More bad broadcasting at the Winter Olympics

 
Matthew Maguire Roar Rookie

By Matthew Maguire, 20 Feb 2010 Matthew Maguire is a Roar Rookie

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Australia's only biathlon competitor Alexei Almoukov heads from the shooting range. AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Andrew Vaughan

Australia's only biathlon competitor Alexei Almoukov heads from the shooting range. AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Andrew Vaughan

As the Seven Network managed with impressive regularity, it is now the Nine Network doing a tremendous job destroying an Olympic Games coverage.

For a nation of proverbial fire and flood, where most Aussies watching have never even seen snow, it is hardly surprising that Australia have very few commentators with any genuine winter sports knowledge.

And this has fatally harmed the coverage.

If I never hear a misplaced James Brayshaw ‘ooh’ or ‘wow’ again, as he bumbles his way through the snowboard halfpipe, it will still be too soon.

Alisa Camplin, Steve Bradbury and Belinda Noonan are the only commentators who appear to have any ability to offer insight into technique or the competitor’s mindset.

Dwayne Russell has attempted to turn long track speed skating into an AFL broadcast, completely drowning out the very knowledgable and entertaining Carla Zijlstra, a three time Olympian whom one would imagine knows a bit more than Russell.

Phil Liggett has done an admirable job calling downhill skiing for the first time in his career, but even Giann Rooney and Grant Hackett appear to have absolutely no idea what it is they have been employed to do in Vancouver.

Ken Sutcliffe is about ready to be carted off to the old folks home. I’m convinced its a Weekend At Bernie’s situation unfolding every time he appears.

The lack of sports broadcasting talent in Australia is a direct result of TV and radio employing former players to commentate after retirement.

They are not natural callers (even of their own former sport), let alone possessing the ability to transfer calling skills from event to event, as former great broadcasters managed.

But if I can be forgiven for displaying my obvious state prejudice, the biggest issue is the blatantly false claim for those here in West Australia that we are watching Vancouver LIVE.

Absolute rot.

West Australia is on three hour delay, so when Dale Begg Smith and Torah Bright won medals, it was announced on radio, TV newsbreaks and countless internet sites while West Australia waited three hours to see Channel Nine then pretend we were watching it live.

Roger Federer had crushed Andy Murray, collected the cash, completed his media committments and was back in the hotel with the trophy before the Australian Open final even began in West Australia.

In their infinite wisdom, Channel Seven refuse to show Wallabies matches, even Beldisloe Cup battles, before 1am.

Poor one day international cricket ratings in West Australia have little to do with the lop-sided nature of this summer’s matches. Far more likely is the almost four hour delay in coverage: radio, the internet and other TV stations spoiling with score updates make watching it pointless.

AFL games starting at 4.10pm WST don’t finish on TV until 11.30pm on Fridays. While watching Richmond play can sometimes feel like forever, no match I have ever seen lasts seven hours.

And on it goes. I know its my own fault. I foolishly expected more given it is the Olympics. Not the hype of a 300 strong Aussie contingent at a Summer Games I concede but an Olympic Games all the same.

The state of sports broadcasting in Australia is at an all time low and West Australia bares the full brunt time and time again.

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