2018 U.S. Nationals on TV & IceNetwork (incl. free IN content)

[Sylvia]

Viewer's Guide: http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017/12/27/262699410

In addition to broadcasting the competition, icenetwork will provide FREE behind-the-scenes video to all registered users beginning Wednesday, Jan. 2. This coverage will include live segments from the icenetwork ICE Desk, press conferences, technical analysis, interviews, special features and more. Nick McCarvel will serve as host of the ICE Desk. The rest of icenetwork's backstage team will consist of [Charlie] White, [Michael] Weiss and [Brooke] Castile.

During the senior-level events, icenetwork will provide live technical analysis via Prudential Skate Radio on the backstage stream and on the icenetwork app (for iOS, download here). This audio feed will feature the following experts breaking down all the performances from a technical perspective:
- Jimmie Santee, executive director of the Professional Skaters Association
- Charlie Cyr, former international judge who now serves as the ISU's sports director for figure skating
- Julia Rey, ISU-level technical specialist for ice dance

This was published yesterday: http://olympics.nbcsports.com/2017/12/27/how-to-watch-usa-figure-skating-championships/
"The U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the final event to decide the Olympic team, will air live on NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com/live and the NBC Sports app next week with every senior session."

Date Time (Eastern Time) Program Network
Wednesday, Jan. 3
11 p.m.-1 a.m. Women’s Short NBCSN | STREAM LINK

Thursday, Jan. 4
4-6:30 p.m. Pairs Short NBCSN | STREAM LINK
8:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Men’s Short NBCSN | STREAM LINK

Friday, Jan. 5
4-6:30 p.m. Short Dance NBCSN | STREAM LINK
8-11 p.m. Women’s Free NBC | STREAM LINK

Saturday, Jan. 6
4-6 p.m. Pairs Free NBC | STREAM LINK
8-11 p.m. Men’s Free NBC | STREAM LINK

Sunday, Jan. 7
3-6 p.m. Free Dance NBC | STREAM LINK

Saturday, Jan. 13
4 p.m. Exhibition Gala NBC | STREAM LINK

ETA: NBC Sports will publish a press release on their U.S. Nationals TV coverage in the next week and I will post a link to it when it appears:

[From the end of NBC Sports' 12/21/17 press release] ... 2018 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships, beginning Wednesday, January 3, live at 11 p.m. ET with the ladies’ short program on NBCSN. Complete programming information ... will be announced next week.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Aww I was hoping Tanith would be back on the Ice Desk. Wasn't impressed with McCarvel. Glad to see Charlie doing backstage work again. I think this is where he shines in broadcasting.

 

[mollymgr]

Nick and Brooke. Why not John Coughlin?

 

[Sylvia]

My understanding is that John Coughlin voluntarily elected not to do any TV or IN commentary on singles or pairs this season while he is serving as the chair of the ISU Athletes Commission. He mentioned to me that he might still commentate on synchro skating later in the season.

 

[rfisher]

One would think Brook had never skated pairs given her commentary.

 

[mollymgr]

hmmm I wonder what happened to all of icenetworks videos??? All of them have disappeared and it says test on the bottom.

 

[Jun Y]

The streaming on NBCOlympics.com is free, right? Does not require a cable subscription? I have cut off my cable subscription altogether a while ago.

 

[maureenfarone]

The streaming on NBCOlympics.com is free, right? Does not require a cable subscription? I have cut off my cable subscription altogether a while ago.

I'm confused about this as well. I read through how to watch and it seems I would need to sign in with my tv provider username and password. I only have internet through Spectrum Time Warner so if I sign in with my name and password the only thing it will "authenticate" is my internet - no tv. I hope someone can help with this because it seems to me that this will not work without cable or satellite tv.

 

[mollymgr]

I'm pretty sure that you can only get it with a participating provider and a subscription to that service. NBC and Comcast are related so they will make money any way they can.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Hmm. I'm worried about January 7 Free Dance coverage on NBC. There is a football game on immediately prior. It better not run into overtime because you know they won't cut away from football to show skating!

 

[A.H.Black]

I'm sure all the broadcasts will be repeated on the Olympics Channel and/or NBCSN several times. It doesn't help for the live broadcast, but it's a lot better than missing it altogether.

 

[gatorinfl]

Is it still the case that IceNetwork videos can only be viewed on a laptop or desktop and not a tablet like an iPad?

I downloaded the IceNetwork app for iOS in order to get the IceNetwork radio during Nationals, but I don’t see any video there.

 

[Sylvia]

Re-posting this tip from the U.S. Nationals forum in the Kiss & Cry section:

While you still have IN, get the Puffin browser for your phone and/or pad. I have had good results with the video speed/quality on that app. I've been known to watch skating on the train on the way into work on my phone.

 

[maureenfarone]

I'm sure all the broadcasts will be repeated on the Olympics Channel and/or NBCSN several times. It doesn't help for the live broadcast, but it's a lot better than missing it altogether.

The problem I have with NBC shortening the FS coverage in favor of the football is that NBC is all I have available (plus IN). If the football runs over, I will miss those early skaters because I don't have satellite or cable to watch reruns on NBCSN or Olympic Channel. I will have to wait until IN provides the coverage on demand sometime the following week.

 

[avivadawn]

I subscribed to Hulu TV to get the Olympic Channel. They have a 1 week trial available that might work to cover any reruns.

 

[Aceon6]

Is it still the case that IceNetwork videos can only be viewed on a laptop or desktop and not a tablet like an iPad?

I downloaded the IceNetwork app for iOS in order to get the IceNetwork radio during Nationals, but I don’t see any video there.

You can use a tablet. You'll need a Flash compatible browser like Puffin.

 

[gatorinfl]

You can use a tablet. You'll need a Flash compatible browser like Puffin.

Thank you. I’ll check it out.

 

[Spun Silver]

Thank you. I’ll check it out.

I found the image quality on Puffin really poor. Sucked it up and watched on TV or my desktop.

 

[Aceon6]

I found the image quality on Puffin really poor. Sucked it up and watched on TV or my desktop.

The IN feed shouldn't be lower quality in Puffin. Perhaps there's a setting on your tablet or some limitation with your wifi. Root around this week and see if you can get it working. Since the events end so late EST, I plan on using the tablet a lot.

 

[meggonzo]

Hmm. I'm worried about January 7 Free Dance coverage on NBC. There is a football game on immediately prior. It better not run into overtime because you know they won't cut away from football to show skating!

Do you know for sure there is a football game on NBC? I can't find a schedule yet for the playoffs. I would think any game on NBC would be Sunday night since that's their typical football time slot.

 

[maureenfarone]

Do you know for sure there is a football game on NBC? I can't find a schedule yet for the playoffs. I would think any game on NBC would be Sunday night since that's their typical football time slot.

My NBC affiliate is showing NFL AFC Wild Card Football starting at 11:30 a.m. on January 7. Free Dance is starting at 3:00 p.m. so I also think the start of the FD maybe sacrificed for the end of the game.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

My NBC affiliate is showing NFL AFC Wild Card Football starting at 11:30 a.m. on January 7. Free Dance is starting at 3:00 p.m. so I also think the start of the FD maybe sacrificed for the end of the game.

The average NFL game lasts just a little over 3 hrs, so 3.5 hrs should be sufficient unless the game goes into overtime.

 

[maureenfarone]

The average NFL game lasts just a little over 3 hrs, so 3.5 hrs should be sufficient unless the game goes into overtime.

Yes, it is the overtime and endless rehashing and catching up on all kinds of other sports before going to the FD is what worries me.

 

[mollymgr]

Yes, it is the overtime and endless rehashing and catching up on all kinds of other sports before going to the FD is what worries me.

There is no use worrying about it. If it isn't football, it is random weather alerts and warnings where they have to break into the broadcast to show you the radar while your favorite skater is skating.

 

[maureenfarone]

There is no use worrying about it. If it isn't football, it is random weather alerts and warnings where they have to break into the broadcast to show you the radar while your favorite skater is skating.

Yes, I've been through the endless weather reports earlier this season. I gave up after about 45 minutes and went in search of youtube videos!

 

[meggonzo]

The NBC broadcast for skating on 1/7 is 3 hours, so I doubt they will show the first group of the free dance. The first hour, they will probably recap the mens and ladies or show some of the short dances.

 

[Spun Silver]

The IN feed shouldn't be lower quality in Puffin. Perhaps there's a setting on your tablet or some limitation with your wifi. Root around this week and see if you can get it working. Since the events end so late EST, I plan on using the tablet a lot.

If you or any other Puffin user can give me an advice on how to get sound, I would be super grateful. The volume button doesn't seem to work (although the image quality seems fine, so thanks for advising me to give it another go, @Aceon6).

 

[meggonzo]

The NFL games on Sunday 1/7 will be on CBS and FOX.
http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2017/POST

Now, I noticed that the Saturday night playoff game is scheduled to be on NBC AT THE SAME TIME as the men's free skate is supposed to be on NBC?!

 

[maureenfarone]

The NFL games on Sunday 1/7 will be on CBS and FOX.
http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2017/POST

Now, I noticed that the Saturday night playoff game is scheduled to be on NBC AT THE SAME TIME as the men's free skate is supposed to be on NBC?!

 

[meggonzo]

See the TV thread in the US Nats forum - We think Men's long will end up on NBCSN.