Posted on 06/28/2008 3:40:41 AM PDT by Las Vegas Dave
David Neal, NBC's executive producer for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, says the event will be a "signature moment" for High-Definition TV.
NBC has the rights to broadcast all 17 days of the 2008 Summer Olympics from China, which begin August 8, 2008.
In a keynote speech today to the HD World conference in New York, Neal said it will be the first Olympics ever that will be produced "100 percent in HD."
He said the extensive high-def coverage will help "get HD out of the niche and fully into the mainstream."
Approximately 30 million U.S. homes now have high-def sets, but Neal said the 2008 Summer Games will encourage many more to buy sets.
Neal said NBC -- and the governing Olympic committee -- will use 1,000 HD cameras to broadcast the games.
The network will install the majority of their cameras at the top-rated events, such as 15 cameras at the swimming venue and 20 cameras to cover gymnastics.
Neal acknowledged that NBC's HD coverage next year will be a far cry from the network's relatively meager offering for past Olympic events, such as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Five years ago, NBC put the separate high-def feed on a 24-hour delay.
Next year, Neal said NBC will only broadcast one feed for both HD and standard-definition viewers "even though most viewers will still be watching SD." The SD picture will be cut at the middle to conform with the 4:3 format.
The pinged subjects will be those of HDTV technology, satellite/cable HD, OTA (over the air with various roof top and indoor antennas) HD reception. Broadcast specials, Blu-ray/HD-DVD, and any and all subjects relating to HDTV.
Las Vegas Dave
Let’s hope they actually show the sports this yet. It seems that year Olympics we see less and less even though they broadcast more hours.
I liked they 1992 coverage when they had PPV channels. It was possible to actually watch an entire event rather than being jerked around from one venue to another so they could show you the American about to win a medal.
We don't care
For propaganda on the air.
While you show the Great Wall there,
You will not show Tienanmen Square,
Nor the sooty, coal-fired air.
“I liked they 1992 coverage when they had PPV channels. It was possible to actually watch an entire event rather than being jerked around from one venue to another so they could show you the American about to win a medal. “
You must be the other guy who bought the Tripelcast. It was wonderful. I had three VCRs set up when I wasn’t home. Even diving and Greco-Roman wrestling were interesting when you could watch the entire event.
The Olympic coverage, and all sports coverage, has become female oriented. NBC knows that they have the men. They are trying to get women to watch. So...
Lots of “up close and personal” sob stories. Lots of drama building. Lots of interviews with parents and friends. Lots of commercials. Very little sports.
I hate it. I’ll record the sports and watch it on high speed playback, skipping the crap. I can usually watch an 8 hour broadcast in under an hour.
I forgot to mention:
Lots of gymnastics and ice skating.
IMO: The opening and closing ceremonies may be the most interesting of the entire event...!
When I was in China a few months ago they had athlete profiles for all the sports. That way they got the country interested in the athletes before the games begin. During the games they will likely show all sport. I will talk to my friends there and find out.
We seem to have the athlete profile during the games, instead of sport. I used to love watching the Olympics until Nagano. Since then, they seem to focus on a few key sports and spend way too much time talking an not enough competition.
I have high hopes for OnDemand, Cox already has HD Olympic coverage set aside on it so hopefully I can watch what I want to watch when I Want to watch without to much fluff.
NBC is going to have extensive live and VOD coverage on the net. They are supposed to have complete events available live and on demand. If the video quality is the same as MLB.TV, it should work quite well.
There is also a download service, although it only works with Vista and has incredible levels of DRM.
It should also be an ideal time to roll out a hi-def retrospective documentary on the history of Maoist repression and atrocities. Thanks LVD.
What format is NBC using, 720p, 1080i, or (yeah, right) 1080p?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.