olympic musings

Think back to the 1976 Olympics. Many of us in Montreal had the option to attend live Olympic events. Despite our relative youth, it was great to go and be caught up in the excitement of the time. Certainly, the TV coverage was fantastic: varied angles with a wide range of sports expertly reported by the good people of CBC. I recall their coverage at the time was quite revolutionary.

Although by then most of us had colour TVs, VCRs did not exist. So if you missed your favorite sport because it was scheduled for 2pm and you were at work or school, tough! Of course, the CBC recapped what happened, but much of the coverage was still the old-fashioned way, by newspaper.

Fast forward 12 years. Thanks to remote controls and VCRs, we had some control over our lives and our viewing. Still, only one network covered the events, so if you weren't a rhythmic gymnastics fan and that's what aired during a given hour, tough! Of course, the CBC recapped what happened, but much of the coverage was still the old-fashioned way, by newspaper.

Fast forward 16 years to the present and satellites. Now not only can we watch what we want and when (through digital or "old-fashioned" VCR means), but we can choose from up to five events at the same time by the touch of a red button. In the UK, satellite subscribers have the opportunity to choose the events by loading the multiview option (at no extra cost) while watching the BBC and scrolling through to their favorites, all telecast live. You can also check the schedule and other features, and that's only the BBC coverage. It's almost impossible not to find something you're willing to watch.

If permitted we could tune into the coverage of any/all other European networks. For now, though, protectionism has held back that bit of progress. We can check online newspapers for foreign sports news if we want; a little old-fashioned...it's only the internet!

So, I wonder, what's next? Will we still have TVs 12 years from now? Will coverage of the Olympics be beamed directly to microcomputers with Intel "Dicenium" chips which translate the digital signals directly within our brains....not a longshot, surely.... I wonder where the dish will go?