We bought a Tivo just for the Olympics and I saw or "fast-forwarded" through nearly all of NBC's coverage. (I misprogrammed a couple of times and only got partial shows). We also had a High-Def setup and would watch the skating events the day after. I watched no MSNBC or CNBC coverage because I didn't know of anything on those channels that I was interested in. I did get the Today show every now and then, and they focused on the city and surrounding area more than the regular coverage did. 

My scores:

Salt Lake City as a host: A

Outstanding, from what I could see. The venues looked nice and the security seemed tight but polite. 

NBC's coverage: D

Dismal, dismal, dismal. Though I *like* Up Close And Personal type features (these are human beings who are competing and I like getting to know them as human beings) there were way too many focusing on the same people. Far too little time was spent talking about and showing the actual sports. If you wanted to know anything about the sports themselves, you were pretty much out of luck. What's the difference between a "triple toe" and a "triple flip"? Who knows? What's with all the floppy poles in the Slalom? Who knows? What's the difference between a "Super G" and a "Downhill"? Who knows? What in the world is Curling? Who knows? 

NBC obviously figured that people already knew everything they needed to know about all the sports, or they just didn't care. I learned more about figure skating and Curling from the freaking Home Depot commercials than I did from NBC! What a contrast between SLC and the 1988 Calgary games, where much time was spent educating the viewing audience about the various sports. 

Tracy Wilson was the only skating commentator who really tried to tell people what Ice Dancing was about, but she didn't have any graphics to help her explain. Graphics in 1988 fully explained the ID compulsories.

TOO MANY COMMERCIALS! 


Hi-Def coverage: B+

Today: B



I was afraid that we'd get a bunch of Mormon/preachy/religious bullshit, but I only saw (er, fast-forwarded through) a couple of short features regarding Mormons. The MTC during the opening and closing ceremonies was ok with me.