Thursday, February 14, 2002

Remote Control

By ROB BRODIE -- Ottawa Sun
 And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled Winter Olympics.

 After a Tuesday dominated by the fallout from the Jamie Sale-David Pelletier judging controversy, CBC at least attempted to put the spotlight back on sport yesterday.

 It handed over the press conference involving International Skating Union president Ottavio Cinquanta to sister station CBC Newsworld, while presenting live ski jumping and women's hockey instead.

 Although, quite frankly, the presser was lot more exciting than the Canada's blowout of Russia. But that's another story

 It's a fine line for television during an Olympics. How to keep viewers on top of the big story of the day, while not forgetting there's also an Olympics still going on.

 Another reason, they'll tell you, why multiple network coverage is a must for such a huge event. You can put the news on a news network, and still keep the folks who want to watch the action happy.

 All the while making sure, of course, that you tell viewers where to find it all.

 But if you think the Sale-Pelletier matter is going away anytime soon, guess again. It's the hot story in Salt Lake and it's about Canadians.

 Given all of that, no amount of coverage is too much.

 NUMBERS DON'T LIE: Controversy aside, wanna know why figure skating is such a huge deal at the Winter Olympics? Here's why. CBC's peak audience for the pairs final on Monday night -- a whopping 3.942 million. Tuesday night for the men's short program: 3.196 million.

 HIGHS: Newsworld's Salt Lake Today is giving viewers a good, alternate look at the Games ... One thing is clear after watching the press conference involving Sale's mother, Patti Siegel: There's no shortage of class in that family ... If you can't get excited about speed skating when you hear Steve Armitage's booming voice, you don't have a pulse ... A luge thought: Rarely do so many blurry images tell a viewer so much. Wild stuff.

 LOWS: Turned down live coverage yesterday afternoon to watch two press conferences. What kind of an Olympic viewer does that make me? ... Larry King Live, Access Hollywood -- Sale and Pelletier are everywhere. How do I keep up on all the 'Olympic channels' out there now?

 QUOTABLE: "There is judging in this sport. But the longest (ski) jump usually wins." -- CBC's Mark Connolly.

 TODAY'S BEST BET: Speed skating, women's 500 metres. It's Catriona Le May Doan's turn to end our gold drought.

2002 Games News Coverage