Olympics in Japan....

Just don't try to watch NBC's network feed in primetime. In one hour, it feels like about 5-10 minutes of actual events (only the ones that Americans are winning or competing in) and 20-30 minutes of replays and "heart tugging" stories/discussions. The rest is obviously commercials (which are also trying to do the heart tugging thing).

It gets worse each time, but the networks just won't believe that people just want to watch the ACTUAL events, regardless of circumstance or nationality.

 

I've been really pissed off that I am stuck in Japan, watching the same sodding replays, and I couldn't watch ANY of the Gold medals that Great Britain won this weekend. No rowing was televised, or at least I didn't see it. I used to row. Thank god for my VPN and the excellent BBC coverage (show all events).

 

At last! Someone who agrees. The Japanese seem to only show events that the Japanese are involved in. I know GaijinPunch says the who world is the same but I know for a fact that in the UK when Olympic coverage is shown you do get to see a whole lot more than what you do in Japan. How many times have we seen that guy who won the gold in swimming? Every F*ing day so far and not only once a day either :banghead: Replay after replay after replay. The BBC are by far the most professional when it comes to sports coverage. At least they give you the whole event including stuff that the Brits have nothing to do with.

Yakumo

 

To be fair though NBC is the main channel and the only one people can get without cable so it is natural that they would show primarily US events and highlights. MSNBC, CNBC, and USA Networks all show events involving other countries.

 

I do not necessarily begrudge them the US-centric events, but they simply do not show them during primetime and instead go for the background stories on the athletes. Most of the alternate channels are dead then too, unless you want boxing (which for some reason always seems to be on). The dedicated soccer channel is great when it is on though (no commercials period). :nod:

 

It's more about ratings, really. Those guys have million dollar houses to think about. Can't speak for the UK, but you'd be hard pressed to find good coverage of the "Asian" events in the US. Judo, for example, gets little (or no?) playtime, where as you could see most matches in Japan.

How much baseball do they show in the UK?

 

In the UK (can't speak for the last 2 Olympics though since I've been in Japan for the last 11 years) they show pretty much everything, even baseball but to be honest that doesn't get a great deal of coverage.

I think it's more to do with national pride. American's love their country which is fine but it all seems a bit over the top to a Brit with all that God bless America and so on and I feel the Japanese do as well regarding themselves as the best of Asia. In the UK we also love our country like everyone else but we're also not afraid to take the piss out of it and everything it produces. I guess it's just the British way of not taking everything too seriously.

Channel 4 which is a normal terrestrial channel did (or maybe still do) show what they call minority sports which included Basket Ball, Base Ball and Sumo believe it or not. It was so strange seeing Japanese sumo with English commentary over the Japanese.

Yakumo

 

So what is it w/ your expats? I worked in English firm in Japan (my first "real" job) for a year and change. They redefined tight ass. Moving into Bank of America was a breath of fresh air until they shit-canned me at Xmas.

Back on topic: I would have to say it's a different ball game when your citizens have such a large representation. That and one of them even making Olympic history tend to hog the air time.

 

Well, there are tight ass bastards as well in the UK as in all cultures however the majority of us are easy going.

yakumo

 

Until you've finished a few pints and your football team loses, right?

 

No, again, that's just a minority. There are retards, thugs and idiots all over the world. The British ones get a lot of press because we like to constantly say how bad things are (in the media).

Back on the olympics - yes, baseball is covered. Of course we don't cover it normally (non-olympics) because it's crap, but that's not the issue. It's ridiculous how many times I have seen the judo and swimming results here on TV. People are talking about how good Japan are at swimming... erm, sure, he did great, but Phelps? This is his Olympics for swimming, regardless of nationality, the man is a machine. I just got annoyed how I wanted to watch the rowing, and it wasn't even given 3 seconds on the stupid infinitely repeated coverage here in Japan.

The BBC have digital coverage. Press the red button, and you can choose from pretty much everything that's going on right now. About 10 (or more?) channels all at once. We cover things we've got no idea about, no involvement in. It's interesting to see the sports we don't play.

American pride and the Japanese pride to some extent, do my head in sometimes. I am damn proud of Britain. I love it there. Sure, it has it's problems, but so does everywhere.

And I agree with Yakumo; most Brits are easy going. If you want to stereotype, that's fine, but there's a few stereotypes about Americans that aren't so flattering too you know :thumbsup:

 

They're hooligans, not normal people. Personally I couldn't give a shit about any sports team. Paid way too much money to do something they enjoy. OH:

Yakumo

 

Amen to that.