Where Did Everybody Go? They Put On Show

Times reader Art Kochman stated in his Viewpoint letter (Feb. 27), “We must find a way to cover the Olympics as they do in Europe--full-time and without commercials.”

I feel compelled to remind Mr. Kochman that TV commercials are just one of the “disadvantages” which we have to cope with in a country which is founded on free enterprise. If Mr. Kochman wishes to view the Olympics on government-controlled television without commercials, he’ll have to move a bunch of miles away from Mission Viejo. And I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for Public TV to go to Canada, Yugoslavia or Korea to cover the Olympics.

I feel that having to watch a beer commercial is a small price to pay for the opportunity to view the Winter Games in my living room. Having our television under the influence of Madison Avenue beats the hell out of having it controlled by Big Brother.

ROBERT L. WEST

Calabasas