Lewis Black has repeatedly made a point about television networks streaming information that’s distracting to the viewer on the bottom of the television screen, which I fully agree with. As a generation X’er, I was around during the days where there were no fancy graphics on the screens and the country was riveted to only 3 TV Stations. It seems that the plethora of news that we are bombarded with IS in fact distracting us. True, the visual effects are quite fantastic, but they certainly aren’t necessary to convey the message. After all, it is the message that we’re looking for.
What does this have to do with the Olympic games? Well, I’m a swimming fanatic, and I love watching all of the swimming events, naturally. In swimming, like most other sports, the most important moments are the start and the finish. I don’t recall what the 2004 Olympic Games coverage was like, so this may be an old argument, but I’m finding that the lane graphics that show the name of the competitor through the entire start is detracting from the dramatic entrance of the athlete into the water. I really like seeing how well they start the race.
Please, NBC and other stations, STOP cluttering the screen with fancy graphics. Next thing we know there will be product placement in just the wrong places and nobody will be able to enjoy the raw spectacle they tuned in to see.
Do you agree? Disagree? Leave a comment and let me know.
I agree with the clutter. I like to see the names of the competitors but i wish they would remove them as they dive ino the water. And may I say “Way to go Michael Phelps!”