Perspective: A WIS Editorial - Olympic Spoilers - wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |

THE 2012 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES ARE IN FULL SWING AND BY FAR THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE HAS BEEN MANAGING THE SOCIAL MEDIA "SPOILAGE" OF EVENT RESULTS.  NBC'S  STRATEGY OF AIRING  HIGH PROFILE EVENTS ON TAPED DELAY HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL SO FAR WITH VIEWERSHIP AT ALL TIME HIGHS, BUT SOCIAL MEDIA HAS CAUSED HEADACHES FOR FOLKS THAT WANT TO WATCH WITHOUT KNOWING THE RESULTS.

TWITTER AND FACEBOOK USAGE HAS SURGED SINCE THE SUMMER GAMES OF 2008.  BACK THEN, TWITTER HAD AROUND 300,000 TWEETS A DAY COMPARED TO 400 MILLION TODAY.  AND FACEBOOK HAD AROUND 100 MILLION USERS AT THAT TIME VERSUS 900 MILLION NOW.

WIS DECIDED TO GIVE OUR VIEWERS A CHOICE BY ISSUING WHAT WE CALL SPOILER ALERTS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND YOUR  RESPONSE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY  POSITIVE

ONE VIEWER POSTED ON FACEBOOK:  "Thank you for giving us the opportunity to decide whether we want to know the results or watch it for ourselves."

YET ANOTHER SAID;  "I love the fact that you are posting results and warning us before we click. For those who are complaining, just don't click, it is as simple as that."

WE THANK OUR OLYMPIC VIEWERS FOR EMBRACING THIS SOLUTION TO A 21^ST CENTURY PROBLEM.

THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE.  THANKS FOR SHARING YOURS!