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February 28, 2010 at 9:46 PM

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NBC ends coverage of Closing Ceremony, switches to Marriage Ref

Posted by Erika Riggs

Although NBC broadcast the Olympics Closing Ceremony live for its East coast viewers, it made the decision to cut coverage of the final event short to switch to its new show, The Marriage Ref, informing viewers that ceremony coverage would continue at 11:30 p.m.

The New York Times, in their live coverage of the ceremony, wrote at 10:43 p.m.: "Apparently the closing ceremony is no longer being shown on NBC or its sister channels. Here’s what you’re missing: The ceremony has morphed into an all-star rock concert, with the athletes, most of them wearing foam moose antlers, invited to descend onto the stage and sway to Canada’s best-known entertainers."

Many were angry and posted on Twitter what they thought of the network's decision.

@u2miller20: Already pissed off at #nbc! They haven't cut off the closing ceremonies yet here but we've been warned! #nbcfail big time!

@JoeyJosephs1: To NBC: Bad decision to chop up the Closing Ceremony to push Seinfeld's stupid Marriage Ref I changed channels when you started it.

@fac104: the olympics were beautiful. your coverage of the closing ceremonies sandwiching a new show was not. get ready for ratings drop

@viequense: @NBCOlympics your coverage sucked from the beginning but then you cut off the Olympic Closing Ceremonies?

@sdma49: you're kidding me...we interrupt the closing ceremonies for Jerry Seinfeld's Show...more CC in an hr.

Viewers weren't the only ones who thought poorly of NBC's decision.

AP wrote: "Those enjoying the festivities were told to come back in an hour - at 11:30 p.m. on a night before work or school - for the conclusion. Let's just imagine if CBS had stopped the Super Bowl after three quarters to show "Undercover Boss," telling people to come back in an hour for the fourth quarter. Incredible that NBC would wrap a show it has high hopes for, and one of its biggest stars, in ill will."

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Olympic Outsiders

NBC ends coverage of Closing Ceremony, switches to Marriage Ref

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