Figure Skating Scandal Is Pure Gold for NBC

NBC got just what it needed, a figure skating controversy that is turning into an international incident.

And NBC is playing it to the hilt.

“This is very, very big,” reporter Kelly O’Donnell told host Bob Costas Wednesday night. “It has rattled the whole world of figure skating.”

Toward the end of Wednesday night’s telecast, Costas offered a report that said the head of the French Olympic delegation was saying that the French judge caught in the middle of the controversy was “in a fragile state.”

It may be considered a tragedy in some circles but the fact that Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier got swindled out of a gold medal by inept or crooked judges is the best thing that could have happened to NBC.

The NBC press people even arranged for figure skating commentators Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic to talk to reporters the day after Monday’s controversial decision.

“I was completely shocked and disillusioned by the whole thing,” said Bezic, a Canadian.

“I think those five judges judged what they wanted to see.”

Said Hamilton: “Yeah, not what actually happened.”

No question Bezic and Hamilton are outraged. But their bosses are probably thinking, “This is great!”

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The controversy has provided Jay Leno with material for his “Olympic Tonight Show.”

“Big snowstorm in Salt Lake City last night,” he said Tuesday night.

“Did you see that? Man I tell you, apparently visibility was down to zero. Maybe that’s why the figure skating judges couldn’t see anything.”

On CBS, the controversy was the topic of David Letterman’s top 10 list.

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Although media critics have complained about NBC’s delayed coverage in the West, the ratings have justified it.

Through Tuesday, the Winter Olympics were averaging a 19.8 national rating. The average rating for the Pacific time zone was a 22.8.

NBC President Randy Falco said: “I just don’t think you’re servicing your viewers by having something live if they’re not available to see it.

“There are three main constituencies you have to satisfy--advertisers, audiences and affiliates. And I don’t think you’re servicing your viewers by having something live if they’re not available to watch it.”

Falco was also pleased that the ratings for the younger demographic groups were up from the last Winter Olympics.

In the 18-34 age group, the rating was up 31%

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For television critics, there is always something to complain about when it comes to Olympic coverage.

In Sydney, it was the color of Costas’ hair, which appeared reddish because the studio lighting.

The authenticity of the fireplace at the broadcast center has been a hot topic at Salt Lake City.

It’s actually a video of a fireplace, complete with wafting smoke.

“Our fireplace is truly one of the great mysteries of television,” said NBC Sports Vice President Kevin Sullivan.

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Maybe the oddest story of these Games from the television side is the excuse hockey play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick used for bowing out.

Emrick said his 4-year-old dog was sick.

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The NBC people will tell you they are thrilled with how things are going in Salt Lake City, that the fast-paced, audio-enhanced coverage is a key reason the ratings have been so good.

To get a more objective opinion, Neal Pilson, who presided over CBS Sports during the Albertville and Lillehammer Games, was asked for his opinion.

He gave NBC high marks.

“The tape delay factor is strictly a media issue,” Pilson said. “It has no relevance to most viewers. Whether an event has taken place two hours or six hours before makes no difference to the majority of the audience.

“Viewers have grown accustomed to watching an edited version during prime time, and that’s what works best.

“It would be mind-numbing to watch many Olympic events live. It would be very repetitive to watch 20 to 40 straight ski runs, or luge runs. There would be very little sports or entertainment value in that.”

So far, only 47% of NBC’s event coverage has been live outside the Pacific time zone. But that number should increase to around 60% before the Games conclude, as figure skating gets more attention.

As if figure skating isn’t already getting enough attention.