Blog >> Olympic Proof Old Media Loses
Whether you’re the ice-dancing fan, the curling club member, or the speed-skating phenom, the Olympics serve up quite the niches in sports coverage.
As a broadcasting veteran and e-video producer, I’m intrigued with NBC’s predicament in capturing high profile competitions for mass audiences. The network is stringing together popular performances to replay during prime time. What’s amazing is how outdated and un-newsworthy the events have become once the coveted time slot hits. I don’t know many Beaver Cleaver families sitting around waiting to watch the tube together. The family bonds built around our national past times have split. I’m doing homework checks or cheering on my kids’ teams most evenings.
In a Blog, Twitter and Facebook world, I’ve watched more video replays and read more interesting athlete profiles online because it’s just easier that way, fits my life and special interests perfectly. As a hockey family, ice dancing didn’t show up on our radar. But thanks to the power of new media, 24/7 breaking news, we found the games that suited us, rather than those being popularized thru television teases of few marketable athletes. I’m not cutting down the Olympics but rather pointing out another way new media stands to win in the battle for audiences. As anyone who works in advertising knows, the size of the audiences matters. The Olympics are proof that old media has lost it’s lure.
When there were only three networks, our choices of sports, and entertainment were limited. Today, the Internet means our choices are limitless. Time spent on social media sites during the month of December proves how many hours audiences are spending away from traditional media.
You Tube, Web sites, Twitter, and Blogs have all the information I need, plus some great documentaries and long form political features.
It isn’t a prime time world anymore. Olympic television coverage points out how traditional broadcasting is losing its grip while social media is moving in to take the lead.
