Fang's Bites

Doing Some Monday Linkage

I’m going to make a concerted effort to do linkage regularly again. It’s the reason why I started Fang’s Bites back in 2007 and I was able to do the links daily, even on weekends. But lately, my schedule has been so busy that the site has become a press release dump and I want that to stop.

So I hope to do the links every day for you this week unless I have to be off-site, but I’m going to do my best to bring you the linkage.

So without further delay, here’s the linkage.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand talks about the drama that was the Ryder Cup at Medinah.

In Sports Business Journal, John Ourand notes that NBC Sports Network’s ratings have really fallen after getting big ratings for the 2012 London Olympics.

John reports that Fox Sports is about to renew its deal with NASCAR.

Over to the ESPN Front Row PR blog where ESPN PR maven Bill Hofheimer tells us that tonight’s Monday Night Football game between Chicago and Dallas will be Mike Tirico’s 100th contest. Congrats, Mike!

Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal delves into which MLB announcer is the most biased and the results will probably confirm your suspicions.

Bloomberg’s John Helyar, Scott Church and Scott Soshnick report on MLB’s secret TV deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report says the European post-Ryder Cup press conference was an embarrassment to golf.

Ed explains how the Ryder Cup become a coveted property for NBC Sports after it was originally a sleepy event.

And Ed talks with NBC’s Roger Maltbie about his first job in television.

Mike Barnes of the Hollywood Reporter remembers former ABC and CBS motorsports voice Chris Economaki who died last week at the age of 91.

R. Thomas Umstead of Multichannel News says the Pro Bowlers Tour is back on ESPN.

As part of a special section, Advertising Age’s Brian Steinberg notes that NBC’s Seth Winter is one of the publications Media Mavens.

Karen Hogan of Sports Video Group writes about the launch of Comcast SportsNet Houston which kicks off on participating cable and satellite systems (not DirecTV though) today.

Mike McCarthy at Sports Biz USA talks about how track athletes are attempting to unionize to combat the International Olympic Committee’s Rule 40 which prevents them from being in non-Olympic sponsor ads during the Games.

At the New York Post, Phil Mushnick wants NBC’s announcers to kick Tiger Woods to the curb.

Newsday’s Neil Best says Fox’s Michael Strahan and co-host of “Live with Kelly and Michael” says he got good practice for his latest gig by talking with reporters when he was a New York Football Giant.

Pete Dougherty from the Albany Times Union talks with NFL Network’s Rich Eisen.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with MLB Network Radio co-host Jim Duquette about the Nationals.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle tells us about today’s launch of the latest Comcast SportsNet regional sports network.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal and Sentinel says the Green Bay Packers got screwed by the replacement and the real NFL referees.

Chicagoland Radio and Media says WGN in Chicago, not WGN America, will air tonight’s Bears-Cowboys Monday Night Football game plus a locally produced pregame show.

Paul M. Banks of Chicago Sports Media Watch says former Comcast SportsNet reporter Sarah Kustok received an honor last week.

Dusty Saunders at the Denver Post notes that CBS’ Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will have called three consecutive Broncos games after next Sunday.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News has the SoCal sports calendar for this week.

Tom has five things he learned from the weekend.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail says drunk tweets from an NHL player made the lockout hit home.

Raju Mudhar of the Toronto Star previews this week’s Blogs with Balls 5 event which takes place in Canada for the first time.

At SB Nation’s Puck The Media, Steve Lepore notes that four sports networks will combine for 50 college hockey regular season games, none of them named “ESPN”.

Steve DelVecchio at Larry Brown Sports says comedian Norm MacDonald actually predicted the European Ryder Cup comeback on Twitter the night before Sunday’s matches.

EPL Talk says Fox Soccer needs its own English Premier League highlight show similar to what BBC has in its venerable “Match of the Day.”

Sports Media Watch says ESPN will shuffle an IndyCar race in primetime to ABC next year.

Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing has ten minutes of bloopers from New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling.

Matt notes that NBC inserted salsa music for Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz after scoring a touchdown for the second time in as many seasons.

And that’s going to wrap up the links for today.

Some Wednesday Evening Linkage

I’ll provide a few links on this Wednesday afternoon.

Michael Hiestand of USA Today looks at CBS pushing its Sunday primetime lineup to 7:30 p.m. ET to accommodate the NFL.

Michael Kruse of Grantland has a very good story catching up with former ESPN Radio host Nanci Donnellan aka “The Fabulous Sports Babe”.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report has some thoughts on Notre Dame joining the ACC except for football and hockey.

Ed notes that Michelle Beadle might be headed to mornings on NBC Sports Network.

ESPN’s Kristi Dosh writes that despite losing Notre Dame, the Big East can still get a big TV rights eal.

Darren Rovell of ESPN says Notre Dame won’t becoming a full-time member of the ACC simply due to the fact that it likes its deal with NBC for football.

Georg Szalai from the Hollywood Reporter has CBS Head Honcho Leslie Moonves boasting about Super Bowl ads being sold for more than $4 million per 30 second spot.

Todd Spangler of Broadcasting & Cable writes that Google Fiber has added ESPN and several other Disney networks.

Tim Baysinger of B&C says Fox Sports has partnered with Oklahoma University to provide exclusive content on its Fox Sports Net channels.

Anthony Crupi of Adweek tells us NBC’s Sunday Night Football set another ratings record.

Jason Del Ray at Advertising Age says ESPN is launching an ad campaign for its pay Insider service.

Toni Fitzgerald from Media Life writes that thanks to the Olympics, NBC cruised to a summer ratings victory.

John Koblin of Deadspin has the great video of WFAN’s Mike Francesa falling asleep during his NFL Now show that was simulcast on YES last Sunday.

John also looks at the NFL going further into Sunday primetime.

Matt Yoder from Awful Announcing looks at Tim Brando’s Twitter war with Ohio State fans that stemmed from an interview during his radio show today.

Bill Carter of the New York Times discusses CBS adjusting its Sunday primetime schedule for the NFL.

Jerry Barmash from Fishbowl NY says the New York Giants season opener on NBC topped the ratings in the Big Apple.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call is one of the few who likes Bob Costas’ Sunday Night Football halftime commentaries.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog has the local ratings for the DC Football Team’s season opener and RGIII’s pro debut.

David Barron from the Houston Chronicle looks at the new Fox Sports-Oklahoma University rights deal.

David has a few notes in his blog including one on retiring Astros voice Milo Hamilton.

Mel Bracht at The Oklahoman says the NFL topped the local weekend ratings.

Berry Tremel of The Oklahoman looks at the new Fox Sports-OU relationship.

Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World has details of the Fox Sports-Oklahoma agreement.

Guerin Emig of the World has a Q&A about the new Sooner Sports TV programming arrangement.

Paul M. Banks from the Chicago Sports Media Watch says the White Sox set a 3 year ratings high for Comcast SportsNet on Tuesday.

Scott D. Pierce of the Salt Lake Tribune anticipates the 50,000th edition of ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says the next inductee to the Broadcasters Wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame could be going in as both a player and a broadcaster.

Bruce Dowbiggin from the Toronto Globe and Mail says a documentary on soccer match fixing is a reason why Canada needs the CBC.

Sports Media Watch says Monday Night Football got off to a slow start.

SMW notes that the U.S. Open men’s final on Monday afternoon didn’t do as well as it could have.

Dave Kohl at the Broadcast Booth noticed an error in one of Fox Sports’  MLB promos.

Steve Lepore at Puck The Media says NBC Sports Network is increasing its college hockey schedule in case of an NHL lockout.

That’s going to do it for now.

Picking Out Some Sunday Links For You

Let’s do some Sunday linkage on this first NFL regular season Sunday of 2012.

We’ll begin with Pat Eaton-Robb of the Associated Press with an interesting story on how Connecticut is fast becoming home of major sports media companies.

Candace Jackson of the Wall Street talks about her visit to Rich Eisen and his wife, Suzy Shuster’s home in beautiful Beverly Hills.

Jon Gold from CBSSports.com has statements from Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott on getting the conference’s networks on Dish Network.

Also from CBSSports.com, Dennis Dodd says the SEC expects to have new TV deals in place including the super secret SEC Network, not the one run by ESPN.

Media Rantz solves the mystery of what happened to NFL Network’s Kara Henderson.

Liana Baker of Reuters reports that an NHL lockout could hurt ratings momentum for NBC Sports Network.

John Gaudiosi of Forbes.com tells us that Sony Playstation 3 gamers get a discounted price for  DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket.

Mike Reynolds of Multichannel says Dish Network has beaten DirecTV to the punch and made a deal with Pac 12 Networks in time for yesterday’s college football games.

Georg Szalai of the Hollywood Reporter writes that movie director James Cameron will be assisting UK’s Sky Sports in producing a 3-D production of this month’s Ryder Cup.

Tim Nudd of Adweek looks at ESPN’s very funny SportsCenter promo featuring John Clayton that has already gone viral.

Anthony Crupi from Adweek notes that NBC broke even on the 2012 Olympics.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch has your NFL Broadcasting Guide for the 2012 season.

Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times, writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center has a theory as to why some NFL teams fail to sell out their games.

Ed Sherman of The Sherman Report has former ESPN’er Charley Steiner recalling two of the funniest “This is SportsCenter” ads ever.

Ed also has some videos from the early days of Monday Night Football. Make that very early days.

ESPN’s Darren Rovell wonders if CBS is selling Super Bowl ads on the cheap.

Evan Weiner of Examiner.com says the late Art Modell deserves better from Cleveland fans. I hate to tell you, Evan, but as a Browns fan, Modell made his bed and has to lie in it.

On the other hand, Newsday’s Bob Glauber says he can’t reconcile Modell’s pulling the Browns from Cleveland with the other parts of his legacy.

Rachel Margolis at ESPN’s Front Row PR blog says College GameDay heads to Tennessee for Week 3.

Drew Drawbaugh of Engadget reports that Google Fiber subscribers will get access to NFL Network and NFL RedZone starting tomorrow.

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe says former Celtic and Chicago Bull Brian Scalabrine will join Comcast SportsNet New England as an analyst.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times says two former American Basketball Association team owners who get to collect part of the NBA’s TV revenue in perpetuity, want even more and are suing to get it.

Tanzina Vega of the Times says ESPN Deportes Radio NY will be broadcasting Jets games in Spanish this season.

The Albany Times Union’s Pete Dougherty has NFL Commish Roger Goodell disappointed that the league doesn’t have a deal with Time Warner Cable to carry NFL Network.

David Zurawik from the Baltimore Sun says ratings for the Grand Prix of Baltimore fell by almost 60% from the year before. However, last year’s race was on ABC while this year’s edition was on NBC Sports Network.

David speaks with Amber Theoharis who has left MASN for NFL Network and will replace the aforementioned Kara Henderson.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner talks with Fox Sports college football analyst Charles Davis.

Coley Harvey at the Orlando Sentinel asks if ESPN’s College GameDay will pay a visit to Tallahassee later this month.

Jimmy Burch in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes that the new Big 12 deal with ESPN and Fox will allow for more national broadcasts.

David Barron of the Houston Chronicle has the college football media guide for this season.

Mel Bracht in The Oklahoman says yesterday’s PPV production of the Florida A&M-Oklahoma game was network quality.

Tim Feran of the Columbus (OH) Dispatch says NFL Network and Time Warner Cable are no closer to an agreement than when the channel debuted.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News wonders how long DirecTV can hold out not carrying the Pac 12 Networks.

Tom says Fox tapped the right man to lead its World Cup coverage.

Sports Media Watch notes that last week’s PGA Deutsche Bank Championship hit a five year ratings high.

Dann Stupp and John Morgan of MMA Junkie write that NBC Sports Network will hire some familiar names for an upcoming World Series of Fighting telecast.

And that will do it. The NFL pregame show quotage is coming up next.

Videos of the Week — 2012 Olympics Montages

Well, the Olympics have been over for a week, but in the time since the flame was extinguished in the Olympic Stadium in London, it’s meant the start of a whole slew of montages being uploaded from all over the globe. We have several videos from BBC’s extensive coverage, one from CTV and one from NBC.

We’ll start with our neighbors from the north, CTV and the Canadian Olympics Broadcast Media Consortium. This group was forged by Bell Media and Rogers mostly to team up for the 2010 Vancouver Games while 2012 in London was an afterthought. It still did not prevent the Consortium from sending a large crew to cover the Olympics including the venerable Brian Williams. In this video, Brian gives his thoughts on the London Olympics, compares them to the Vancouver Games and we get the final playing of the Consortium’s theme, “I Believe” sung by Nikki Yanofsky.

Now to NBC’s montage which always starts off with music from “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story” and crescendos with the theme from “Remember The Titans”. Bob Costas says goodbye to former NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol and director Bucky Gunts as both left the network after the Olympics. This is a good montage, but one that I thought was not as good as past videos. It doesn’t mean that it won’t stand with the test of time. We’ll be getting at least four more of these as NBC will take us through the 2020 Olympics. However, as long as we don’t get multiple shots of Debbie Phelps, I’ll be happy. The audio is low so turn up your speakers.

Now to the first of BBC’s many 2012 Olympic montages. I keep finding new ones. This ended BBC’s “Red Button” and online coverage. This montage was set to Frank Turner’s “Rivers”.

Next, this is a montage that focused on the cycling in the Velodrome, a venue that was very successful for Team GB. Overall, seven gold medals which was way beyond the other countries that sent athletes to challenge the Brits. This video is done to will.i.am.

Here’s one from BBC News using its iconic theme. I’m intrigued by the BBC News theme.

This montage ended BBC’s coverage on the final Saturday of the Games. This was cut to Thea Gilmore’s rendition of “London” written by the late Sandy Denny. I like this video. The BBC’s Gary Lineker introduces the video.

And going off the beaten path, here’s the song in its entirety. I like the song a lot. Unfortunately, it’s not available on iTunes in the States.

And here’s our final clip. This is the final BBC Olympic montage that ended the entire 19 days of coverage on the network. The song is John Lennon’s “Imagine” and sung by Emeli Sandé of Scotland. This was recorded especially for the BBC. And the montage is quite well done. Olympic hosts Gary Lineker and Sue Barker say goodbye for the last time.

And this really concludes the Fang’s Bites coverage of the 2012 Olympics.

US Olympic Softball Legend Michele Smith Joins MLB on TBS Tomorrow; Makes History for MLB on TV

It’s been a crazy last few days. I’m bogged down in an office move that has consumed all of my time and I have been unable to update the site since Thursday afternoon. My apologies.

Here’s a piece of news that I did not want to ignore. Michele Smith, a member of the ASA Sotball Hall of Fame and two-time Olympic gold medalist in 1996 and 2000 for USA Softball, will make history on Sunday becoming he first woman to analyze a Major League Baseball game on national television. She’ll join Ernie Johnson, Jr. and John Smoltz for the Sunday MLB on TBS game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Michele has TV experience having been an analyst for ESPN’s coverage of the Women’s College World Series.

On the local level, Suzyn Waldman is the analyst for New York Yankees radio broadcasts and she called play-by-play on YES Network.

We have the press blurb from Turner Sports.

Two-Time Olympic Softball Gold Medalist Michele Smith Joins “Sunday MLB on TBS” Broadcast Booth August 19
National League Showdown Features Dodgers @ Braves at 1:30 p.m. ET

“Sunday MLB on TBS” will welcome two-time Olympic softball gold medalist Michele Smith into the broadcast booth August 19 at 1:30 p.m. ET. Ernie Johnson will provide play-by play with analysts Smith and John Smoltz, two of the most successful pitchers of their generation, for a National League matchup featuring Matt Kemp and the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on Chipper Jones and the Atlanta Braves from Turner Field. Chad Billingsley (8-9) is scheduled to start for the Dodgers against Braves probable starter Mike Minor (6-9).

Smith, who also serves as an ESPN softball analyst, was inducted into the ASA Softball Hall of Fame in 2006. She has played professionally in the Japanese Professional Softball League since 1992 and is an eight-time Japanese Pro League Champion and MVP.

I’m wondering if this is an audition for some possible postseason work. We’ll see.

Fang’s Bites Medals For 2012 London Olympics, Part III — Event Analysts, Reporters & Non-Rightsholders

It’s time to finally wrap up the coverage of the 2012 Olympics on Fang’s Bites. The medals posts have taken too long, but sometimes life gets in the way and I had to divide them into three parts. This will complete the coverage and I can move on to other sports.

Part I focused on the Studio Hosts and Analysts. Part II concentrated on Event Play-by-Play. This installment will look at the work of the event analysts, reporters and for the first time ever, grade the non-rightsholders which had to report around the International Olympic Committee’s restrictions.

Here we go.

EVENT ANALYSTS

Gold Medal

Teddy Atlas, Boxing – If Teddy didn’t exist, you would have to create him in a Hollywood movie. I love his accent, I love the way he talks and I love his candor. When he doesn’t like how a boxer fights, he’ll say so. When he thinks a fight stinks, he’ll say so. When he thinks the referees don’t know how to officiate a fight, he’ll say so. And when the judging stinks, he’ll say so. The man is very good when it comes to talking about the Sweet Science and he makes boxing come alive. He continues to bring gold medal analysis to the viewer.

Ato Boldon, Track & Field – Ato has become a premier Olympic analyst. He’s worked very hard since being hired by NBC and done very well on the sprints. He became a little punny this year, but that can be overlooked. Ato was right on top of the Usain Bolt gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4×100 meters. He also gave us very good thoughts on why certain athletes ran out of their lanes and made good use of the pointer. Ato deserves to be on the medal stand.

Doug Collins, Basketball – Once the premier TV analyst in the NBA, the current Philadelphia 76ers coach stepped in at NBC and did not miss a beat. Despite Bob Fitzgerald’s pedestrian play-by-play, Doug shined. He was on top of trends and wasn’t afraid to criticize players. Collins demands so much respect among the players that after the gold medal game, many went to his courtside position and shook his hand. And I’m sure Doug will return to TV once his coaching career is over.

Kate Markgraf, Soccer – Kate worked out of New York calling games off a monitor with JP Dellacamera. She should be the main women’s soccer analyst in Rio in four years. She was very good in spotting trends and I was quite impressed with her work. She may not have the name of a Brandi Chastain, but Kate is a much better analyst.

Craig Masback, Track & Field – It was nice to have Craig back on the Olympics on the distance races. Craig certainly knows his running and has a very good chemistry with Tom Hammond.

John McEnroe, Men’s Tennis Final – Johnny Mac only called one event, but it was a big one, Andy Murray’s gold in the men’s gold medal match against Roger Federer. He was on top of the entire match.

Ann Meyers, Basketball – A former analyst on the NCAA Women’s Final Four for ESPN, Ann was very good on NBC in London.

Shannon Miller, Gymnastics, Olympic Broadcast Services – Shannon was not on any of the NBC broadcasts, but if you watched any of the gymnastics main feeds on NBCOlympics.com or on the Live Extra app, you heard her as the analyst on the World Feed. Her analysis throughout the Games was excellent. She explained the scoring system. She talked about what gymnasts had to do to get good scores. She explained how judges deduct points. When the NBC Gremlins in New York weren’t cutting off her analysis to fire online ads, Shannon’s analysis was clear, concise and to the point. This was a girl who was once so shy and could hardly talk to the media when she was a part of the Magnificent Seven in Atlanta to where she’s now a confident businesswoman and analyst. She was never overdramatic like the NBC crew and was always on top of the action. Here’s hoping NBC will hire her for Rio.

Cynthia Potter, Diving – I’m hot and cold with Cynthia. There were times when she sounded bitter and angry at the divers and others where she explained the action clearly and concisely. It seemed that the former was quite prevalent during the Games, but as she went on, Cynthia went into coach’s mode and educated us on proper dives, scoring and did a tremendous job in the post production Stromotion that gave viewers sequential stop motion replays. It was really educational. After a bronze medal start, Cynthia gets a gold.

Paul Sherwen, Cycling – Usually teamed with Phil Liggett on the Tour de France, Paul worked for NBC without his usual partner on the Olympics, either working with Todd Harris or Steve Schlanger. He knows the sport. He knows the players and he’s very good.

Rennae Stubbs, Tennis – Coming over from Tennis Channel and 7 Network in Australia, Rennae was on top of the action from Wimbledon. She was very good throughout the Olympic tennis tournament, but saved her best work for the women’s final which saw Serena Williams win the gold. Whether it working with Andrew Catalon, Brett Haber or Mary Carillo in the final, Rennae was on top of trends and first guessed instead of second guessed. And I liked her chemistry with Carillo. I hope she’s on the US Open for Tennis Channel later this month.

Silver Medal

Kevin Barnett, Indoor Volleyball – Worked well with Paul Sunderland. Made very good points. Kept his analysis short.

Yaz Farooq, Rowing – Four years ago, Yaz’s voice was very soothing. This year, Yaz either took personality pills or she drank 5 Hour Energy before every race. She yelled as the crowd roared its approval of the Great Britain rowers winning medals. She was good, but the yelling got in the way of many of her points.

Rowdy Gaines, Swimming – Rowdy got a gold medal in Beijing and he still does quality work, but his screaming takes away what could have been a top showing. His voice went up as many as 160 octaves during races. There’s no doubt that Rowdy is a great ambassador for the sport and does a great job in fundraising, but it’s time for NBC to replace him for Rio.

Eric Giddens, Canoeing Whitewater/Canoeing Flatwater – Eric was very good in explaining the sport and giving insight.

Lisa Leslie, Basketball – Lisa worked in New York calling games off a monitor with Dave Strader. I thought she did better as a studio analyst during hits with Liam McHugh in London. There were times when she had trouble pronouncing names, but overall, Lisa’s analysis was spot on.

Dawn Lewis, Handball – With Mike Gorman, Dawn formed a very good team. Gave us good explanations on the sport that is quite foreign to many of us.

Kyle Martino, Soccer – The main analyst for men’s soccer did a very good job working with Arlo White. MLS fans are familiar with their work on NBC Sports Network and they did well during the Olympics.

Melanie Smith Taylor, Equestrian – Melanie is the Voice of Equestrian analysis for many fans of the sport. She and Tim Ryan form a very good team every four years.

Dwight Stones, Track & Field – Mostly voiced tape delays and recaps of the field events. NBC butchers many of these events and show just three or four athletes. Not Dwight’s fault, but he doesn’t really get to analyze, he mostly summarizes.

Bronze Medal

Jamie Bestwick, Mountain Bike/BMX – It seemed that during his short stint on the last weekend of the Games, Jamie wanted to do play-by-play and let his partner, Todd Harris do the analysis. Then again, that is the British style as the play-by-play caller and analyst mix roles. He was ok.

Justin Gimelstob, Tennis – Justin is ok, but there are times when he goes off on a tangent or name drops. We don’t want that. Give us the match.

Tim Hutchings, Marathon – Tim was decent during both the men’s marathon.

Shep Messing, Soccer – Shep barely makes the podium. There were times when Shep made some head-scratching points. He gets on the podium because he wasn’t afraid to criticize or take a stand.

Elfi Schlegel, Gymnastics – Didn’t have much time to talk between Al Trautwig and Tim Daggett. There were times when she and Tim disagreed, but they were never allowed to argue.

Julie Swail, Water Polo – Did decently during water polo.

Kevin Wong, Beach Volleyball – Went overboard in saying the sand at Horse Guards Parade was deep to allow for rallies. I think Kevin said it once or twice a match. I understand you’re sometimes talking to different audiences every night, but it got tiresome. But he made valid points when he wasn’t consumed with the sand.

BOWL OF HAGGIS

Marcelo Balboa, Soccer – I was so happy that Marcelo was not the main analyst this year. He still made insane points and went off the track. Fans will never forgive his horrid performance with Dave O’Brien on the 2006 World Cup and he continues to be a bad analyst.

Brandi Chastain, Soccer – Too often, Brandi would interject “OH!” during goals going over Arlo White’s calls. Then in the USA vs. Canada women’s semifinal she began TO SHOUT IN  THE SECOND HALF AND WOULDN’T STOP! WHAT WAS THAT??? WHY?? Up until that game, Brandi was on the podium and Hope Solo’s criticisms of her analysis made Chastain a sympathetic figure. Then the USA-Canada performance wiped that all away. She did better in the final, but it was not enough to put her back on the podium.

Tim Daggett, Gymnastics – A mistake was either “catastrophic” or “disastrous” for gymnast’s medal chances. He overdramatized mistakes. There were times he and Al Trautwig focused so much on crying Russian gymnasts, it made you wonder about them. I’m hoping NBC brings in new blood for gymnastics in 2016 because Al, Tim and Elfi aren’t working.

REPORTERS

Gold Medal

Drea Avent, Soccer – She did the first few women’s soccer games then did some features for NBC primetime and daytime. Thought she did a good job in London.

Heather Cox, Beach Volleyball – Heather has reported on the sport for NBC either during the Olympics or when the now-defunct AVP Tour was on the network. She knows the players and inserted good information during the matches. Now we’ll see if she gets the plum ABC Saturday Night Football sideline assignment in September.

Alex Flanagan, Diving – Alex was a studio host in New York for the Beijing Games. This year, she got to report from a venue. She did very well in her interviews and reports.

Craig Sager, Basketball – Craig seemed like just another sideline reporter with his bland polo shirts on the sidelines. If Craig is going to Rio, NBC needs to allow him to break out the loud shirts as it will go hand-in-hand with the Brazilian party that will be the 2016 Olympics. The players all like Craig and they all flocked to him after the games.

Michele Tafoya, Rowing/Women’s Soccer – Michele’s a pro’s pro and asks the right questions. Her queries are never clichéd.

Russ Thaler, Boxing – Russ had to wade through the madness that was the ExCel Arena. Did a very good job.

Jon Wertheim, Tennis – Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim was more like the insider during the tennis broadcasts on Bravo. He gave good info and brought an extra element to the coverage.

Silver Medal

Lewis Johnson, Track & Field – The US athletes all knew Lewis, but he was limited to getting out of breath answers from many of them.

Bronze Medal

Andrea Kremer, Swimming – I like Andrea, but her questions at the Aquatic Center were very strange. “What makes you so good?” What? A bitter fall off the gold that she achieved in Beijing.

BOWL OF HAGGIS

Andrea Joyce, Gymnastics – Once again, I like Andrea, but this wasn’t her best Olympics. Getting a tearful Jordyn Wieber after she didn’t make the All-Around Final wasn’t necessary. I heard that NBC were trying to guilt her to talk. I don’t think Andrea did that, but even so, we knew her reaction. We could see the tears.

TWO BOWLS OF HAGGIS

Pierre McGuire, Water Polo – The man is abrasive. I really don’t know what NBC sees in him. He asked abrasive questions of the water polo coaches and players. And for some reason, he conducted interviews with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant of the USA men’s basketball team. I was hoping for someone on either the women’s or men’s side to pull him underwater, but it didn’t happen. Oh well.

NON-RIGHTSHOLDERS

Gold Medal

Fox Sports – Using its website, Fox did a very good job covering the Games utilizing Laura Okmin, Maurice Greene, Christian Laettner and Amy Van Dyken. They would record video and have it on the website just minutes after events finished. Very good coverage.

Yahoo – Utilizing reporters like Pat Forde, Maggie Hendricks and Greg Wyshynski, Yahoo managed to claim a victory over NBCOlympics.com in unique hits for its coverage. The service used Twitter and Facebook to provide in-progress coverage. Quite impressed.

And that will conclude our Olympics coverage for 2012.

Sports Media Weekly No. 114 — John Ourand, Sports Business Daily/Sports Business Journal

It’s a return visit from Sports Business Daily/Sports Business Journal sports media writer John Ourand. If this were the old Larry King Live on CNN, I would say, “Our guest for the full hour! John Ourand!” However, this podcast rarely goes that long, but trust me, John is the guest on Sports Media Weekly with Keith Thibault of Sports Media Journal for the full podcast.

We spent a good portion with John talking about his trip to London to over the first week of the Games of the XXX Summer Olympiad. John talks about covering the Olympics for the first time in a city where he used to live. He also discussed the sport he enjoyed attending the most and the sport that surprised him the most.

We also asked John about NBC’s reaction to the social media phenomenon, #NBCFail that took off during the first weekend of the Olympics, plus whether the tape delays that were prevalent will be a thing of the past in the next Olympics.

John also opined on the legacy of former NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol who worked his last Olympics for the network.

We moved on to the strange story that broke last night that several Comcast SportsNet affiliates quietly dropped all Fox Sports Net programming as of July 31. And we talked about how the NFL preseason snuck up on all of us.

A fun podcast and one you should download from iTunes after doing a search for “Sports Media Journsl”. Or just go here and listen now.

Fang’s Bites Medals For 2012 London Olympics, Part II — Event Play-by-Play Announcers

On Monday, we had Part I of our medals for the 2012 London Games. We now wrap up coverage of the 2012 Olympics today before going into football mode.

Like in Part I, there will be gold, silver and bronze medals distributed to NBC’s commentators. And as in Part I, those undeserving of reaching the podium will be receiving of bowl of the Scottish dish, Haggis.

I will hand out medals to those announcers I had the opportunity to monitor. I couldn’t see all of the sports, although I did try. Here are my medals for play-by-play commentators.

PLAY-BY-PLAY

Gold Medal

Andrew Catalon, Tennis – Andrew has been quite busy the last few weeks having called Olympic tennis at Wimbledon for the first week of the Games, then flying to South Carolina to call the PGA Championship for CBS’ secondary channel last weekend. He called the epic Roger Federer-Juan Martin Del Potro match that did not want to end. Andrew was on top of the points and allowed his partners to shine.

JP Dellacamera, Soccer – Was based in New York and called both men’s and women’s games off a monitor at NBC’s World Headquarters at 30 Rock. Never showed that he was hampered by not being at the games. JP is a pro and one of the best in calling the beautiful game.

Mike Emrick, Water Polo – Doc was back on water polo, a sport he called in 2004 for NBC. Just as he did in Athens, Doc was great on the sport in London. Tremendous work. Doc can read the phone book and make it sound great.

Terry Gannon, Canoeing Flatwater & Rowing – Terry called both sports very well. A broadcaster who can call multiple sports well, I’d love for Gannon to get one of the glamor sports in Rio.

Mike Gorman, Handball – The TV voice of the Boston Celtics returned to Olympics broadcasting after a 20 year absence having called tennis in Barcelona in 1992. Mike called the games off a monitor in New York, but you would never know judging from the production. He was on top of the action and was even able to anticipate plays. Mike should have called basketball, but we’ll get to that later.

Tom Hammond, Track and Field – Tom shined once again in calling the signature sport of the Games. Was on top of the action, especially when Usain Bolt made his historic gold medal runs. While Bolt made himself into a legend in London, Tom is already a sports broadcasting legend and his calls in athletics solidified his status.

Dan Hicks, Swimming – Dan calls the sport well and sometimes he has to yell over analyst Rowdy Gaines, but he shows genuine enthusiasm during the races. Here’s hoping golf duties in Rio will not prevent him from calling swimming in 2016.

Bob Papa, Boxing – Once again, boxing was a strange venue. Strange calls, strange bouts and in the last weekend, NBC was kicked out of its broadcast position when officials with the Boxing Federation complained the announcers were bothering them. Through it all, Bob Papa was a consummate pro and got the job done, but Let him call another sport in Rio. I’m sure he’s going crazy from the insanity at boxing in the last three Olympiads.

Ted Robinson, Diving/Men’s Tennis Final – Ted has proven time and time again that he can call the major sports or the niche sports well. He and Cynthia Potter work well off each other. The same can be said for Ted and John McEnroe on tennis.

Tim Ryan, Equestrian – Classy announcer. One of the best.

Arlo White, Soccer – Tremendous job throughout in calling both men’s and women’s soccer. The only caller to be on-site at games, he shined brightly. He had to overcome Brandi Chadtain which was not easy to do (more on her later), but he got the job done very well. In his first season with NBC in calling MLS, Arlo got the marquee assignment at the Olympics and handled it very well.

Silver Medal

Steve Cangialosi, Soccer – Called a very good game. Experienced soccer and hockey man, did well in calling games off a monitor in New York.

Brett Haber, Tennis – Coming over from Tennis Channel, Brett called a lot of tennis from Wimbledon. Did rather nicely.

Todd Harris, Track Cycling/Mountain Bike/BMX – Todd is ok. Wasn’t thrilled about his “Oh Canada, the drought is over” call on Canada’s first gold medal in Vancouver and wasn’t all that crazy about him being back for London, but he performed well in calling races in the Velodrome. Gave us the feel of the crowd especially as Great Britain was cleaning up the medals in cycling.

Chris Marlowe, Beach Volleyball — There are times when I think Chris is too much in love with his own voice. He has a great set of pipes, but sometimes he goes overboard in his inflections. With an all-American final in the women’s section, Chris toned it down, but there were times when I thought he would go over the top, but good on him for restraining himself in the gold medal match. He medals this year.

Paul Sunderland, Indoor Volleyball – Paul has a soothing voice that doesn’t go up or down on exciting points. In fact, it was so soothing, I hit my head against my laptop several times during his calls. And I’m never bored by volleyball. Despite this fact, I give Paul a silver for his knowledge of the sport and letting analyst, Kevin Barnett make valid points throughout matches.

Bronze Medal

Randy Moss, Multiple Sports – The shiny topped broadcaster, not the former NFL wide receiver called Race Walking, Synchronized Swimming, Water Polo, Canoeing, so many sports that I could hear him calling my dreams. That’s not a good sign. But he did a decent job on each sport. He gets a medal.

Dave Strader, Basketball – NBC’s number two hockey play-by-play man called some basketball off a monitor in New York. I like him on hockey and he wasn’t bad on basketball.

BOWL OF HAGGIS

Bob Fitzgerald, Basketball – After a good start, it was apparent that calling games everyday was overwhelming for Bob. Besides confusing actor Jesse Eisenberg for the man he played in “The Social Network”, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Fitzgerald was woefully inadequate. After having ESPN’s Mike Breen on basketball dating back to Sydney, NBC went with a corporate Comcast SportsNet play-by-play man in Fitzgerald who calls the Golden State Warriors. NBC should have tapped Mike Gorman who calls the Boston Celtics and was in New York calling handball. Let’s hope NBC makes a correction in 2016.

Al Trautwig, Gymnastics – Al is getting dangerously close to John Tesh disastrous levels. Back in 1996, John Tesh called gymnastics and did a horrible job in overgushing, overemoting and overplaying every dramatic moment. He even did an introduction called “Little Girls Dancing” that was so creepy even for 1996 standards. Well, Al is getting close. Normally a very good announcer and studio host, Al gave us uncomfortable moments by focusing on crying Russian gymnasts so much so that he seemed to revel in their agony. He and Tim Daggett overdramatized key points in the competition where they made it sound life-and-death. I like Al Trautwig and he did a great job calling gymnastics in 2000 and 2004, but now it’s time to bring in a new announcing team for this sport.

That will conclude this segment. The next installment will focus on the analysts, reports and non-rightsholders.

2012 London Olympics is The Most Watched TV Event in US History

We have a very long press release, 3,877 words, from NBC talking about the 2012 London Olympics. Not only were they successful on the networks of NBCUniversal, but they spread their wings to other parts of the NBCUniversal family that had Olympic-related programming.

First things first. The Closing Ceremony turned out to be the most watched non-US Summer Olympic Closing Ceremony dating back to Montreal in 1976 just like many nights during the 2012 Games. An average of 31.0 million viewers watched all or part of the Closing Ceremony last night. That’s right with the average viewership for the entire Olympics of 31.1 million people. Very consistent. And the final ratings resulted in a 17.0 with a 27 share, up 10% from Beijing’s 15.5/25 and 43% from the last European Olympics in Athens in 2004.

Sunday’s rating is also right near the average of 17.5/30 for the 17 nights of the games. That’s 8% higher than Beijing’s 16.2/28.

Now, some other news.

• NBC’s Olympic weekday daytime coverage is the most watched in history averaging 7.1 million viewers.
• NBC’s weekend daytime averaged 12.1 million viewers, up 14% from Beijing in 2008.
• The USA men’s basketball gold medal-winning game against Spain on Sunday drew 12.5 million viewers.
• Serena Williams’ win over Maria Sharapova in the women’s tennis gold medal match garnered 7.9 million viewers while the men’s tennis gold medal match featuring Andy Murray and Roger Federer had an average of 8.2 million people.
• Late Night had 6.2 million viewers on average up 13% from 2008.
• NBC Sports Network set multiple viewership records for Olympic programming.
• CNBC’s boxing coverage drew the highest viewership for the network since the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
• MSNBC had over one million viewers on consecutive days, first time it had achieved the feat in four Olympics.
• Telemundo doubled its viewership from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
• NBCOlympics.com had over 159 million video streams more than doubling Beijing. This is a bit misleading as more video was available on NBCOlympics.com this year than four years ago.
• There were more than 64 million live video streams. See above.
• NBCOlympics.com had just under 2 billion unique page views.
• NBC Nightly News and the Today Show saw ratings hikes during the two weeks of the Olympiad.
• Salt Lake City topped all local market ratings for the Olympics. Milwaukee was second.

Now you can read the entire release for yourself after the jump.

(continue reading…)

Team GB Says “Don’t Stop Me Now”

In the wake of Great Britain’s success in the 2012 London Olympics, 29 gold medals, up from 19 in Beijing and just one in Atlanta back in 1996, adidas put together this video of several athletes including the most decorated British Olympian, Sir Chris Hoy, Jessica Ennis, Victoria Pendleton, Laura Trott, Louis Smith and Pete Reed among others rocking to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

This is quite a refreshing change from the “Call Me Maybe” videos that have been made ad nauseum this year. So here’s the video. And yes, that’s David Beckham in the video too. Enjoy.

Very nice.

Fang’s Bites Medals For 2012 London Olympics Coverage, Part I — Studio Hosts & Analysts

Time to hand out the medals for NBC’s coverage for the Games of the XXX Summer Olympiad in London. This was a largely successful Olympics for NBC as it outdid its own expectations for ratings, profits and viewership. I’ll do the same as I did back in 2008 for Beijing and 2010 in Vancouver. For those not getting on the medal stand, they will get a horrid Bowl of Haggis. I guess some people in the UK like Haggis, but looking at that recipe, I don’t think I could eat it and I would challenge those who fail to medal here to eat it.

I will do hosts in this segment. I will follow up with play-by-play and analysts in the next installment.

So let’s do the medals for 2012. You may agree, you may not agree. Comment below.

HOSTS

Gold Medal

Bob Costas, NBC Primetime – I know, it’s easy to put him in this category, but even if there’s slippage, which there wasn’t, you can’t put him in any other place. Unlike in Beijing where he had live events to handle, London’s primetime was all taped including Costas’ own transitions in and out of events. His interviews mostly went well except when he tried a 1975 World Series Carlton Fisk home run reference on 19 year old gymnast Aly Raisman who had no idea what he was talking about. This year, Bob was more sarcastic and caustic in his comments. Maybe it was the hour he was taping, but overall, Costas was back in his element as host.

Michelle Beadle, NBC Sports Network Daytime — Michelle was an Olympic rookie, but she did a great job on the anchor desk. Quite often, she opened NBC Sports Network’s coverage and sent us right to live events. In addition, her interviews on the set gave us food for thought, especially when women’s 100 meter medalists Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells made news with Beadle criticizing Lolo Jones. Michelle showed her humor during the Olympics and it came across very nicely on the anchor desk. Here’s hoping we’ll see her in Sochi in 2014.

Dan Patrick, NBC Daytime – After appearing for just four days in Vancouver, Dan stayed for the entire duration of the London Games and did a spectacular job. As I previously wrote, Dan could step in for Bob if Costas ever chose to leave the primetime desk. Dan was very good on interviews, had very good chemistry with Al Michaels on the transitions and was very good as a nuts and bolts host. Patrick has firmly established himself as an upper echelon studio host with the 2012 Olympics.

Liam McHugh, NBC Sports Network Late Afternoon – Here’s a guy who has had a busy four month stretch for NBC Sports and he’s going to be busy again in September as he transitions to college football. Once part of The Daily Line on Versus, one of the few people to continue to NBC Sports Network under the Comcast transition, Liam has become one of the best young studio hosts on sports television. He’s gone from the NHL Postseason to hosting the Stanley Cup Final to the Tour de France and then the Olympics. In each case, he made hosting look easy when having to transition from sport-to-sport is hardly that way. Well done, Liam.

Silver Medal

Mary Carillo, NBC Late Night – The late night show is perfect for Mary. It’s a mix of events, humor and interviews and Mary was up to the task. Unlike the daytime and primetime shows, Late Night was able to stretch its wings. Plus John McEnroe made a few appearances and it made for some funny moments. Mary gets a well deserved silver.

Al Michaels, NBC Daytime – A much better showing from Vancouver. Al was more relaxed on the set this year as compared to Vancouver where he looked uncomfortable. Perhaps it was having his new BFF Dan Patrick around to loosen thing up, but Al was quite good. He mixed anecdotes, Olympic factoids and one liners where he could. Overall, a good job by Al and he’s on the podium in London.

Willie Geist, NBC Sports Network Midday — I wanted to dislike Willie as his shaky performances in Vancouver didn’t give me much hope for hosting duties, but I have to admit, he showed some humor and some strong interviewing skills in London. He and Michelle Beadle had some funny transitions on the set and they showed some decent chemistry. Willie gets a surprising silver.

Bronze Medal

Kelly Tilghman, MSNBC Daytime – After a strong start, Kelly faltered a bit like in the second week where she made up countries. I’d like to see Kelly in Sochi and Rio. She’s on the podium. As she was in New York, she was able to speak with several NBC analysts who didn’t make the trip to London. Interviews went well for the most part.

Rob Simmelkjaer, MSNBC Daytime – He’s on the podium.

BOWL OF HAGGIS

Pat O’Brien, Bravo Tennis – There was a time when having Pat O’Brien at your event meant a heavy hitter who could write, quip and conduct interviews. While Pat has been back in sports on Fox Sports Radio after his long stint covering entertainment news, he was amazingly unprepared to host Olympic tennis on Bravo. He made numerous mistakes, conducted awkward interviews and despite being on every day for the first week, he did not improve. Here’s a guy who brought us Rock ‘n Roll Highlights and irreverence to Olympic Late Night in the 1990′s, but instead, gave us nothing in 2012. Sad to see.

Fred Roggin, CNBC Boxing – Fred was based in New York after being a venue host in 2008 and 2010. Fred has not been a fave since his stint hosting boxing in Beijing and curling in Vancouver. He received an #NBCFAIL in 2010 and a bronze in Beijing. NBC gave Fred a studio complete with analysts BJ Flores and Laila Ali. It appeared both Flores and Ali wanted to hit Fred at various points. The studio transitions between Fred in New York and the boxing crew of Bob Papa and Teddy Atlas were awkward at times. Fred gets a Bowl of Haggis. Down it with some warm British beer while you’re at it.

ANALYSTS

Gold Medal

Bela Karolyi, Gymnastics – Was Bela hard to understand at times? Yes. But is he enthusiastic about his sport and does it come across on TV? Yes and yes. Once again, the Bela and Bob Show was entertaining television. His analysis was very biased, but Bela is not a journalist and we know this from the outset. The night his wife came on set to talk with Bob was quite funny as Bob tried to determine if both were going to be in Rio in 2016. And an interview on late night between Mary Carillo, Bela and Nastia Liukin turned out to be The Bela Show. We need more Bela in Rio.

Doc Rivers, Basketball – The Boston Celtics coach was once an analyst for TNT and ESPN and he stepped into the studio on NBC Sports Network/NBC and was fantastic. Doc explained replays and strategy concisely and he even stepped in during the transition between the women’s soccer semifinal and men’s basketball game last week. Liam McHugh asked him as a coach how he would handle the USA and Canada soccer squads after their emotional game and Doc gave great answers. And as the speculation grew for Doc as 2016 Olympic basketball coach, he answered the questions as best as he could. In addition, it was nice to see an NBA on ABC reunion between Doc and former partner, Al Michaels.

Silver Medal

Laila Ali, Boxing – Laila did an adept job in analyzing women’s boxing with Fred Roggin (see above). Like her dad, Laila is charismatic and if she ever decided to become an analyst, I’d watch.

Bronze Medal

BJ Flores, Boxing – The analyst for NBC Sports Network’s boxing coverage was ok. I couldn’t understand him at times, but maybe that was me.

REPORTERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Gold Medal

John McEnroe, NBC Primetime and Late Night – John wanted to go outside his traditional tennis role and stretch his wings. I thought John did great. He filled two roles, one with NBC and another with BBC. McEnroe showed a general interest in the sports he attended whether it was track & field or swimming. I noticed that John’s feature on Usain Bolt ran on both networks over the weekend. And on Saturday, a feature on the proper way to behave was right up his alley.

Jimmy Roberts, NBC Daytime – Jimmy is a masterful writer and can find stories where others cannot. I would have liked to have seen him in primetime, bu we got to see Ryan Seacrest instead (more on him later).

BOWL OF HAGGIS

Ryan Seacrest, All-Around Hack – I know why NBC had him at the Olympics, he was there to draw viewers who don’t normally watch the Olympics. He had primetime segments where he talked with Michael and Debbie Phelps or discussed social media trends. On the Today Show, he interviewed athletes. Throughout, Seacrest showed a general lack of knowledge in sports and sometimes in the people he was interviewing. Then again, Seacrest is not a sportscaster nor does he pretend to be. I’m not a fan of Seacrest and I thought his primetime segments brought the proceedings to a halt. However, during the Closing Ceremony, he kept his talking to a minimum, introducing the musical acts and letting the pictures do the talking. For Sochi and Rio, let’s keep his Olympic appearances to the Today Show and off primetime where he can do the least damage.

Coming tonight, the medals for the play-by-play commentators, analysts and venue reporters.

NBC’s Olympic Daytime Ratings Are The Best Ever; Friday’s Primetime Numbers Up Too

As we’re about to wrap up the Olympics with a nice red bow, let’s finish up a few things here. First NBC has sent Friday’s primetime numbers that were delayed yesterday. NBC’s Friday Olympic primetime finished with a 13.2 rating and a 24 share. That’s way up from Beijing’s Final Friday which had a 10.7/19.

Average viewership for Friday ended with 22.5 million people which is 26% higher than 2008 which had 17.9 million viewers.

So overall, NBC had a great Olympics. It downplayed expectations saying it did not anticipate as good numbers from Beijing, but NBC  ended up surpassing 2008 with a 15 day average of 17.8/30 and that is 15% higher than Beijing. The average viewership for the 15 nights was 31.5 million people which is the highest for a non-US Summer Olympics since Montreal in 1976. Beijing averaged 28.1 million which is quite good and Athens averaged 25.3 million so you can see NBC has been building its audience which it wants heading into Rio which should be a mostly live Olympics.

As for daytime coverage, NBC couldn’t be happier. The 10 weekday programs averaged 7.1 million viewers making that the most watched daytime show of any non-US Summer Olympics. And each weekday show outranked Beijing by a wide margin.

Finally, NBC says the London Games are the 2nd most watched event in US TV history ranking behind only Beijing in total viewers.

Check it all out below.

NBC’s Weekday Daytime Show is Most-Watched in History of Non-U.S. Summer Olympics

Average Viewership of 7.1 Million for Weekday Daytime Shows tops Beijing Olympics Daytime by 31%
Every Weekday Daytime Show from London Olympics tops Each Comparable Day from Beijing
212.7 Million Total Viewers for the London Olympics Through Friday is 2^nd Most-Watched Event in U.S. Television History (Only Behind Beijing’s 215 Million)
31.5 Million Average Viewership Through 15 Nights of the London Olympics is Most for any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 Years
22.5 Million Viewers in Primetime Friday Night; 14^th Time in 15 Nights that Primetime Viewership Topped Comparable Nights from the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Friday Night’s Viewership is 26% Ahead of Comparable Night in Beijing, Widest Margin of ANY Night of the London Games

LONDON – August 12, 2012 – The London Olympics weekday daytime show, co-hosted by Al Michaels and Dan Patrick, has set numerous viewership records. Average viewership of 7.1 million for all 10 telecasts makes it the most-watched weekday daytime show of any non-U.S. Summer Olympics in history; EVERY weekday daytime telecast from the London Olympics has topped the viewership of the comparable day in Beijing; Average viewership is up 31% from the Beijing Olympics (5.4 million) and up 37% from the Athens Olympics (5.2 million), the last European Summer Olympics.

MOST WATCHED WEEKDAY DAYTIME SHOW (NON-U.S. SUMMER OLYMPICS):

1.	London – 2012	7.1 million
2.	Barcelona – 1992	5.9 million
3.	Seoul – 1988	5.5 million
4.	Beijing – 2008	5.4 million
5.	Athens – 2004	5.2 million
6.	Sydney – 2000	3.3 million

LONDON OLYMPICS NOW THE 2^nd MOST-WATCHED EVENT IN U.S. TELEVISION HISTORY: With 212.7 million total viewers, the London Olympics now stands as the second most-watched event in U.S. television history behind only the Beijing Olympics (215 million). After 15 days, Beijing’s total audience number was 208.7 million viewers. The London Games surpassed the Atlanta Games (209 million) on Thursday.

THROUGH 15 NIGHTS IN PRIMETIME – BEST VIEWERSHIP FOR NON-U.S. SUMMER GAMES IN 36 YEARS: Through the first 15 days, the London Olympics has averaged 31.5 million viewers in primetime, making it the most-watched non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

• The 15-day average primetime viewership of 31.5 million viewers is 3.4 million more viewers than the first 15 nights from Beijing (28.1 million) and 6.2 million more than the first 15 nights from Athens (25.3 million).
• The 15-night average household rating of 17.8/30 is 8% higher than the first 15 nights from Beijing (16.5/28), and 15% higher than the first 15 nights from Athens (15.5/27), the last European Summer Olympics.

Friday night’s primetime coverage of the London Olympics on NBC drew an average of 22.5 million viewers, the most-watched second Friday of competition for non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the 1988 Seoul Olympics (23.5 million). Last night marked the 14^th time in 15 nights that the average viewership for the London Olympics surpassed the Beijing Olympics.

Friday night’s coverage, which featured the U.S. women winning gold in the 4×100 meters and the U.S. men taking silver in the 4×400 meters, drew 22.5 million viewers, topping the comparable night from the Beijing Olympics by 26 percent (17.9 million) and the Athens Olympics (20.1 million) by 12 percent.

• The 26% margin over Beijing Friday night marked the biggest viewership advantage for of any night of the London Olympics vs. Beijing.

Friday night’s primetime coverage on NBC (9-11:14 p.m. ET/PT) earned a 13.2/24 national rating/share, up 23% vs. comparable night from Beijing (10.7/19), and up 6% over Athens (12.5/23), the last European Olympics.

# # #

15-DAY METERED MARKET AVERAGE (ALL 56 METERED MARKETS):

1. Salt Lake City	25.6/45
2. Kansas City	23.1/38
3. Milwaukee	22.8/38
4. Denver	22.6/43
5. Columbus, OH	22.4/37
6. Norfolk	21.9/34
7. Indianapolis	21.5/37
8. San Diego	21.3/38
9. Richmond	21.1/33
10. West Palm Beach	21.0/35
11. Albuquerque-Santa Fe	20.8/35
12. Portland, OR	20.5/42
13. Minneapolis-St. Paul	20.3/39
14. Oklahoma City	20.2/32
T15. Washington	20.1/37
T15. Sacramento-Stockton	20.1/37
T17. Atlanta	20.0/33
T17. Nashville	20.0/31
T17. Austin, TX	20.0/36
20. Ft. Myers-Naples	19.9/35
21. San Francisco	19.8/40
22. St. Louis	19.6/33
23. Los Angeles	19.1/35
24. New Orleans	19.0/27
T25. Chicago	18.7/33
T25. Phoenix	18.7/32
T25. Tulsa	18.7/30
T28. Greensboro-High Point	18.6/30
T28. Knoxville	18.6/30
T30. Cleveland	18.5/31
T30. Jacksonville	18.5/29
T32. New York	18.4/31
T32. Seattle-Tacoma	18.4/37
34. Louisville	18.3/31
T35. Orlando-Daytona Beach	18.1/32
T35. Cincinnati	18.1/30
37. Philadelphia	17.9/30
38. Dallas-Ft. Worth	17.8/31
T39. Detroit	17.7/29
T39. Baltimore	17.7/29
T39. San Antonio	17.7/28
42. Memphis	17.6/27
43. Pittsburgh	17.4/30
44. Houston	17.2/30
T45. Boston	17.1/32
T45. Birmingham, Alabama	17.1/25
47. Buffalo	17.0/29
48. Las Vegas	16.9/29
T49. Hartford-New Haven	16.8/28
T49. Greenville-Spartanburg	16.8/27
51. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale	16.4/27
52. Tampa-St. Petersburg	16.1/29
T53. Providence-New Bedford, RI	16.0/28
T53. Dayton	16.0/26
55. Raleigh-Durham	15.3/25
56. Charlotte	14.3/25

HIGHEST RATED BY TIME ZONE (THROUGH 15 DAYS):

Mountain	20.7/36
Pacific	19.4/37
Central	19.1/32
Eastern	18.2/31

That’s going to do it.

NBC’s Last 2012 Olympic Primetime Finishes Up From 2008. Again

As the Olympics come to a final close, NBC can look at its ratings as a true triumph. While the network was criticized for tape delays, failure to show certain events live, not streaming the Opening Ceremony live online saying Americans needed “context” from a rambling Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera, it still finished above the ratings for Beijing by a wide margin.

For Saturday night, a big night that saw Great Britain’s Mo Farah complete only the 7th 5k/10K gold medal double in Olympic history, the men’s 4×100 relay with Jamaica setting a record with Usain Bolt on the anchor leg, and the 4×400 meters relay with the USA winning, NBC saw a 12.6 final rating with a 26 share. That’s up 22% from Beijing’s final numbers of 10.3/19.

Average viewership for London was 21.8 million, up a whopping 30% from Beijing for the final Saturday night of the Olympics.

The average rating for the 16 days of the Olympics on NBC is 17.6/30, up 16% from four years ago. And the average viewership continues to be above 31 million.

Your press release.

Through 16 Days, 31.1 Million Average Primetime Viewership for London Olympics on NBC is Best for Non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 Years

31.1 Million Average Viewership Through Saturday Tops Beijing by 12% and Athens by 25%
21.8 Million Average Viewership in Primetime Last Night Topped Comparable Night From Beijing by 30%
15^th Time in 16 Nights that Primetime Viewership Topped Comparable Nights from the 2008 Beijing Olympics

LONDON – August 12, 2012 – Through 16 days, the London Olympics has averaged 31.1 million viewers in primetime, making it the most-watched non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

• The 16-day average primetime viewership of 31.1 million is up 12% from the first 16 nights from the 2008 Beijing Olympics (27.7 million) and up 25% from the first 16 nights from the 2004 Athens Olympics (24.9 million).
• The 16-night average household rating of 17.6/30 is 9% higher than the first 16 nights from Beijing (16.2/28), and 16% higher than the first 16 nights from Athens (15.2/27), the last European Summer Olympics.

Last night’s primetime coverage of the London Olympics on NBC drew an average of 21.8 million viewers, the most-watched final Saturday of competition for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics since 1988 (Seoul). Last night marked the 15^th time in 16 nights that the average viewership for the London Olympics surpassed the Beijing Olympics.

Last night’s average viewership of 21.8 million topped the comparable night from the Beijing Olympics by 30% (16.8 million) and the Athens Olympics by 21% (18.0 million).

• The 30% margin over Beijing last night marked the biggest viewership advantage for of any night of the London Olympics vs. Beijing.

Last night’s primetime coverage on NBC (9-11:25 p.m. ET/PT) earned a 12.6/23 national rating/share, the highest-rated final Saturday night of competition for a non-U.S. Summer Olympics since 1992 (Barcelona). The 12.6 rating is 22% higher than the comparable night from Beijing (10.3/19), and 14% higher than the comparable night from Athens (11.1/21), the last European Olympics.

# # #

16-DAY METERED MARKET AVERAGE (ALL 56 METERED MARKETS):

1. Salt Lake City	25.1/45
2. Kansas City	22.6/38
3. Milwaukee	22.3/37
4. Denver	22.2/42
5. Columbus OH	22.0/37
6. Norfolk	21.3/33
7. Indianapolis	21.0/36
8. San Diego	20.9/37
T9. West Palm Beach	20.6/34
T9. Richmond	20.6/33
11. Albuquerque-Santa Fe	20.4/34
12. Portland, OR	20.2/42
T13. Minneapolis-St. Paul	19.9/38
T13. Oklahoma City	19.9/32
T15. Atlanta	19.7/32
T15. Washington	19.7/36
T15. Sacramento-Stockton	19.7/37
T15. Austin, TX	19.7/35
T19. San Francisco	19.5/39
T19. Nashville	19.5/31
21. Ft. Myers-Naples	19.4/35
22. St. Louis	19.0/32
23. Los Angeles	18.8/35
24. New Orleans	18.6/27
T25. Greensboro-High Point	18.4/29
T25. Tulsa	18.4/29
27. Knoxville	18.3/29
T28. Chicago	18.2/32
T28. Phoenix	18.2/31
T28. Cleveland	18.2/31
T31. New York	18.1/31
T31. Jacksonville	18.1/29
33. Louisville	18.0/30
34. Seattle-Tacoma	17.9/36
35. Orlando-Daytona Beach	17.8/31
36. Cincinnati	17.7/30
37. Philadelphia	17.5/29
38. Dallas-Ft. Worth	17.4/31
T39. San Antonio	17.3/27
T39. Memphis	17.3/27
T41. Detroit	17.2/29
T41. Baltimore	17.2/28
43. Pittsburgh	17.0/30
T44. Boston	16.7/31
T44. Houston	16.7/29
T44. Birmingham, Alabama	16.7/25
T47. Hartford-New Haven	16.6/28
T47. Las Vegas	16.6/29
T47. Buffalo	16.6/29
48. Greenville-Spartanburg	16.4/26
51. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale	16.1/27
52. Tampa-St. Petersburg	15.8/29
T53. Providence-New Bedford, RI	15.7/27
T53. Dayton	15.7/26
55. Raleigh-Durham	15.0/25
56. Charlotte	14.0/25

HIGHEST RATED BY TIME ZONE (THROUGH 16 DAYS):

Mountain	20.3/36
Pacific	19.0/36
Central	18.6/32
Eastern	17.8/30

There you have it.

NBC Sports Network Airs 16 Hour Olympic Marathon on Monday

As NBC Sports Network basks in the afterglow of its best viewership ever from the Olympics, it “Returns to London” on Monday with a 16 hour marathon of reruns. It’s all part an entire week of Olympic re-airs that will last until next Sunday, August 19.

On Monday, NBC Sports Network will air the best of basketball, beach volleyball, gymnastics, swimming, track & field and water polo that starts at 9 a.m. and will last until 2 a.m. Tuesday.

They’ll feature the original calls and be introduced by NBC’s Bob Costas, Al Michaels, Dan Patrick and Liam McHugh.

Here’s the schedule for Monday.

“Return to London: The Games of the XXX Olympiad” To Premiere Monday, August 13 at 9 A.M. ET on NBC Sports Network

Most Spectacular Moments of the 2012 London Olympics Featured during 16- hour Programming Marathon

NEW YORK – August 12, 2012 – Return to London: The Games of the XXX Olympiad relives some of the most spectacular, heart-pounding and historic moments of the London Olympics. This special premieres Monday, August 13, with a 16-hour marathon starting at 9 a.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Additional Return to London programming will continue throughout next week and conclude on August 19.

Return to London will air throughout the day on Monday with many of the most engaging gold medal matches, games and races from NBCUniversal’s epic coverage of the London Olympics. Programs will be introduced by NBC commentators Bob Costas (swimming, diving and gymnastics), Al Michaels (track and field and basketball), Dan Patrick (women’s beach and indoor volleyball and women’s water polo) and Liam McHugh (cycling and women’s soccer semifinal and final). Additionally, the coverage will include a number of post event interviews, and also showcases Bob Costas’ in-depth interview with Michael Phelps.

Highlighs of Return to London include Michael Phelps’ record-breaking 22 Olympic medals, and his retirement as the most decorated Olympian of all time; Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings third consecutive goal medal in beach volleyball; Usain Bolt’s Olympic record as the first man to win consecutive gold medals in the 100m and 200m; USA woman’s gymnastics, ‘The Fab Five,’ as they took the USA’s first gold medal since 1996, and all-around gold medal winner Gabby Douglas; Ryan Lochte’s gold medal performance in the 400 individual medley; Kenyan David Rudisha’s win in the 800 meters in world record time; USA women’s soccer gold medal win against Japan, redemption for their 2011 World Cup loss; Allyson Felix winning the 200m gold in track and field after winning silver in Athens and Beijing. Other events will include additional track and field coverage, men’s and women’s basketball final, cycling and BMX events, diving and water polo.

NBC Sports Network’s Return to London: The Games of the XXX Olympiad First day of Programming (all times ET, subject to change)

Monday, August 13

9 a.m.: Track and Field – Men’s Sprints
10 a.m.:  Track and Field – Women’s Sprints
11 a.m.:  Beach Volleyball – Women’s Final
12 p.m.:  Water Polo – Women’s Final
1 p.m.:  Swimming (part 1) – Women
2 p.m.:  Swimming (part 2) – Women
3 p.m.:  Gymnastics – Men’s all around
5 p.m.:  Gymnastics – Women’s all around
7 p.m.:  Swimming (part 1) – Men’s
8 p.m.:  Swimming (part 2) – Men’s
9 p.m.:  Basketball – Men’s Final
11 p.m.:  Basketball – Women’s Final
1 a.m.:  Track and Field – Men’s Sprints

There you have it.

NBCUniversal Programming For Day 16 of the 2012 Olympics

Ok, Day 16 has become a bit of a mess on NBC. If I put this up earlier in the day, I would have to edit the hell out of the post, but luckily, I was watching NBC’s primetime coverage and in came an announcement that affects Sunday’s daytime programming.

First, NBC will hit the air with its daytime coverage live in all time zones at 6 a.m. ET with the men’s marathon. It will go off the air at 9 a.m. for a special edition of Meet The Press and then return at 10 a.m. ET for coverage of the USA-Spain men’s basketball gold medal game.

Then in primetime, NBC will air London Gold, a retrospective of the 2012 Olympics hosted by Bob Costas and Al Michaels. The Closing Ceremony will air at 8:30 p.m. ET and NBC will then air some abortion called “Animal Practice” at 10:58 p.m.

And NBC will return at midnight to air some musical performances and most likely its closing montage for the Games.

NBC Sports Network has coverage of bronze medal games in men’s basketball, men’s volleyball and men’s water polo.

MSNBC will air the men’s mountain bike gold medal final and CNBC has live gold medal boxing bouts.

Check out the schedule below.

Live Daytime Coverage on NBC Featuring Team USA Men’s Basketball Gold Medal Final vs. Spain at 10 a.m. ET Today on NBC

London Gold on NBC at 7 p.m. ET/PT
Closing Ceremony on NBC at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT
Men’s Basketball, Water Polo and Handball Live on NBC Sports Network
Men’s Mountain Bike Cycling Gold Medal Final Live on MSNBC at 8:30 a.m. ET
*** SPECIAL PROGRAMMING NOTE ***
NBC’s Daytime Sunday Coverage LIVE to All Time Zones
*Sunday Night Programming Reminder: As previously announced, NBC will air a full episode of a commercial-free network preview of the new comedy, “Animal Practice,” immediately following the Closing Ceremony

LONDON – August 11, 2012 – Today’s daytime coverage on NBC will be live across all time zones featuring Team USA men’s basketball competing vs. Spain in the gold medal final at 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT/8a.m. MT/7 a.m. PT.

NBC’s live daytime coverage also includes gold medal finals of men’s volleyball featuring Russia vs. Brazil, men’s water polo featuring Croatia vs. Italy, freestyle wrestling and rhythmic group gymnastics.

NBC’s Olympic primetime host Bob Costas will host the London 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony from Olympic Stadium alongside co-hosts Al Michaels, the host of NBC’s Olympic daytime coverage, and Ryan Seacrest, Olympic primetime correspondent. The Closing Ceremony will follow London Gold, a special presentation of the top moments and athletes of the 2012 Olympics. Coverage begins Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT. As previously announced, NBC will air a full episode of a commercial-free network preview of the new comedy, “Animal Practice,” immediately following the Closing Ceremony.

LONDON CLOSING PARTY: Following late local news is the London Closing Party, with special musical guests, which will wrap up the unprecedented 5,535 hours of coverage from the London Olympic Games.

For more information on live streaming, please go to: NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra

For the full schedule of NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage, please go to: NBCOlympics.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 (Day 16)

NBC

6 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET
5 a.m. – 8 a.m. CT
4 a.m. – 7 a.m. MT
3 a.m. – 6 p.m. PT
Men’s Marathon (LIVE)

• LIVE coverage of the men’s marathon, a final chance for viewers to re-live the majestic sights of London, as the race cuts right through the heart of the city. Meb Keflezighi, the Athens silver medalist, won the 2009 New York Marathon and also the 2012 Olympic Trials, despite just a 69-day turnaround after running the 2011 New York Marathon. He and Ryan Hall, who finished 10^th in Beijing, both have an outside chance of breaking up what could be a Kenyan sweep of the medals.

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. MT
7 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT
Men’s Basketball – Gold Medal Final: USA vs. Spain (LIVE)
Men’s Volleyball – Gold Medal Final: Russia vs. Brazil
Men’s Water Polo – Gold Medal Final: Croatia vs. Italy
Wrestling – Freestyle Gold Medal Finals
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Group Gold Medal Final

• Five gold medal finals highlight the final day of competition, including LIVE coverage of the men’s basketball final. Twenty years after the original Dream Team, the United States men’s basketball team expects to be playing for a second straight gold. Plus the men’s volleyball gold medal final, where the U.S. is the reigning Olympic champion. Plus, the gold medal game in men’s water polo. Also finals in rhythmic gymnastics and freestyle wrestling.

7 p.m. – 10:38 p.m. (ET/PT)
“London Gold”
Closing Ceremony

10:38 p.m. – 11:20 p.m.
“Animal Practice”

midnight – 12:35 a.m. (ET/PT)
“Closing Party”

NBC SPORTS NETWORK

6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Men’s Basketball – Bronze Medal: Argentina vs. Russia (LIVE)
Men’s Volleyball – Bronze Medal: Bulgaria vs. Italy
Men’s Water Polo – Bronze Medal: Montenegro vs. Serbia  (LIVE)
Men’s Handball –

• Gold Medal Final: Sweden vs. France (LIVE)
• Bronze Medal: Hungary vs. Croatia

Women’s Modern Pentathlon – Gold Medal Final

NBC SPORTS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• Olympic medals are awarded in five sports, including LIVE coverage of the bronze medal games in men’s basketball and men’s water polo, plus the gold medal game in men’s handball.

MSNBC

7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Men’s Cycling – Mountain Bike Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
Wrestling – Freestyle Qualifying

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• LIVE coverage of the men’s mountain bike gold medal final as cyclists look to master their competition and the challenging terrain.

CNBC

8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Boxing – Gold Medal Finals (LIVE)

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• The final five bouts of the Olympic boxing tournament will be headlined by the world’s best pound-for-pound amateur boxer, Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine, who hopes to join an exclusive club of champions by winning his second Olympic gold medal.

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL

6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Men’s Basketball – Gold Medal Final: USA vs. Spain (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL

10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Gold Medal Final Encore

TELEMUNDO

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (ET/PT)
Men’s Volleyball – Gold Medal Final
Men’s Track and Field – Marathon
Boxing – Gold Medal Finals
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Gold Medal Final
Men’s Basketball – Gold Medal Final

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Closing Ceremony

3D

4 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final
Men’s Basketball – Semifinals

And that will do it.

NBC To Air Olympics Closing Ceremony on Tape; But Will Stream It Live Online

In a reversal of its original declaration, NBC has announced that the 2012 Olympics Closing Ceremony will be streamed live online when it kicks off at 4 p.m. ET. So those who want to see the entire enchilada without the TV commentary will be able to do so. Remember on the day of the Opening Ceremony, NBC had said the Opening Ceremony was too complex for Americans to understand without the commentary and instead, we were subjected to Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera talking too much and it was as if we were watching the third hour of the Today Show.

On TV, NBC will air the Closing Ceremony at 8:30 p.m. ET. Bob Costas and Al Michaels will co-host as they did on the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony in Vancouver two years ago. For some reason, all around hack Ryan Seacrest will be involved in the broadcast so the online stream through NBCOlympics.com, the Olympics Live Extra App or those BBC streams that have been popular during the Games might be the way to go. Of course, I don’t endorse online piracy, but people have been finding them.

Here’s what NBC is saying its Closing Ceremony coverage tomorrow night.

Bob Costas to Host the Closing Ceremony of the Games of the XXX Olympiad on NBC with Al Michaels and Ryan Seacrest

Closing Ceremony Celebrates London in Spectacular Fashion with “A Symphony of British Music” & the Athletes of the London Olympics
Coverage Begins Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT with London Gold Hosted by Costas and Michaels
As previously announced, NBC will air a full episode of a commercial-free network preview of the new comedy, Animal Practice, immediately following the Closing Ceremony.
London Closing Party, with Special Musical Guests, to Follow Animal Practice and Late Local News

LONDON – August 11, 2012 – NBC’s Olympic primetime host Bob Costas will host the London 2012 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony from Olympic Stadium alongside co-hosts Al Michaels, the host of NBC’s Olympic daytime coverage, and Ryan Seacrest, Olympic primetime correspondent. The Closing Ceremony will follow London Gold, a special presentation of the top moments and athletes of the 2012 Olympics. Coverage begins Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

Part of the Closing Ceremony will be “A Symphony of British Music,” celebrating one of Britain’s strongest cultural exports over the last 50 years, and featuring world-famous British musicians.

In the tradition of the Olympic Closing Ceremony, London will hand over the Olympic flag to Rio, the host of the next Summer Olympics in 2016. The flag will be turned over to Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes and there will be a samba- and Carnival-flavored cultural presentation by the next host city.

The Closing Ceremony features 4100 performers – 3500 adult volunteers and 380 schoolchildren from the six East London host boroughs.

LONDON GOLD: Preceding the Closing Ceremony, NBC Olympics will present London Gold (7-8:30 ET/PT). Hosted by Costas and Michaels, London Gold is a special presentation of the top moments and athletes of the 2012 Olympics, with features providing a fresh perspective on some of the most compelling stories of the Games that viewers haven’t seen before.

ANIMAL PRACTICE: Immediately following the Closing Ceremony, as previously announced, NBC will air a full episode of a commercial-free network preview of the new comedy, Animal Practice.

LONDON CLOSING PARTY: Following late local news is the London Closing Party, with special musical guests, which will wrap up the unprecedented 5,535 hours of coverage from the London Olympic Games.

CLOSING CEREMONY STREAMED LIVE: The entire Closing Ceremony will be streamed live on NBCOlympics.com and on the NBC Olympics Live Extra App on mobile devices and tablets beginning at 4 p.m. ET, to cable, satellite and telco customers who verify their subscriptions.

SUNDAY NIGHT NBC OLYMPICS SCHEDULE:

London Gold – 7-8:30 p.m. ET/PT
Closing Ceremony – 8:30-10:58 p.m. ET/PT
Preview of “Animal Practice” – 10:58-11:20 p.m. ET/PT
Local News – 11:20 p.m.-Midnight ET/PT
Closing Party – Midnight-12:35 a.m. ET/PT

# # #

The 2012 London Olympics is Costas’ 10^th for NBC and his ninth as primetime host. After serving as late night host in 1988 from Seoul, South Korea, Costas, a 23-time Emmy Award-winner, earned acclaim for his work as primetime host from Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Torino, Beijing and Vancouver. Costas, who has the longest tenure of the network’s sports commentators, joined NBC in 1980.

Michaels, one of the most renowned commentators of all-time and whose legendary “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” call at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games 32 years ago stands as one of the most famous calls in sports history, is NBC’s weekend and weekday Olympic daytime host, his second straight Olympics for NBC. Michaels was the daytime host at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in 2010, his first Olympic broadcast assignment in 22 years, when he covered hockey and hosted the Closing Ceremony at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics for ABC.

Emmy Award-winning producer and broadcaster Seacrest made his Olympic broadcasting debut in London. He served as a contributor for NBC’s primetime coverage from London, as well as joined the Today Show as a special correspondent throughout the Games, and contributed to E! News programming.

CLOSING CEREMONY CREDITS:

Executive Producer – Jim Bell
London marks Bell’s first Olympics as executive producer. Bell has worked on every Olympic Games NBC has broadcast since 1992, in either sports (1992, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004) or news (2006, 2008 and 2010). Bell also serves as executive producer of NBC News’ ‘Today.’

Producer – Fred Gaudelli
Director – Drew Esocoff
This is Gaudelli and Esocoff’s second time as the producer/director for the Olympics Closing Ceremony, reprising their roles from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The duo has produced/directed Sunday Night Football on NBC since its inception in 2006, which has won the Emmy for Outstanding Live Sports Series in each of the past four years. Esocoff also directed the swimming coverage in London.

And I’ll have the schedule for Day 16 on NBCUniversal coming next.

Canadian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium Programming For Day 16 of the 2012 Olympics

The final day of the Olympics usually includes the men’s marathon, the gold medal final of men’s basketball and volleyball, and a few final events to close out the Games. CTV, TSN, Rogers Sportsnet and OLN will air a two hour special hosted by Brian Williams through the best of the London Games.

Then at 4 p.m. ET, the Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium will wrap up its experience as Canada’s Olympic Networks with the Closing Ceremony to be aired and streamed across the country live.

We have what will distributed across the Consortium for the last time as CBC takes over the Olympics in 2014.

Day 16 Highlights: Sunday, August 12 – Gold Medal Games in Men’s Basketball and Volleyball; Canadian Wrestlers Hit the Mat for the Podium; LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES CLOSING CEREMONY Caps Off the Games

DAY 16 – SCHEDULED SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

OLYMPIC MORNING/ LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 4 a.m. – 12 noon ET

• Basketball: Men’s Bronze Medal Game – Argentina and Russia square off on the hardcourt for bronze (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Basketball: Men’s Gold Medal Game – Kobe Bryant and LeBron James lead the U.S. against Spain for gold (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Athletics: Men’s Marathon – Canada’s Reid Coolsaet, Eric Gillis, and Dylan Wykes trek through London in this final athletics event (TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Cycling: Men’s Mountain Bike Cross Country – Canada’s Geoff Kabush and Max Plaxton race for a spot on the podium; France looks for its fourth straight Olympic title (TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Wrestling: Men’s Freestyle 66kg and 96kg– Haislan Garcia (66kg) and Khetag Pliev (96kg) compete for Canada and look for a spot in the afternoon’s medal rounds (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Volleyball: Men’s Bronze Medal Game – It’s Bulgaria vs. Italy for the bronze (Sportsnet, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC DAYTIME / LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 12 – 2 p.m. ET

• Volleyball: Men’s Gold Medal Game – Russia and Brazil face off for Olympic glory (TSN, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Rhythmic Gymnastics: Women’s Group All-Around Final – Italy, winner of the past three World Championships, looks to upset Russia, three-time consecutive Olympic champions. (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

Airing 2 – 4 p.m. ET
OLYMPIC FAREWELL: Brian Williams takes Canadians through the best of London 2012. Along with encores of key Canadian performances and interviews, the show looks back at the inspiring stories and outstanding achievements that captivated the nation, including the Canadian women’s soccer team, Usain Bolt, and Missy Franklin. During the two-hour show, Lisa LaFlamme fronts a piece on women in sport, highlighting the courageous women competing for countries with female athletes for the first time in Olympic history. The feature also looks at the remarkable performances of Gabby Douglas in gymnastics, Missy Franklin in the pool, and Jessica Ennis on the track. Stephen Brunt also returns with his last essay of the Games, examining how London 2012 has redefined Great Britain through the golden performances of Team GB during last week’s ‘Super Saturday’. (CTV, TSN, Sportsnet, OLN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

Airing 4 – 7 p.m. ET
LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES CLOSING CEREMONY: Hosted by James Duthie and Jennifer Hedger, this spectacle caps off the 17 days of London 2012 and celebrates the athletes that made these Games possible. Dubbed “a mashed-up symphony” of British music by artistic director Kim Gavin, the LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES CLOSING CEREMONY is set to include some of Great Britain’s top musical acts including Muse, Ed Sheeran, George Michael, the Spice Girls, The Who, Annie Lennox and more. The show will also celebrate Rio, host of the 2016 Games, with a Brazilian-themed performance. (CTV, RDS, TSN, Sportsnet, V, OLN, OMNI. 2, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca and RDSolympiques.ca)

And coming up, NBC’s announcement on its Closing Ceremony coverage.

Friday’s Olympic Overnight Ratings Do Quite Well For NBC

We don’t have the final ratings for the 2012 Olympics on NBC for Friday’s primetime show. NBC says Nielsen’s process and data gathering had issues on Saturday so we won’t have final ratings and viewership numbers until Sunday morning. Once that comes in, I’ll post it here.

This is what NBC is saying about the overnights from Friday.

The overnight rating/share for Friday’s primetime broadcast on NBC was a 14.6/26, up 17% from the comparable night from the 2008 Beijing Olympics (12.5/22). The 17% gain over Beijing last night marked the biggest advantage for an overnight of any night of the London Olympics vs. Beijing.

Some other stuff is coming up.

Candian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium Programming For Day 15 of the 2012 Olympics

Here’s the programming schedule for the Canadian rightsholders for the 2012 Olympics.

Day 15 Highlights: Saturday, August 11 – Catharine Pendrel Pedals for the Podium; Canadians in Medal Contention in Canoe/Kayak; Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake Lead the Pack on the Track in the Men’s 4x100m Relay; Gold Medal Games in Men’s Soccer, Women

DAY 15 – SCHEDULED SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

OLYMPIC MORNING/ LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 4 a.m. – 12 noon ET

• Canoe/Kayak: Mixed – Eton Dorney hosts four final events, including men’s kayak single (K1) 200m with Canada’s Mark de Jonge, men’s kayak double (K2) 200m with Canada’s Hugues Fournel and Ryan Cochrane, men’s canoe single (C1) 200m, and women’s kayak single (K1) 200m. (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Mountain Bike Cross Country: Women’s Final – 2011 World Champion Catharine Pendrel competes against fellow Canadian Emily Batty and rival mountain biker Julie Bresset from France (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Soccer: Men’s Gold Medal Game – Mexico and Brazil battle it out for gold in this highly-anticipated match-up (CTV, RDS, OMNI. 1, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Taekwondo: Men’s +80kg – Currently seeded second in this Olympic tournament, Canada’s François Coulombe-Fortier looks to advance to the afternoon’s medal rounds (TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Volleyball: Women’s Bronze Medal Game – South Korea faces off against Japan in a fight for bronze (Sportsnet, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC DAYTIME / LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 12 – 6 p.m. ET

• Athletics – A total of seven medal events take place in the afternoon including the women’s 20km race walk final featuring Canada’s Rachel Seaman (OLN, V), the men’s 5000m final featuring Canada’s Cameron Levins, plus the men’s 4x100m final with Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake leading Jamaica* against the United States* and Canada* in a final baton sprint down the track. (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Diving: Men’s 10m Platform Final – Canada’s Riley McCormick* and Eric Sehn* compete against the world’s best divers including defending Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham* of Australia, reigning World Champion Qiu Bo* of China, and British medal hopeful Tom Daley* (TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Volleyball: Women’s Gold Medal Game – It’s a gold medal showdown between Brazil and the United States (TSN, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Basketball: Women’s Bronze and Gold Medal Games – Australia takes on Russia for bronze followed by the United States vs. France for gold in these hardcourt finals (Sportsnet, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME
Airing 7 – 11 p.m. ET/CT/MT/PT

• CTV: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON CTV host Brian Williams gives a complete rundown of Day 15 highlights and results. With a focus on Canadian performances, the four hour show looks at Catharine Pendrel in mountain bike, Mark de Jonge, Hugues Fournel and Ryan Cochrane in canoe/kayak, Riley McCormick* and Eric Sehn* in men’s 10m platform diving and more. OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON CTV also recaps the athletics events of the day – including another highly-anticipated race featuring Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake in the men’s 4x100m relay – and the men’s soccer final. (CTV, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• TSN: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON TSN host Darren Dutchyshen takes sports fans through four hours of Day 15 highlights including recaps of the women’s volleyball gold medal game between Brazil and the United States, the men’s soccer final featuring Brazil vs. Mexico and men’s taekwondo +80kg with Canada’s François Coulombe-Fortier. (TSN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Sportsnet: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON SPORTSNET with host Brad Fay recaps Canadian mountain biker Catharine Pendrel’s quest for a medal in the women’s cross-country. Pendrel is also featured in The Experts, where she proves to bobsledders Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown just how hard her sport really is. Plus, Sportsnet looks back at the incredible journey of the Canadian women’s soccer team. (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR RDS

• Host Chantal Machabée presents the highlights from Day 15 of London 2012 competition.(RDS, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR V

• Host Jean Pagé examines the day’s top highlights.(V, RDSolympiques.ca)

All programming is subject to change; visit the Bell Viewers’ Guide on CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca and on the CTV Olympics London 2012 and RDS olympiques pour Londres 2012 Apps for up-to-the minute schedules and listings.

*Pending qualification

That’s it.

NBCUniversal Programming For Day 15 of the 2012 Olympics

Let’s see what the networks of NBCUniversal have in store for us on Saturday. NBC’s daytime coverage which will include the women’s basketball gold medal game between the United States and France will be live in all time zones starting at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT.

Primetime on NBC will include the final day in earnest of track & field at Olympic Stadium including the men’s 4×100 meters relay gold medal final, the women’s 4×400 meter relay gold medal final, the women’s 800 meters and men’s 5,000 meters. Also in primetime, NBC will air the women’s volleyball gold medal final and the men’s 10 meter platform diving final.

NBC Sports Network carries the men’s soccer gold medal final between Brazil and Mexico as well as the women’s handball gold medal game.

MSNBC has the men’s modern pentathlon gold medal final which has to be seen to be believed.

And CNBC has several gold medal bouts in boxing.

Check out what’s on tap for Saturday.

MEN’S 4X100M RELAY FEATURING TYSON GAY, JUSTIN GATLIN AND JAMAICA’S USAIN BOLT SATURDAY NIGHT ON NBC

Team USA Women’s Volleyball Gold Medal Final vs. Brazil in Primetime on NBC
Women’s Basketball Team USA Gold Medal Final vs. France on NBC
Men’s Soccer Gold Medal Final Featuring Brazil vs. Mexico Live on NBC Sports Network at 10 a.m. ET
*** SPECIAL PROGRAMMING NOTE ***
NBC’s Daytime Saturday and Sunday Coverage LIVE to All Time Zones
*Sunday Night Programming Reminder: As previously announced, NBC will air a full episode of a commercial-free network preview of the new comedy, “Animal Practice,” immediately following the Closing Ceremony.

LONDON – August 10, 2012 – Saturday night on NBC, Tyson Gay & Justin Gatlin are expected to run for Team USA in the men’s 4x100m relay against Jamaica’s 100m and 200m two-time gold medalist Usain Bolt. In men’s indoor volleyball, Team USA goes up against Brazil for the gold medal.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING NOTE: NBC’S DAYTIME SATURDAY AND SUNDAY COVERAGE LIVE TO ALL TIME ZONES

This weekend’s daytime coverage on NBC will be LIVE across the country, featuring the men and women’s basketball gold medal finals and the men’s marathon.

On Saturday, live coverage starts at 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT/8 a.m. MT/7 a.m. PT, and features Australia vs. Russia in the women’s basketball bronze medal game and USA vs. France in the gold medal final.

On Sunday, live coverage starts at 6 a.m. ET/5 a.m. CT/4 a.m. MT/3 a.m. PT and features the men’s marathon. Then at 10 a.m. ET, Team USA vs. Spain in the men’s basketball final.

Live on NBC Sports Network on Saturday, the men’s soccer gold medal final featuring Brazil vs. Mexico at 10 a.m. ET, and the women’s handball gold medal final.

MSNBC’s live coverage features the women’s basketball bronze medal game between Australia and Russia at noon ET and men’s field hockey gold medal final featuring Germany vs. Netherlands live at 3 p.m.

All of the events mentioned above, and all other events will be live streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympics Live Extra app, available on mobile devices and tablets. The vast majority of live stream content will only be available to authenticated cable, satellite or telco customers.

For more information on live streaming, please go to: NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra

For the full schedule of NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage, please go to: NBCOlympics.com

Listings subject to change (all times ET unless otherwise noted). Changes are italicized.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 (Day 15)

NBC

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. MT
7 a.m. – 3 p.m. PT
Women’s Basketball – Gold Medal Final: U.S. vs. France (LIVE)
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Gold Medal Final
Women’s Cycling – Mountain Bike Gold Medal Final
Women’s Volleyball – Bronze Medal: Japan vs. Korea
Wrestling – Freestyle Semifinals
Canoeing – Sprint Gold Medal Finals

• LIVE coverage of the gold medal final in women’s basketball. The United States, led by former UConn stars Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore, will play for its fifth straight gold against France.
• Plus, gold medal finals in rhythmic gymnastics, canoeing and women’s mountain bike. Also freestyle wrestling semifinals and the bronze medal match in women’s volleyball.

8 p.m. – Midnight (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals

• Men’s 4 x 100M Relay
• Men’s 5000M
• Men’s Javelin
• Women’s 4 x 400M Relay
• Women’s 800M
• Women’s High Jump

Men’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final
Women’s Volleyball – Gold Medal Final: USA vs. Brazil

• The final night of track and field offers one last look at Jamaica’s electrifying sprint king Usain Bolt. He’ll be part of a Jamaican team that features three of the four fastest men in history in the 4x100m relay. The U.S., led by American record holder Tyson Gay and 2004 Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin, will try to get back on track after being disqualified in Beijing and the two world championships since. The Americans are heavy favorites in the women’s 4x400m relay and have contenders in the men’s 5000m with American record holder Bernard Lagat and Oregon legend Galen Rupp – although in the latter race, the home crowd will be pulling for Somalian-born Londoner Mo Farah, who trains with Rupp in Oregon and could win Great Britain’s first medal in the event in 40 years. In the women’s 800m, South Africa’s Caster Semenya, who won the 2009 world title at age 18, will attempt to win her first gold medal over a deep field that includes former Cal star Alysia Montano. And in the high jump, mother of two – Chaunte Lowe – is among the favorites for gold.
• The men’s platform contest is sure to be one of the most anticipated events of the Games, as 2009 world champion Tom Daley, a teen idol in Great Britain, takes the stage in his signature event – which was the only diving event China failed to win in Beijing. China’s Qiu Bo, the reigning world champion, is out to change that, while Daley, top American David Boudia of Indiana and Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham are among the contenders in this star-studded event.
• In women’s volleyball, Team USA is favored to win its first ever Olympic gold medal. It would be the second in a row for the team’s head coach Hugh McCutcheon, who coached the U.S. men to the Olympic title in 2008.

12:30 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Wrestling – Freestyle Gold Medal Finals

• Jake Herbert, a former world silver medalist and a two-time NCAA champion at Northwestern, is among the top American contenders.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK

4 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Gold Medal Final: Brazil vs. Mexico (LIVE)
Track and Field –

• Men’s 50K Walk (LIVE)
• Women’s 20K Walk (LIVE)

Women’s Handball

• Gold Medal Final: Norway vs. Montenegro (LIVE)
• Bronze Medal: Korea vs. Spain

Taekwondo – Gold Medal Finals

NBC SPORTS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• LIVE coverage of what could be one of the signature events of the Games, the men’s soccer gold medal final from storied Wembley Stadium.

MSNBC

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Women’s Basketball – Bronze Medal: Australia vs. Russia (LIVE)
Men’s Field Hockey –

• Gold Medal Final: Germany vs. Netherlands (LIVE)
• Bronze Medal: Australia vs. Great Britain (LIVE)

Men’s Modern Pentathlon – Gold Medal Final
Taekwondo – Qualifying Match

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• LIVE coverage of the bronze medal game in women’s basketball, plus the gold and bronze games in men’s field hockey.

CNBC

3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Boxing – Gold Medal Finals(LIVE)

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• The first night of men’s Olympic boxing finals gets underway, as the Americans look to bring home a boxing gold medal for the first time since the 2004 Athens Games.

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL

Noon – Midnight
Women’s Basketball – Gold Medal Final: USA vs. France (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL

10 a.m. – 10 p.m. g
Men’s Soccer – Gold Medal Final: Brazil vs. Mexico (LIVE)

TELEMUNDO

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (LIVE)
Men’s Soccer – Gold Medal Final: Brazil vs. Mexico (LIVE)
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Gold Medal Final
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Volleyball – Bronze Medal: Japan vs. Korea
Boxing – Gold Medal Finals

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final
Women’s Volleyball – Gold Medal Final: USA vs. Brazil

3D

5 a.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Diving – Platform Qualifying
Synchronized Swimming – Team Gold Medal Final
Women’s Basketball – Semifinal

That’s all.

USA-Japan Women’s Soccer Is Most Watched Event on NBCSN; Olympics Primetime on NBC Thursday Down Slightly From 2008

NBC is combining two announcements in one press release. It’s a good news-bad news release and any good PR department will bury the bad news and that’s certainly the case here.

We’ll work with NBC and announce their good news first. The USA-Japan women’s football gold medal match on Thursday became the most watched event on NBC Sports Network in its history. You think NBC is happy about the audience finding NBC Sports Network for the Olympics? You can bet your pet peacock it is.

The average audience for the game was 4.35 million viewers and received a very good 2.74 household rating. On cable on a Thursday afternoon, that is very good. And online, the match was the most streamed event in Olympic history.

For NBC, it had a down night. NFL preseason games in several markets like Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Milwaukee and San Diego, the Olympics on NBC saw a lower rating for Thursday, a 13.6 with a 23 share, down 1% for the second Thursday night of the Olympics in Beijing. Average viewership for the night was 22.9 million which actually beats Beijing by 500,000 viewers.

Here’s the press release.

Team USA Soccer Gold Medal Match Most-Watched Event in History of NBC Sports Network

Average of 4.35 Million Watch Team USA’s 2-1 Victory over Japan on NBC Sports Network
1.467 Million Video Streams for Team USA-Japan is Most-Streamed Event in Olympic History
More Than 210 Million Total Viewers for the London Olympics, Surpassed Total Viewership for Atlanta for 2nd Most-Watched Event in U.S. Television History
31.9 Million Average Viewership and 18.0 Household Rating for the First 14 Nights of the London Olympics is Most for any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 Years
22.9 Million Viewers in Primetime Last Night; 13th Time in 14 Nights that Primetime Viewership Topped Comparable Nights from the 2008 Beijing Olympics

LONDON – August 10, 2012 – Yesterday’s Team USA gold medal-winning soccer match against Japan drew 4.35 million viewers and had a national household rating of 2.74, the most-watched and highest-rated event ever on NBC Sports Network. Additionally, the match drew 1.467 million streams on NBCOlympics.com, the most-streamed event in Olympics history.

MOST-WATCHED EVENTS IN NBC SPORTS NETWORK HISTORY*

EVENT	DATE	VIEWERS
1. Team USA-Japan Soccer Gold Medal Match	8/9/12	4.350 million
2. NHL Stanley Cup Final Gm. 3: Flyers-Blackhawks	6/2/10	3.600 million
3. NHL Stanley Cup Final Gm. 4: Red Wings-Penguins	6/4/09	3.448 million
4. U.S. Men’s Basketball vs. Argentina	8/6/12	3.330 million
5. Olympics – Including Rowing Qualifying	7/28/12	3.140 million
6. NHL Stanley Cup Final Gm. 4: Flyers-Blackhawks	6/4/10	3.126 million
7. NHL Stanley Cup Final Gm. 3: Red Wings-Penguins	6/2/09	2.955 million
8. Team USA-Canada Semi-Final Soccer Match	8/6/12	2.918 million
9. NHL Stanley Cup Final Gm. 3: Canucks-Bruins	6/6/11	2.757 million
10. NHL Stanley Cup Final Gm. 4: Canucks-Bruins	6/8/11	2.714 million

*NBC Sports Network was rebranded from VERSUS in Jan. 2012.

• With 1.467 million streams, the gold medal soccer match was the most-streamed event in Olympic history, topping the USA women’s gymnastics all-around gold medal (1.463 million) and Usain Bolt winning the 100m race (1.289 million).

LONDON OLYMPICS NOW THE 2nd MOST-WATCHED EVENT IN U.S. TELEVISION HISTORY: With 210.5 million total viewers, the total audience for the London Olympics surpassed the Atlanta Olympics (209 million) and now stands as the second most-watched event in U.S. television history behind only the Beijing Olympics (215 million).

THROUGH 14 NIGHTS IN PRIMETIME – BEST VIEWERSHIP AND HOUSEHOLD RATING FOR NON-U.S. SUMMER GAMES IN 36 YEARS:

Through the first 14 days, the London Olympics has averaged 31.9 million viewers in primetime, and a household rating of 18.0/30, making it the most-watched and highest-rated non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

• The 14-day average primetime viewership of 31.9 million viewers is 3.3 million more viewers than the first 14 nights from Beijing (28.6 million) and 6.2 million more than the first 14 nights from Athens (25.7 million).
• The 14-night average household rating of 18.0/30 is 7% higher than the first 14 nights from Beijing (16.8/29), and 15% higher than the first 14 nights from Athens (15.6/27), the last European Summer Olympics.

Last night’s primetime coverage of the London Olympics on NBC drew an average of 22.9 million viewers, the most-watched second Thursday for non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics (23.7 million). Last night marked the 13th time in 14 nights that the average viewership for the London Olympics surpassed the Beijing Olympics.

Last night’s coverage, which featured Ashton Eaton winning the gold medal in the decathlon, and Usain Bolt winning gold in the 200m for the second consecutive Olympics, drew 22.9 million viewers, topping the comparable night from the Beijing Olympics (22.4 million) and the Athens Olympics (21.5 million).

Last night’s primetime coverage on NBC (8-11:11 p.m. ET/PT) earned a 13.6/23 national rating/share, just 1% off the comparable night from Beijing (13.8/23), and Athens (13.8/24), the last European Olympics.

# # #

14-DAY METERED MARKET AVERAGE (ALL 56 METERED MARKETS):

1. Salt Lake City — 26.0/46
2. Kansas City — 23.9/39
3. Milwaukee — 23.4/39
4. Denver — 23.1/43
5. Columbus, OH — 22.9/38
6. Norfolk – 22.4/34
7. Indianapolis — 22.0/37
8. San Diego — 21.8/38
9. Richmond — 21.6/34
10. West Palm Beach — 21.4/35
11. Albuquerque-Santa Fe — 21.2/35
12. Minneapolis-St. Paul — 20.9/40
13. Portland — 20.8/43
T14. Sacramento-Stockton — 20.6/38
T14. Oklahoma City — 20.6/33
T16. Washington, D.C. — 20.5/37
T16. Austin — 20.5/36
T16. Ft. Myers-Naples — 20.5/36
T19. Atlanta — 20.4/33
T19. Nashville — 20.4/32
21. San Francisco — 20.3/40
22. St. Louis — 20.1/33
23. Los Angeles — 19.4/36
24. New Orleans — 19.3/27
T25. Chicago — 19.2/33
T25. Tulsa — 19.2/30
27. Phoenix — 19.1/32
T28. Cleveland — 19.0/32
T28. Jacksonville — 19.0/30
30. Greensboro-High Point — 18.9/30
T31. New York — 18.8/32
T31. Knoxville — 18.8/30
33. Seattle-Tacoma — 18.7/38
34. Louisville — 18.6/31
T35. Orlando-Daytona Beach — 18.5/32
T35. Cincinnati– 18.5/31
37. Philadelphia — 18.4/30
38. Dallas-Ft. Worth — 18.3/32
T39. Detroit — 18.2/30
T39. Baltimore — 18.2/30
41. San Antonio — 18.0/28
T42. Pittsburgh — 17.9/31
T42. Memphis — 17.9/27
44. Houston — 17.6/30
45. Boston — 17.5/33
T46. Birmingham — 17.4/26
T46. Buffalo — 17.4/30
T48. Hartford-New Haven — 17.2/29
T48. Greenville-Spartanburg — 17.2/27
T48. Las Vegas — 17.2/29
51. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale — 16.7/27
T52. Tampa-St. Petersburg — 16.5/30
T52. Providence-New Bedford — 16.5/28
54. Dayton — 16.3/27
55. Raleigh-Durham — 15.7/25
56. Charlotte — 14.5/25

HIGHEST RATED BY TIME ZONE (THROUGH 14 DAYS):

Mountain — 21.2/37
Pacific — 19.8/37
Central — 19.5/33
Eastern — 18.6/31

And that will do it.

Doing Our Friday Megalinks

Haven’t been able to provide the Friday megalinks in a while. Let’s do an edition today.

Normally I include a link to the Weekend Viewing Picks, but I’ll be doing that tonight so you can find it on my site when it’s posted. If you follow me on Twitter or have an RSS feed, you’ll be updated as soon as it posts. If not, you can find it later.

Let’s do the links.

National

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand wonders what effect the gold medal win by the US Women’s Soccer National Team will have on the sport in the long run.

Michael also live blogged Thursday’s Olympic Primetime on NBC.

Jeffrey Martin of USA Today looks at the grand experiment that’s known as the Pac-12 Networks.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch talks with NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus about the NBCUniversal’s handling of the 2012 Olympics.

At the Sports on Earth blog, Joe Posnanski chronicles his day in covering the Olympics.

Austin Karp of Sports Business Daily says with NFL preseason games airing in many local markets on Thursday, NBC Olympic overnight ratings took a hit.

Bill King of SBD says CBS Sports is forging ahead with a show featuring the professional debut of several US Olympic boxers despite their poor performance in London.

Ryan Baucom of SBD writes that several Olympic athletes are getting a boost in Twitter followers after their success in the London Games.

Tripp Mickle of SBD says Universal Sports broke out an ad on NBC Thursday trying to promote its Olympic sports programming. Good luck with that.

Eric Fisher of SBD says Yahoo is declaring victory over NBCOlympics.com for unique pageviews.

Sohrab Amari of the Wall Street Journal reviews an NBC News documentary fronted by Tom Brokaw which will air on NBC’s Olympic coverage on Saturday.

Sarah Kwak of Sports Illustrated talks with Lolo Jones about the media firestorm that swelled just before she ran her 100 meters hurdles race.

In the Sherman Report, Ed Sherman talks with outgoing Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan about his first job. Ryan will be missed in the pages of the Globe.

Sports Media Journal’s Keith Thibault and I have an Olympic-themed podcast with Richard Sandomir of the New York Times and Bruce Beck of WNBC-TV.

The Hollywood Reporter notes that Today Show host Matt Lauer had an icy reunion with former co-host Ann Curry on NBC’s London Olympics set.

John Eggerton at Broadcasting & Cable writes that the FCC has already denied a Comcast request to stay its decision requiring the cable provider to give space to the Tennis Channel.

Christopher Heine of Adweek says Olympic marketers have failed to medal in their social media campaigns.

But Simon Dumenco of Advertising Age looks at the Olympic sponsors that managed to get a boost through social media.

Michael Learmonth of Advertising Age says NBC and the International Olympic Committee have to fix the Olympic business model before it breaks down.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life notes that NBC’s ratings for Wednesday Olympic Primetime show drew better viewership numbers than Atlanta in 1996.

Brandon Costa of Sports Video Group says CBS Sports is preparing for all type of weather conditions for this weekend’s PGA Championship.

Karen Hogan of SVG looks at NBC New York Olympic operations.

Ken Kerschbaumer at SVG says Denmark TV has a floating barge studio for the London Olympics. Now that’s pretty cool.

And Birgit Heidsiek of SVG says Eurosport TV is producing the Olympics in 3-D.

Jason Fry of the Poynter Institute and writing as the ESPN Ombudsman investigates a plagiarism incident at the Alleged Worldwide Leader.

Ronnie Ramos at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center writes that the Pac-12 Conference is readying an aggressive digital strategy that will go along with its television distribution.

Ty Duffy at The Big Lead goes after former NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol for being out of touch in defending the tape delayed Olympics.

The Big Lead looks at the Pac-12 being in the forefront of digital distribution after being marred for years of being behind the curve.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says the Miami Dolphins will take advantage of the NFL’s relaxed TV blackout policy this weekend.

Emmett Jones of Sports Business Digest notes that Buffalo Wild Wings has purchased naming rights for a college bowl game. Looks like it will be going to overtime every year.

Sports Media Watch says with NBC committed to the Olympics this year, the NFL Hall of Fame preseason game was aired on NFL Network and naturally suffered a big viewer dropoff.

SMW reports that NBC got another ratings increase for the Olympics.

TVNewsCheck says Gannett is declaring victory saying three of its stations are the top-rated local NBC affiliates in key demographics.

Alex Weprin of TVNewser looks at NBC’s Today Show operations in London.

At TVSpy, Alex tours NBC’s operation center for its local affiliates in London.

East and Mid-Atlantic

Chad Finn of the Boston Globe talks with Celtics TV voice Mike Gorman who’s been calling Olympic handball off a monitor for NBC.

At SB Nation Boston, Bruce Allen discusses Golf Channel’s meteoric rise and its plans to cover the PGA Championship this weekend.

Jane L. Levere of the New York Times writes about ESPN’s new ad campaign for Monday Night Football.

Verne Gay at Newsday notes that a long-time NBC Sports director is retiring after the Olympics.

Newsday’s Chris Serico wonders if NBC’s Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera will be a bit more subdued during the Olympic Closing Ceremony on Sunday than their talkative performance during the Opening Ceremony two Fridays ago.

Neil Best of Newsday catches up with ESPN’s Ron Jaworski who’s filling a new role at the network after being in the Monday Night Football both.

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post is in another one of his moods today.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union notes a local radio station’s high school football schedule.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record says Pac-12 Networks will be seen on Time Warner Cable locally.

Keith Groller of the Allentown (PA) Morning Call says despite a lost season, the Philadelphia Phillies TV crew still has plenty to talk about during games.

Tim Richardson in Press Box looks at the business of fantasy football as leagues get ready to hold their drafts soon, if not already.

Sarah Kogod of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog notes that more people were watching the DC NFL Team in area sports bars last night as compared to the Nationals.

Dan Steinberg of the DC Sports Bog says the Nationals radio team tried to explain the term “ball bag”.

South

Greg Cote of the Miami Herald reviews HBO’s Hard Knocks on the Dolphins.

Craig Davis of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the Dolphins have announced their TV blackout policy today.

Mel Bracht of The Oklahoman says a local high school sports TV show expands to a new market.

Midwest

The Cincinnati Enquirer says ESPN’s College GameDay could be visiting the Queen City in February.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at Dick Ebersol’s latest comments on tape delaying Olympic events.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks with a local sports radio host who’s perturbed at a former employer.

Dan notes that the Olympics and the St. Louis Cardinals ratings have been hurt by each other.

West

Patrick Finley of the Arizona Daily Star says the Pac-12 Networks are ready to launch next week, but without a few major cable and satellite providers.

John Maffei of the North County Times talks with a former NBC Olympics analyst who was fired on the spot after calling a race.

To the Ventura County Star where Jim Carlisle talks about the increased spotlight on the Pac-12 through its new TV networks.

Jim says Twitter has become an Olympic event.

Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times has the Irish radio call of boxer Katie Taylor’s victory giving the country its first gold medal of the Olympics.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says this is a critical time for beach volleyball as the sport is in transition now.

Tom has some Olympic TV notes in his blog.

And those are your supersized megalinks for today.

Sports Media Weekly, No. 113, Olympic Edition — Richard Sandomir & Bruce Beck

In ramping up for these Games, it had been my goal to get someone from London covering the Olympics for this podcast. Luckily, I achieved this goal in this podcast. And I’m proud to say that this is one our best editions.

This week, Keith Thibault of Sports Media Journal and I made this edition an Olympic theme and why not? We have two guests for you and it worked out that this is a New York theme, Richard Sandomir, the sports media and business writer for the New York Times and Bruce Beck, the sports director of WNBC-TV of New York.

We began with Richard and we spoke about his thoughts about NBC’s Primetime coverage of the Games and its familiar formula that goes back to 1992. Richard gave us what he thought was good about NBC’s coverage and what he felt was missing. He also opined on former NBC Sports Emperor Dick Ebersol’s interview with Joe Posnanski about how the Olympics are broadcast on US television. And we also discussed how NBC kept the Olympics in its stable through 2020.

Our second guest, Bruce Beck of News 4 New York joined us from London where he’s covering the Games for NBC’s flagship owned-and-operated affiliate in New York. Bruce gave us the flavor of the Games, this being the 5th Olympiad he’s covered. He explained the local angles he’s reported to viewers in the tri-state area and some of the more interesting stories he came across over the years. Bruce also told us of some of the sacrifices he’s made in covering he Olympics, plus he talked about the broadcasting camp that he and CBS’ Ian Eagle run for young teens.

This was a fun podcast to do and I hope it came across. Lots of good stuff in a 30 minute podcast so you can listen on that short trip in the car, on the bus or during your morning workout. You can find it on iTunes by searching for “Sports Media Journal” or go directly to the site.

NBCUniversal Programming For Day 14 of the 2012 Olympics

The networks of NBC will be ready to wind down as we approach the final weekend of the Olympics.

On Friday, there will be the women’s 4×100 meters relay and men’s 4×400 meters relay. The USA men’s basketball team will be in the semifinals on Friday taking on Argentina, a team it already defeated earlier in pool play.

There will be gold medal finals in synchronized swimming, open water swimming, wrestling, BMX cycling, women’s field hockey, and so much more.

Let’s take a look at what the networks of NBCUniversal have in store for the beginning of the final weekend of the 2012 Olympic Games. It’s all listed below.

Team USA Runs for Gold in Women’s 4x100m Relay & Men’s 4x400m Relay Friday in Primetime on NBC

A Special Feature “Dream Team” Airs on NBC’s Daytime Show on Friday
Team USA Men’s Basketball Semifinal vs. Argentina Live on NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. ET
*** SPECIAL PROGRAMMING NOTE ***
NBC’s Daytime Saturday and Sunday Coverage LIVE to All Time Zones
*Sunday Night Programming Reminder: As previously announced, NBC will air a full episode of a commercial-free network preview of the new comedy, “Animal Practice,” immediately following the Closing Ceremony on August 12^th.

LONDON – August 9, 2012 – Team USA runs for the gold in the women’s 4x100m relay with Carmelita Jeter and Allyson Felix expected to sprint, and the men’s 4x400m relay Friday night on NBC. Additionally, David Boudia dives in the platform qualifying round from three-stories up and gold medal finals in men’s pole vault, women’s 1500m and BMX cycling gold medal finals.

During the day on NBC, gold medal finals in synchronized swimming, open water swimming and the women’s 5000m. “Dream Team,” the story behind the gold medal-winning men’s basketball team from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, airs tomorrow in daytime. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Charles Barkley are featured along with assistant coach and current Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “Dream Team” is produced by NBC Olympics feature producer Israel DeHerrera.

Team USA men’s basketball semifinal game vs. Argentina will air live on NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. ET.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING NOTE: NBC’S DAYTIME SATURDAY AND SUNDAY COVERAGE LIVE TO ALL TIME ZONES

On Saturday, live coverage on NBC starts at 10 a.m. ET/9a.m. CT/8 a.m. MT/7a.m. PT with the women’s basketball gold medal final. On Sunday, live coverage of on NBC begins with the men’s marathon from 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. ET/5 a.m. – 8 a.m. CT/4 a.m. – 7 a.m. MT/3 a.m. – 6 a.m. PT. Then at 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT/8 a.m. MT/7 a.m. PT, NBC airs live coverage of the men’s basketball gold medal final.

All of the events mentioned above, and all other events will be live streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympics Live Extra app, available on mobile devices and tablets. The vast majority of live stream content will only be available to authenticated cable, satellite or telco customers.

For more information on live streaming, please go to: NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra

For the full schedule of NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage, please go to: NBCOlympics.com

Listings subject to change (all times ET unless otherwise noted). Changes are italicized.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 (Day 14)

NBC

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (9 a.m. CT/PT)
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Qualifying
Synchronized Swimming – Team Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
Wrestling – Freestyle Qualifying
Men’s Swimming – Marathon
Canoeing – Sprint Qualifying Heats
Track and Field – Women’s 5000 Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

• LIVE coverage of the synchronized swimming team gold medal final and the women’s 5000m gold medal final on the track.
• Plus, gold medal finals in open water swimming and freestyle wrestling. Also key qualifying rounds in canoeing.

8 p.m. – Midnight (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals

• Men’s 4 x 400M Relay
• Men’s Pole Vault
• Women’s 4 x 100M Relay
• Women’s 1500M

Men’s Diving – Platform Qualifying Round
Cycling – BMX Gold Medal Finals

• Track and field’s relays kick off with the men’s 4x400m race and the women’s 4x100m. Team USA has won nearly every 4x400m competition since the event was added to the Olympic program in 1908, and is favored again. In the women’s 4x100m, Team USA, led by Carmelita Jeter and Allyson Felix, is expected to face a fierce challenge from Jamaica. And a duo of milers, champion Morgan Uceny and Shannon Rowbury, look for the first ever American medal in the women’s 1500m.
• The men’s platform contest is sure to be one of the most anticipated events of the Games, as 2009 world champion Tom Daley, a teen idol in Great Britain, takes the stage in his signature event – which was the only diving event China failed to win in Beijing. China’s Qiu Bo, the reigning world champion, is out to change that, while Daley, top American David Boudia of Indiana and Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham are among the deep field of contenders in this event.
• In the men’s and women’s finals of BMX, the top riders will decide their Olympic fates in a 40-second scramble to the finish. In the women’s race, Great Britain’s triple world champion Shanaze Reade could be one of the Games’ biggest redemption stories after crashing out of the medals in Beijing in an aggressive push to go from second to first on the final turn. American Alise Post, a former gymnast from St. Cloud Minnesota is among the women trying to thwart Reade. In the men’s race, the top American is 19-year-old Las Vegas native Connor Fields, who will try to hold off a cadre of Southern California-based international stars.

12:35 a.m. – 1:35 a.m. (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Water Polo Semifinal – Italy vs. Serbia

• Gold medals are up for grabs on both the track and the field, with the women’s hammer throw.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK

8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Men’s Basketball – Semifinals

• Spain vs. Russia (LIVE)
• U.S. vs. Argentina (LIVE)

Wrestling – Freestyle Qualifying Round
Women’s Field Hockey

• U.S. vs. Belarus
• Bronze Medal Game: New Zealand vs. Great Britain (LIVE)

Taekwondo – Qualifying
Men’s Volleyball Semifinal – Brazil vs. Italy

NBC SPORTS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• LIVE coverage of the U.S. men’s basketball semifinal. Twenty years after the original Dream Team, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and company continue their run at London gold in the semifinal, exclusively on NBC Sports Network. Plus, LIVE coverage of women’s field hockey.

MSNBC

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – Bronze Medal: Korea vs. Japan (LIVE)
Men’s Volleyball – Semifinal: Bulgaria vs. Russia (LIVE)
Men’s Water Polo – Semifinal: Croatia vs. Montenegro
Men’s Handball – Semifinals

• Hungary vs. Sweden (LIVE)
• France vs. Croatia

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• LIVE coverage of the bronze medal game in men’s soccer, men’s volleyball semifinal round and men’s handball semifinals highlight a big day of team sports action on MSNBC.

CNBC

5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Men’s Boxing – Semifinals
Women’s Field Hockey – Netherlands vs. Argentina
Taekwondo – Gold Medal Finals

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• A thrilling night of boxing features semifinal bouts, women’s field hockey and taekwondo gold medal finals.

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL

Noon – Midnight
Men’s Basketball – Semifinals (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL

2:45 p.m. – 2:45 a.m.
Men’s Bronze Medal LIVE and Women’s Gold Medal Final Encore

TELEMUNDO

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (LIVE)
Men’s Soccer – Bronze Medal (LIVE)
Men’s Basketball – Semifinals
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Qualifying Round
Men’s Boxing – Semifinals
Men’s Volleyball – Semifinals
Synchronized Swimming – Team Gold Medal Final

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Diving – Platform Qualifying Round

3D

5 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final
Synchronized Swimming – Team Qualifying
Men’s Basketball – Quarterfinal
Women’s Basketball – Semifinal

That’s going to do it.

Canadian Olympic Broadcast Consortium Programming For Day 14 of the 2012 Olympics

Just three more days of the Olympics and there are quite a few finals in various sports like BMX cycling, Taekwondo, wrestling, and track & field.

There are semifinals in men’s basketball and the men take on the 10 meter diving platform.

Take a look at what the networks of the Canadian Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium have in store for the second and last Friday of the Olympics.

Day 14 Highlights: Friday, August 10 – Canada’s Karine Sergerie and Sébastien Michaud Spar in Taekwondo; Canada’s Synchronized Swimming Team Looks to Blow the Competition Out of the Water

DAY 14 – SCHEDULED SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

OLYMPIC MORNING/ LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 4 a.m. – 12 noon ET

• Canoe/Kayak: Mixed – Eton Dorney hosts qualifying heats and semifinals for four events, all featuring Canadians: men’s kayak single 200m (Mark de Jonge), men’s canoe single 200m (Jason McCoombs), women’s kayak single 200m (Émilie Fournel) and men’s kayak double 200m (Hugues Fournel and Ryan Cochrane). (CTV, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• BMX: Men’s and Women’s Semifinals and Final – Tory Nyhaug* is flying high for Canada against reigning World Champion Sam Willoughby* in this fast-paced sport making its second appearance at an Olympic Games (CTV, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Taekwondo: Women’s 67kg and Men’s 80kg – Canadians Karine Sergerie, who brought home silver at the Beijing 2008 Games, and Sébastien Michaud, bronze medallist at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships, look to advance to the afternoon’s medal rounds (TSN, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Wrestling: Men’s 55kg and 74kg – Canada’s David Tremblay and Matt Gentry hit the mat for a spot in the afternoon’s bronze and gold medal matches (TSN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Synchronized Swimming: Women’s Team Free Routine – Canada is poised to swim back onto the podium for the first time since Sydney 2000 with its innovative routines; Russia’s Anastasia Davydova holds her breath in search of a record-setting fifth Olympic gold medal in synchronized swimming. (Sportsnet, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC DAYTIME / LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 12 – 6 p.m. ET

• Basketball: Men’s – Spain takes on Russia followed by Argentina vs. USA in these highly-anticipated hardcourt semifinal showdowns (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Athletics – In addition to the first round of women’s 4x400m relay and men’s 4x100m relay, six medal events take place including: men’s pole vault, women’s hammer throw, women’s 5000m, women’s 4x100m relay, women’s 1500m, and men’s 4x400m relay. (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Soccer: Men’s Bronze Medal Match – South Korea faces off against Japan in a fight for bronze (Sportsnet, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Diving: Men’s 10m Platform – Canadians Riley McCormick and Eric Sehn compete in the preliminary round against Great Britain’s young diving star Tom Daley and 2011 World Champion Qui Bo of China (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME
Airing 7 – 11 p.m. ET/CT/MT/PT

• CTV: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON CTV host Brian Williams gives a complete rundown of Day 14 highlights and results with a focus on Canadian performances. The four-hour show recaps the athletics events of the day, BMX cycling and Tory Nyhaug*’s performance, taekwondo with looks at Karine Sergerie and Sébastien Michaud’s results, diving, canoe/kayak, and marathon swimming. (CTV, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• TSN: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON TSN host Darren Dutchyshen takes sports fans through four hours of Day 14 highlights including recaps of men’s volleyball semifinals, Canada’s underwater performance in synchronized swimming, and men’s water polo semifinal #2(TSN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Sportsnet: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON SPORTSNET with host Brad Fay reviews the men’s basketball semifinals with coverage of powerhouse Argentina taking on the favoured United States, as well as Spain vs. Russia. Canadians Karine Sergerie and Sébastien Michaud look to fight their way to the podium in taekwondo, while Adam van Koeverden teaches kayaking in another edition of The Experts. (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR RDS

• Host Chantal Machabée presents the highlights from Day 14 of London 2012 competition. (RDS, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR V

• Host Jean Pagé examines the day’s top highlights. (V, RDSolympiques.ca)

All programming is subject to change; visit the Bell Viewers’ Guide on CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca and on the CTV Olympics London 2012 and RDS olympiques pour Londres 2012 Apps for up-to-the minute schedules and listings.

*Pending qualification

NBCUniversal’s programming is next.

Another Olympic Primetime Means Another Win For NBC

I’ve been sitting at my computer waiting for this press release and I forgot that NBC has a website that archives everything so it’s bad on me for waiting so long.

So, NBC saw yet another increase for the Olympics. Day 12 garnered a 16.8 with a 28 share for Wednesday. Bolstered by the All-American women’s beach volleyball final between Kerri Walsh-Jennings/Misty May-Treanor and Jen Kessy/April Ross plus Allison Felix winning her gold medal in the 200 meters plus an American 1-2 finish in the men’s 110 meter hurdles, it was 11% better than Beijing for the second Wednesday night of the Olympics.

Viewership was very good as well with 29.1 million people watching. It’s the best second Wednesday night for any Olympics dating back to 1976 in Montreal on ABC.

NBC’s weekday daytime show is also doing well averaging 7.3 million viewers, up 33% from the Communist China Games.

Here’s NBC press release.

29.1 MILLION AVERAGE VIEWERSHIP ON NBC LAST NIGHT IS BEST SECOND WEDNESDAY FOR ANY SUMMER OLYMPICS IN 36 YEARS

12th Time in 13 Nights that Primetime Viewership Topped Comparable Nights from the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Last Night’s Viewership also Topped the Comparable night From the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
32.6 Million Average Viewership and 18.3 Household Rating for the First 13 Nights of the London Olympics is Most for any Non-U.S. Summer Olympics in 36 Years
NBC’s Daytime Show is Averaging 7.3 Million Viewers; Has Topped Beijing Each Day of Olympics

LONDON – August 9, 2012 – Last night’s primetime coverage of the London Olympics on NBC drew an average of 29.1 million viewers, the most-watched second Wednesday for ANY Summer Olympics since the 1976 Montreal Olympics, even topping the second Wednesday night from the Atlanta Olympics (28.9 million). Last night marked the 12^th time in 13 nights that the average viewership for the London Olympics surpassed the Beijing Olympics.

Last night’s coverage, which featured Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings taking their third straight gold medal in beach volleyball; Allison Felix winning the gold medal in the 200m race; and Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson winning gold and silver, respectively, in the 110m hurdles, drew 29.1 million viewers, topping the comparable night from the Beijing Olympics by 17% (24.8 million) and the Athens Olympics by 20% (24.3 million). The viewership even topped the comparable night from the Atlanta Olympics (28.9 million).

Last night’s primetime coverage on NBC (8-11 p.m. ET/PT) earned a 16.8/28 national rating/share, 11% higher than the comparable night from Beijing (15.2/26), and 10% higher than the comparable night from Athens (15.3/26), the last European Olympics.

FIRST 13 NIGHTS IN PRIMETIME – BEST VIEWERSHIP AND HOUSEHOLD RATING FOR NON-U.S. SUMMER GAMES IN 36 YEARS:

Through the first 13 days, the London Olympics has averaged 32.6 million viewers in primetime, and a household rating of 18.3/31, making it the most-watched and highest-rated non-U.S. Summer Olympics since the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

• The 13-day average primetime viewership of 32.6 million viewers is 3.6 million more viewers than the first 13 nights from Beijing (29.0 million) and 6.6 million more than the first 13 nights from Athens (26.0 million).
• The 13-night average household rating of 18.3/31 is 8% higher than the first 13 nights from Beijing (16.9/29), and 16% higher than the first 13 nights from Athens (15.8/27), the last European Summer Olympics.

NBC’S WEEKDAY COVERAGE UNDEFEATED VS. BEIJING:

NBC’s weekday daytime show is averaging 7.3 million viewers (eight telecasts), up 33% from the Beijing (5.5 million) and 38% from Athens (5.3 million).

• Each weekday telecast of the London Games has topped each comparable show from Beijing.
• The 5.2/15 household rating for the weekday daytime show is up 27% from Beijing (4.1/13) and up 30% from Athens (4.0/13).

# # #

13-DAY METERED MARKET AVERAGE (ALL 56 METERED MARKETS):

1. Salt Lake City	26.5/47
2. Kansas City	24.2/40
3. Milwaukee	24.1/40
4. Denver	23.8/45
5. Columbus, OH	23.2/38
6. Norfolk	22.9/35
7. Indianapolis	22.4/38
8. San Diego	22.2/39
9. Richmond	22.1/35
10. West Palm Beach	21.8/36
11. Albuquerque-Santa Fe	21.4/35
12. Minneapolis-St. Paul	21.2/40
T13. Washington	21.0/38
T13. Portland, OR	21.0/43
T13. Oklahoma City	21.0/33
T16. Sacramento-Stockton	20.9/38
T16. Austin, TX	20.9/37
18. Ft. Myers-Naples	20.8/37
19. Atlanta	20.7/34
20. Nashville	20.6/32
21. San Francisco	20.5/41
22. St. Louis	20.4/34
T23. Los Angeles	19.8/36
T23. New Orleans	19.8/28
25. Chicago	19.6/34
T26. Jacksonville	19.5/31
T26. Tulsa	19.5/31
28. Phoenix	19.4/33
29. Cleveland	19.3/32
30. Greensboro-High Point	19.2/30
31. Knoxville	19.1/30
32. New York	19.0/32
33. Seattle-Tacoma	18.9/38
T34. Philadelphia	18.8/31
T34. Orlando-Daytona Beach	18.8/33
T34. Baltimore	18.8/31
T34. Louisville	18.8/31
38. Cincinnati	18.7/31
39. Dallas-Ft. Worth	18.6/32
T40. Detroit	18.4/30
T40. Pittsburgh	18.4/32
T40. San Antonio	18.4/29
43. Memphis	18.2/28
44. Boston	18.0/34
45. Houston	17.9/31
46. Buffalo	17.7/31
47. Las Vegas	17.6/30
T48. Hartford-New Haven	17.5/29
T48. Greenville-Spartanburg	17.5/28
T48. Birmingham, Alabama	17.5/26
51. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale	16.9/28
T52. Tampa-St. Petersburg	16.8/30
T52. Providence-New Bedford, RI	16.8/29
54. Dayton	16.6/27
55. Raleigh-Durham	16.0/26
56. Charlotte	14.8/26

HIGHEST RATED BY TIME ZONE (THROUGH 13 DAYS):

Mountain	21.6/38
Pacific	20.1/38
Central	19.9/33
Eastern	18.9/32

That is it. The Olympic programming posts are next.

Breaking Out Some Thursday Linkage

Let’s do the Thursday linkage. We’re doing well so far this week, knock on wood.

Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal reports NBC’s overnight rating for Wednesday’s Olympic Primetime was up from Beijing.

Tripp Mickle of Sports Business Journal says YouTube is looking to further strengthen its live sports portfolio after streaming Olympic content in Africa and Asia.

Austin Karp of SBJ says NBC’s Olympic ratings remain ahead of Beijing’s pace.

Michael Katz of USA Today notes that USA gold medal-winning gymnast McKayla Maroney taught NBC’s Jenna Bush how to do the Dougie. Can’t wait for Colin Cowherd to criticize both for their upbringings.

Speaking of McKayla, Erin Carlson of the Hollywood Reporter notes that one of the funniest internet memes has come Maroney’s reaction to winning the silver medal last week in the individual vault event. Here is the site, “McKayla Maroney is not Impressed” which is being updated quite frequently.

Major League Baseball has released the 2012 Postseason schedule with networks.

John Eggerton at Broadcasting & Cable says Comcast is still fighting an FCC decision requiring the cable provider to make room for Tennis Channel.

Dan Alexander at Forbes writes that the U.S. Fierce Five gymnasts stand to make a lot of money in endorsements.

Brian Steinberg of Advertising Age says the 2012 Olympics may be winding down, but NBCUniversal has already sold a portion of its ad time for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi.

Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life says NBC’s strategy to put the Olympics on NBC Sports Network is paying off.

Steve Lepore at SB Nation provides his rankings for NBC’s Olympic announcers.

Ed Sherman at The Sherman Report is surprised to learn that CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus and golf producer Lance Barrow aren’t concerned with slow play in golf.

Eric Deggans of the Tampa Bay Times writing for the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center says critics of NBC’s tape delays should be focusing their anger at something else.

Steve Myers at the Poynter Institute says a new Gallup Poll finds viewers want their Olympics live in primetime.

Stephen Douglas at The Big Lead has video of Fox’s Erin Andrews and Eddie George dancing to “Call Me Maybe”.

NBC Sports provides a sneak peek at its new digs currently under construction in Connecticut.

Jason Dachman of Sports Video Group explores how the Olympics are being sent to Australia.

Bill Carter of the New York Times writes that female Olympic athletes are finding the spotlight and scrutiny rather harsh, especially Lolo Jones.

Arthur S. Brisbane, the Times’ public editor believes Jeré Longman’s article that began the public takedown of Jones was too harsh.

Sam Borden of the Times says viewers of women’s water polo are getting a bit more exposure than they anticipated.

Ken Schott of the Schenectady Gazette notes that ESPNU won’t airing any college hockey regular season games again.

Ken McMillan from the Middletown (NY) Times Herald-Record notes that local radio stations will be picking up national college and NFL broadcasts this fall.

In Press Box, Dave Hughes from DCRTV.com notes that Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will be all over the Baltimore Ravens and DC NFL Team in the preseason.

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun looks at a poll which shows a majority of Americans like how NBC is handling the Olympics.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post’s DC Sports Bog says MLB Network’s Kevin Millar and ESPN’s Dick Vitale (?) are weighing in on the Nationals’ strategy to shut down pitcher Stephen Strasburg.

Jim Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that NBC is setting viewership records both online and on TV for the Olympics.

At the Bleacher Report, Jim looks at Telemundo’s coverage of the 2012 London Games.

Back to Eric Deggans, this time in his home newspaper the Tampa Bay Times, says NBC’s syndicated Olympic Zone program blurs the line between real news and advertising.

John Kiesewetter of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that the Reds’ hot July pumped Fox Sports Ohio’s ratings.

Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Big Ten Network’s college football announcers have some local ties.

Danny Ecker of Crain’s Chicago Business writes that local TV ratings for the Olympics are good, but not at the top of the country.

David Brauer of the Minnesota Post looks at Minneapolis-St. Paul’s radio ratings including the sports radio wars.

Scott D. Pierce from the Salt Lake Tribune says Salt Lake has the highest ratings in the nation for the Olympics once again.

Tom Hoffarth of the Los Angeles Daily News says it’s about time for the annual Vin Scully announcement on whether he’ll return for another season.

Sports Media Watch has some of the bottom feeders among the local ratings for the Olympics.

Joe Favorito says the soccer exhibition “friendlies” may now be over in the U.S., but they helped to grow the game.

The latest Awful Announcing podcast has ESPN’s Darren Rovell as the guest.

Dave Kohl at the Broadcast Booth looks at some teams making flagship radio station moves.

And that’s going to finish us for today.

Usain Bolt Adorns The Cover of Sports Illustrated’s Olympic Issue

The Olympics issue of Sports Illustrated is out and no, Michael Phelps is not on this week’s cover. It’s none other than Usain Bolt who wowed the Olympics Stadium crowd on Sunday with his electric gold medal-winning run in the men’s 100 meters.

SI will be all over the Olympics will plenty of stories about the games including the women’s gymnastics and Gabby Douglas. There’s a look at Communist China’s medal haul plus the scrutiny the country has received over its badminton team being expelled from the Games and other issues facing the country.

Plenty of good stuff in this week’s issue both in print and on tablets.

Four Years Later Usain Bolt Is Still the Best in the World
Gabby Douglas Makes History in London, Now the Fun Begins
The USA Men’s Basketball Tightly Knit Team Is Poised for Gold
China’s Olympics Have Been Both Successful and Controversial
Michael Phelps Olympic Career Is Over, But His Impact on Swimming Will Last Forever

(NEW YORK – August 8, 2012) – Before the Olympics began, some fans had questioned whether Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt would be healthy enough to win in London. He silenced everyone with a second consecutive gold medal winning performance in the 100 meters. As senior writer Tim Layden (@SITimLayden) writes, “No athlete in track and field at the Games rises to the moment the way that Bolt does.” Bolt appears on the cover of the August 13, 2012, issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands now. He also appeared on the cover of the August 31, 2009, issue.

Bolt didn’t compete in the latter half of 2010 because of an injured back. His back problems flared again this summer, so Bolt arrived in London with added motivation. He said, “A lot of people doubted me. A lot of people said I couldn’t win. I wanted to show the world that I’m still Number 1, the best” (page 46).

Bolt’s presence is such that he makes other competitors keenly aware of where he is on the track. U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin got out to an early lead in the race, but said he could feel Bolt making his move. Gatlin said, “I wasn’t going to sit back and say, ‘This is the Bolt Show.’ I came out here to win. But I also knew that Bolt was going to step up.”

On the Tablet: Slideshow of the Track and Field Events.

GIFT OF GABBY – BRIAN CAZENEUVE (@BrianCaz)
Gabby Douglas rewrote gymnastics history in London by becoming the first African-American all-around champion and the first U.S. gymnast to win team and all-around gold medals. After the all-around, her agent, Sheryl Shade received a total of 644 messages from well-wishers all over the world. Former Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton told Gabby’s family, “Pull up a chair and be ready for the ride. She’s going to break barriers on so many different levels” (page 54).

It has been an incredible climb for Douglas, who just two years ago was pleading with her mother, Natalie Hawkins, to let her move from Virginia Beach to Des Moines where Liang Chow has trained gymnasts, including Beijing Olympic star Shawn Johnson. Hawkins recalls, “She told me she wanted her life to count for something. I looked at her thinking, Wow, this is my girl.”

JUDGE YE NOT – S.L. PRICE
It’s been an interesting Olympics thus far for China. From its swimming stars Ye Shiwen and Sun Yang to its disqualified badminton players, China has found itself facing scrutiny and controversy—a sign of its continuing rise in athletics. Shiwen and Sun turned in world record breaking performances on their way to gold medals, which sparked debate over the possibility of performance enhancing drug use. Some believe the swimmers results were too good to be true, while others believe China’s rise in a sport that’s U.S. strength caused most of the uproar (page 74).

Former NBA star and current CCTV basketball commentator Yao Ming said, “Big countries like China and the United Stated, both have national pride. It’s hard to face losing, particularly in sports where [you’ve been] dominant for a long time and there’s a guy who sticks out and says, ‘Hey! You’re an old man!’ It’s hard to take that.”

BUDDY SYSTEM – IAN THOMSEN (@SI_Ianthomsen)
After struggling to find team chemistry in the early 2000s, the U.S. is succeeding with a roster of superstars who also happen to be friends. U.S. players are much like their competition; they have been playing together, against each other and getting to know one another for a long time (page 78).

Clippers point guard Chris Paul has a connection to almost every player on the team. He said, “That’s what makes our friendships so unique and genuine. These are a lot of my closest friends that I’ve grown up with, who are like family to me. I can talk to them about things that I can’t talk to my brother or my parents or my wife about.”

GOLDEN YEARS – MICHAEL FARBER (@MichaelFarber3)
Michael Phelps finished a historic Olympic career with four more golds, but he counts his success not in medals but in the impact he’s had on the sport. After the final race of his Olympic career, Phelps said, “I wanted to change the sport and take it to a new level. That was a goal of mine. If I can say I’ve done that, then I can say I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do in my career. This sport has done so much for me, and I’ll continue to give back as much as I can” (page 52)

On the Tablet: Brian Cazeneuve talks about Michael Phelps legacy.

WHAT’S IN A NEYMAR? – GRANT WAHL (@grantwahl)
The Olympics have been a coming out party for the next great Brazilian soccer prodigy, Neymar. The 20-year-old has scored three goals and was recently proclaimed by Brazilian legend Pelé to be a better player than FIFA’s three-time reigning World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi. The people of Brazil view Neymar as a savior who will bring the Beautiful Game back to their country, along with its first Olympic gold medal and victory at the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil will host (page 66).

Neymar still plays professional soccer in Brazil, but he knows that a career in Europe is on the horizon. He realized that a strong showing in London is vital for him and his team if he is to accomplish all that has been predicted for him. He said, “It’s not easy. If winning the Olympic gold medal was easy, Brazil would have won one already.”

On the Tablet: A Youtube video of Neymar’s greatest plays.

EVERYTHING WAS ACES – JON WERTHEIM (@jon_wertheim)
Tennis returned to the Olympics in 1988, but the tournament often lacked luster and never felt like it belonged. All of that changed this year. Every star entered the draw and treated the competition like an additional Grand Slam. In the men’s finals, Andy Murray smoked an ace past Roger Federer, providing Great Britain with its first tennis gold in more than a century (page 70).

Serena Williams took home the gold on the women’s side and did so in impressive fashion. In her final three matches she beat Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova—the three most recent players to hold the WTA’s top ranking—by scores of 6-0, 6-3; 6-1, 6-2; 6-0, 6-1. After rolling through the tournament, Williams said, “I never feel invincible, but I do feel good about my game.”

On the Tablet: A look at the four players who have won all four grand slams and an Olympic gold medal.

MLB PLAYERS POLL

Which outfielder has the most dangerous arm?

Jeff Francoeur, Royals RF                                 21%
Ichiro Suzuki, Yankees RF/LF                             18%
Rick Ankeil, Free-Agent CF                                 15%
Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies LF                              7%
Nelson Cruz, Rangers RF                                   6%

[Based on 305 MLB players who responded to SI’s survey]

FAST FACTS: Washington cut Ankiel last month, and at week’s end he hadn’t been picked up by another big league club. (SI conducted its poll during spring training.) .?.?. Of the 32 players who received votes, 15 play in right, seven play in center and seven play in left.?.?.?. Vladimir Guerrero, a former rightfielder, who signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays but was cut, also received three votes.

SCORECARD: THEY DESERVE A MEDAL – MICHAEL FARBER (@MichaelFarber3)
To become an Olympian, every athlete needs to make sacrifices, but the parents of these Olympians also make sacrifices to help their children achieve their dream. These Games have helped restore the good name of sports parents (page 17).

When Canada’s women’s basketball team qualified for London, Lizanne Murphy—an off-the-bench swingman whose father is blind and mother drove her everywhere to compete—didn’t think I did it but rather We did it.

POINT AFTER: THE MOJO AND BOZO OF BOJO – PHIL TAYLOR (@SI_PhilTaylor)
London mayor Boris Johnson is one of the most charismatic figures of the London Games. He has been front and center since they began, cheering on Team Great Britain, making media appearances and involving himself in a variety of Olympic activities. More than anything, though, Johnson is thrilled with the overall success of the Games, saying “It’s been a Himalayan range of high points. I dare not single out one particular peak” (page 84).

THIS WEEK’S FACES IN THE CROWD

• Kaylin Whitney (Clermont, Fla./East Ridge High) – Track and Field
• Andy Hyedn Bo Shim (Duluth, Ga./Homeschooled) – Golf
• Bailey Dickinson (Johns Creek, Ga./Chattahoochee High) – Climbing
• Matt Kavanagh (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Notre Dame) – Lacrosse
• Nicole Medvitz (Paramus, N.J./Paramus High) – Gymnastics
• Tim Benedict (Pittsfield, Pa./Penn State) – Timber Sports
  

To submit a candidate for Faces in the Crowd, go to SI.com/faces. Follow on Twitter @SI_Faces

INSIDE THE WEEK IN SPORTS

• MLB (page 29): Nasty, Boy – The Reds’ starting rotation has been wonderfully consistent all season, but their bullpen is a machine built to win in October. (@joe_sheehan)
• Golf (page 33): The Giving Season – Like many of the 2012 PGA Tour events, the Bridgestone was as much about a collapse in the final round as it was about a great comeback. (@AlanShipnuck)
• NFL (page 34):  – The only thing standing in Darren McFadden’s way of being one of the top running backs in the game is his health. (@si_jimtrotter)
• NFL (page 36): The Case for…Tim Tebow – The Jets got creative when they traded for Tim Tebow to backup Mark Sanchez, a plan that may not work, but is definitely worth a try. (@Rosenberg_Mike)

And that is it.

NBCUniversal Programming For Day 13 of the 2012 Olympics

Ok, lots of stuff on the agenda for Thursday.

There’s the women’s soccer gold medal match between the USA and Japan which as we know is the rematch from the 2011 Women’s World Cup Final. It airs live on NBC Sports Network at 2:45 p.m. with a special pregame show at 2 p.m.

The USA women go for gold in water polo against Spain and that will be live on NBC.

In track & field, we have gold medal finals in the men’s 200 meters featuring Usain Bolt, Wallace Spearmon and Yohan Blake. There’s the ending of the Decathlon and the finals of the men’s 800 meters.

CNBC will air boxing gold medal finals in the first-ever women’s tournament.

Check out what’s on the networks of NBCUniversal for Thursday.

USAIN BOLT RACES FOR HISTORY IN 200M GOLD MEDAL FINAL THURSDAY NIGHT ON NBC

TEAM USA WOMEN’S SOCCER TAKES ON JAPAN IN GOLD MEDAL FINAL LIVE ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK THURSDAY AT 2:45 P.M. ET
Brittany Viola Dives for Gold from 10M Platform on NBC in Primetime
Men’s Beach Volleyball Brazil vs. Germany Gold Medal Final Tomorrow on NBC
Team USA Women’s Water Polo Gold Medal vs. Spain on NBC in Daytime

LONDON – August 8, 2012 – Beijing gold medalist and world record holder Usain Bolt, who already won the men’s 100m gold medal in London, races for the gold in the men’s 200m final as he looks to become the first man in history to sweep both the 100m and 200m sprints in consecutive Olympic Games, Thursday night in primetime on NBC.

Also in primetime, from three-stories up, Brittany Viola dives for the gold medal in the 10m platform final.

Live on NBC Sports Network, Team USA women’s soccer competes for Olympic gold against Japan at 2:45 p.m. ET. The rematch of the 2011 World Cup final, which Japan won last year after a penalty shootout, takes place from Wembley Stadium in London.

NBC’s daytime coverage features Team USA women’s water polo vs. Spain live (ET/CT) at 3 p.m., as the American women look to win their first gold and the first American Olympic gold in water polo since 1904. Also during the day, track and field qualifying heats, women’s swimming 10k marathon and canoeing sprint gold medal final.

All of the events mentioned above, and all other events will be live streamed on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Olympics Live Extra app, available on mobile devices and tablets. The vast majority of live stream content will only be available to authenticated cable, satellite or telco customers.

For more information on live streaming, please go to: NBCOlympics.com/LiveExtra

For the full schedule of NBCUniversal’s Olympic coverage, please go to: NBCOlympics.com

Listings subject to change (all times ET unless otherwise noted). Changes are italicized.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 (Day 13)

NBC

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (9 a.m. CT/PT)
Synchronized Swimming – Team Qualifying (LIVE)
Gymnastics – Rhythmic Qualifying
Track and Field – Qualifying Rounds
Women’s Volleyball – Semifinal (LIVE)
Women’s Water Polo – Bronze Medal

• Australia vs. Hungary (LIVE)

Women’s Water Polo – Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

• U.S. vs. Spain (LIVE)

Men’s Beach Volleyball – Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

• Emanuel/Alison (Brazil) vs. Brink/Reckermann (Germany)

Canoeing – Sprint Gold Medal Final
Women’s Swimming – Marathon

• Key qualifying rounds in track and field, including the women’s high jump and the men’s 4x400m relay. The U.S. has won nearly every 4x400m competition since the event was added to the Olympic program in 1908, and is favored again in London. Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius is expected to run as part of the South African team.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the women’s water polo gold medal final. The U.S. has won silver at each of the last three Olympics.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the women’s volleyball semifinal, which should feature the U.S. women. Led by Hugh McCutcheon, who coached the U.S. men to the Olympic title in 2008, the American women are favored to win their first Olympic gold.
• LIVE (ET/CT) coverage of the bronze medal match in men’s beach volleyball from Horse Guards Parade in the heart of ceremonial London.
• Plus, the women’s open water swimming gold medal final from the middle of picturesque Hyde Park, and a gold medal final in canoeing.

8 p.m. – Midnight (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals

• Men’s 200M
• Decathlon
• Men’s 800M
• Men’s Triple Jump

Women’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final
Women’s Volleyball Semifinal – U.S. South Korea
Men’s Cycling – BMX Quarterfinals

• Four days after the 100m, Jamaica’s electrifying sprint king Usain Bolt returns for his second final of the Games, the 200m. Bolt won both races in Beijing – both in world record time – and is aiming to become the first man in history to sweep the sprints twice. American Wallace Spearmon is hoping to erase the bitter memory of four years ago, when he crossed the line in third but missed out on a bronze medal because of a lane violation. Bolt’s chief competition could be his own training partner, Yohan Blake, who is the second-fastest 200m runner in history. In the decathlon, track and field’s grueling two-day event wraps up with a pair of Americans expected to compete for gold: two-time world champion Trey Hardee and Ashton Eaton, who set a world record at Trials in front of his home crowd in Eugene, Oregon. In the men’s 800m, Nick Symmonds pursues perhaps an even more elusive target: Kenyan world record holder David Rudisha. And in field events, the triple jump duo of Christian Taylor and Will Claye, who finished 1-2 at the World Indoor Championships, try to extend their dominance to the Olympic stage.
• At the Aquatics Centre, America’s high divers take to the 10m platform, the same event that produced the last U.S. diving medal, when Laura Wilkinson won gold in Sydney. Twelve years later, among the new generation of women taking the three-story Olympic plunge will be Brittany Viola, whose father Frank was the 1987 World Series MVP with the Minnesota Twins.
• On the sand at Horse Guards Parade, beach volleyball wraps up its sizzling run with the men’s gold medal final. Americans Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser are the reigning Olympic champions.
• And in BMX, all the thrills and spills of the most action-packed 40 seconds in sports return to the Olympics as the quarterfinal heats get underway. The top American is Connor Fields, a 19-year-old from Las Vegas.

12:35 a.m. – 1:35 a.m. (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Gold Medal Final
Women’s Volleyball Semifinal – Brazil vs. Japan

• The women with the best arms in the world take center stage at the Olympic Stadium for the women’s javelin competition. Czech thrower Barbora Spotakova, who attended the University of Minnesota for a year, will attempt to defend her Olympic title from Beijing and take aim at her world record throw of more than 237 feet.

NBC SPORTS NETWORK

8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Women’s Soccer

• Gold Medal Final: U.S. vs. Japan (LIVE)
• Bronze Medal Canada vs. France (LIVE)

Women’s Basketball Semifinal – U.S. vs. Australia (LIVE)
Synchronized Swimming – Team Qualifying (LIVE)
Women’s Wrestling – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Field Hockey Semifinal – Netherlands vs. Great Britain
Taekwondo – Qualifying Round

NBC SPORTS NETWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• A big day for fans of U.S. team sports, highlighted by LIVE coverage of the bronze and gold medal women’s soccer games. The U.S. women are the two-time defending Olympic champions. Plus, LIVE coverage of the women’s basketball semifinal round. With a stacked roster of former UConn stars like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore, leading to the nickname “U.S. Huskies,” the Americans are favored to win their fifth straight gold.

MSNBC

9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Women’s Basketball Semifinal – Russia vs. France (LIVE)
Equestrian – Individual Dressage Gold Medal Final (LIVE)
Men’s Field Hockey Semifinal – Australia vs. Germany (LIVE)
Women’s Handball Semifinal – Norway vs. South Korea (LIVE)
Men’s Beach Volleyball – Bronze Medal: Plavins/Smedins (Latvia) vs. Nummerdor/Schuil (Netherlands
Taekwondo – Semifinals

MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• LIVE coverage of equestrian’s individual dressage gold medal final from scenic Greenwich Park. Plus, LIVE semifinal competition in women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.

CNBC

5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Women’s Handball Semifinal – Spain vs. Montenegro
Taekwondo – Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Boxing – Gold Medal Finals

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

• The first-ever gold medals in women’s boxing will be awarded on Thursday, as Irish sporting legend Katie Taylor looks to capture the one title she doesn’t currently own. With only a few international fights to her name, teenage sensation Claressa Shields of Flint, Michigan, could shock the deep middleweight field.

NBC OLYMPIC BASKETBALL CHANNEL

Noon – Midnight
Women’s Basketball – Semifinals (LIVE)

NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL

8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Women’s Soccer – Gold Medal Final (LIVE)

TELEMUNDO

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Qualifying Rounds
Women’s Volleyball – Semifinals
Women’s Diving – Platform Semifinals
Synchronized Swimming – Team Qualifying Round
Men’s Beach Volleyball – Bronze Medal

Midnight – 2:30 a.m. (ET/PT)
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Women’s Diving – Platform Gold Medal Final
Men’s Beach Volleyball – Gold Medal Final

3D

5 a.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Track and Field – Gold Medal Finals
Men’s Basketball – Quarterfinals

And that’s going to be it for this post.

Canadian Olympic Broadcasting Consortium Programming for Day 13 of the 2012 Olympics

As the Olympics now count down to their final days, some of the big events and sports are holding their medal rounds. Canada will be playing for the bronze medal in women’s soccer against France on Thursday. Track & Field has several gold medal finals including the men’s 200 meters featuring Yohan Blake and multiple gold medal winner Usain Bolt. Canada also has medal hopefuls in women’s wrestling and diving.

Check out the programming on the Canadian Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium for Day 13 of the Games of the XXX Summer Olympiad. It’s all listed below.

Day 13 Highlights: Thursday, August 9 – Canada’s Women’s Soccer Team Battles for Bronze; World’s Fastest Man Usain Bolt Attempts 200m Final; Bronze Medallists Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion Take Another Plunge for the Podium

DAY 13 – SCHEDULED SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

OLYMPIC MORNING/ LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 4 a.m. – 12 noon ET

• Soccer: Women’s Bronze Medal Match – Christine Sinclair and Melissa Tancredi lead Canada in a battle for bronze against France (CTV, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Canoe/Kayak: Mixed – Eton Dorney hosts four medal events including men’s canoe double 1000m final, men’s kayak four 1000m final, women’s kayak single 500m final and women’s kayak double 500m final (TSN, RDS, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca
• Athletics – The morning includes the first round of the men’s 4x400m relay, women’s high jump qualification and three events from men’s decathlon: 110m hurdles, discus throw and pole vault (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Cycling BMX: Men’s Quarterfinals – Canada’s Tory Nyhaug competes in his first Olympic Games (Sportsnet, RDS2, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Wrestling: Women’s Freestyle Wrestling – Canada’s Tonya Verbeek (55kg) – the Beijing 2008 bronze medallist and Athens 2004 silver medallist – and Leah Callahan (72kg) look to advance to the afternoon’s gold medal finals (Sportsnet, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC DAYTIME / LONDRES À RDS, LONDRES À V
Airing 12 – 6 p.m. ET

• Athletics – In addition to the women’s 800m semifinals featuring Canada’s Jessica Smith, five medal events take place including:
  • Men’s 200m Final – Canada’s Jared Connaughton* and Aaron Brown* look to hit the track alongside Jamaica’s Usain Bolt* and Yohan Blake* (CTV, RDS, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
  • Women’s Javelin Final – Vancouver’s Elizabeth Gleadle will be the first Canadian woman to compete in the javelin at an Olympic Games since 1988 (CTV, RDS, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
  • Men’s Decathlon 1500m Final – Canada’s Damian Warner competes (CTV, RDS, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
  • Men’s 800m Final (CTV, RDS, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
  • Men’s Triple Jump Final (CTV, RDS, ATN, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Soccer: Women’s Gold Medal Match – The United States is up against the Japanese squad that beat them in last year’s World Cup final (TSN, OMNI.1, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Diving: Women’s 10m Platform – Canada’s Meaghan Benfeito* and Roseline Filion*, who captured bronze in the women’s 10m synchronized diving last week, fly solo against the best divers in the world including the defending Olympic champion Chen Ruolin* of China (Sportsnet, V, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)

OLYMPIC PRIME TIME
Airing 7 – 11 p.m. ET/CT/MT/PT

• CTV: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON CTV host Brian Williams gives a complete rundown of Day 13 highlights and results with a focus on Canadian performances. The four-hour show recaps the women’s soccer bronze and gold medal match-ups, athletics events including the highly anticipated men’s 200m final with Usain Bolt* and Yohan Blake*, as well as the women’s 10m platform results featuring Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion. (CTV, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• TSN: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON TSN host Darren Dutchyshen takes sports fans through four hours of Day 13 highlights and recaps including the women’s basketball semifinals and the women’s water polo gold medal game (TSN2, CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca)
• Sportsnet: OLYMPIC PRIME TIME ON SPORTSNET with host Brad Fay providesviewers with highlights from Day 13’s premier events, including Usain Bolt’s attempt to defend his title in the men’s 200m final. A full review of the highly anticipated women’s gold medal soccer match between USA and Japan will also be presented, as well as coverage from the women’s 10m platform final as Canadians Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion look for their second medal of the Games.

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR RDS

• Host Chantal Machabée presents the highlights from Day 13 of London 2012 competition. (RDS, RDSolympiques.ca)

AUJOURD’HUI À LONDRES SUR V

• Host Jean Pagé examines the day’s top highlights. (V, RDSolympiques.ca)

All programming is subject to change; visit the Bell Viewers’ Guide on CTVOlympics.ca, RDSolympiques.ca and on the CTV Olympics London 2012 and RDS olympiques pour Londres 2012 Apps for up-to-the minute schedules and listings.

*Pending qualification

NBCUniversal’s Olympic programming is coming up.