Why are they showing the Olympics so late on television this time?

Question

I have watched the Olympics for years and I don't recall ever having to stay up until 1:00 in the morning to see my favorite sports in the past. Why are they doing it that way this time? I have been trying to stay up late all week to watch them, but last night I was so tired I had to tape it. Of course, by now, I have already heard who won all the medals - dang it's irritating. I don't think it's just because it's in China because they have been halfway across the world before and I never had to stay up that late to watch them.

Answer 1

NBC decided that we wanted to see things live, not tape-delayed.  If they'd wanted to tape it and show it the next day or something, then they would. . . but that bugs some people since they might accidentally find out the results before they can watch it.

With the -12 from Eastern time that I presume you're aware of, that makes everything very late.  I'm -13 here, and it's *still* late.  Our local affiliate is still doing the late news live, and they seem to really enjoy being on at 12:30 a.m. and such a lot.

Answer 2

Because in China is to early, not to?  

Answer 3

You know you can see it online, right?: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/index.h...

Answer 4

Yeah it's only 2 weeks every 4 years.  I wish some channels would put aside the business and show 24hr coverage of the games.  And all the events, not just the ones Americans are competing in.  I want to watch it all.  They train so hard for this chance, they all deserve coverage.

Answer 5

They are showing them in real time .

China's time is a few hours different than ours.

Answer 6

Well because its in China. When its morning here its night there and vise versa.  

Answer 7

It's because most of it is "LIVE" telecast.

Due to the time change between china and US, in some places, there is a 12 hour time change.

Answer 8

TIme...China is 12 hours ahead of the West Coast America...that would be 15 hours ahead of East Coast America.  When the Olympics were in Austrialia the same thing happened with the time.

Answer 9

It's because most people will prefer to watch it live.

You can watch the replay if you don't want to stay up so late at night.

Answer 10

becuz we live in different parts of the world which means different times.and they're ahead of us by 12 hours!

Answer 11

i agree with you whole heartedly. i'm exhausted today from being up watching the gymnastics all night.

just because china is ahead at least 12 hours shouldn;t limit our viewing times to the wee hours of the night, you know? when the games were in sydney they weren;t broadcast this late!

they need more channels and less talk! it's too bad nbc bought ALL the rights to the games...otherwise different networks could broadcast different events exclusively, you know?

Answer 12

Instead of insulting you like the others, I will give you an explanation. You already know that China is 12 hours ahead of us.  Well, the Chinese don't want the gymnasts performing too early in the morning because they said they would not be able to perfom as well. On the first night of competition they come on at 7pm, which was bright and early their time. Now they have it mid-morning till 1 in the afternoon over there so the gymnasts are awake and warmed up. This is what was said the first night of the Gymnastics.

Answer 13

because of the time zone , they are 12 hours ahead . when its night here its morning over there . Morning here Night over there .

and the olympic are Live .

Answer 14

because it's in beijing. they're 12 hours ahead. or 14 i'm not sure

Answer 15

Didn't you ever do geography in school? Good god man!