NBC Issues Apology Over Accidental Olympic Spoiler
NBC apologies for spoiling the Olympics to anyone and everyone who saw the TODAY Show promo that ran before Missy Franklin’s 100-meter victory. During the commercial break scheduled before Franklin’s performance at the 2012 London Olympics, NBC ran a promotional spot for their popular morning news program, which featured the swimmer holding a gold medal. Those who were watching pretty much had the entire event spoiled for them moments before the broadcast was set to hit airwaves in the United States.
“When you’re 17 years old and win your first gold medal, there’s nobody you’d rather share it with,” the spot proudly proclaimed. “We’re there when Missy Franklin and her parents reunite. A Today exclusive — live from London. Tomorrow.” The commercial came equipped with images of Franklin holding her gold medal. Whoops.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, viewers, many of whom are already irritated with the tape-delay coverage of the summer games, immediately began complaining to NBC. The company, in an attempt to soothe the irritated nerves of its audience, issued a statement on the matter shortly after the mistake made its debut.
“Clearly that promo should not have aired at that time,” NBC Sports said in a statement. “We have a process in place and this will not happen again. We apologize to viewers who were watching and didn’t know the result of the race.”
NBC also assured viewers that this sort of error would not happen again in the future. Given that viewers are already none too pleased about not receiving the games as they occur, this sort of mistake probably isn’t going to fare well with the network’s critics.
According to CNN, NBC’s ratings of the London games have been strong despite the criticisms. The network enjoyed 31.6 million viewers during Monday night’s coverage of the Olympics. NBC has reason to celebrate, as these numbers are the highest for a non-U.S. Summer Games in nearly 36 years.
Tags : 2012 London Games, 2012 London Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics, apology, Missy Franklin, nbc, spoiler, Summer Olympics
Posted: August 2, 2012
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Aug 2, 2012
I swear if I tune on at 8pm and see scynchro diving one more time, I am going postal..
Come on NBC, put the diving on mid afternoon when the stay at homes can watch it. Put the cool events on in the evening hours.
Aug 2, 2012
NBC has a lot more to apologize for than that! I have cable but it's not listed on NBC so I don't get to see the sports I want in the live-stream. And because they hold a monopoly I have no other way to watch the Olympics with all their excruciating prattle and "tailored" coverage.
Aug 2, 2012
NBC should have its license revoked by the FCC. But then of course the FCC and NBC are one and the same.
Aug 2, 2012
NBC should have its license revoked by the FCC. But then of course the FCC and NBC are one and the same.
Aug 2, 2012
NBC should have its license revoked by the FCC. But then of course the FCC and NBC are one and the same.
Aug 2, 2012
How about you get a life. This is what you spend your time on?
Aug 2, 2012
The only reason the ratings are high is because there is no other way to view the games. You're stuck with NBC Sports usual lousy coverage.
Aug 2, 2012
Olympic Coverage has been the worst ever…..NBC has done a very poor job…
Aug 2, 2012
Is it just me or does anyone else find it disturbing having Ryan Seacrest covering the Olympics and bantering with the athletes?
Aug 2, 2012
NBC should just show things live and then again in Prime time that would stop the problem……
Aug 2, 2012
NBC should just show things live and then again in Prime time that would stop the problem……
Aug 2, 2012
NBC should just show things live and then again in Prime time that would stop the problem……
Aug 2, 2012
No, it's not just you. I half expect him to drag one of the Kardashians on to the set. He should stick to entertainment coverage.
Aug 2, 2012
I wonder if people realize that, given the prevalence of social networking and online access, it's going to become more and more difficult to keep information from being available at a moment's notice. Spoilers, such as they are, are not the rule, not the exception. Besides, if someone is truly interested in an event, knowing the outcome doesn't ruin the enjoyment of watching an event happen. That event will still be entertaining and thrilling. If someone just wants to know the score, then a spoiler (such as it is) gives them what they want and frees them to do something else without having to sit through something they didn't want to see in the first place.
Aug 2, 2012
To be more specific, NBC sucks. Why should my innocuous comment cause you to waste your time on such a reply? You must not have much of a life. I consider myself to be the most interesting man in the world. Care for a Mexican beer?
Aug 2, 2012
Seriously? People get over yourselves. Quit complain. None of the other networks would do any better. Stop acting like you care about swimming. You only watch cause it is the Olympics.
Aug 2, 2012
Seriously? People get over yourselves. Quit complain. None of the other networks would do any better. Stop acting like you care about swimming. You only watch cause it is the Olympics.
Aug 2, 2012
NBC always does a horrid job of doing the Olympics. They should be banned from having it ever again.
Aug 2, 2012
you're ugly
Aug 2, 2012
He's creepy under the best circumstances and the Olympics are definitely NOT his best circumstances.
Aug 2, 2012
and you spend your life responding to other's responses!
Aug 2, 2012
NBC needs to learn that not everyone wants to watch every semi-final event Show the finals only! They ran semi final swim races until 11:30pm and showed less than a half hour of gymnastics. Americans won medals in multiple sports and we didn't get to watch it. They fast forwarded the mens gymnastics all-around final and made us wait until almost midnight to see a bit of it. It would be nice to see all of our American Athletes. Not an hour of Michael Phelps promotional videos. Every athlete works hard they deserve bragging rights. NBC didn't show Shooting, Equestrian….. COME ON NBC GET WITH IT!
Aug 2, 2012
NBC needs to learn that not everyone wants to watch every semi-final event Show the finals only! They ran semi final swim races until 11:30pm and showed less than a half hour of gymnastics. Americans won medals in multiple sports and we didn't get to watch it. They fast forwarded the mens gymnastics all-around final and made us wait until almost midnight to see a bit of it. It would be nice to see all of our American Athletes. Not an hour of Michael Phelps promotional videos. Every athlete works hard they deserve bragging rights. NBC didn't show Shooting, Equestrian….. COME ON NBC GET WITH IT!
Aug 2, 2012
the commentators…the camera coverage…it is like everything was handed over to the Production Assistants…no camera/audience appeal…it is all BLAH!
Aug 2, 2012
the commentators…the camera coverage…it is like everything was handed over to the Production Assistants…no camera/audience appeal…it is all BLAH!
Aug 2, 2012
i felt the SAME way…with the on going coverage of the Cycling…IT HAS BEEN AWFUL coverage…
Aug 2, 2012
i felt the SAME way…with the on going coverage of the Cycling…IT HAS BEEN AWFUL coverage…
Aug 2, 2012
Very intelligent reply.
Aug 2, 2012
Very intelligent reply.
Aug 2, 2012
Phil A. Lalli Ryan must have paid 'someone' BIG BUCKS to be covering this show…it is NO longer about talent…but how much $$$$ you can pay to get the spots….
Aug 2, 2012
Phil A. Lalli Ryan must have paid 'someone' BIG BUCKS to be covering this show…it is NO longer about talent…but how much $$$$ you can pay to get the spots….
Aug 2, 2012
Give it to ABC!!!!
Aug 2, 2012
Give it to ABC!!!!
Aug 2, 2012
“We have a process in place and this will not happen again."
Yeah, they fired the moron responsible.
Aug 2, 2012
“We have a process in place and this will not happen again."
Yeah, they fired the moron responsible.
Aug 2, 2012
i would have to agree John.
Aug 2, 2012
i would have to agree John.
Aug 2, 2012
hahaha…well..Ray…Fox always smells his own hole first! hahaha…what was your comment about???
Aug 2, 2012
hahaha…well..Ray…Fox always smells his own hole first! hahaha…what was your comment about???
Aug 2, 2012
You are Young…and still wet behind the ears…
Aug 2, 2012
I agree, although I like diving, my problem comes with all the swimming events, they show multiple races when they really only need to show the finals. Friends where I live had a nephew compete and NBC didn't even show his event, but they showed stupid videos from Micheal Phelps childhood. It's all pre-recorded they should give a set program of when an event will be on instead of flip flopping.
Aug 2, 2012
it's called the internet. It's not my fault you're ugly, blame your parents.
Aug 3, 2012
Just happened again..believe it or not. 8/2 today show commercial.
Aug 3, 2012
Yes. And what are you doing here?
Aug 3, 2012
They did it again with gymnastics.
Aug 8, 2012
I hate spoilers and a lot of friends do, as well. Knowing the event outcome does make it less exciting . Maybe it doesn't for you. Of course, there are myriad ways to run into spoilers in this social networking age but the least the news could do is warn that a spoiler is coming. Brian Williams did this and just said "if you don't want a spoiler, close your eyes." Our local news was truly stupid. One of the journalists (using the term loosely) said "turn your tv to mute for 45 seconds if you don't want a spoiler." Then she went on for several minutes and the guy in London talked about who won. There are definitely those of us who don't want to know ahead of time. And if you have cable, you probably get NBC Sports Network and you can register, free of charge, to watch anything you want to on their site.
Aug 8, 2012
I understand where you're coming from, but the Olympics is a genuine news story, so it would be a bit disingenuous to ask the media not to report it because it might spoil it for some. Moreover, with the prevalence of social networking and online access, spoilers are going to become the rule rather than the exception. Sorry.