But of course, that’s not as simple as it sounds.

The first barrier to any possible indulgence was the NBC web site’s insistence that watching the game required the installation of Microsoft’s ‘Silverlight’ – their risible answer to Adobe Flash. As a hardcore Linux fan I had no such thing installed and the presence of ‘Moonlight’ was considered inadequate by the site. So I had to go searching for a Windoze machine.

Having found one and installed Silverlight as demanded, my next blockade to any hope of actually viewing the game came in the form of an intrusive pop-up telling me I now had to install Flash as well.

Wasn’t that the whole point of getting Silverlight instead??

With Adobe’s needs pacified I tried once more to witness the sporting engagement…only to have the view blocked by a flurry of annoying, supposedly humorous adverts and pop-ups.

As I said, this was the first time the game could be witnessed via the Internet. The result was the most patronizing, self-serving, avarice-driven attack on the IQ and senses you could possibly endure without blood-loss. It can only be hoped the experience will improve as the providers get more chance to practice.

With such obvious focus on manipulation and profit it’s sadly quite obvious that’s a feint hope at the most…

Photo by Juggernautco