NEW YORK -- There were many reasons to think NBC made a savvy business deal in 2014 when it locked up the American media rights to the Olympics through 2032 for $7.75 billion.As the Beijing winter games come to a close, it's harder to see them now.These Olympics were a disaster for the network: a buzz-free, hermetically-sealed event in an authoritarian country a half-day's time zone away, where the enduring images will be the emotional meltdown of Russian teen-agers after a drug-tainted figure skating competition and a bereft Mikaela Shiffrin, sitting on a ski slope wondering what went wrong.Many American athletes underperformed, and arguably the most successful — freestyle skier Eileen Gu — competed for China.Viewers stayed away in alarming numbers, and NBC has to wonder whether it was extraordinarily bad luck or if the brand of a once-unifying event for tens of millions of people is permanently tainted.“Given the investment, they've got to be disappointed right now,” said Andrew Billings, director of the sports communications program at the University of Alabama.Network executives say there are no plans to try and adjust or escape from its rights deal. Several experts say that would be unlikely, given how live sports are increasing in value and represent one of the few ways advertisers can gather large audiences to sell automobiles or beer.
Golden Globes Voter Sam Asi Faces Investigation After 3 Women Accuse Him of Misconduct (Exclusive)
02.02.2022 - 17:53 / thewrap.com
investigation by TheWrap to accuse the Palestinian journalist of abusing their trust by turning professional situations into sexualized encounters, including a former assistant who said that Asi showed her pornography at work and kissed her on the lips without her consent. A spokesperson for the HFPA — which has been under fire for much of the last year amid accusations of corruption, racism and self-dealing that prompted NBC to back out of televising the Globes last month — said that the organization sent the information provided by TheWrap to an outside law firm for review, citing the group’s “intolerance for any type of discrimination or harassment.”“The HFPA takes any and all allegations very seriously and does not condone any type of inappropriate misconduct or behavior,” the spokesperson said.
“If it is found that a member has violated the Code of Conduct, disciplinary action will be taken, including suspension and/or expulsion from the organization. Upon receiving this information, we immediately sent the complaints to the outside law firm for review and investigation.
The HFPA strongly encourages anyone with any complaint against any member to do the same.”Asi, an HFPA member since 2010 who was responsible for running the HFPA website as recently as last year, on Tuesday responded to detailed accounts of the accusations: “We deny all these baseless accusations, and we have ample evidence to prove them false.” He did not provide any evidence ahead of publication to counter the women’s claims.In interviews with TheWrap, three women went on record to detail accusations against Asi. • Tianyue Li, who worked as an unpaid assistant for Asi for six months in 2017, said that Asi played Chinese pornography in front of her
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Katie McGlynn matches her outfit to striking new hair colour as she hits the town after leaving Hollyoaks
Former Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn turned heads as she headed out on the town wearing a dazzling all yellow outfit.
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Passes ‘Avatar’ on All-Time U.S. Box Office Charts
third-highest grossing film in American box office history, passing the $760.5 million run of James Cameron’s “Avatar.” Though the two films came out 12 years apart and under dramatically different circumstances for movie theaters, both were able to take advantage of a lack of competition and overwhelmingly strong word-of-mouth to bring moviegoers back again and again for repeat viewings. While “Avatar” started with a modest opening and then continued to reign as No.
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Passes ‘Avatar’ on All-Time U.S. Box Office Charts
Though the two films came out 12 years apart and under dramatically different circumstances for movie theaters, both were able to take advantage of a lack of competition and overwhelmingly strong word-of-mouth to bring moviegoers back again and again for repeat viewings. While “Avatar” started with a modest opening and then continued to reign as No.
Mikaela Shiffrin Gets Real About Pressure to Succeed After Rocky Olympic Start: ‘The Girl Who Failed Could Also Fly’
Focusing on the positive. After a difficult start at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Mikaela Shiffrin offered a glimpse at how she approached her remaining time at the international sports competition.
Shaun White Cries After Ending Final Olympics Run Without a Medal: Snowboarding Has ‘Been the Love of My Life’
A legendary career. Shaun White reflected on his snowboarding achievements after his final Olympic Games ended without a medal.
Dario Argento on Mixing Horror With Tenderness in ‘Dark Glasses’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentAt 81, Italian horror maestro Dario Argento is busier than ever.The director of a string of cult chiller classics starting in the 1970s, including “The Bird With the Crystal Plumage,” “Suspiria” and “Deep Red,” was at Cannes last July with his acting debut in Gaspar Noe’s “Vortex,” about a pair of old lovers. Argento was also celebrated last year with a new book by Italian critic Steve Della Casa and a retro at New York’s Lincoln Center.
Asian Coming-Of-Age Story ‘AZNBBGRL’ From Natalie Chaidez & Dinh Thai Gets Freeform Pilot Order
EXCLUSIVE: Freeform has picked up to pilot AZNBBGRL, an hourlong drama from Natalie Chaidez (The Flight Attendant), Dinh Thai (Wu-Tang: An American Saga), producer Melvin Mar (Fresh Off the Boat) and 20th Television.
‘Fight Club’ ending restored in China after outcry
Fight Club‘s original ending has been restored on Chinese streaming service Tencent Video following cuts to its conclusion.Last month, the 1999 film hit headlines after it emerged that its final scenes had been altered on the platform, replacing The Narrator (Edward Norton) killing of imaginary alter ego Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) and watching buildings collapse.Instead, a blank slate reads: “The police rapidly figured out the whole plan and arrested all criminals, successfully preventing the bomb from exploding. After the trial, Tyler was sent to a lunatic asylum receiving psychological treatment.”Following a backlash, however, Tencent has now reportedly restored 11 of the 12 minutes cut in its version, only keeping a sex scene between Durden and Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter) out.China has strict rules on censorship, which may have explained the original cut ending, though it is unclear if the backlash has led to the restoration.
Shaun White Will Retire From Competitive Snowboarding After Beijing Olympics
Wyatte Grantham-Philips editorShaun White has announced his official retirement from competitive snowboarding, with Beijing 2022 marking not only his last time on the Olympic stage, but also in any official competition.“It will be my last competition, which is pretty special,” White told a news conference in Zhangjiakou, China on Saturday, according to the official Olympic website. “It’s been a beautiful run.
Gardeners warned 'think twice' before buying common plant after it causes £100k damage
Gardeners have been warned to 'think twice' before putting a common plant in their gardens, after it caused over £100k worth of damage.
‘After Yang’ Trailer: Colin Farrell Stars in A24 and Kogonada’s Acclaimed Sci-Fi Fable
Wilson Chapman editorA24 has released the official trailer for “After Yang,” the sophomore feature of “Columbus” filmmaker Kogonada, releasing in theaters on March 4.Based on the short story “Saying Goodbye to Yang” by Alexander Weinstein, “After Yang” is set in a world where robots are purchased as live-in babysitters for children. Married couple Jake (Colin Farrell) and Kyra (Jodie Turner-Smith) purchase Yang (Justin H.
Katie McGlynn sends fans into a frenzy as she teases debut album after Corrie and Hollyoaks
Katie McGlynn is currently showing a different side to her acting talents as Becky Quentin in Hollyoaks.
Man held after ‘crashing into Taylor Swift’s building and trying to get inside’
Video: CCTV shows callous knifeman run from Wolverhampton flat moments after killing friend (Birmingham Mail)Watch The dramatic moment a reckless driver just misses three children on a zebra crossingCCTV shows moment woman was kidnapped before falling from van at 60mphEasyJet issues warning to holidaymakers heading to Spanish islandsPolice Outside The House In StechfordAzad Konor Who Was The Victim Of An Attack In AstonAlison Hammond makes personal confession on This MorningJames Wong owner of Chung Ying Cantonese takes us on a tour around Day In Chinese supermarket at The Arcadian during preparations for Chinese New YearUniversal Credit 2022 change explainedUniversal Credit could be scrapped and everyone given £163. 50 a week - at a glanceDerby man with 129 kids reveals his procedure for helping families with fertility issuesGMB goes to ad break after heated debate over cancel cultureThe spokesperson could not confirm reports that Mank told officers he would not leave until he met the pop superstar.