Category Archives: NBC

Jewish Federations official: Bob Costas, NBC should ‘do right thing’ on honoring Munich 11

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The Jewish Federations of North America expect Bob Costas to honor his pledge to observe a moment of silence for the Munich 11 during the opening ceremonies at the Olympics.

“We encourage (Costas) and NBC to do the right thing,” said William Daroff of the Jewish Federation.

Daroff spoke on a Jewish Federations conference call this morning. It included several members of Congress and Anke Spitzer, widow of slain Israeli coach Andre Spitzer. They are working to have an official moment of silence for the slain athletes included during the ceremonies.

Costas and NBC were lauded several times on the call for Costas’ strong stance on the issue. Costas is outraged at the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to observe the 40th anniversary of the tragic event.

However, I pointed out to officials Costas’ plan regarding the opening ceremonies isn’t a done deal as far as NBC is concerned.

In an earlier post this morning, the network said: "Our production plans for the Opening Ceremony are still being finalized and Bob is part of that planning."

Daroff responded: "We support those who are calling on the IOC to do the right thing. Bob Costas has said he is baffled by the decision not to have a moment of silence. He is quoted as saying when the cameras show the Israeli team walk in during the opening ceremonies, he will lead a personal minute of silence.

"We're grateful to him for that desire. We know Bob Costas is a man of conscious. He is a man as good as his word. He has to work through with whatever issues he has with his employer, but we encourage him to follow through, and we encourage NBC to do the right thing."

Daroff noted the Jewish Federations wrote to NBC last month to request the network to "engage in these sort of efforts." Daroff said he never received a reply from NBC.

I asked Daroff how he would feel if NBC, not wanting to alienate the IOC, told Costas not to follow through with his pledge?

Daroff said: "Bob Costas' announcement has been a game-changer. It already changed the focus. It brought added attention to this. We encourage him and NBC to do the right thing."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will NBC force Costas to back off pledge to honor slain Israeli athletes during opening ceremonies?

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I imagine there are some intense discussions taking place between Bob Costas and the high brass at NBC.

Last month, Costas told the Hollywood Reporter that he is planning his own tribute to the slain Israeli athletes in Munich during NBC’s telecast of the opening ceremonies Friday. The International Olympic Committee has turned down a request to honor the athletes on what is the 40th anniversary of that tragic event.

Costas said: “I intend to note that the IOC denied the request. Many people find that denial more than puzzling but insensitive. Here’s a minute of silence right now.”

But will it happen? Ah, this is where it gets interesting.

When asked about Costas’ plan this week, NBC bounced back with a statement: "Our production plans for the Opening Ceremony are still being finalized and Bob is part of that planning."

Indeed, this is a sticky situation for NBC. If Costas goes ahead with his plan, it will put the network in the position of being critical of the IOC on an extremely sensitive issue.

The IOC clearly doesn't want to interject the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into the opening ceremonies. There is a concern how the Arab nations would react to a moment of silence for the Israeli athletes.

Last week, IOC president Jacques Rogge said that the opening ceremony, "is an atmosphere that is not fit to remember such a tragic incident."

So NBC-IOC relations aren't going to be helped if Costas injects his own moment of silence into the telecast. Not that the IOC will return the billions from NBC with a TV deal that runs through the 2020 Games, but the two parties have to interact on many issues during the next eight years. An angry IOC could make things more complicated, if you know what I mean.

I'm Jewish and the Munich Massacre had a profound effect on me growing up as a 12-year-old boy. I'll have more on that at a later date.

The issue for today isn’t whether the IOC should honor the Israeli athletes during the opening ceremonies. That’s not going to happen.

Rather, should Costas stage his own moment of silence on the telecast?

As a journalist, Costas is well within his bounds to note the controversy over the IOC decision regarding the Israeli athletes. It’s news.

But can he back off a pledge to take it to the next level? That would put Costas in a tough spot since Jewish leaders have lauded him for taking a stand.

From an Associated Press story:

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said support from Costas would be welcome. Foxman’s organization, which promotes Jewish causes, has backed an effort to bring notice to the Munich victims at opening ceremonies for years.

“I think he’s right, and I think it will make a difference because of who he is,” Foxman said. “It’s sad that one has to characterize it as courageous. It’s such a common sense thing to do.”

NBC and Costas have two more days to make a decision. Interesting discussions, to be sure.

 

 

NBC-Twitter engage in unprecedented deal for Olympics

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These are going to be the social media Olympics.

From NBC:

NBC Olympics, a division of the NBC Sports Group, and Twitter will partner during the London 2012 Olympic Games to drive viewership and interest. The partnership includes:

Launching the first-ever Olympics event page in the U.S. at Twitter.com/#Olympics;

Aggregating content on the #Olympics event page from Olympians, @NBCOlympics, @Olympics, @USOlympic and the best of the London Olympic conversation;

Promoting the event page with on air graphics across the networks of NBCUniversal that are airing Olympic programming, including in primetime on NBC, as well as additional on-air promotion and content integration;

And reprising the NBC Olympic Twitter Tracker, a visually compelling real time heat map depicting the minute-by-minute movements of the Olympic conversation on Twitter

The Olympics event page will be Twitter’s home for Olympic news and information in the United States. The page will aggregate the Olympic conversation with the most engaging and relevant Tweets about the Games from athletes, coaches, teams, families, media, fans, and Olympic insiders, including NBC Olympics commentators. Representatives from Twitter will be on-site in London to work side-by-side with NBC Olympics on producing and updating the page to showcase the best stories on Twitter. The page will be co-branded by NBC Olympics, the International Olympic Committee, and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

“With the eyes of the world focused on London, there is no doubt that the conversation on Twitter will rage around the competition, the athletes and the incredible stories from the Games,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “This partnership with Twitter will enable NBC Olympics to make an enormous contribution to this conversation, bringing to the swarm of attention surrounding the London Games our expertise, depth of content from our years of preparation, and the unique access to the Games only NBC Olympics has in London.”

To help promote the Olympics event page, NBC Olympics will include #Olympics in certain on-air graphics, and will promote the page in other ways on air throughout the Games across the networks of NBCUniversal that are airing the Olympics, including within primetime on NBC. In addition to promoting the Twitter.com/#Olympics web address, U.S. Twitter users will be directed to the event page when they click on the hashtag #Olympics or search for “Olympics” on Twitter. The page will also be available in the U.S., for non-users via promotions on Twitter.com, and is available on mobile devices.

“Twitter has become the roar of the crowd during live sporting events. Partnering with NBC Olympics to create Twitter.com/#Olympics allows us to now shine a spotlight on the best moments within the shared experience of the Olympics and to tell the stories that capture the world’s attention,” said Chloe Sladden, Vice President of Media, Twitter. “Our unparalleled joint orchestration across NBC Olympics’ presentation of the Games on-air, online, on mobile, and on tablet will bring fans closer to every moment of the Olympics.”

NBC Olympics and Twitter have also reprised the NBC Olympics Twitter Tracker presented by General Electric (GE) on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympics mobile and tablet app. This real-time heat map will track the Olympic conversation swarming around the Games, each sport, the athletes and the hot topics swirling around London. It will include the Olympics “Tweet Sheet,” a constant feed of athlete conversation prior to and during the Games. Olympic Top Sponsor and NBC Olympics advertiser GE will be the presenting sponsor of the NBC Olympics Twitter Tracker on NBCOlympics.com bringing to the conversation its insight on human and athlete health at #healthyshare.

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NBC News must be hoping Sandusky interview story goes away

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Let’s say it was ESPN, not NBC, that didn’t air an entire exclusive interview with Jerry Sandusky. Let’s say it was ESPN, not NBC, that edited out a riveting quote in which the alleged sexual predator says, “I didn’t go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I’ve helped.”

Do you think there would be more uproar?

I think we all know the answer. Everyone loves to dump on ESPN.

NBC, though, seems to be mostly getting a free pass for not airing such an important interview in its entirety on at least one of its platforms. CNN’s Anderson Cooper did speak out. He knocked NBC on his show last night, wondering how the network edited out Sandusky’s quote. In Chicago, the Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley slammed the network.

There were others, but not an avalanche to be sure. Meanwhile, on Twitter, there’s not as much fire as you’d expect for such a hot issue.

It is past 3 in the East, and I have yet to hear back from a NBC News representative. I left messages and sent emails.

Perhaps it’s part of the media strategy. No need to respond when there isn’t much noise. Keep quiet, and let’s hope it goes away.

Well, this shouldn’t go away. NBC should explain what happened here and why viewers didn’t get to see the complete interview.

 

 

 

 

NBC News posts extended interview with Sandusky; still doesn’t include omitted quote

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Saw this Tweet from NBC News: RockCenterNBC ‪#Sandusky‬ defense may rest Weds. Watch extended clip of ‪#RockCenter‬ intvu w/ Bob Costas: http://nbcnews.to/M45ZP4

The “extended” video runs nearly nine minutes. It appears most of it is what originally aired. I don’t recall hearing some of the passage regarding Jerry Sandusky’s relationship with Joe Paterno.

However, this portion of the interview does not include this Sandusky quote that somehow didn’t make the original broadcast:

And I didn’t go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I’ve helped.  There are many that I didn’t have — I hardly had any contact with who I have helped in many, many ways.

Again, why didn’t NBC post audio from that exchange with Bob Costas?

Still have to hear back from anybody at NBC News.

 

Posted in NBC

Forget time issue: MSNBC should have run full Sandusky interview

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I still can’t fathom why NBC or one of its outlets didn’t air the entire Jerry Sandusky interview back in November.

It turns out only eight minutes of Bob Costas’ interview aired on Rock Center with Brian Williams. The actual interview lasted more than 20 minutes.

It included this quote from Sandusky that got edited out:

And I didn’t go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I’ve helped.  There are many that I didn’t have — I hardly had any contact with who I have helped in many, many ways.

I’m not sure how you remove any quote in which Sandusky mentions the phrase “sexual needs.”

There were other interesting, relevant passages such as Sandusky’s relationship with Joe Paterno and his mysterious decision to retire in 1999. They didn’t air either.

I don’t buy any notion of a time constraint. If Williams’ show was pressed for time, then the interview should have aired in full on MSNBC and MSNBC.com. In a day and age of multiple 24/7 platforms, there should be no such thing as a time constraint.

Also, this was the interview of the year, given the timing and magnitude of the story. There’s a historical record involved here.

What would have CNN have done? I’m betting if Anderson Cooper has this interview, it airs in it entirety.

The public deserved to hear the entire interview. The prosecutor’s office apparently feels the same way.

Still waiting for a comment from NBC News.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why didn’t NBC air entire Sandusky interview? Potentially damaging passage edited out

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It turns out there was more to Bob Costas’ interview with Jerry Sandusky than what originally aired last November.

From MSNBC:

Pennsylvania prosecutors may seek to use unaired portions of an NBC News interview with Jerry Sandusky in November in which the former Penn State defensive coach said, “I didn’t go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I’ve helped.”

The unaired portions of the “Rock Center with Brian Williams” interview– conducted by NBC Sports host Bob Costas — could become an issue this week as Sandusky’s lawyers start presenting their defense to charges that he repeatedly abused 10 young boys over a 15 year period.

CenterDaily News.com has the full transcript of the interview. It includes this passage:

BOB COSTAS:

19:00:28:00    But isn’t what you’re just describing the classic MO of many pedophiles?  And that is that they gain the trust of young people, they don’t necessarily abuse every young person.  There were hundreds, if not thousands of young boys you came into contact with, but there are allegations that at least eight of them were victimized.  Many people believe there are more to come.  So it’s entirely possible that you could’ve helped young boy A in some way that was not objectionable while horribly taking advantage of young boy B, C, D, and E.  Isn’t that possible?

JERRY SANDUSKY:

19:01:01:00    Well — you might think that.  I don’t know.  (LAUGHS) In terms of — my relationship with so many, many young people.  I would — I would guess that there are many young people who would come forward.  Many more young people who would come forward and say that my methods and — and what I had done for them made a very positive impact on their life.  And I didn’t go around seeking out every young person for sexual needs that I’ve helped.  There are many that I didn’t have — I hardly had any contact with who I have helped in many, many ways.

Why did that passage wind up on the cutting room floor?

CNN’s Anderson Cooper is among those wondering the same thing. He said in a tweet:

@andersoncooper

I can’t believe the #Sandusky statement to Bob Costas that never aired. Did it sound as shocking to you as it did to me?! @AC360

More tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in NBC

Ratings report: Despite Tiger struggles, U.S. Open still up; another big number for Game 3

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Ah, what might have been for NBC and the U.S. Open. Imagine the rating if Tiger Woods actually had resembled Tiger Woods Sunday. Instead, his brutal start had him on the missing person’s report during the meat of the coverage.

As a result, we got a heavy dose of the plodding Jim Furyk and a U.S. Open where par was indeed a good score. It didn’t necessarily add up to compelling golf, but thanks to the primetime window, people still tuned in.

The numbers from NBC:

Sunday’s 6.5-hour (4-10:30 p.m. ET) final-round coverage of the U.S. Open on NBC delivered an 6.6 rating and 13 share, up 29% vs. last year (5.1/12).

The combined Saturday-Sunday overnight was a 6.1/13, up 39 % vs. last year (4.4/11) and the best since 2008 (6.8/15).

Despite competition from the NBA Finals, the rating increased every half hour from 8:30 p.m. ET on, peaking at an 8.1 from 10-10:30 p.m. ET. From 7 p.m. ET on, the rating never dipped below a 6.9.

Yes, there was a finals game last night. Another big number for game 3 on ABC.

From ESPN:

Through three games, the 2012 NBA Finals on ABC – Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder – is the highest-rated series since 2004 and the second highest-rated ever on ABC based on overnight ratings, according to Nielsen. The Finals is averaging an 11.3 overnight rating, up 5 percent from a 10.8 last year (Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat).

NBA Finals Game 3 – Miami defeated Oklahoma City 91-85 – generated a 10.4 overnight rating, peaking with a 14.7 rating from 10:30 to 10:45 p.m. ET. The game generated a 41.9 rating in Oklahoma City and a 29.6 rating in Miami.

 

 

Still a Johnny Miller fan even if people are getting tired of act

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I’ve always had Johnny Miller on my list of must-watch analysts. By that I mean, if Miller is doing analysis of the Springfield Putt-Putt Championship, I’m watching.

He’s going through Lincoln’s hat? You’ve got to be kidding me.

However, after more than 20 years of Miller being the voice of golf for NBC, I’m sensing some fatigue. People are starting to grow tired of his act.

John Strege of Golfdigest.com did a post Saturday noting some negative comments about Miller via Twitter. Here’s a passage:

NBC’s Johnny Miller was eviscerated in the Twitter world throughout the  telecast of the third round, criticism coming from all quarters — fans,  players, counterparts, even a player’s wife.

“How does Johnny Miller have a job when he speaks such nonsense???” Geoff  Ogilvy’s wife Juli wrote on Twitter.

Peter Kostis, a CBS analyst, posted this when Miller called Graeme McDowell  “a driving genius,” who then drove it into the trees: “He’s a driving genius!  Whack, club hits ball, whack, ball hits tree, oops.”

Colt Knost, who missed the cut, weighed in: “According to Johnny miller every  bad shot is BC of nerves!!  There is such a thing as a bad swing. Sorry for  being human”

Then this from Tommy Biershenk, who must have missed Chris Berman’s inane  play on his name the day before, something to do with beer and shank: “Am I the  only one that can do without Johnny Miller? #Mr.Negative.”

I found these anti-Miller Tweets from Sunday.

griffin_flesch8 JohnnyMiller could shoot -18 around Olympic right now from the tips if he wanted to

DanLevyThinks “You have no idea how good that feels, folks.” JohnnyMiller ONCE AGAIN makes it about him.

KegsnEggs JohnnyMiller on winning the US Open: “I’d tell you how good it feels, but you peasants wouldn’t understand.”

@jenny_suh JohnnyMiller is such a great commentator ~ said nobody, EVER!

BKleinGolfweek JohnnyMiller picks on a teen to criticize, taking Beau Hossler to task for over-reaching his goals. Nice going on Fathers Day, Johnny.

Joe Posnanski‏@JPosnanski Nobody ever seems to make the one JohnnyMiller calls “an easy putt.”

Not sure what to make of the reaction other than people simply get tired of hearing the same voice for so many years. In the eyes of his critics, Miller has veered off the road of being refreshingly candid.

I’m still in his camp. I love his candor and his unpredictable say-anything nature.

Here’s Johnny from yesterday’s telecast:

“Phil and Tiger look like they’ve turned back the clock to when they were about five (years old).” On the struggles of Mickelson and Woods.

“That is so dead. That is incredibly dead. That is the end of his chances.” On Padraig Harrington’s approach shot on 18, which landed buried in a bunker left of the green. Harrington was +2 at the time.

“I don’t know what the heck he is reading there.” On Graeme McDowell’s final putt on 18 which would have tied him with Webb Simpson and forced a playoff.

“He just fell apart is what it amounts to, at 42 years old and wanting it so badly…You’ve got to feel for him. He sure deserves to win because he works so hard in every aspect.” On Jim Furyk’s approach shot on No. 18 that went into the left bunker.

It still works for me.

The bottom line for Miller is that he turned 65 in April. I don’t see him doing this job forever. He has other interests.

So we also should enjoy Miller while we can. There never will be another like him.

 

 

 

 

The decision: Game 3 or U.S. Open tonight? Tiger or LeBron?

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So what are you watching tonight? Game 3 of the NBA Finals or the final round of the U.S. Open?

We have been handed this delicious Father’s Day bounty thanks to the Open being in San Francisco.

In a brilliant decision beginning with the 2010 tournament at Pebble Beach, NBC decided to air these West Coast Opens in prime time. The last group of Jim Furyk and Graeme McDowell goes off at 6:10 p.m ET. That means the final putt won’t go down until 10:30-11 p.m. ET.

I love it, and so many other golf fans. Nothing like enjoying a beautiful day and then coming home to watch some big-time golf.

But there’s more. Also on the menu is Game 3 of the NBA Finals airing on ABC. Big game to see if LeBron James and the Heat can take control of the series at home.

The first two games have done huge ratings, and they only will get bigger.

For NBC’s sake, it would help if Tiger Woods gets back into the hunt quickly in the fourth round. He tees off at 4:50 p.m. If he makes a charge, people will tune in, especially the casual and even non-golf fan.

Either way, it should be a great night. My remote is in for a workout.