Vancouver Day 2: Record ratings for opening ceremony

It may have run a little overtime and the ending was a bit of a letdown, but Friday's Vancouver Olympics opening ceremony was the most-watched event in Canadian TV history.

Records have to be taken with a bucket of salt these days, what with all of them soaring since a new measuring system was brought in last summer, the numbers from Friday are truly staggering. According to BBM Canada overnight ratings, an average of 13.3 million Canadians watched the three-hour broadcast. That's better that one in three people in the country.

Overall, more than 23 million Canadians watched some or all of the broadcast on CTV and 10 other broadcast consortium channels. That's 78 per cent of the population, if you're wondering.

By comparison, that 13.3 milliion average is more than double the audience of the Super Bowl and Grey Cup. The previous record was 10 million for the 2002 Olympic gold medal hockey game, but that was based on the old ratings system. With the new one, a Canadian gold medal victory this time could easily approach 20 million.

OPENING A HIT FOR NBC, TOO: Friday's opening ceremony scored a huge rating for NBC, up 47 per cent from Torino and the most-watched Olympic costume drama not held in the U.S. NBC reports it was watched by 67.5 million Americans and an average of 32.6 million.

CANADIAN-AMERICAN SWITCHEROO: So, guess who directed the world feed for Friday's opening ceremony? Greg Breakall, a Canadian. Who directed CTV's coverage? Louis Horvitz, an American. Not to sound like a toque-wearing homer who was drinking Molson and eating dill-pickle chips while watching, but NBC's coverage looked a tad crisper to me. From what I hear, CTV didn't use many world feed shots while NBC did. You do have to wonder why CTV cameras kept focusing on the Governor-General's stand, which early in the proceedings resembled the coat-check room at a Legion smoker.

AND THE OLYMPIAN KNUCKLEHEAD OF THE DAY IS ... Sportsnet anchor Don Taylor, who opened Saturday's show with a juvenile reference to the technical glitch that messed up the finale of the opening ceremony. ``I really appreciated it, as a man over 45, when the hydraulics didn't work on the cauldron. I really appreciated it. I felt it was dedicated to me." That might have received a few laughs in a bar. But on national TV?

TRAINING SECRETS: We always assumed that Canadian Olympians trained on the most nutritious food, watching every calorie, carbohydrate and protein. But, according to a McDonald's commerical, we now know they spend their lunchtimes scarfing down Big Macs and fries. Who knew?

UGH: Sportsnet anchor Evanka Osmak produced Saturday's first clanger, telling viewers that Canadian athletes were ``hoping to podium." Podium is not a verb. Neither is ``medal."

Comments

[BH]

You, sir, need to find yourself a dictionary. "Medal" can be used as a verb. You are absolutely right, however, about "podium."

[Rick Grace]

Can't believe that one torch cauldron couldn't get up for Catrina Lemay Doan!

[Grant]

How did CTV actually miss the lighting of the cauldron? They were too busy talking about how Catriona Le May Doan was not in the broadcast booth. Despite the technical delay, it was not professional. Also, how much of an idiot is Brian Williams? Suggesting that Gretzky had a special longer lasting torch, when we all saw him exchange is torch twice after the first cauldron was lit (once at the stadium, and once en-route to the waterfront). He should pay attention to what's happening instead of listening to the sound of his voice.

[Mullah_Kintyre]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/medal

verb (used without object)

to receive a medal, esp. in a sporting event: He medaled in three of four races.

[cliff shannon]

Great performance by jenn heil on day two.While she made canada proud,the organizers of the spectatator venue at cypress for this event should cower in shame.While food was not allowed to be brought into the event ,there were only enough food concessions to accommodate a few hundred spectators instead of the thousands who attented.Line ups for these pitiful food concessions required a three hour wait,meaning many spectators missed at least one half of the final runs.Chaos was evident everywhere.Wait lines crisscrossed here and there with no indication where they might be going.Tempers became understandably frayed..A so called warming tent for spectators to escape the driving cold and rain during the two hour intermission held a fraction of the spectators,leading to a crush of people trying to enter or leave. I am surprised police didn't close the area as a safety hazard..Many parents with children in tears gave up and walked back towards buses instead of remaining at the event. Adding to these woes,the bus transportation to the event from at least one of the three depature hubs(simon fraser university)was completely out of control.Even though tickets promised a scheduled departure time, all spectators were ushered into an endless line and told to wait for buses that never seemed to come.Spectators were loaded depending on when they got in line regadless of reservation time..Average wait time in the pouring rain was two hours.The bus situation when leaving cypress was also confusing and bordering on chaotic.The volunteers tried their best but clearly lacked direction and a pre planned strategy to deal with crowds(its not like organizers didn't know how many people to expect).The event managers for this venue should be fired instanly for their incompetance.I am a big fan of the olympics and was so impressed with organization at the opening ceremonies ( which I also personally attended).The contast at cypress couuln't be more dramatic. Seems like the organizers expended all their energy dealing with the lack of snow and forgot the spectators..I hope the press picks up on this in time for changes to be made for the remaing events at cypress.The situation was a national embarrassment