It’s getting closer! Have you ordered cable tv? Have you sold the family china on eBay so you can go to the big box store and bring home a wide-screen tv? Do you have all the takeout menus together in one drawer?
Oh, and it will be August: maybe invest in an air conditioner, too. You can always put it in your horse’s stall when the Games are over.
Today NBC announced the broadcast schedule for equestrian events, if you can call it that. It’s pretty loose. For some events, they just give a 12 hour broadcast slot and indicate that the event will be shown in that zone. In some cases—several cases–it’s in the midde of the night.
Here’s what they are promising right now:
Friday, Aug. 8NBC and NBC HD, 8 p.m.-Midnight ? Opening Ceremony
Saturday, Aug. 9USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-2 p.m. ? Women’s Soccer (LIVE); Women’s Basketball (LIVE); Equestrian – Eventing Dressage; Beach Volleyball; Women’s Fencing; Women’s Shooting; Badminton; Women’s Weightlifting
Sunday, Aug. 10USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-2 p.m. ? Men’s Soccer; Men’s Basketball – (LIVE); Tennis (LIVE); Beach Volleyball; Equestrian – Dressage (Eventing, Day 2); Women’s Archery; Men’s Weightlifting
Monday, Aug 11OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. ? Equestrian – Eventing Cross Country
Tuesday, Aug. 12OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. ? Equestrian – Eventing Gold Medal Finals (Show Jumping)
Wednesday, Aug. 13OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. ? Tennis; Equestrian – Team Dressage
Thursday, Aug. 14OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. ? Tennis – Semifinals; Equestrian – Team Dressage Gold Medal Final
Friday, Aug. 15OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. ? Equestrian – Jumping Competition; Tennis Semifinal
Saturday, Aug. 16MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. ? Men’s Soccer (LIVE); Baseball; Women’s Wrestling (LIVE); Beach Volleyball; Men’s Badminton; Equestrian – Individual Dressage
Sunday, Aug. 17NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ? Women’s Basketball (LIVE); Beach Volleyball; Women’s; Cycling; Women’s Table Tennis; Equestrian – Team Jumping Competition; Rowing
Monday, Aug. 18OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. Equestrian – Team Jumping Final
Tuesday, Aug. 19OXYGEN, 6-8 p.m. ? Synchronized Swimming; Equestrian – Individual Dressage Gold Medal Final (my schedule says that would be the freestyle)
Wednesday, Aug. 20Day Off!
Thursday, Aug 21NBC and NBC HD, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ? Men’s Swimming; Gymnastics; Women’s Water Polo; Equestrian – Individual Jumping Gold Medal Final; Softball
As you can no doubt tell, these will almost certainly not be broadcast live, but at least some will be in high definition. NBC’s web site says that they will be streaming many events live, but their web site has some pretty high tech requirements for hardware and operating systems. Most of us would need an expensive upgrade, if not a whole new computer and broadband connection, to make their specs.
So: you have two weeks to find the remote…And don’t forget to send a donation to the USET! Visit www.uset.com and do it online!
