and as I remember the picture quality of those live streams on TenPlay were shocking! Worse than an amateur youtube video!
Am I correct in saying all Olympic sets up until Rio were built in the host city, or is that a figment of my imagination? I remember Nine’s 2012 one definitely was in London as they had Harry and Will on set at one point.
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Nine’s coverage of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony was criticised - Eddie McGuire’s commentary, ad break during the torch relay montage as well as skipping countries during the parade of nations including Japan to show Aussies.
7 was also criticised for skipping China in Rio 2016.
Considering a significant number of commercial broadcasters air the opening ceremony you would think organisers would put more points within the running order which offer an obvious opt out point for ads. I know back in 1996 when Atlanta hosted, so actually broadcast live in the US, possibly the last Summer Olympic ceremony that was (I don’t think even Rio was despite the minimal time different), they cut frequently to the Torch relay through the city during the event, which presumably was the opt out point for ads.
The parade of nations is the obvious point to throw them in considering it can be up to half of the event, and to be honest rather they’d put the ads in when China and the likes were entering than the nations you’ve never heard of as generally that is where the commentary can be most interesting.
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Fascinating video on how SOBO (Sydney Olympic Broadcasting Organisation) put together the 2000 games TV and radio broadcast.
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No doubt that @FormerInsider knows more, but I was under the impression that C7 Sports coverage of the 2000 Olympics only came to Foxtel in a last minute deal.
Hopefully one day, someone will write the book detailing all the dramas of Australian sports broadcasting rights deals during the first decade or so of Pay TV because all these stories make for very interesting reading!
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Would be fascinating reading about Pay TV and sports rights in Australia
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Until then you have this at least:
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Bruce also commentated the swimming at the Beijing 2008 games together with athletics events.
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Bruce also called the swimming in London 2012 alongside Nicole Livingstone for the world feed, when Nine had the Australian rights to the Games.
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He just couldn’t miss the Games Bruce! That’s why he’s nicknamed “Mr Olympics”.
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Some great finds. The full Women’s 400m Final is there. Wonder if 7 will replay the Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony in full on 15 September on one of its multi channels.
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They did replay it in full prior to the Athens 2004 Olympics Games Opening Ceremony.
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Hopefully they will. Official DVDs of the Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony go for $100 on ebay at the moment.
I actually found a VHS copy that I recorded myself of the Opening Ceremony. I wonder how well the tape has survived after 20 years though. I haven’t got my old Panasonic VCR connected at the moment to check it.
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Could just download it:
https://ia800501.us.archive.org/3/items/bryanpinkall_gmail_G/2000%20Opening%20Ceremony%20(revised).mp4
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7’s Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremony coverage is here:
The coverage was criticised that year for using only one channel and showing AFL coverage instead of Olympic action on 7 on Sundays during the Olympics.
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Coverage was also split with SBS.
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If I remember correctly, Sunday AFL would not be shown at all in Sydney and Brisbane on August 17 and 24.