I guess I should get offa my duff and write and complain...
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85137)
Shingle Springs, California
May 9, 2011 3:21pm CST
For the second year in a row, the World Figure Skating Championships were not broadcast on network TV here in the US. Far as I know, they were only available on Universal Sports, which I do not get, or on IceNetwork, which requires a paid subscription. Maybe I should just cough up for the subscription, but then what if they broadcast when I'm not available to watch? At least if it's on TV, I can use the DVR and watch later.
I guess what I need to do is motivate myself to get off my duff and write and complain to the ISU and NBC about it rather than moaning about it here, eh?
Meanwhile, I guess I ought to go check YouTube and see what's been posted there. At least I can maybe see how the winners skated...
What's up with this, I wonder?
2 people like this
20 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 May 11
I guess figure skating just isn't as popular as it used to be.
2 people like this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
10 May 11
hi dawn oh I love to watch the world figure skating championships and wondered why no one was watching them here so I guess the owners did not spring for Universal sports or IceNetwork. at one thousand dollars a month from each of us you would think they could sring for those two chanels as there are a lot of ice skating enthusiasts here.
I also loved watching the ice skating part of the winter Olympics and we never missed them when we had our own partment.Maybe if you are among others
all complaiining we might get them displayed on chanels we can watch without forking over muy dollars. lol
all complaiining we might get them displayed on chanels we can watch without forking over muy dollars. lol2 people like this
@celticeagle (189833)
• Boise, Idaho
10 May 11
I wounder if you could find someone at work or around that had this channel or had access to the taping of this championship telecast.--?
You made me think of something funny I will share with you.....I went back through all my old tapes from when I used to tape stuff on my VCR to watch later. And I would get to watching several at a setting or so. And I would see a commercial for something and I'd thing 'WOW! They are still selling that stuff!' Or I'd see a commercial for a show and think 'I didn't know that was still on!' Then I would realize these tapes were like 5 or 6 years old!! Silly huh?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189833)
• Boise, Idaho
10 May 11
DirectTv? I have digital cable tv with wireless internet. Love it!
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 May 11
Awww, I realise how much you like Figure Skating so it's a shame you can't watch it. It's so annoying seeing the same old sports isn't it? I can't see anything wrong with a bit of variety.
I hope you get to see who the winners were. Like you say, you might find something on YouTube.
As for complaining..go for it I say!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 May 11
I did get to read about who won, but it's not the same as seeing it...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
10 May 11
I agree. Which country has the best Figure Skaters now?
1 person likes this
@sswallace21 (1824)
• United States
10 May 11
It's America's way of giving you less for more. It really irritates me that we have more than 200 channels and half the time I still can't find anything to watch. The things I want to see are blackedout, cost extra or are not even on any of the channels offered in their so called package deals. I also don't understand why we have 30 sports channels and they still don't air the sports I want to see.
Give'm heck if you write a letter. Best Wishes!
2 people like this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
11 May 11
I would definitely let them know, although I am not sure it will do much good. They seem to do whatever they want anyways.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
11 May 11
It might be a better idea to write to DirecTV about adding the channel...
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
12 May 11
That's really weird that it's not showing on network tv, you'd think that would be something available on a cable sports channel too - something general that's included in most cable packages. Ice skating, and a championship at that - should be something commonly viewed and attract a wide enough audience to warrant a network broadcast. If not... then heck, you should be able to watch it online as a live feed or as a recorded show lol.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 May 11
It's available as an online feed, but you have to pay for it. (grumble)
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 May 11
I get satellite, and it wasn't even available there, free or paying. 
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
9 May 11
Shucks as I entered my response I see that it is not available even on satellite so maybe I have been on my duff too long too. lol
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
10 May 11
Though I dont get to watch that, I do think skating championship must be really great to watch. :) Perhaps one of your friends gets it, and she can record it and give you the entire thing in pen drives. I dont know the legal aspects of it though...
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
11 May 11
I'm not sure how to respond to ice skating, and World Figure Skating championships, because the only ice rink that I prefer watching is the NHL ice, but I think writing and complaining is always good. From experience, it sometimes gets heard, and changes are made for good.
A defensive hit on the board by a guy on skates and with a stick can sometimes be gracefull too!
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
11 May 11
for whatever reason, I mostly can't get into team sports...
@garson (884)
• United States
20 Jun 11
I have forgotten anything about figure skating after the Winter Olympics last year. That is one of favorite events/sports I like to watch during Winter Olympics. Now you brought this up and it is interesting. I remembered watching it on TV (not Olympic event) before in the past.
Do what you need to do or maybe you have done it since I just responded to this after you posted this a month ago. What I would be curious to know: Is the interest on Figure Skating decreasing in the US? I hope not. As far as network television like NBC concern, lots of times have to do with numbers, dollars, etc.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
20 Jun 11
I think it's decreased some since the mid-90's when TV was saturated with skating coverage. But there's still interest...
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
9 May 11
Same here Dawn I have no clue what is going on. I also do not have my dishnetwork any longer and not really gone to visit youtube either so include my name on your complaint later. lol
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 May 11
I have DirecTv and it's not available there either....
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
9 May 11
Deprive enough people of what they want and it will generate more subscriptions. I know how much you enjoy figure skating.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 May 11
Maybe it will also generate more letters. :D
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
9 May 11
I feel so ashamed! I didn't even notice! I have been watching figure skating since 1976! I was used to every January was the Nationals and March the Worlds. But These days in January I am thinking about Hockey and football. so I didn't even notice. and now you are saying I missed it Two years in a row?
Yes I think you should write. It makes you feel better. Even if they don't write back you Know you voiced your feelings. don't get mad , get even by writing is my new motto.
Yes I think you should write. It makes you feel better. Even if they don't write back you Know you voiced your feelings. don't get mad , get even by writing is my new motto.1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
10 May 11
I don't know, not a big enough fan base, I guess. Or maybe NBC is hoping that skating fans will get that channel added by DirecTv, etc. It is their channel...
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
10 May 11
That is really stupid! I have no idea why they would do this! I am sure there are alot of people who are feeling the same way as you! I rememeber when NBC always showed the big ice skating competions! This makes no sense!
1 person likes this
@ajk111 (2495)
•
9 May 11
yeah, it's the same in the UK if you want to watch any of the big soccer matches you have to have cable and pay extra for sports. i have sattalite tv but i do not pay extra for the sport as it would not be worth my while but i do miss the big games. it really chisels my snizzle!
no point complaining to the bbc as it all comes down to cash and SKY outbid the bbc.
Drat! lol!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 May 11
This is something that has always been available on network tv though, and you know how people get when they take something away!
@katieh (151)
•
9 May 11
I suspect this year was a problem, though. Networks sign up to show events months if not years in advance...but this years worlds had its date changed at a couple of weeks notice because of the Japanese tsunami.
In the UK we had some coverage, but it was very severely reduced because they'd committed to showing other sports live in most of the timeslots, and they contractually weren't allowed to put either them or the skating on their second channel.
I don't suppose you can get Eurosport in the US? That's what I watch skating on.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
9 May 11
Yes, it did get changed, but they weren't planning to broadcast it even during the originally scheduled time. Nope, we don't get Eurosport (far as I know).
