JACK'S SMACK: Social media makes tape delay a nightmare for NBC

The first week of Olympic viewing has been wildly successful, but not without some controversy.

NBC has this all figured out.

The prime time coverage began in the pool, watching Phelps and Lochte go at it.

It was a big-time ratings winner for the network.

Then throw in the darlings of the mat, the best U.S. women gymnastics team ever, and the 17-day Olympics were off to a rousing beginning.

And how many of us didn't feel the pain and anguish of Jordyn Wieber on Sunday night?

It was hard to watch but made for great TV.

Twitter and social media has become a major part of these games.

It's been a living nightmare for NBC.

Because of the six-hour time difference, many of the events, including the swimming, have been tape delayed.

So Twitter, much to the consternation of NBC, put these results in real time.

Even during our newscast on 41 Action News, we take the responsibility to report the results of local athletes.

For those who don't want to know, we kindly ask you to turn your attention away from the TV for a few seconds.

We'll mute ourselves and let those who want the results, go ahead and take a peek at your TV.

Sounds fair enough, right?

Not so, according the newspapers across the land.

They are hammering NBC for its information embargoes on major events.

Keep in mind, the print media is on its last legs, and has all but been rendered obsolete by television.

Newspapers are circling the drain.

Twitter is creating havoc in London because tweets are overloading data networks and affecting TV coverage.

Commentators at a cycling road race this weekend couldn't tell viewers how far the leaders were ahead of the chasing pack, because they couldn't get through from the GPS satellite navigation system traveling with the cyclists.

So, those TV viewers in London who wanted coverage over there were asked not to tweet.

All this technology is absolutely crazy, but it sure is wonderful when it works.

While NBC continues to draw record number of viewers, the newspapers, including The Kansas City Star, continue with their pop-gun assaults on the network.

Who cares what they think?

I want to share a tweet I saw earlier today.

It reads "Success is like a fart. It only bothers people when it’s not their own."

That’s Jack’s Smack.