Nbc 2010

[mr.x]

NBC gears up for 2010 Games
Network still negotiating broadcast locations near Canada Place and Grouse Mountain

By Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun
June 5, 2009

Hockey fans next year will see TV analyst Pierre McGuire doing his ice-level "Inside the Glass" reporting during Olympic hockey games -- a first for Games coverage.

He's covered NHL games from the unique vantage point between player benches for three years now, so its inclusion in 2010 Olympic broadcasts would seem to be a slam dunk.

But NBC Sports executive producer David Neal said his network and Canadian broadcast rights holder CTV/TSN needed approval from three organizations to make it happen -- the International Ice Hockey Federation, the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, and Olympic Broadcaster Services Vancouver.

Fortunately, they all embraced the idea.

"In the Olympic world, these things take a while to navigate," the multi-Emmy-Award-winning producer said in an interview from New York. "These will be my ninth Olympic Games, so I'm accustomed to the various channels you have to work with to get things done.

"The amazing part of this whole experience is there was no convincing needed. Everyone had the same reaction."

NBC paid $820 million US for the U.S. broadcast rights for the 2010 Games, so it's no surprise Olympic officials do whatever they can to accommodate the broadcasting giant.

Neal said Vanoc, under chief executive John Furlong, has been extremely forward thinking and open to new ideas.

"In some ways, this is the antithesis of the typical organizing committee," he said.

Neal said NBC chairman Dick Ebersol encourages network producers to do anything that gives sports viewers the best seat in the house, whether it's having a microphone near Tiger Woods so you can hear his conversations with caddie Steve Williams or having McGuire report from ice level.

McGuire, who will work for both CTV and NBC during the Games, said the "Inside the Glass" coverage has revolutionized hockey broadcasts by giving viewers a real sense of the energy of the live event. "Approving it shows enlightened thinking on those involved in [Olympic] decision making," he said in an interview.

McGuire routinely interviews head coaches during breaks in the game, but isn't sure he'll get the same cooperation from Olympic coaches, as almost every Olympic game has the intensity level of a Game 7 NHL playoff game.

"There could also be a language barrier with certain teams -- like the Czechs, Slovaks or even the Russians," he said. "But I can't wait. It's an unbelievable privilege to cover the Olympics."

Neal, who is also executive vice-president of NBC Olympics, said the network's preparations for its Vancouver 2010 coverage are progressing well and he's impressed with the advanced state of venue readiness.

"If there was snow and the athletes were here, they could go tomorrow," he said.

Neal has visited Vancouver several times already and looks forward to showcasing the region's postcard-like scenery.

"The natural beauty and photogenic nature of the Vancouver-Whistler area for me, as a television producer, is ideal -- absolutely ideal," he said.

NBC is still negotiating to secure Vancouver broadcast locations for shows like the Today Show and Neal said the process has taken a little longer than expected, but he's not worried.

"They've looked at a number of locations [for the Today Show] and the great thing is that all the options are good," he said. "They just have to decide which one is the best of the best."

The network is believed to be considering broadcast locations in and around Canada Place and Grouse Mountain.

Neal expects the total NBC workforce for the 2010 Games will be down "a little bit" from the 2,500 that worked in Torino during the 2006 Olympics. He said the economy affects everyone and has forced the network to become more efficient.

"But we know better how to cover the Olympics now than we did eight years ago in Salt Lake City," Neal said.

He said the local, provincial and national tourism agencies that make up the 2010 Tourism Consortium have been useful in helping NBC get the video footage it needs to showcase B.C.

The consortium has provided about 250 hours of high-definition video that can be used by all Olympic networks and has assisted NBC whenever it travelled to the province to shoot its own exclusive video.

"At one point last year [before the Beijing Games], our creative director told me he already had more scenic footage of Vancouver-Whistler than he had of Beijing," Neal said.

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© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/2010wintergames/gears+2010+Games/1666778/story.html

[raggedy13]

Sounds good to me. Thanks for posting the article mr.x. I'm gradually getting more and more excited for the Olympics. I remember seeing more in the news about Torino the summer before their games took place, like our local news correspondents spending some time there reporting on the city, venues, etc. I'm assuming Vancouver will see something similar this summer.

[mr.x]

^ there should be a lot more of that for Vancouver given the higher interest for these Games, compared to Torino, especially in the states.

[ambaUp]

The Bachelorette brings millions in free advertising to Vancouver
JUNE 6, 2009 1:01 PM

The Vancouver 2010 Olympics will get millions of dollars in free promotion during tomorrow's episode of ABC's The Bachelorette. Local lass Jillian Harris will take 13 (an unlucky number surely?) wannabes on dates in the Lower Mainland. And included for the all-U.S. slate of suitors is the Canadian Olympic sport of . . . curling.

"In the curling episode, Jillian's wearing a Vancouver 2010 sweatshirt, which is fantastic," said Amber Sessions, travel media-relations specialist for Tourism Vancouver.

"We had them include the curling bit because of the tie-in to the Games. There's some chit-chat about Vancouver hosting the Games, so that was really key for us."

The city gets a huge plug as Jillian, a 29-year-old Vancouver restaurant interior designer, takes her bevy of beaus to a selection of postcard-perfect locations in the Lower Mainland.

She goes kayaking to Granville Island and then two teams of five of the fellers go curling at Marpole Curling Club. The winning rink got to go for a crab dinner on the Pacific Yellowfin an the final date-off was a picnic in Stanley Park.

Then, one of her ardent amours ended up on Grouse Mountain for a snowball fight and romantic sunset dinner.

"We really hope this will be a boost for the Olympics. that was one of our goals in working with this project," added Amber. She said that the last Bachelor series boasted a weekly audience of 11 million viewers.

"You can't buy this kind of publicity and that's why we wanted to work with the Bachelorette," said Walt Judas, Tourism Vancouver's 2010 strategies.

"We worked with the Bachelor a couple of years ago and it does have a huge following in the U.S. It's a great prelude to the Olympic Games and curling coverage." Judas said that the Olympics is providing Vancouver with increasing opportunities to attract big U.S shows. "You love to have that, whether it's the Bachelorette, or it's something like Ellen, that are able to set up shop in remote locations, or have prize giveaways on shows like Regis and Kelly," he added.

NBC, the official US broadcaster for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, started plugging Vancouver at the Thanksgiving Macy's Parade in New York in November. "The 2010 Olympic Games on Feb. 12, 2010, come to the splendour of the coastal slopes, to a postcard city by the sea," said an NBC promo ad. It described Vancouver as "just across the border, an adventure paradise and a cosmopolitan metropolis."

NBC continued its plugs during the Super Bowl in February. Judas said that other major U.S. TV shows are looking at Vancouver as locations but haven't yet been finalized.

"Those are the kind of out-of-the-box opportunities that we pursue," he said.

http://www.theprovince.com/Travel/Bachel...advertising+Vancouver/1670622/story.html

[mr.x]

lmao....i'll watch it tmrw for sure.


24 in Vancouver....Jack Bauer is in a race to prevent a dirty bomb from going off in the DTES.
Heroes....save the cheerleader, save Vancouver.
House.....Gregory House's flight to Seattle is re-routed to Vancouver, where he is on the race to diagnose a dying man.
Grey's Anatomy....Grey and McDreamy decide to have their wedding on a beach in Vancouver, a few hours north of Seattle Grace
CSI....crime scene investigators go to Vancouver to follow up on evidence
The Simpsons.....Homer and family decide to visit a long lost relative in Vancouver. Expecting snow in August, they are quite surprised and Homer believes that they are in Mexico.
30 Rock.....The Girlie Show is sent to Vancouver for a special live show in the host city of the 2010 Winter Games as part of NBC's promo for its Olympic coverage. Jack and Liz hook up at the Shangri-la.
The Office....Jim and Pam go to Vancouver for their honeymoon.

[CBeats]

Originally Posted by mr.x

lmao....i'll watch it tmrw for sure.


30 Rock.....The Girlie Show is sent to Vancouver for a special live show in the host city of the 2010 Winter Games as part of NBC's promo for its Olympic coverage. Jack and Liz hook up at the Shangri-la.
.

UH, you mean TGS with Tracy Jordan, not The Girlie Show.
But it would be great if that happened lol.

[Yume-sama]

Hmm, so now we just wait for Law & Order to somehow end up in Vancouver

Perhaps Heroes, too! That would be pretty cool actually.

[Canadian Mind]

CSI Vancouver?

[MistyMountainHop]

Originally Posted by Canadian Mind

CSI Vancouver?

But which Who song would they use?

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by marmorek

But which Who song would they use?

MAGIC BUS!

[Cypherus]

Originally Posted by marmorek

But which Who song would they use?

Or more fitting, which Bare Naked Ladies or Nickelback song would they use for the show's theme?

[Canadian Mind]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

Or more fitting, which Bare Naked Ladies or Nickelback song would they use for the show's theme?

I like my suggestion better. They are also local folks and the tune is rather catchy.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by Canadian Mind

CSI Vancouver?

There's certainly been enough shootings lately to get our own CSI show.. hehe.

[Canadian Mind]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

There's certainly been enough shootings lately to get our own CSI show.. hehe.

Drugs, gang violence, simple shit happening in the natural surroundings, train derailments (spun to be on purpous), skyscraper suicides, etc.

They certainly have enough to run with. Say Grissom needs a change of scenery from Vegas and heads to the cooler, greener, more civilised (at least he first thought so) Vancouver, only to find a sea side city ruled by drugs and gun violence. Would have a very different vibe from vancouver when he leaves the office in th DTES every day to go investigate crime scenes.

Music? Trooper - Raise A Little Hell.

[Yume-sama]

I kid you not if the BNL have the nerve to show up ON STAGE for the ONE Medal Ceremony I'm going to, I'M LEAVIN!

[mr.x]

Watching the Bachlorette right now....dear god is this torture, but it's worth it when i see those incredible shots of our city.

Pretty hillarious...one of the guys sent home gets sent down Grouse via the gondola.

[agrant]

Originally Posted by mr.x

Watching the Bachlorette right now....dear god is this torture, but it's worth it when i see those incredible shots of our city.

Pretty hillarious...one of the guys sent home gets sent down Grouse via the gondola.

I actually watched the entire thing. Getting sent down in the gondola was classic. What an absurd show.

[raggedy13]

I watched as well but by the time I realized it was on I'd missed the first bit so I'm sure I missed some good Vancouver shots and perhaps some sort of intro to the city. They had a lot of great stock footage spread throughout though. One thing I liked was how the guys that got kicked off at the end left the Hotel Vancouver in Prius taxis while it was raining... very Vancouver in my mind.

[mr.x]

^ she gets upset that the guys still have girlfriends at home...yet, she's dating 13 guys - on prime time network television!!!

I love how it's raining towards the end of the show. Looks like it was filmed in late-February or March.

Next week they're in Whistler!

[mr.x]

LMAO:




Bachelorette's influence felt across Vancouver after episode filmed here


By Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
June 9, 2009 4:29 PM

VANCOUVER - Less than 24 hours after the latest episode aired involving Vancouver's Bachelorette Jillian Harris, the city no longer seems the same.

At the 900 West lounge at the Hotel Vancouver, you can now ask for a Final Rose Cocktail. The owners of the classic Pacific Yellowfin charter boat - once struggling to get bookings for the summer - are now being flooded with requests for rates.

And that blue Vancouver 2010 zippered hoodie that Harris wore during the game of curling at Marpole Curling Club? Well, shades of Roots, the Vancouver company whose poorboy hat became of an instant hit at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games.

Aritzia, the Vancouver fashion store that supplied Harris with many of her outfits - including the officially-licensed Olympic hoodie - is under seige. It won't have the hoodie in stock until fall, but it's already getting calls from women wanting to know when, where and how much.

And that was only the first of two B.C.-based episodes of the popular ABC reality show.

Next week the show is situated in Whistler, a place most would think needs no extra tourism promotion. Yet in Vancouver, the single hour of prime-time exposure has proven to be a Godsend.

Parts of the episode were shot at Granville Island, on Grouse Mountain, in Vancouver harbour, at the Hotel Vancouver and at the curling club. Throughout, there were nearly a dozen references to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

"We're just amazed at the response so far," said Amber Sessions, a spokeswoman with Tourism Vancouver, which arranged the local services. She doesn't yet know how much the show will help the city's struggling tourism providers.

"We're hearing from some of the companies that they're getting a lot of inquiries. And it's only been a day," Sessions said.

Even Tourism Vancouver's own web site experienced a 25 per cent bump in traffic after the episode aired, showing rich images of Canada's iconic west coast city.

There's nothing like women's fashion to act as a barometer for success. Within hours of Harris showing off the hoodie, women were emailing The Vancouver Sun and posting queries elsewhere looking for the supplier.

Zora Huculak, a spokeswoman for Aritzia, said the hoodie, which retails for about $80, won't be in stock until the fall. "The summer isn't a great time to sell hoodies, and we want to build some excitement," she said.

Harris was also offered other outfits for the show.

"We realized she's been a customer for a long time so we invited her over and let her go through and pick out what she needed," Huculak said.

With tourism still suffering from the recession, the owners of the Pacific Yellowfin, a 115-foot vintage wooden vessel that toured Harris and her 13 suitors around the harbour, and Exposure Travel, which organized a dinner, couldn't be happier with the show.

"You know, in the last day we've gotten inquiries from as far away as Miami, Kansas, Omaha and Seattle," said Colin Griffinson, one of two owners of the Yellowfin. "I got an email from a major broker on the east coast who said he had no idea Vancouver was so beautiful and that he had to come out and see us. You can't buy that kind of interest."

Nick Gudewill, the founding partner of Exposure, an adventure travel company, said he's received lots of email looking for information, and expects to do better business this summer despite the soft economy.

In the tourism world, the Hotel Vancouver needs no introduction. But Brenda Meikle, a spokeswoman for Fairmont Hotels, said the show has also been a boon for the property.

The hotel was used as the base for Harris' suitors and was where the final rose ceremony was filmed. On Monday night tourism providers and others involved met in the hotel's lobby lounge where a bartender created a variation of a raspberry mojito now called The Final Rose Cocktail.

"We haven't yet had people wanting to stay in the rooms the bachelors stayed in, but this has been great public exposure for us," Meikle said. "But I guess we should expect people will come here for the cocktail."

[email protected]

Read Jeff Lee's blog at www.vancouversun.com/insidetheolympics
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun