Skating Redirected: Lake Placid to Albertville
This chapter discusses media coverage of figure skates. Media interest in figure skating has grown steadily since 1962, when ABC's Wide World of Sports began covering the World Championships. However, the Olympic Games have provided the most popular televised skating events. Increased visibility spurred unprecedented interest in figure skating. Television audiences wanted to see in person those competitors they had watched compete for World and Olympic medals. The result has been phenomenal. An ever-increasing number of ice shows and professional competitions have provided opportunities for former competitors to enjoy lucrative careers while continuing to excite audiences. Some have sustained unusual longevity. Two, Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning, can be classified as matinee idols.