state of the sport or the furthering of it. We only care when people from our own country are doing well, or when some athlete has an interesting story.

Who want to watch some other country accept a medal?

[ddeclue]

44. Spoken like a real sportsman and adult.. NOT..

:eyes:

[LostInAnomie]

53. Well, how diplomatic and even-handed of you...

... that you care about all sports, athletes, and countries equally. I'm sure the Olympics must be incredibly tiring for you from all the compassion you undoubtedly pour out.

In reality though, most people only care about something they have some sort of connection to.

Do most Americans have a connection to any of these sports? No, most of us have never taken part in anything resembling these sports. Most of us never think a thing about them until Olympics time.

Do most Americans care about the athletes that take part in these sports? No, 95% of us could name one luger, bob-sledder, biathelete, curler, or ski-jumper if our lives depended on it.

So, what most people do is latch onto the only connection we have: our wish for our country to do well. That's why the media is Americentric. We don't care about how other countries do.

[uppityperson]

65. "what most people do is latch onto the only connection we have:our wish for our country to do well"

You are so wrong. Mot of us watch to see these athletes do amazing things. How does it benefit you to have someone from the USA win a medal? Seriously. What does that get you? "OMG! *MY* country won!!!"

How about this instead "omg, did you SEE what he/she did just there! Wasn't that amazing!!!"

Most of us watch to see the athletes do well, not to see someone performing under the auspices of a nationalist thing win.

So sorry for you that your life is so focused on "us vs them".

[uppityperson]

51. Wow, talk about missing the point of the Olympics and true sportsmanship

Where do you get that number "90%" as I very much disagree.

[LostInAnomie]

55. How much time have you given since 2006...

... to thinking about the state of the sport of Nordic Combined? What about ice dancing? Mogols?

My guess is little or none, and I'm probably closer with none. How much time do you think the populations of South America, Africa, Middle and South-east Asia, most of North America and Australia have given to almost any of the sports that take place in the Winter Olympics?

People don't watch sports just to watch sports. They watch certain sports they like because they feel some kind of connection to it. Since, most of us have no connection to winter sports at all, it really isn't too far of a stretch to just watch for American athletes.

[uppityperson]

63. Wrong, very wrong. Many of us watch to see these athletes doing what they do very well

Many of us don't care a flying fig what country wins what medals, but appreciates the fine performances and sportsmanship of these athletes.

I am sorry for people like you who only watch to "feel some kind of connection" or really care that "their" country has more medals than others. Seriously, I pity you that you cannot watch prime athletes doing what they do, and watching them in amazement.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wtmusic]

69. +10 nt

[uppityperson]

73. Thank you

I feel sorry for those who watch only out of nationalism as they miss a whole lot. I feel sorry for those who truly believe that is why everyone else, or most everyone else, watches only for that as their friends/acquaintances are also missing a lot (assuming that is what they base their "most do" on).

ANYONE who gets to the Olympics, whether it be 1 person from 1 tiny or impoverished nation, or a team from a more affluent place, whether he/she be from here there or anywhere, simply because they made it to the Olympics, they are extraordinary and that is worth watching.

[Name removed]

76. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tesha]

85. Thank you -- well said. (NT)

[LostInAnomie]

86. Really...

So, you're telling me that if an American is up for medal contention you don't root just a little harder for them? If an American doesn't just miss winning a medal you don't feel for them just a little bit more? When the Star Spangled Banner is played at the medal ceremony you don't enjoy it a little bit more than when another country's anthem is played? I find anyone that says that doesn't play out in their mind is less than credible.

Or, are you so impartial and even handed that all you care about are "athletes in their prime doing what they do"?

[uppityperson]

89. Again, really. I really don't care what anthem is played. Anyone who make it to Olympics is extraord

extraordinary.

I am sorry that you consider me a liar.

[uppityperson]

91. Actually, I cheer when an athlete who is their only country's athlete wins.

Rather like that Jamaica bobsled team yrs back.

I care that these are athletes doing extraordinary things, not out of any sort of nationalistic pride. If I personally knew any of the hundreds of athletes competing, I'd feel something more for that person, but barring friends/family Olympians, I enjoy them all.

[wtmusic]

52. "Who want to watch some other country accept a medal?"

Your mindset is somewhat telling. Countries don't accept medals, athletes do.

[LostInAnomie]

57. And, how many of those athletes could you name before the Olympics?

Other than Americans, I'm guessing close to none. Hell, I bet most people without looking it up could tell me the name of the luger that died or even the American that got the bronze last night in speed skating. That's because most Americans don't give a shit about most winter sports.

When you have no real connection to the sports or athletes, patriotism is the last thing left. Why would you want to watch another country have their medal tally increased at the expense of your own?

[wtmusic]

60. Medal tallies is a media fascination which has obviously influenced you

Medal tallies don't mean squat. There is no Olympic "grand prize" for the country that wins the most medals.

I couldn't name any of the athletes before the Olympics, because until they start I don't care. Then I enjoy watching all of the athletes compete without a preference to country. A little too tribal for me.

[LostInAnomie]

64. If nationality didn't mean anything the athletes themselves wouldn't...

... consider themselves part of a country's team. They wouldn't wrap themselves in the flag after they win. They wouldn't wear the country's uniform. And, they wouldn't play the national anthem of the winner's country at the medal ceremony. The importance of nationality and medal tally is not some media construct. It's a huge factor in the Olympics and it always has been.

[wtmusic]

66. Reductio ad absurdum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_absurdum

Other nationalities meaning nothing is a far cry from nationality meaning something.

[LostInAnomie]

75. I love it when people that have no idea what a philosophical term means...

... try to use them.

It's easy to prove that in terms of the Olympics, nationality does, has, and always will mean something. From the opening ceremonies, to the uniforms, to the medal ceremonies, to the medal tallies, to the closing ceremonies, the nationality of the athletes has always played a role. A few people might try to claim to be above it all, but boosterism and vicarious pride has always played a role in all organized sports. If it didn't you wouldn't be able to have professional sports or Olympic teams.

[wtmusic]

80. I love it when others tell me how I feel

Thanks for the insight into my character. I had no idea I was in denial of a seething undercurrent of nationalistic pride. :rofl:

Of course you could have Olympic teams without regard to nationality. The main reason they're divided nationally is for financing and logistics. Bicycle racing has no such arbitrary construct; last year the best cyclist in the world was a Spaniard racing for a Kazakh team. Go Spain! Go Kazakhstan!

[wtmusic]

28. Not long ago American TV showed contests in which no Americans were involved

and did highlights on athletes from around the world.

Exceedingly rare nowadays.

[FLyellowdog]

19. Why do you hate America?

:sarcasm:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

21. Last night during the women's moguls, they focused on the Canadian because

there hasn't yet been a Canadian to take Gold in a Canadian Olympics.

[CBR]

24. I think both Canadian hockey teams will win gold at the end of

the games and it will be great for Canada!!

[tularetom]

23. What was your first clue?

For me it was when they had that idiot Tom Brokaw on before the opening ceremonies talking about the USA medal count.

When I see that puke anywhere I usually know what follows is gonna be jingoistic blather.

I favor inviting all the best athletes in the world, without regard to nationality and letting them compete in uniforms that make no mention of what country they are from.

[WonderGrunion]

27. Oddly enough, other countries' coverage focuses on their home country.

It must be some kind of conspiracy.

Conspiracy I say!! :hide:

[jdp349]

39. Quickly! We must alert the blogosphere! There is no time to waste!

[WonderGrunion]

40. Oh NOES! Someone on Teh Internets is wrong!

I must post about it until they change their mind.

[demtenjeep]

29. well, this is America. If it were in Mexico, England or any other nation

it would be their country first.

[ddeclue]

45. interestingly I spent 2 weeks in "Englad" in November of 2008.

:P

[demtenjeep]

56. thank you for pointing out my typo

:)

[tigereye]

31. yes, and the sports folk subtly (or not so subtly) make fun of other cultures

it's really bizarre in this global day and age. Do they really think most Americans (with all our diversity) are that naive and surprised by other cultures, let alone European ones?


I totally hear you. It's just dumb and the spokes-vapids, as i call them, are an embarrassment.

[ddeclue]

47. I guess my problem is that I grew up in Europe because my dad was in the Army

and I've lived and traveled too many places and also that I worked at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and found you have to show these people respect regardless of where they are from - they've earned it. Even if you lose you are an Olympian.

[Zomby Woof]

33. All countries do it

I watched the 2002 Winter Olympics on the CBC, and they were Canada-centric. It's to be expected.

[Subdivisions]

34. I'm sure it's not just our media. Surely the Ukrainians, Russians, Czechs, and

Japanese media are all focusing on U.S. athletes and their medal wins just as conscientiously as our media is.

[Odin2005]

37. It's always been that way.

[spanone]

43. the olympic nationalism is not my favorite part

[Liquorice]

46. Yes, and when I turn it on CNN, it's always America this and USA that. Also

when I read the NY Times, I noticed it has an obvious American bias as well. We Americans are so full of ourselves! :sarcasm:

[ddeclue]

49. I actually disagree w.r.t. CNN... they are very international and offer a very international

perspective. Christianne Amanpour and Fareed Zakaria are probably the two best journalists on television today.

[uppityperson]

48. It is VERY annoying. They cut away from other athletes to do stupid little

stories about "Our" winners. It is very usa-centric and is annoying. Or they cut away to an ad, and then pretend that it isn't shown delayed and tell me that I missed the last couple people who weren't usaniana. argh

[NoGOPZone]

58. Business as usual nt

[pnwmom]

59. What do you expect? It's being broadcast to the U.S., where people

are rooting for the local team.

[Blue-Jay]

61. No Shit!?!?

[Mike 03]

62. It has been this way forever. Since U.S. broadcasters began covering the Olympics, it

has been stilted towards U.S. participants winning gold medals.

[CBR]

70. They are showing the speed skating 3000m womens right now.

NO American contenders. They are celebrating a woman from the Czech Republic.

[CBR]

78. The Pairs figure skating coverage has been largely about a

Chinese couple/skating team trying to win Gold. The mens luge, which they have been showing all day, is between two Germans and an Italian.

[WilliamPitt]

71. (facepalm)

[Liberal_in_LA]

72. why did this topic get neg recs? Cut it out folks

[uppityperson]

74. It is incredible to me that nationalism has come up this way here

Seriously, I thought most of us were beyond that. I don't get it either.

[WolverineDG]

77. It IS a US network, you know

:eyes:

Go anywhere else & you'll see they focus on that country's athletes.

dg

[Jennicut]

79. Wow, cause here I thought NBC was an Italian network or something.

Sheesh.

[WolverineDG]

81. USA-centric, you say? (spoiler)

NBC just spent several minutes covering the men's luge & :wow: the US didn't medal in it.

dg

[MineralMan]

82. And yet, they just did a very touching report on the Chinese

pair, just before they skated the short program and probably locked up that competition.

I've been watching their coverage today of skating and the luge, and it hasn't seemed all that USA-centric. Of course they're giving the USA team coverage. After all, this is the United States. But, they're focusing primarily on who's winning the medals. In the combined Nordic, an American skier won a Silver. First medal in the event for the USA in 86 years. That seems worthy of some extra notice, doncha think?

[WolverineDG]

87. This just in: Figure skater Amanda Evora is

Filipino.

dg

[11 Bravo]

83. Wow, an American broadcast network pays millions of dollars to cover the games, and then ...

has the temerity to focus on American athletes. Who'd a fuckin' thunk it?

[Cleita]

84. It's always that way. The only time you see another national competing is

when they are in contention for a medal. Years ago more was shown of the competitions in the early stages. Sometimes an upcoming star that isn't an American may not make it in this olympics but you could keep an eye on the promising ones for future olympics.

[Renew Deal]

90. That's just not true.

The Olympics run on multiple channels with most of the days events being shown. NBC's coverage at night focuses on the days most exciting events.

[Cleita]

95. Then how come it's so noticeably biased.

The only Olympic event I'm interested in is figure skating and they just don't show much except the Americans and those who will win medals. I remember back when the coverage was in real time and covered both great and not so great. That was before GE/NBC took over. There is a country I am interested in seeing the events they participate in besides the USA and so far for the past five winter olympics, the only time I see them is in the opening and closing ceremonies.

[Renew Deal]

97. Have you been watching for the last 20 minutes?

There hasn't been a single American skater. :shrug:

It's not as bad when the games are in our time zone. Most events are on live at night (thank God!).

[Cleita]

98. Not this year. I'm not interested. I was only commenting

on what the OP said and I said it hasn't been different in the past.

[Renew Deal]

88. What's wrong with that?

You'll find that every Olympic broadcast is focused on their own athletes.

[csziggy]

93. That is why I stopped watching the Olympics when NBC got the franchise

Oh, and they also ignore the 'minor' sports in favor of what they think the American public will pay most for. In the 1980s, for the Summer Olympics, I could see a lot of hours of equestrian events. After NBC took over, they cut the hours for that smaller sport to next to nothing. Last Olympics they never showed all of even one round of cross country or dressage, just 'highlight' of American performances - and the Americans are not all competitive in that sport, even though millions of Americans spend billions of dollars on horse sports.

I don't know if NBC is offering pay-per-view, but even if they did I would not fork out the money. A friend did a decade or so ago and not one of the equestrian events was actually aired at the time on the schedule. She's set her VCR to record according to the times NBC gave her and there would not be one minute of equestrian events during the entire several hours. She screamed and yelled so much NBC finally refunded her money, acknowledging that they had decided to not air the events promoted on their own schedule.

Now she just waits until internationally produced DVDs of the events are offered after the Olympics are over - though she would be willing to pay good money to see them closer to real time. Since she is in the business and has competed with Olympic riders, she would really be happy to have that opportunity.

[CANDO]

94. Olympics are ridiculous anyway.

I always hated subjective competitions. Give me a stop watch or the most goals and then we can see who wins. I hate scoring based on judges opinions.

[proteus_lives]

96. So?

Same in every country I bet.

[Confusious]

99. Why? what country do you live in?

Do you think other countries like say, Russia, focus on what the Chinese team is doing all the time?

" China takes another gold!" "WhooHoo, we lost to china again!" "Gosh, those chinese are magnificent, to bad we're such losers!"

Please, every country is doing the exact same thing.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

101. Are you watching it in the US?

[imnKOgnito]

103. There's a Canadian channel

on Comcast in Seattle that used to have almost round the clock Olympic coverage that wasn't any country-centric. You got to see all of the stuff you never got to see before. That's all I watched for the last two Olympics, and the coverage was outstanding. Ironically, now that the Olympics are 100 miles north of here in Vancouver, that channel is no longer broadcasting the Olympics. Don't recall the reason why, but it's a BIG disappointment.