2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony
TV coverage
TV coverage
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[thumb\|Fireworks at [Tower Bridge](/wiki/Tower_Bridge "Tower Bridge")](/wiki/File:2012_Summer_Olympics_Opening_Ceremony_Fireworks_Tower_Bridge.jpg "2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony Fireworks Tower Bridge.jpg")
The [BBC](/wiki/BBC "BBC")'s coverage started at 19:00 and continued uninterrupted until 00:50\. The BBC audience averaged about 24\.46 million viewers and peaked at approximately 26\.9 million. This was the largest average audience for any broadcast since 1996 and one of the top 20 most\-watched UK television broadcasts of all time. David Stringer of [Associated Press](/wiki/Associated_Press "Associated Press") described the coverage as "a success...so far, the BBC's ambitious – and technically tricky – Olympic plan has worked almost without a flaw." Euan Ferguson of *[The Observer](/wiki/The_Observer "The Observer")* commented that "Coverage of the Olympics so far ... has been near perfect." However, [Clive James](/wiki/Clive_James "Clive James") was critical of the build\-up programme, presented by [Gary Lineker](/wiki/Gary_Lineker "Gary Lineker") and [Sue Barker](/wiki/Sue_Barker "Sue Barker"). Commentators for the BBC were [Huw Edwards](/wiki/Huw_Edwards_%28journalist%29 "Huw Edwards (journalist)"), [Hazel Irvine](/wiki/Hazel_Irvine "Hazel Irvine") and [Trevor Nelson](/wiki/Trevor_Nelson "Trevor Nelson"), the latter criticised by Andy Dawson of the *[Daily Mirror](/wiki/Daily_Mirror "Daily Mirror")* as floundering "like a ventriloquist's dummy pumped full of low\-grade ketamine". Private talks were held between Boyle and BBC commentators in the run\-up to the ceremony. Boyle was unhappy with a voiceover being imposed on the ceremony, which he wanted viewers to be able to enjoy without commentary. The BBC offered several options including 'no commentary' coverage for both its TV and online transmissions. [Audio description](/wiki/Audio_description "Audio description") was also provided with commentary by [Nick Mullins](/wiki/Nick_Mullins "Nick Mullins").

Nearly 41 million US viewers watched [NBC](/wiki/NBC "NBC")'s coverage of the event. Criticism was levelled at its decision to [tape\-delay this broadcast](/wiki/Olympics_on_NBC%232012_Opening_Ceremony "Olympics on NBC#2012 Opening Ceremony"), and not make a live version available even to cable and web users. There were frequent interruptions by commercial breaks. Many US viewers looked for other ways to watch (such as the live [BBC](/wiki/BBC "BBC") feed), despite both NBC and the IOC vowing to crack down on unauthorised streams. More significant criticism was levelled at NBC for cutting to a [Ryan Seacrest](/wiki/Ryan_Seacrest "Ryan Seacrest") interview with [Michael Phelps](/wiki/Michael_Phelps "Michael Phelps") during the 'memorial wall' tribute including commemoration of the victims of the [7/7 London bombings](/wiki/7/7_London_bombings "7/7 London bombings"), which was seen as disrespectful and insensitive. An NBC spokesman said the network had left out that segment because its programming was "tailored for the US audience". There was also criticism of commentators [Matt Lauer](/wiki/Matt_Lauer "Matt Lauer") and [Meredith Vieira](/wiki/Meredith_Vieira "Meredith Vieira") for suggesting that [the Queen](/wiki/Elizabeth_II "Elizabeth II") had actually jumped out of a helicopter. Vieira and Lauer admitted to not knowing that [Tim Berners\-Lee](/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee "Tim Berners-Lee") was the inventor of the [World Wide Web](/wiki/World_Wide_Web "World Wide Web"), as she commented "If you haven't heard of him, we haven't either", before Lauer told the audience to [Google](/wiki/Google_Search "Google Search") him. These failings were picked up on [Twitter](/wiki/Twitter "Twitter") during the broadcast with the [hashtag](/wiki/Hashtag "Hashtag") \#nbcfail.

The ceremony was recorded by three separate broadcasters: the BBC, the [Olympic Broadcasting Services](/wiki/Olympic_Broadcasting_Services "Olympic Broadcasting Services") (directed by the Finnish state broadcaster [YLE](/wiki/YLE "YLE") on behalf of the OBS), and by independent production company Done and Dusted, hired by LOCOG and working under Boyle's direction. This was the first time that an independent production company had been used for an Olympic ceremony. This situation led to some tension, as Boyle wanted more artistic control and felt he was getting no co\-operation from the OBS. He criticised the OBS coverage during his commentary for the BBC DVD. In addition, the BBC filmed some of the pre\-recorded parts of the ceremony. The filming was directed for television by [Hamish Hamilton](/wiki/Hamish_Hamilton_%28director%29 "Hamish Hamilton (director)"), who described it as "easily the most difficult job of my life".

The BBC released footage of the entire ceremony on 29 October 2012, edited by Danny Boyle and with background extras, filling more than one disc of a five [DVD](/wiki/DVD "DVD") or [Blu\-ray disc](/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc "Blu-ray Disc") set, which also contained more than seven hours of sporting highlights as well as the complete closing ceremony. A 'BBC commentary\-free' option for the opening ceremony is available on the DVD, as well as a commentary track by Danny Boyle and [Frank Cottrell\-Boyce](/wiki/Frank_Cottrell-Boyce "Frank Cottrell-Boyce").


Who commented on the BBC's coverage as 'a success'?