Critic hammers Premier Gordon Campbell's claim about 2010 Olympics TV ratings
Premier Gordon Campbell often says three billion people will watch the 2010 Winter Games around the world. This figure has also been touted by Mary McNeill, the B.C. Liberal minister responsible for the Olympics, and it’s highlighted on the provincial government’s Web site. Even Lt.-Gov. Steven Point cited the three-billion figure in the B.C. government’s February 9 speech from the throne.
“This is an incredible opportunity to showcase our province and our country in all its diversity and grandeur,” Point said in the government’s speech. “Our province will be centre stage as over three billion people around the world watch us host the Games.”
However, a long-time critic of the decision to host the 2010 Olympics says this number is rubbish. White Rock resident Phil Le Good was a founder of the No Games 2010 Coalition, which was formed before a 2003 city plebiscite. “Every time they have the Summer Games, the IOC indicates that the audience is getting larger each time, but the figures don’t bear it out,” Le Good told the Georgia Straight by phone.
He noted that two billion of the world’s 6.5 billion people don’t have electricity. He said that half of the world’s population earns less than $5 a day, cynically adding, “I’m sure they’re going to rush out and watch the Olympic Games when their main concern every day is to find enough food.”
A report by the London-based European Tour Operators Association echoed Le Good’s concerns. It stated that the 2006 Winter Games opening ceremony in Torino “averaged 22.8 million viewers for NBC”, which was only eight percent of the U.S. population.
The report pointed out that the Torino opening ceremony drew 10.6 million viewers in Japan, 1.55 million in Australia, and fewer than two million in Canada.
“The audiences regularly cited for such events as the Olympics are exaggerated,” the report states.
In Italy, 20 percent watched the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Games, compared with only 11 percent in France. “Assuming a level of interest similar to the rest of the developed world, the EBU [European Broadcasting Union] zone accounted for 60 million viewers at most,” the report stated.
According to the Nielsen Company, the percentage of U.S. households watching the Olympics peaked in 1976, when the Montreal Summer Games attracted a 48-percent share in prime time and 46 percent overall. U.S. viewership of the Winter Games peaked in 1980 when the Lake Placid Olympics attracted a 40-percent share of households.
Nielsen e-mailed the Straight a spreadsheet listing the percentage of U.S. households watching the Summer and Winter Olympics, dating back to 1968. The 2006 Torino Winter Games posted the poorest ratings, attracting 19 percent of the prime-time audience and just 15 percent overall.
The 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, on the other hand, attracted a 31-percent share of household television viewing in prime time and 26 percent overall.
The Salt Lake City Olympics received a ratings boost after a controversy erupted over the judging of a figure-skating performance in the long program by Canadians David Pelletier and Jamie Salé. They were robbed of a gold medal, but it was later awarded to them after a French judge admitted she voted for the Russian pair in return for a first-place vote for France’s ice-dancing team.
Comments
26 Comments
edddy
Feb 11, 2010 at 5:37am
I will watch some of the games, but it is important to remember the three billion number is from the premier that said 500 million deficit one month and over a billion a couple of months later. His numbers, or math skills leave a lot to be desired. Take it with a grain, or perhaps a pound of salt.
glen p robbins
Feb 11, 2010 at 11:38am
Imagine a stock promoter type premier from the 1980's still playing his/her trade in the midst of the information age. Frankly, at this point I believe the best we can say is that this is embarassing.
todd
Feb 11, 2010 at 11:56am
And 100% of the world's population will see the moon and the sun as it shines down on the 2010 Olympics....
People will unconsciously "watch" highlights on the news - as opposed to avidly watching them at other times. The premier is obviously counting "passive watchers."
Jim Van Rassel
Feb 11, 2010 at 1:20pm
With these numbers proves Gordon Campbell is either stupid or a liar, we already know he's a liar, his comment suggests we better determine if he is stupid or not.
Jim Van Rassel
Coquitlam
Jim Van Rassel
Coquitlam BC
ColinM
Feb 11, 2010 at 1:52pm
The 3 billion figure is the potential audience - i.e. the population of countries where some station is broadcasting the Olympics.
glen p robbins
Feb 11, 2010 at 3:43pm
It is not possible--not remotely possible--not by any fabrication or interpretation of any data -- even grossly inflated numbers that a 3 billion audience is even remotely or 'potentially' possible. The information in the article makes this perfectly clear. More people in the United States will pay attention to Bill Clinton's health, Barack Obama's coming Live Health Debates and Lady Gaga, then to Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
How is the China/Google thing working out?
A 300-400 million audience (bona fide) Olympic audience (including surfing and news and sports clips for Vancouver would be a substantial audience, although it won't support the $6 billion dollar investment.
Bonnie
Feb 12, 2010 at 3:50pm
Campbell, has taken the joy out of most BC, citizens lives. We people have to watch his smarmy face on TV, laughing and, having a great time, at the expense of citizens, who, have lost their jobs and homes, because of him. I can't think of a service, that he hasn't destroyed. Our mills, he sold to China, 800, more teachers, will be laid off, there were 300, more mill workers recently laid off. Hundreds of hospital staff have lost their jobs. Campbell, needs a mental evaluation. He has sold BC's assets and natural resources, just for his glory, in the Olympics. It, wouldn't surprise me if he said, he will make the HST, 1% higher, to match Ontario's. He, is hiding the Olympic cost, not even given us a clue. However, knowing Campbell, has lied to the citizens, about the provincial deficit. There is no reason to think, he will be honest about the Olympics cost.
apeasant
Feb 12, 2010 at 4:33pm
Come on glen p robbins, at least have the guts to say it straight. What's embarrassing is his continued re-election.
The electorate want to be governed by car salesman, spin doctors, nationalists or anyone else who can make them feel good about their meaningless work, 2 hour commutes and maxed-out overdrafts.
He or a clone from the same money that keeps him elected will take the next election too.
Go Canada!!!!!!!
glen p robbins
Feb 13, 2010 at 12:02pm
How much straighter could I be Mr./Ms. Peasant? I am being so straight--I'm Georgia Straight.
You are correct -- what is embarassing is the premier's re-election. However, he was re-elected on the premise of a lie. Not a maleable inference--a lie on (i) budget and (ii) HST.
I use the example of an 80's stock promoter and the premier's representations about audience to the Olympics.
Like a good stock promoter (sales man) Campbell is hoping that some of the suckers that voted for him -- and who are angry -- will come back into the "magic" ---- , and give the impression the World is watching Vancouver. The World is watching Vancouver, just not anywhere near the numbers represented.
Big liars lie --- and once done, like someone killing another person -- the thrill and ease of big lies --get easier--which is the point of my initial comment.
Premier Gordon Campbell
Feb 13, 2010 at 10:04pm
no indeed, i have NOT milked this province dry while pilfering your tax dollars. i have done nothing but benefit BC and its inhabitants. honestly, read up on a bit of BC history, and you will conclude that i have faithfully followed the precedents set for me by past premiers. it all started when the HB co. declared ownership of the island and mainland in the early 1800s, all in the name of the queen. this British colonial lordship over the land and people has continued with our wonderful, benevolent treatment of the aboriginals, who have all the land and resources they could ever desire. god save the queen and god save me!