NBCOlympics.com sucks

[Note: If you check the date on this post, it's from 2004. The 2008 site is much, much better. -J]

It's absolutely astounding to me that important commercial sites can go into production without any usability testing. NBCOlympics.com comes to mind.

I'm not that much of a sports fan, but seeing as how I coach junior Olympic volleyball in the ridiculously competitive Ohio Valley Region, and 17's at that, I can't get enough of the stuff during the Olympics. It's also really fun to watch Misty May and Kerri Walsh on the beach. There's one problem though: NBC's online schedule absolutely sucks.

If you search TV listings for a time span and by sport, you get a result list of links and vague summaries. If you click on these links, you get a pop-up with a little more detail, and you're still stuck with a vague four-hour time block. What's worse is that there is no grid that shows if something is on one of the other channels at the same time.

What the hell would've been so difficult about either:

  • A grid with channels across the top and times down the side, filled in with the sport you choose?
  • Or a grid with channels across the top and days down the side, with each entry including times for the sport that day?

Oh, it's also slow as hell.

If you work independently, I'm sure you feel as strongly as I do that with all of the mediocre crap out there, it's a crime that someone out there gets paid for something you could probably do ten times better and for less money.

9 Comments

  • finally, someone else who thinks the same thing i do. the site looks almost amateur'ish. it's almost ruined the olympics for me as i never know what's on, or when. oh well...hunt and peck.

  • dont do it for less money, do it for more because it would be better ,right?

  • My name is Sonny Bugarin and I am from Charleston, South Carolina. I am a Bronze Certified Freestyle Wrestling Coach. Wrestling is not the most popular sport in South Carolina, but I am doing my best to promote the sport in my state. I have taken wrestlers to compete in local, regional, and national events. I have been discouraged to see the amount of coverage in the women's wrestling competition. The coverage has been sparce with only one preliminary match and one final match. Some highlights have been shown. I hope the men's wrestling will be given more coverage, so that the sport of wrestling will be seen throughout the world. Wrestling is the toughest sport mentally and physically. If you have ever been a wrestler, you would definitely know what I mean. I feel like I have been "cross-faced" by the NBC network. Does anyone know the e-mail, so I can let the NBC station know my concerns? (The NBCOlympics.com is not working)Thanks!

  • yea I agree

  • Yep... I agree. I'm a synchronized swimming fan. Just today the listing (yes it did say that this was coming on but between 4 and 7) Yesterday NBC only showed four duets - now we're only talking about two minutes for each set. But how much time was spent on whether or not Paul Hamm should give back his gold medal? Why can't some of that commentary time be spent on allowing us to see some of the "less important" activities. We really do not need any additional commentary because the commentary that goes on during events is good enough.

  • I KNEW I wasn't the only one thinking that NBC as a whole SUCKS!....This is the first time in my 50 years that I haven't seen Weight-Lifting and Wrestling on Prime Time! I could give a SHIT about Gymnastics at this point in time (8-25-04)...In Fact! NBC needs to change their name to 'NBC UNLIMITED GYMNASTICS COVERAGE'....Thanks to NBC, not only does 'NBC SUCK', but so does 'GYMNASTICS'...You can't keep consuming the same food source everyday you fricken MORONS!!!!!!!!

  • NBC has always 'SUCKED'! Paul Hamm also sucks!...People...Not only did he fall down, He al most rolled across the Judge's Table!...HELLO! He also needs to work on his idiotic voice! This is great...NBC is going to have Super Heavy-Weight Weightlifting on at 11:30-12:00(thereabouts)! Yow right! I'll set my recorder while I sleep, but remember to catch updates on paul HAMM and Beach Volleyball on Prime Time! Going a step further on how I've always felt about NBC....'EAT ME!'

  • My problems is that NBC advertized that they will cover all sports , They have on the

    schedule some sport in Bravo or USA and when you go to them all you see is some so called celebrities playing poker and trying very hard to be funny or in another

    nbc station all you see Queer eyeinstead of what shows in the TV GUIDE.

  • I think the olympic coverage is fine and there are several networks to pick from. What I object to are the stupid sports that are included in the olympics. Scnchronized diving ? I haven't meet a single person who doesn't think that synchronized diving is idiotic. Wind sailing, beach volley ball. I love to watch swimming, but I don't need to see every preliminary race. Just show me the finals. My biggest complaint about the olympics this year is that I have seen enough butt cheek to last me a lifetime. The track and field participants run in underpants. When they finish the race, they bend over and kiss the track. Then their coach picks them up around the waist causing the pants to ride up even higher. Yuck! The same goes for the female divers and gymnasts. Their butt cracks are barely covered.As for those itty bitty speedos that the guys wear, some day something is going to pop right over the waist band. Come on athletes, cover up! You are not that hot.

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