General Discussion

MADem

(135,425 posts)

33. It's actually a big corporate sponsor moneymaker with zealously guarded branding, all wrapped around

Reply to meaculpa2011 (Reply #19)

Sat Jul 28, 2012, 10:48 AM

Jul 2012

a series of athletic competitions every four years.

The competitions are a lot of fun, and they do identify the best and brightest, but the days of some little old farm boy plucked off the tractor and going off to the Olympics to succeed based on his natural talent are a bygone notion.

The Olympics are Big Business, and the world's enthusiasm for a variety of athletic competitions is what fuels that Big Business.

We'll never go back to those simpler times. It's not "all about" -- but it is a LOT about--the hype, the commercial sales, the branding, the athletic gear sales, the endorsements, as much as it is about the competitions. That's why networks fight over the broadcast rights--they know there's gold in them thar rings!

It is what it is...

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Well, it's begun, [View all] MadHound Jul 2012 OP

The problem is that Americans saw NBCs version of the Opening Ceremony malaise Jul 2012 #1

Yeah, it sounds like NBC's coverage was a big dish of trainwreck stroganoff. (nt) Posteritatis Jul 2012 #49

Oh, this too shall pass. I don't think many Americans really care all that much... CTyankee Jul 2012 #2

NBC's coverage was terrible Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2012 #3

Who are these morons? MADem Jul 2012 #4

Mary Poppins BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #9

A trot down memory lane! MADem Jul 2012 #13

Yes yes yes yes!! BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #16

Wouldn't surprise me if the producers had that message in mind! nt MADem Jul 2012 #32

Ahh, Dick Van Dyke.. ananda Jul 2012 #28

is, hon. He's alive. elehhhhna Jul 2012 #57

I loved it, too pinboy3niner Jul 2012 #38

nbc's coverage was the 'today show' at night. vapid, shallow and glib. spanone Jul 2012 #5

NBC Coverage SUCKED. Viera, Lauer and Costas SUCKED. Avalux Jul 2012 #6

Lauer is horrid and Viera is a moran! Greybnk48 Jul 2012 #25

Agreed. Laughing at the names of countries? Horse with no Name Jul 2012 #46

They were embarrassing and I wanted them to shut up. glinda Jul 2012 #56

It did suck tawadi Jul 2012 #59

Reminds me of some people's reactions to things different... at Biltmore House CurtEastPoint Jul 2012 #7

"this was England after all, our ancestoral homeland." BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #8

In fact, England is not the "ancestral homeland" of many, MANY Brits. MADem Jul 2012 #15

+infinity BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #17

Exactly, and thank you. We need to get away from that mindset. txwhitedove Jul 2012 #31

Have they? I actually haven't seen too many negative articles. sibelian Jul 2012 #10

IMO it was Brilliantly British. turtlerescue1 Jul 2012 #11

Guilty, guilty, guilty Brainstormy Jul 2012 #12

As I said in another thread, I didn't see an overarching theme XemaSab Jul 2012 #14

The theme was "THEM" BumRushDaShow Jul 2012 #21

I wanted to strangle Lauer and Viera - Overall I enjoyed it. dballance Jul 2012 #18

Britain's NHS is not single payer. meaculpa2011 Jul 2012 #20

Thanks for the correction. I agree the ACA is not so great and not what I would have liked to see dballance Jul 2012 #27

At last Big Pharma adds value. meaculpa2011 Jul 2012 #55

They didn't know about Berners-Lee? flamingdem Jul 2012 #29

I'm pretty sharp in my own field, and I didn't get it Patiod Jul 2012 #43

It's their job to know important figures, that's the difference flamingdem Jul 2012 #45

True. But I think that knowing which Kardasian is which is more crucial to their day-to-day job Patiod Jul 2012 #48

I really do know what you mean flamingdem Jul 2012 #51

Silly me. I thought the... meaculpa2011 Jul 2012 #19

It's actually a big corporate sponsor moneymaker with zealously guarded branding, all wrapped around MADem Jul 2012 #33

Of course, they had to plug JUSTIN BIEBER! ThatsMyBarack Jul 2012 #22

I loved the tribute to NHS jpbollma Jul 2012 #23

when i saw that secrest shanti Jul 2012 #61

"Our ancestral homeland?" What the fuck? nt msanthrope Jul 2012 #24

+1 RedCappedBandit Jul 2012 #60

They cut in the middle of a Sex Pistol's song flamingdem Jul 2012 #26

Rec...the real problem was NBC...and did they think only US athletes were singing joeybee12 Jul 2012 #30

I thought that was horrible, too RockaFowler Jul 2012 #50

It's the ancestral homeland of something like 30% of me (Scotland) tularetom Jul 2012 #34

I think "ancestral homeland" is a misnomer. More our CULTURAL homeland.l Patiod Jul 2012 #47

It was over-the-top. It was odd. It was dry. It was British and I loved it. nt Comrade_McKenzie Jul 2012 #35

I liked it. HappyMe Jul 2012 #36

I watched it on CTV riverbendviewgal Jul 2012 #37

What grumbling and growling by Americans? I haven't seen any.nt sufrommich Jul 2012 #39

The only grumbling and pissing in the corn flakes I have seen is here on DU. Skidmore Jul 2012 #44

We had fun ... we cracked jokes about how the sut from the smoke stakes might get on Mitt. JoePhilly Jul 2012 #40

almost all the reaction I have seen has been quite positive fishwax Jul 2012 #41

I loved it. Danny Boyle did a magnificent job for attentive viewers. ancianita Jul 2012 #42

All the reaction I'm hearing loved the show, hated the American coverage of the show.... Bluenorthwest Jul 2012 #52

It's one big commercial for the corporate backers. KansDem Jul 2012 #53

How dare the ROW... 99Forever Jul 2012 #54

i thought it was very well done NMDemDist2 Jul 2012 #58

I hated how the commentators kept yakking. Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 #62