Must see TV in Canada
VANCOUVER, B.C. — The broadcast of the Olympics’ opening ceremony was by far the most-watched TV event ever in Canada, with more than two-thirds of the country tuning in at some point, according to the broadcast consortium.
About 13.3 million Canadians watched all of the three-hour ceremony, eclipsing the previous record of 10.3 million for the gold medal hockey game at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, the consortium said. It said about 23 million Canadians watched some part of the show, which aired across Canada in English, French and several aboriginal languages.
The ratings system in Canada has changed in recent months, but the consortium said the change did not affect the Vancouver-Salt Lake comparison. The peak viewership came at the moment the Canadian team entered BC Place Stadium, when 15.6 million Canadians — nearly half the country — were watching, it said.
The consortium is a partnership between CTV Inc., Canada’s largest private network, and Rogers Media. It outbid the government-funded Canadian Broadcasting Corp., which had broadcast the five previous Olympics.
Ratings were also strong in the United States. The Nielsen Co. said an estimated 32.6 million people watched the opening ceremony on NBC, up 48 percent from the 22.2 million who watched the first night of the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
NBC, which expects to lose money on these Olympics, paid $820 million for the U.S rights. The consortium hopes at least to break even after paying $90 million for the rights in Canada, which has about one-tenth the U.S. population.
A reviewer for The Canadian Press, a nationwide news agency, watched the opening ceremonies on both CTV and NBC.
CTV’s coverage “was visually appealing and a solid effort,” wrote Bill Brioux. “But better commentary gave American counterpart NBC the gold medal for coverage.”
Romanian luger withdraws
WHISTLER, B.C. — A Romanian women’s luger who was diagnosed with a concussion after a training crash has withdrawn from the Vancouver Olympics.
Violeta Stramaturaru was briefly knocked unconscious in a wreck at the Whistler Sliding Center on Thursday night, less than 24 hours before a Georgian men’s slider was killed in a crash on the track’s final turn.
Stramaturaru was not seriously injured, Romanian Olympic officials said, but was advised by doctors to withdraw nonetheless.
If you’re a celebrity
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Canadian celebrities are all over the Vancouver Games, but local stargazers have been abuzz over someone else — George Clooney.
One rumor had the “Up in the Air” star in the city for a few private functions. A fan posted on Twitter that he was staying at the posh Fairmont Hotel. But there was no official confirmation.
Clooney or not, there’s no shortage of celebs in town.
The opening ceremony alone featured singers Bryan Adams, Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan and k.d. lang, along with hockey great Wayne Gretzky and Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger carried the Olympic torch, as did NBC’s Matt Lauer.
Cindy Crawford was in town appearing at an event for Omega, the official timepiece of the Olympic Games. Michael Phelps, the star of the Beijing Games, and actress Nicole Kidman were also expected to make appearances for the company.
The band Barenaked Ladies performed at the Molson Canadian Hockey House on Saturday.
Canadian singer Celine Dion is not at the Olympics, even though it was widely speculated she’d perform in the opening ceremony. Her husband, Rene Angelil, told the Canadian Press news service that Dion was in New York for treatment to help her conceive a child.
Canada routs Slovakia 18-0
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Slovakia discovered two painful truths in its Olympic women’s hockey debut: There’s no mercy rule, and not all Canadians are gracious hosts.
Canada opened its run at a third straight gold medal with the biggest blowout in Olympic history Saturday night, mercilessly thrashing Slovakia 18-0 in front of a raucous, flag-waving crowd.
Meghan Agosta and Jayna Hefford scored three goals apiece, and Hefford completed her hat trick as Canada surpassed its 16-0 win over Italy in Turin.
Just 99 seconds into the game, Haley Irwin scored the first goal — and Canada scarcely slowed down.
Associated Press
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