US Olympic Committee TV flap

So the USOC is starting a TV network and the announcement has already ticked off the IOC, according to a piece in today's New York Times online.

Which is worse - angering the IOC (about that little detail called broadcast rights) or starting a network that plans to show all the stuff that the networks aren't interested in airing?

 

If there's a Big Ten Network, there can be a USOC Network.

 

The USOC's immediate problem is NBC, which started Universal Sports last year, owning the broadcast and cable rights to virtually every U.S. championship in an Olympic sport that anyone but a parent would care to watch. The USOC can't even run reruns of old Olympics coverage without going through the IOC and the network that broadcast them.
This week: "Fencing through the years" on the USOC Network.

 

I've seen that 1989 Duke-Michigan game like 5 goddamn times now.

 

My understanding is the USOC made a deal with a cable network and the IOC said the USOC doesn't even the rights to use the word "Olympics." Good work fellas.

 

I'm just hoping for curling marathons.

 

Do they replay Michigan-App State?

 

Often. It's great.

 

My dog died when I was five, you want to bring that up too?

 

Since the IOC would cease to exist without the money US tv rights bring in my guess is the USOC wins this one.

 

Armchair:

Your avatar creeps me the fuck out.