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July 24, 2008 8:43:06 AM CDT

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Olympic Schedule Caters to US

Posted Jun 15, 07 11:42 AM CDT in World,  US,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – Some marquee events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics will air live during US prime time, and the schedule is giving international TV execs a scorching case of jet lag. But complaints from outside North America are falling on deaf ears, the Wall Street Journal reports, because money talks: NBC paid $894 million for broadcast rights; Australian TV paid $64 million.

The IOC has never before changed its schedule in this way, and it's a direct result of intense lobbying by NBC. Burned by the timing of events in Seoul and Sydney, the network has pushed for 5 years to avoid another Far East ratings catastrophe. An Australian TV exec calls it "the worst decision by the IOC in recent memory."

Source Wall Street Journal

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China  • television  • 2008 Beijing Olympics  • NBC  • Olympic Games  • International Olympic Committee


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