OLN producer explains the network's event coverage for the coming season

OLN producer explains the network’s event coverage for the coming season{mosimage}Ski Racing readers have been writing in to the magazine, asking how they can watch World Cup skiing from the United States. Last year the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) ran an unprecedented amount of European alpine racing, and in the spring signed a deal with the U.S. Ski Team to partner up for domestic coverage, so expectations are high. This winter, OLN is planning to air a weekly show called “Winter Revolution,” which will fold alpine coverage in with a variety of subjects, ranging from freestyle and snowboarding to luge and curling. Ski Racing caught up with John Carter, OLN’s vice president for production, and asked for a preview of the show for the sport’s hard-core enthusiasts around the country.

SKI RACING: So everybody is wondering what kind of skiing coverage OLN will have this year.
JOHN CARTER: We’re getting fairly locked in on the programming. There are still some things to try. But we’re going to go for a broader presentation overall about winter sports. Rather than be solely dependent on events, we’re going to broaden the scope. But as far as event coverage goes, it’ll be two hours long, and there will be alpine skiing as well as snowboarding and freestyle.

SR: The coverage is slotted for Wednesdays during prime-time starting in January. Will you show January races right away, or have the December World Cups on the hook and start showing them in early January?
JC: Yes, we may play a little bit of catch up at first. For the hard-core fans it won’t be news, but we want to set up the largest audience. Then, once we’ve caught up, we’re planning to show Kitzbuehel and Garmisch and World Cup Finals closer to their dates. Because of NBC’s rights, we won’t be at world championships.

SR: So what other stuff will be thrown in with ski racing?
JC: We’ll have all kinds of peripheral events. The point is width and breadth of winter sports. It could range from curling to luge. But those would probably be subservient to alpine. I think you’ll see a focus on some of the U.S. Ski Team’s stars, like Toby Dawson potentially.

SR: And who will be hosting the show?
JC: We haven’t totally nailed that down, but you can count on some of the old familiar faces. Steve and Chad are still our guys.

SR: And we’ll be seeing a special segment called ‘Bode on the Bus.’
JC: That’s going to be great. We’re developing it in partnership with Bode, to get some behind-the-scenes access. We want to show what it’s like to be on the full-time World Cup tour. We’ll be on his RV, showing all the adventures, misadventures and antics. That could be the bus breaks down, stopping to take in the scenery, etc. What does he do between races to stave off the boredom.

SR: Obviously this is sort of modeled on the ‘Lance Chronicles’ that OLN aired in conjunction with the Tour de France last year, right?
JC: That was a big success. It got accolades and critical praise and raised ratings, so it’s something we’re proud of. Rather than hearing two minutes of Bode talking at the end of a run, we want to explain who this guy is. It’s the kind of ‘shoulder programming’ that elevates understanding. That’s what feature stories are all about.