Why We Should Cut NBC Some Slack

By Laura Stanley on July 29, 2012

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NBC dropped a whopping $1.18 billion for the rights to the Olympics this year, and has been working tirelessly to provide real-time online streaming as well as prime time high light coverage here in the United States.

Because of the time difference between us and London, most of the games happen in the middle of the night for us.

Because of this, NBC has been drawing a lot of attention for delays in information, skipped events, and especially the three minute interview with Michael Phelps that replaced an event at the Opening Games intended to memorialize the 7/7 bombings in London.

Thanks to Twitter, anyone with complaints about NBC’s broadcasting ability being lacking can be broadcast to the world. Unfortunately, NBC’s Jim Bell is tweeting back to complainers and letting them know how dense they’re being.

To paraphrase Louis C.K., shouldn’t we just be amazed that we can be watching what’s going on across the ocean? Why are we so whiny about time delays online or the fact that NBC is only showing the highlights during prime time? Do we really need to watch all the boring down time? Seriously, with all the technology available to us, we should just sit back and be in awe of the fact that we can watch anything!

NBC needs a little more credit for what they are doing. They are running a business and in order for them to stay afloat, they have to provide what consumers want, when they want. The bulk of people are sleeping or working when the games are actually happening. Sure, there are folks who are available to stay up all night to watch the live streaming, but the cost for NBC to air programs that only a minority are watching would cost them more than it’s worth.

Airing big events during prime time allows them to make a profit on advertising. Anyone who wants to complain about how profit doesn’t matter should consider whether or not they would put so much effort into their job if they weren’t going to be paid for their work.

NBC will continue providing the best coverage of the Olympics that they can while continuing to be able to pay their employees. In the mean time, sit back and enjoy what you’re watching because the 2012 Olympics are only going to happen once.

Would you rather remember it negatively because of delayed information, or would you rather remember the role models your children attached to and the events that make history?

Image Source: A Boomer Girl's Guide

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