Image from the 2011 GEICO PBA Team Shootout. Set to begin airing June 25.

I don’t know a single sports fan who prefers to watch a tape delayed event over a live one. For that reason, many are distraught about NBC’s recent outbid as the exclusive broadcaster of the summer Olympics until 2020. Their history of tape delaying events to build ratings during prime time hours is deeply frowned upon.

One of the unfortunates of the advancement of social media is the slim chance of avoiding headlines and results before an event your eagerly anticipating. It’s almost impossible and ultimately lessens the excitement of watching an event that you already know the outcome of. I feel the pain.

The PBA 2010-2011 season consisted of a total of 15 events, nine of which were tape delayed broadcasts. Some were taped delayed as long as a month after the tournament took place. You don’t even have to own a computer to find out the results of an event within a month of it’s taping.

While the PBA doesn’t post results of a tournament on their website, Facebook or Twitter feed, every other bowling outlet in the industry does. So unless it’s reported that something exciting occurred (a 300, for example) nothing gives the viewer a reason to watch. Plenty of fans are going to watch regardless, sure. Some people are going to tune in who don’t follow bowling, sure. But the excitement level of watching the finals live is unprecedented, in any sport.

Imagine the Super Bowl being tape delayed. Does anyone think that FOX would have attracted 111 million viewers and been able to charge $3 million dollars per 30 second commercial spot if the game was taped on Sunday and aired on Monday? Because I don’t. The thought of that is ludicrous.

» Continue reading “Tape Delays the Fun”