Paralympics

CTV still not planning to broadcast Vancouver Paralympics closing ceremony live

by Stephen Hui on March 12th, 2010 at 2:31 PM
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      UPDATE: CTV decides to broadcast Paralympic closing ceremony live

      CTV doesn’t plan to broadcast the closing ceremony of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games live.

      The official Canadian broadcaster for the 2010 Games initially didn’t plan to air the opening ceremony live tonight (March 12), but changed its mind after many viewers expressed outrage about the decision.

      Starting at 6 p.m. Pacific time, CTV British Columbia will show the opening ceremony live from B.C. Place in Vancouver. Viewers in other provinces will have to wait for the repeat broadcast on Saturday (March 13) at 2 p.m.

      But CTV hasn’t changed its plans for the closing ceremony, which will take place at the Whistler Medals Plaza on March 21 at 7:30 p.m.

      In B.C., CTV is scheduled to show Human Target and The Amazing Race instead of the closing ceremony.

      In response to a request for a comment on CTV’s decision not to air the closing live, a representative sent the Straight a statement noting that Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium will give the Paralympics a “record” 57 hours of coverage in English and French.

      Last month, millions of Canadians tuned in as CTV aired both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games live across the country.

      A news item on the International Paralympic Committee’s Web site describes the closing ceremony as “an intimate open air event that will include breath-taking entertainment and the parade of Paralympians from around the world as they march into the amphitheatre”.

      Tickets for the event cost $60 or $85.

      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.

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      Comments

      13 Comments

      louise

      Mar 12, 2010 at 2:56pm

      Why don't you update your front page article to reflect the truth: CTV is going to broadcast the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies Live. Don't be lazy.

      ryan s

      Mar 12, 2010 at 5:01pm

      i am completely sick of stephen hui - all he does is try and make the city look bad - he's out complaining the olympics are even in town and now complaining that CTV doesn't have plans to show the closing ceremonies?

      seriously, try and do some real journalism instead of complaining about everything
      the straight needs to get RID of stephen hui

      Raw Nerve

      Mar 12, 2010 at 6:02pm

      Really sad to see CTV dropping the ball on the Paralympics. Looks to me like Stephen is just saying what a lot us are thinking. Why isn't CTV treating this event equally? They could turn this around and be the first to broadcast this event live for everyone to see. Do CTV a favour turn off the TV and watch it live on the internet.

      Dan

      Mar 12, 2010 at 6:33pm

      Ryan that IS journalism. The motto of journalism has traditionally been "to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted." Bully for you that you are so very comfortable.

      Charlie Smith

      Mar 12, 2010 at 6:39pm

      Yesterday, Stephen filed a story about CTV not carrying the Paralympics opening ceremony. CTV later changed its mind and added the opening ceremony to the schedule. Stephen reported this change. Stephen is an oustanding journalist.
      Charlie Smith
      Editor
      Georgia Straight

      Meh

      Mar 13, 2010 at 3:06am

      Ryan and Louise: CTV MADE Canadians look bad. The fact that they weren't going to air them live in the first place is a disgrace. They had to "reconsider" airing it anyways after so many criticism. It's really shady that CTV did this after a great coverage from the Olympics. It's so disrespectful that CTV treated the Paralympics Athletes like this. The fact that they had so much courage and worked so much harder than the Olympic Athletes to represent OUR country. They deserve so much more than that. They deserve to be watched by EVERY Canadians so that people can open their eyes and see how amazing these athletes are even though they have disabilities. We are suppose to be SUPPORTING them NOT DISCRIMINATING against them.

      Wha?

      Mar 13, 2010 at 8:18am

      Wha? No protests about frivolous misuse of public dollars?!
      No comparing the paralympic torch relay to Hitler?!
      Where are this city's social justice activists when you REALLY need them?

      Shane

      Mar 13, 2010 at 9:27am

      I will boycott CTV and it's sponsors as a result of their inexcusable decision to not share the inspirational power, pride and goodwill of the Paralympic games.

      Because CTV managment seems to only understand crass, short sighted commercialism (which should be the antithesis of the paralympics) I suggest that we collectively punish them in the only manner they seem to understand.

      Shame on you CTV, managment should now do the right thing, publicly apologize and resign!

      Shane

      don't blame CTV

      Mar 13, 2010 at 11:51am

      If it going to suck like the other one, I don't blame CTV! Even NBC which I watched seemed almost apologetic for the embarrassing closing ceremony with our dopey looking Premier waving a flag in an apparent impromptu act which I am sure was planned well in advance like his inaugural choo choo ride on the RAV Line.

      Bruce

      Mar 13, 2010 at 8:15pm

      NO BIG DEAL because they screwed up the telecast anyway ... sound was off, so the words never matched up with the speakers lips. Someone should be really ashamed or their performance ... and it's certainly NOT the olympians