Paralympics

CTV caves to criticism, will broadcast Paralympics opening ceremony live in B.C.

by Stephen Hui on March 12th, 2010 at 10:40 AM
    1 of 1 2 of 1

      CTV will broadcast the opening ceremony of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games live tonight (March 12) after all—but only in B.C.

      The rest of Canada will still have to wait until Saturday (March 13) at 2 p.m. to watch the coverage.

      CTV, the leading official Canadian broadcaster for the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics, changed its mind after many viewers expressed outrage on-line over the network’s original decision not to show the opening live.

      “British Columbia’s interest in the Paralympic Games has been overwhelming,” Tom Haberstroh, vice president and general manager for CTV British Columbia, said in a statement e-mailed to the Straight. “The decision to air the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony on CTV British Columbia was made due to the huge local appetite for the games. Vancouver is extremely engaged in the Games and we felt there was enough interest to air the ceremony twice in this market: live tonight and then repeat it again tomorrow.”

      The opening ceremony kicks off at 6 p.m. in B.C. Place.

      Millions of Canadian viewers watched the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games on CTV.

      ParalympicSport.tv, the International Paralympic Committee’s official Internet channel, will offer live video coverage of both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Paralympics.

      You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

      UPDATE: CTV decides to broadcast Paralympic closing ceremony live

      Comments

      11 Comments

      No Brainer

      Mar 12, 2010 at 11:56am

      Can't believe CTV even considered this. They kept hyping Paralympic support all the way through the Olympics and then they pulled the rug out? At least the wised up.

      just the facts

      Mar 12, 2010 at 12:29pm

      Sorry, but your facts are wrong at worst and misleading at best. The only viewers watching eTalk and Access Hollywood for the hour would be those in Alberta and then they'd be into primetime programming, watching Medium at that same time the Paralympics will be live in BC.

      CTV viewers east of Alberta will be watching primetime programming, and in Atlantic Canada, they will be watching the Bridge (a primetime program) and then CTV National and late local news.

      Goldorak

      Mar 12, 2010 at 12:37pm

      CTV Globemedia always the first to broadcast Canadian moral superiority have been caught in their web of hypocrisy. Sweet.

      Stephen Hui

      Mar 12, 2010 at 12:44pm

      @just the facts: You're right. eTalk and Access Hollywood are what B.C. viewers would have seen had CTV not decided to air the opening live. I've deleted that sentence. Thank you.

      ursa minor

      Mar 12, 2010 at 1:38pm

      Start thinking about broadcasting the gold medal sledge hockey game.

      Robyn Gelka

      Mar 12, 2010 at 1:50pm

      Bravo CTV

      LK

      Mar 13, 2010 at 11:47am

      I don't understand why the paralympics get less media coverage. These people are the real athletes - theirs are the amazing stories that can inspire.

      JLN

      Mar 13, 2010 at 2:27pm

      Not only did the rest of canada NOT get to see the opening ceremony live on Friday, but CTV also decided at the last minute to advance its broadcast to 1:30pm Saturday, despite announcing "2pm" for days in news articles - so we tuned in only to realize we had missed the opening part, including our national anthem. well done CTV. AT LEAST, give us the ceremony through on-demand TV here in Quebec.. make it up!

      bobmatherclone@gmail.com

      Mar 14, 2010 at 5:03pm

      somebody who claims to be in management ,anybody... rethink this ..playing double features of the littlest hobo and FBeye at the same time that you could be building your sagging reputation is just plain dumb

      K.

      Mar 15, 2010 at 11:54am

      I agree. I will keep the pressure up on CTV to increase its level of broadcast to more than just the sledge hockey games, great as they are. CTV is a Canadian corporation, who has been -graciously- given the rights to televise an international competition held in Canada, and yet it puts completely unnecessary programming ahead in priority.

      If idiot shows like "etalk" and "access hollywood" are what supplants paralympic coverage, then I am truly ashamed of the level (lack thereof) of taste, culture, education and class in the nation. Or, more likely, that is how the advertisers and CTV's bigwigs see the Canadian viewership as. Let's prove them wrong.