CTV won’t broadcast Vancouver Paralympics opening, closing ceremonies live

by Stephen Hui on Mar 11, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Comments
Paralympic flag at Vancouver City Hall.
Stephen Hui

UPDATE (March 12): CTV has decided to broadcast the opening ceremony live after all—but only in B.C.

Read the story: CTV caves to criticism, will broadcast Paralympics opening ceremony live in B.C.

UPDATE (March 16): CTV now says it will air live coverage of the closing ceremony across Canada.

Read the story: CTV decides to broadcast Paralympic closing ceremony live

The following article was written before CTV announced the changes.

How many of you were planning to watch the opening ceremony of the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games on Friday night (March 12) on CTV?

Well, you can’t.

CTV, the leading official Canadian broadcaster for the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics, isn’t planning to broadcast the opening ceremony live.

The network’s also not scheduled to show the closing ceremony on March 21 at Whistler Medals Plaza live.

This is after millions of Canadian viewers watched the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games on CTV.

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

What’s CTV going to show instead? The 6 o’clock news, eTalk, Access Hollywood, and Ghost Whisperer.

The network will air its coverage of the opening ceremony on Saturday (March 13) at 2 p.m.

Tickets to the opening ceremony cost $30 to $175.

However, if you don’t have one of those, you can still watch the event live on the Web.

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

The on-line channel’s lineup for the Games shows it will carry plenty of live sports coverage as well.

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

Comments (47) Add New Comment
Angela
Mar 11, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Thank you so much for answering a question I've been asking since the closing of the Olympic games! :o)
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patty
Mar 11, 2010 at 3:37 pm
why are they not broadcasting the opening ceremonies live? The Federal government has given 2 million dollars for the media outlets to cover these games because they know the advertisers won't pick it up to have it on the air....talk about attitudes that are still in the dark ages. Why give the media outlets this much money if they are only going to cover token parts of the games? What a joke everyone thought in Vancouver this will all change and we will see the sporting events as they happen for the first time instead of seeing a 2 hour show 2 months after the games are over. This is so sad, John Furlong what have you got to say about this?
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Marilyn
Mar 11, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I'm very disappointed to see that the Paralympic Ceremonies aren't being carried live. After all the patriotism and support that Canadians showed throughout the Olympics, and the number of people who watched around the world, why would they not offer this program live to encourage more people to get involved?
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Debbie Laurie
Mar 11, 2010 at 5:32 pm
What a disappointment...and insult to our Paralympic athletes! We can do without Ghost Whisperer for one more week! Where are you John Furlong?
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Donna
Mar 11, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Totally disappointed. Why would you nto shw these games???? Just as important
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ROBIN
Mar 11, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Well I guess I won't be watching CTV for a long time.
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Frankn'Stan
Mar 11, 2010 at 7:49 pm
To follow up an awesome Olympic showing like Vancouver just had with a disgraceful attitude towards the Paralympics Vancouver is about to host is an absolute shame.
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ursa minor
Mar 11, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Thanks for pointing out the live streaming coverage, and remember CTV's decision the next time "local TV" tries to lobby the public.
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hldouglas
Mar 11, 2010 at 10:01 pm
That's a shame. I'm very disappointed with CTV. To have the Paralympic Ceremonies treated like an after thought shows a serious lack of respect.
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AWP
Mar 11, 2010 at 10:04 pm
The reason for not broadcasting is the same that the olympic resistance movement is not protesting. lack of PR exposure.This does not take away from the courage of the particpants. Have a heck of a games. you deserve the accolades
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Rocket Robert
Mar 11, 2010 at 11:19 pm
If these athletes were to be given the respect they are due, as elite members of the sporting federation, the Paralympic events would be held at the same time as the Olympics, That they are not is proof, along with CTV (the broadcast rights holder) short sighted decision not to televise the ceremonies live, that these games are still "second-class" in the minds of those who run our lives. Boycott CTV and the other corporate entities who want to ignore these performances.
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Van
Mar 11, 2010 at 11:50 pm
I can't believe they're not going to broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies LIVE! That's a total insult to all the athletes that have trained so hard to get to the Paralympics and are representing their country. What a horrible decision made by CTV, who would rather watch the 6 o'clock news when a live event is taking place in our city, are you kidding me? What a bunch of idiots!
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The Real Truth
Mar 12, 2010 at 1:13 am
This BC government and the FEDS certainly missed the boat on this one. Had they showcased these games in advanced of the Olympics, it might have brought us more of a return on our investment, instead this is yet another shameful example of mismanagement and discrimination.

CTV's shunning of these games and the ceremonies means they will lose viewership once again, and after all that wonderful work they did almost a couple of weeks ago now, it'll all be forgotten when word gets around about this.

Very disappointing, but not unexpected. Please show your disapproval by writing CTV -

programming@ctv.ca

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rob
Mar 12, 2010 at 4:45 am
It figures after all the "Rah Rah" "Lets Go Canada", that it wouldn't last long. Again it's all about the dollar, and if we all thought it would be televised, we were crazy. There is money in promoting the 3 Canadian hockey teams in a press photo, however as soon as the cameras were turned off and the microphones unplugged, it was game over.
Shame on you all.
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SCOOTER
Mar 12, 2010 at 7:19 am
SHAME SHAME SHAME CTV. VERY DISAPPOINTING. OUR PARAOLYPMIANS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS OUR OLYMPIANS AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH THE SAME RESPECT.
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robson
Mar 12, 2010 at 8:13 am
Check your most recent info, folks... CTV will be broadcasting LIVE accross BC tonight at 6pm. Thanks for the cutting edge reporting though, stellar ;)
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umm
Mar 12, 2010 at 8:18 am
Definitely shameful, CTV! It's more important and beneficial to the healthy functioning of our society to broadcast the paralympics than the "regular" olympics.
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Reyelee
Mar 12, 2010 at 8:36 am
I just cant believe that, I was really wanting to watch this live!
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Jen
Mar 12, 2010 at 10:18 am
Yay! CTV has decided to broadcast the ceremonies...at least in Vancouver. check out: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/paralympics/news/newsid=55133.html#ctv+vancouv...
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wow
Mar 12, 2010 at 10:39 am
Thats the most stupidest thing ive heard. They are just making it seem that the olympics were way more important. what a shame
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