CTV, the Canadian broadcaster with the rights to carry the Winter Olympics games, lost alot of credibility on February the 12th. Coverage of the Torch Relay was more important than alerting the public that a tragedy has occured on the luge track in Whistler. CTV couldn't bear to take us away from our happy place.
February the 12th was the last day of the exhaustive Torch Relay culminating with all day coverage of the run by CTV,the rights holder of the 2010 Olympics.CTV went on the air at 5:55,with footage of the first torch bearer crossing the Lions Gate Bridge and planned to continue covering the event until the torch reached its final destination at B.C. Place. And the network did just what they promised.
CTV broke its coverage to report that a luger had been seriously hurt during a qualifying run in Whistler,by virtually flying off the track at one of the high speed corners.Maybe 5 minutes of air time was dedicated to the news...Then CTV continued its coverage of HAPPY LAND and the torch relay.What CTV forgot to mention is that a tragedy had occurred at the bobsled/luge track in Whistler; Nodar Kumaratashvili had died of his injuries.
Breaking news on American news networks(MSNBC,CNN)but ignored by CTV,the primary Olympic broadcaster.I understand that the show must go on but when viewers are watching "Joe Smith" run with the torch,knowing full well that an Olympic tragedy had occured before the games could get started,and CTV hosts come on air with those happy faces. You couldn't help but feel a little sick to your stomach.
CTV, in all their wisdom, decided that NOTHING was going to break the spirit of these games. The network gave the gag order to all their broadcasters; continue to keep everyone in their happy place! Judging from the pesentation of the Torch Relay, with all the happy, smiling, broadcasters, they couldn't have been more natural at keeping it real!?
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