From
the BBC:
The International Paralympic
Committee (IPC) is to scrutinise potential broadcasting partners more carefully
in future after US rights holders NBC failed to show any live 2012 action.
NBC scheduled four hour-long highlights programmes on the NBC Sports channel,
followed by one 90-minute round-up.
IPC president Sir Philip Craven said of future media partners: "We'll examine
their values as they will examine ours.
"If the values fit, we've got a chance. If they don't we'll go somewhere
else."
The London 2012 Paralympic Games ended on Sunday with a spectacular closing
ceremony featuring performances from Coldplay, Rihanna and Jay-Z.
Channel 4 aired 400 hours of Paralympic coverage in the UK, while Australia's
ABC screened more than 100 hours.
In Japan viewers had a nightly one-hour highlights programme. Its capital
Tokyo is bidding to host the 2020 Games.
NBC did not show any live action and its 90-minute round-up programme will
not be broadcast until 16 September.
Yet the broadcaster said the total of five-and-a-half hours represented an
improvement on the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, when viewers got a single
90-minute highlights package.
"The people of the USA, for example, particularly the parents and families of
the athletes, they are all ready for Paralympic sport," Sir Philip added.
"Take the plunge, take the risk and then you'll succeed."
NBC said its coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games was the "most-watched
television event in US history", with 219 million people watching over the
duration of the event.
But it drew criticism for delaying the broadcast of popular events until
prime time hours.
Viewers also complained of problems with online streaming and edited versions
of the opening and closing ceremonies.
