Wow, really? That’s wonderful. So despite the TV-Fee-Hunting-Trucks the BBC has a humane side? The hours I’ve spent listening to the likes of Phil Simms, Joe Theisman, John Madden and Al McGuire should really be payment enough for this service that amounts to less service.

As for the Olympics, I really didn’t need Costas or Matt Lauer (in the running for the choice role of Captain Obvious in the upcoming film) to tell me the opening ceremonies were spectacular. I recognize a spectacle when I see one.

As for foreign broadcasts, the years I spent watching southern hemisphere Rugby went like this: Year 1- Enjoyment – I didn’t know the cliches were cliche then, and I was just learning how the game worked. Year 2 – Mild Annoyance – I recognized the cliches and now knew enough about the game to realize the commentators aren’t adding much beyond the obvious. Year 3 – Seething Rage – I knew enough to know the commentators were nitwits. Year 4 Onwards – Pained Resignation, just like here.

It lead me to wonder why networks everywhere assume the populace is somehow stuck at Year 1 for a game they’ve watched (and possibly played) almost their whole lives.

I missed seeing the opening ceremonies. I’ve seen a few pictures, and read some about the amazing things that were done. But I can’t seem to find a video that has the entire broadcast anywhere. YouTube has failed me, and the official Olympic site is no help.

If TED can find sponsorship to be able to release a video a week from their library of talks, then the organizers of the Olympics should have no trouble finding willing sponsors to help them webcast the entirety of the games once every couple of years.

What better way to create a global sense of community than letting people watch these events, as they want to, easily.

Major sports matches on the BBC in the UK often have multiple commentary options: normal, the commentary from their radio coverage, just the referee’s microphone or none at all IIRC. So it’s definitely possible on over-the-air digital TV at least.

I heard Canada’s CBC coverage was pretty good, but I haven’t seen it myself.

I tried to watch bits of the various NBC broadcasts over the last couple of days. The only good thing you can say is that sometimes the events themselves can transcend the crappy commentary. Mostly it’s just mental torture.

Oh yeah. The last time I enjoyed the Olympics was when NBC ran that ill-fated “triple cast”. That was awesome. They’ll never do it again.

And Peter, I recommend Peter Schickele’s “New Horizons in Music Appreciation” to your attention. http://www.schickele.com/shoppe/pdqrec/ontheair.htm