MSNBC’s Olympic plans…
NBC announced today its News Division’s plans for covering the Olympics. It’s rather lengthy. MSNBC’s on-air staff contribution relies heavily on Tucker Carlson, Chris Jansing, and Alison Stewart.
On NBC’s 24-hour cable news channel, MSNBC, Chris Jansing, Alison Stewart and Tucker Carlson, will anchor special Olympic coverage. U.S. Olympic gold medalists Sarah Hughes and Natalie Coughlin will join as on-air contributors. MSNBC will offer special live programming leading into and out of its Olympic coverage, which begins on Monday, February 13 and will include men’s and women’s hockey and curling. Jansing and Stewart will anchor the network’s pre-Olympic coverage from Torino, highlighting the athletes, their families, emerging stars and dramatic stories from the Games as well as the beautiful country where the Olympics are being held. Tucker Carlson will anchor MSNBC’s daily post-event coverage from MSNBC headquarters and will take a look at the day’s events with contributions from Jansing and Stewart. Hughes, a gold medalist in women’s figure skating and Coughlin, a five-time Olympic medalist in women’s swimming, will join MSNBC’s Olympic coverage for analysis and commentary.
The actual schedule for the Olympics for all NBC channels can be found here…
UPDATE: According to NBC’s Olympic Media Guide, Lester Holt will anchor a live weekday newscast on MSNBC from Torino. This will be Holt’s first anchoring duties on MSNBC in over six months.
It all sounds promising and I’m really glad to see Alison Stewart and Chris Jansing given this opportunity since they are both excellent broadcasters, but I wonder why Keith Olbermann, with his background in sports, isn’t being tagged to host the wrap ups?
Comment by Becky in Ohio — January 26, 2006 @ 6:22 pm
That caught my eye as well. I think Olbermann would be the better fit.
Comment by Spud — January 26, 2006 @ 6:40 pm
I agree with Becky and Spud. What’s up with that? Why isn’t KO anchoring sports coverage?
Comment by Goldfish — January 26, 2006 @ 6:57 pm
I will just watch HGTV!
Comment by jan — January 26, 2006 @ 8:21 pm
Maybe he chose not to do it.
Comment by Goldfish — January 26, 2006 @ 8:32 pm
Jan, what’s with this HGTV obsession? :P
Comment by Spud — January 26, 2006 @ 9:55 pm
WHy Tucker Carlson??? I must say i am a little surprised that NBC finally allowed MSNBC to use their own people to cover a major event.
Comment by bravesfan — January 26, 2006 @ 10:13 pm
Catch up on the curling rules:
www.freeguardzone.com
Comment by Scott — January 26, 2006 @ 11:29 pm
Regarding Olbermann “Maybe he chose not to do it.” I don’t think so. One probable reason he was not chosen is that his
eyes begin to glaze over if the conversation is not about him.
Whatever the case, I am glad to get to see Tucker!
Comment by Cara — January 27, 2006 @ 5:23 pm
Oh, Cara, can the cheap shots. Tucker is an idiot. Let’s not forget, he compared the entire nation of Canada to “your retarded cousin you only see at Thanksgiving and pat on the head.” Could anyone be more insulting?
Olbermann is most likely not doing this coverage because MSNBC has decided they need him to deliver the only serious news program they have that doesn’t spend every day dealing with Natalee Holloway and George Smith. Sad, but I guess that means if you want Keith’s take on the Olympics, you’ll pretty much have to tune in to the Dan Patrick Show on ESPN Radio.
Comment by tanne — January 29, 2006 @ 6:24 pm
Tanne,
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Oh, by the way, did you say that Olbermann hosts “the only serious news program?” Oh, yes, Olbermann is very educating.
Everytime he comes on I go into another room and read a book. ( a Groucho Marx paraphrase)
Comment by Cara — January 30, 2006 @ 10:48 am