[TV] Motor racing on television

[Ian Sowman]

I thought it would be interesting to hear some views on motorsport on television. However, I am specifically NOT talking about programming covering such categories as F1, BTCC, WRC and the like. I'd like this thread to cover the various shows that broadcast recorded highlights of (primarily) UK national and club racing series on terrestrial and satellite television. Programmes such as World Motorsport, the various other shows on Sky Sports, Race and Rally UK on Motors and Five, and so on.

As motorsport fans, do you go out of your way to watch or record these, or just happen to catch them as you are channel-hopping? Are they 'signposted' well enough so you know when they are on, and if you are interested in the content?

What do you think of the way the shows are put together? Do you enjoy long interviews with the competitors or would you prefer more action and less chat? Do you think lots of on-board shots are valuable? Do you prefer the commentary to be 'as-live' or a narration on the story of the race?

Of course, any other opinions on this subject will be welcome.

[Truckosaurus]

Being in part of the country that only gets four channels unless I stump up for one of Mr Murdoch's dishes, my coverage of motorsport is particularly woeful. ITV are the one terrestrial broadcaster that could be in a position to create a weekly motorsport slot at the same time each week showing highlights of the series they have the rights to (BTCC, WRC and F1). If they stuck it on a Sunday night at 21h00 straight after Top Gear finishes on BBC2 then they'd have a unusually high quality audience to offer to their advertisers.

[Ian Sowman]

Poirot would get far more viewers, though, in the same slot.

As I say - let's discuss the coverage that is out there now, rather than create a (possibly unrealistic) wish list.

[The STIG]

unless of course the BBC can be pursuaded to make space for motorsport in their scheduling...?

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by The STIG

unless of course the BBC can be pursuaded to make space for motorsport in their scheduling...?

Yes,if all motorsport fans refused to pay their TV licence there would not be a prison big enough to hold us all?
Without satellite, viewing would be grim.My main critisism of both Sky & Motors TV is too many repeats.Less would make room for more events to be covered?

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

As motorsport fans, do you go out of your way to watch or record these, or just happen to catch them as you are channel-hopping? Are they 'signposted' well enough so you know when they are on, and if you are interested in the content?

If, like us, you're limited to four channels, finding motorsport coverage requires a lot of persverance! It would be better if what little is available could be broadcast at a fixed time.

Do you enjoy long interviews with the competitors or would you prefer more action and less chat?

Interviews with competitors are a waste of time. Take out the blatant plugs for their sponsors & the statements of the blindingly obvious & you've got nothing left!

Do you think lots of on-board shots are valuable?

99% of on-board shots are a waste of time! How many times do we hear the commentators babbling on about a great overtaking manoeuvre when all we're seeing is empty track? Whatever the TV companies would have us believe, it's basically an economy device. A few cheap cameras in cars are much cheaper than setting up expensive fixed cameras at numerous points around the circuit, hard-wiring them back to a central point & then paying cameramen (or women) to operate them.

Do you prefer the commentary to be 'as-live' or a narration on the story of the race?

I don't care as long as it's well done. For me, the only good commentator on TV is Simon Taylor!

[kipper]

Being limited to four terrestrial channels and a somewhat ropey reception of Channel 5, I often intend to watch the motorsport that is shown in the early hours but often fall asleep or forget to set the video. I imagine that the problem is that it would be debatable whether there would be enough viewers to justify the expense of covering club motorsport compared to repeats and American imports. Also it needs to considered that Top Gear Motorsport ceased due to low viewers, which although not explicity a club motorsport programme did feature categories like Formula Ford and Eurocars. Therefore, I think the current situation is regrettable, but unavoidable.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Rob29

My main critisism of both Sky & Motors TV is too many repeats.Less would make room for more events to be covered?

And who will pay for this? Repeats are cheaper and when repeating a top line event will draw more viewers than a one of new event. That is the trouble, public service broadcasting it isn't.

Overall most coverage is poor. With little effort put in to make it look like a lot of effort has been put in. However compared with other non-motorsprot programmes it fits in well.

Sometimes I prefer the simple just show the track programmes. It tends to work better. Interviews can take up too much time as can explanations of what is going on. That information can be sort out if a viewer wants to learn more about it. Although I guess most viewers don't want to put the effort into finding out more. If you show more of the actual sport you can appreciate the sport more and learn to like it for what it is.

A lot of shows are style over content. If you can call it style. However I appreciate what MotorsTV does on it's budget and it gets the balance right generally. The BTCC days for instance are great. No studio, just the track. Brilliant.

On board shots can be good. Although outside is the key to good coverage. On board should compliment it.

When showing replays they should learn to show more. Too often a key moment's replay is started to late and the beginnings (and cause) of it are missed.

Commentary should come as live or narration depending on whether it is live or not! In addition when will these commentators realise they are there to just 'add to the pictures' not to speak incessantly.

I have shows I always catch. F1 on ITV , DTM, WTCC, ALMS, LMES, FIA GT on Eurosport and MotorsTV. Quite often I record these and watch them later for purely practical reasons. However if free I will watch a live event live - it is sport. Although, of course, some don't get watched. I have plenty of unwatched taking up space! I also try to record all the historical programmes or documentaries I can - these almost never get watched when on, but later when convenient. Why watch then when the broadcaster decides? Watch them when convenient.

[chunder]

I think ot be honest we do rather well for motorsport if you are talking satellite.
If you are talking terrestrial then it is utter rot.
You have to look at bikes aswell here as they get more viewers. BSB was put on to C5 in the middle of the night, as was WSB with a British world champion defending his crown. And just because the Beeb would rather have yet more horse racing on and loads of trifling sports that no one rreally cares about like curling and snooker and tennis.
iTV try pretty hard though and need to be credited, their TC coverage is OK, thouhg better on Motors. And they do stuff like Goodwood which are of huge interest to people.
I watch most stuff apart from F1 and sports cars coz they are both utterly boring. DTM is OK, WTCC ios usually good but on at same time as MotoGP or WSB. Rally gets a reasonable deal with a proper WRC news prog every week. And we getr regualr coverage of just about every national championship
Plus in the winter they put on all sorts of Yank stuff like ARCA,WoO and Dirt Modifieds!
Well worth the twenty quid for me

[diz]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

I don't care as long as it's well done. For me, the only good commentator on TV is Simon Taylor!

What about Ian Sowman?

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by diz

What about Ian Sowman?

I've never had the pleasure of hearing his commentary.....

......but I remember you stealing my material at Anglesey! (Dave Murphy's 'movable aerodynamic device!)

[Speedworx]

I don't go out of my way to watch them. I don't even watch them if I'm bored and have nothing to do. It has to be motorsport I'm interested in for me to watch it.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

99% of on-board shots are a waste of time! How many times do we hear the commentators babbling on about a great overtaking manoeuvre when all we're seeing is empty track? Whatever the TV companies would have us believe, it's basically an economy device. A few cheap cameras in cars are much cheaper than setting up expensive fixed cameras at numerous points around the circuit, hard-wiring them back to a central point & then paying cameramen (or women) to operate them.

While there are some companies who use on-boards to cover gaps in their circuit coverage for economy reasons, it is by no means always the case.

And if the coverage is live or as-live it is certainly not an economy measure once you have added the cost of the transmitter links, frequency clearance and putting a helicopter up.

On-board cameras also tend to get destroyed in crashes, severed by shards of carbon fibre, or by having fire extinguishers released into them.

What most people don't realise is that motorsport below F1 doesn't get anywhere near the audiences necessary to make it profitable for a mainstream TV broadcaster, and subsequently nearly all domestic motorsport coverage is paid for by manufacturers, competitors or sponsors.


Adam's comment about commentary vs narration is interesting.
On anything over about 3 minutes in duration, narration is extremely tedious, and the style of editing needed to accompany it is clichéd. I would much rather watch something where the commentary was added later than something which was simply voiced.

As for what is out there already:

World Motorsport - not bad for what it is. Obviously low budget, but uses the budget wisely.

Race and Rally UK - This is unbelievably bad. Probably has a similar budget to World Motorsport, but just looks cheap.

Motorsport UK - Good opportunity for terrestrial viewers to see some good quality domestic motorsport. Would be better if it wasn't restricted to six months of the year.

[chunder]

Good point sceptic, (damn that is a hard word to type)
I remember the rallycross guys clubbing together to contribute a healthy part of the cash needed to fund the coverage they got for the British championship a few years ago.
I think its OK ot be honest, as you say it doesnt get the viewers that most things get. I am the only one in a hosue of 5 that takes any interest, Occasionally someone might say (Oh that lokos good) but as soon as you are out of the room some boring house programme or documantery is on!

[safc_fan89]

I'd prefer more action and less chat on ITV's F1 coverage of course! ITV's WRC and BTCC coverage is also pretty poor; far more coverage is needed for both I think.

Last year I recorded Five's NASCAR and IRL highlights, but this missed lead changes, crashes etc, so they weren't brilliant.

I can't comment about satellite motorsport programmes because I haven't got Sky, but my general view is that terrestrial motorsport is not of the greatest quality. The presentation that is, not the action.

[Joe Taylor]

Originally Posted by Ian Sowman

Do you prefer the commentary to be 'as-live' or a narration on the story of the race?

If it's a brief few minutes or less highlights, it should be narrated, if it's a decent length, it should be as live. It should NEVER mix the 2

[Andy77]

A channel yet not mentioned and only accessible with a dish from Astra 19.2 is RaceworldTV. Although it has poor stream it is a great channel which covers almost anything. Ive seen some kart race reports even. Grand-Am gets covered there as well as minor german and british race classes.
A prob with it might be that some commentaries are in dutch only.

A small benefit, you can watch F1 too on RTL if you are interested in how its presented in germany or just want to switch during ITV´s commercial breaks

[Rob29]

Motors TV seems to have aquired rights to several American series not previously seen.
Last night 2 hours of first round ,last February, of ARCA series from Daytona.Promised for later in the week-Trans Am & World of Outlaws.

[Nick49]

Hello,

I watch quite a bit of Eurosport and Motors TV and enjoy almost everything I see. I first watched motor racing in the 60's with Raymond Baxter commentating on F1 and then there was action from Le Mans and other bits and pieces. It then all died in the 70's and 80's until it seemed to come back with BBC2 and Grand Prix. Now I can't believe how much motorsport there is on TV even if a lot of it is on Sky which not everyone can or wants to get.

I love LMES, FIA GT, WTCC, GP2, Le Mans, Motorsport UK, ALMS and on and on. I can't see it all because my wife and daughters object. It really is a case of "You've never had it so good" IMO. What I really missed out on was the Group C Sportcar series. I went to quite a few races and got one or two videos but if only it had been on TV.

All in all, somethings do get better with age .

Nick

[Andy77]

here in germoney we had group c (mainly the 1000km ones) until 85 on telly as well as occasionially IMSA, it died with Bellof and Winkelhock back then though. Main motorsports on TV were F1 and the 500ccm Championship through the whole 80s. In 88 or 89 Champcar (C.A.R.T. back then) came to the schedule too. through the 90s DTM, STW, ITC and WSBK.
the only thing i really miss on free telly is the Indy500 , since both the 24h Nurby and Le Mans getting pretty good coverage in free telly here.
since my pay-telly (premiere) lost its football deal with the DFB premiere plans on adding more motorsport to their sport channels.

The only thing where I really miss a better coverage is the FIA Truck-EM.

All in all i agree, that the coverage is really good nowadays, even in free telly (at least here )