Coverage debates (several subjects) [MERGED]

[Signal Fire]

In the first of a series inspired by the recent topic of ITV's coverage of F1, i ask:- which do you prefer, the old BBC coverage or the ITV coverage?

All in all, ITV is a lot better than the old beeb coverage used to be - we shouldn't forget how, more often than not, we would get no pre-race build up on the BBC; they would quite often cut to the race a minute before the start & cut away a minute after it finished. Plus for many years we had the awful Jonathan Palmer in the comm box.

ITV's overall coverage is better, apart from the adverts obviously - they show the qualifing & have a dedicated 3 hour slot for the race.

However, their coverage on an evening can be pretty dire - God forbid the blue-rinse brigade ever have to wait for Coronation Street to come one! And of course, last season & no doubt this season as well, the entire pre-show build up is dedicated to one driver, and it's not the World Champion!

Plus of course, we must endure the Palmer like waffling of James Allen.

So, it's pretty close, with both channels selling the sport short, IMO.

Thoughts?

[Signal Fire]

In part 2 of the debate, i ask simply - does ITV's sycophantic, over-the-top, excessive blanket coverage of Hamilton make you not want him to win?

Quite simply, it kind of does for me. If he had won the title last season, it would have been unbearable to watch - and it's bad enough already.

Of course, it's not his fault the British media have gone into overdrive, but it's just so much that it's becoming unwatchable.

True lovers of all drivers (like me) are being forced to switch off as ITV endlessly shove Hamilton down our throats, under the assumption we all worship him.

Anyone agree? Or indeed, disagree?

[Signal Fire]

In part 3 of my coverage series i ask - surely it is time for ITV to replace the godawful James Allen in the commentary box?

His obvious pro-British bias, boring waffle and obvious lack of knowledge make Jonathan Palmer look interesting.

Surely he could be replaced? I remember when Have I Got News For You replaced a guest with a tub of lard – maybe ITV F1 could do a similar thing?

Would anyone notice? I doubt it.

Seriously – I though Hill did a good job last year; maybe he could get the job?

Thoughts please, friends?

[Signal Fire]

I ask, in the light of ITV's decision to stream live practice on their website - why don't they just show all the sessions live on ITV 3 or 4?

These channels are just clogged up with rubbish repeats of Quincy & The Sweeny anyway - they could be put to better use.

[TFHarv]

I much preferred the BBC and eurosport coverage of F1 than ITV. Although the ITV coverage is good I hate the fact they have adverts in the race regardless of how short or how they can NOW cut back into the action if something happens on track.

I think we all remember the incident where they cut away from the race at the end for and advert and missed the best part of the race and didn't even get a replay.

The fact you could watch the BBC and listen to the Eurosport commentary was cool although Murry Walker was the only reason I found I could watch ITV coverage at the start.

ITV do a good job to say they have adverts in coverage but It annoys me that they monopolise the coverage even though its just business.

[Marshal]

As ever with these threads, when they come round periodically, it has to be Ben Edwards

[duke_toaster]

I think ITV are doing a rather good job of coverage. It's a commercial broadcaster, they have to cut for commerical breaks. It's just when they do it.

As for the other sessions, it would be rather helpful if they showed FP, however the Friday sessions would be shown when only the unemployed and elderly are at home. They don't want to watch it, let's face it. Although that's a reason to show it. Highlights on ITV4 would be enough.

ITV4 would be the logical home for it. ITV1 is the general audience channel, they have to cater for everyone. ITV2 is US buyins and programmes for chavs - including repeats of Jeremy Kyle, the nearest thing to bear bating on television, even though it is amusing for ten minutes at a time. ITV3 is intended for women aged 35+ (IIRC) and ITV4 is unashamedly blokey.

The only ITV channels I ever watch is ITV1 and 4. Not surprising

Now, commentators. James Allen is woeful, maybe replace him with Martin Haven. Or just the entire SPEED team.

[Knowlesy]

My advice is to not watch the pre-race stuff, and watch the race with the radio coverage as your volume.

I watched the qualifying this morning and just skipped the waffle before and after qualifying. Fantastic. Obviously no radio as I didn't watch it live, but I just about coped by employing that brilliant part of my brain that blanks out warbling fools and listens purely to intelligence. I heard only Brundle.

Alternatively, join a topical motorsports forum and start ten threads on the subject.

[jnr blue 91]

and...the white line in the tyres was only mentioned twice in 5 mins!!

[Ralf's Girl]

What, I wonder, was wrong with asking all those questions in one post? All perfectly valid questions, but I think one topic would have sufficed...

BBC or ITV - it's easy to look back at the Beeb through rose-tinted glasses, because let's face it, nobody likes having the race interrupted to be told to buy beer/cars/razors. But the BBC did very little in the way of pre or post-race coverage, and ITV do give over a lot of time to the F1 coverage. I think they could have better personnel to do it, but some of their features are very interesting. So on balance, I'd say ITV.

Hamilton coverage - yes, it's sycophantic and vaguely vomit-inducing, but I just ignore it. To some extent I'm interested in him because it's nice to see a British driver doing well, but if it goes overboard I fast forward, or if it's live, I find something else to do until they're done. I would like to see a bit less Hamilton and a bit more of other drivers, but they're really just catering for their audience - Hamilton succeeds, viewing figures go up, therefore British public want to see Hamilton.

James Allen - of course he should go. On hearing his voice when I watched qualifying earlier I was instantly irate. But for some reason ITV seem to like him.

Practice sessions - they have enough digital channels to start using them for something that people might actually want to see. I think the fact that the website crashed because so many people wanted to watch qualifying on Friday, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night and had only been announced that morning, speaks for itself.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Ralf's Girl

I think the fact that the website crashed because so many people wanted to watch qualifying on Friday, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night and had only been announced that morning, speaks for itself.

Was it because tonnes of people wanted to see it or they didn't buy enough bandwidth?

[mjstallard]

I've got a feeling they weren't load balancing across their streaming servers properly - if you manually changed the server you were connecting to it was quite possible to get a decent stream out of it. Was just like watching telly!

I'm sure they'll sort this out by the next race...and the fact that they had forgotten to switch on their GeoIP blocking of non-UK people watching the coverage. Else Bernie might not be too chuffed

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

Was it because tonnes of people wanted to see it or they didn't buy enough bandwidth?

Based on the discussion that was going on on here at the time, quite a lot of people wanted to watch it - probably more than want to watch looped re-runs of 'Police Camera Action' anyway...!

[tristancliffe]

Why do we have to put up with the annoying 'noise' that is the credits for ITV footage, and now with the awful Sony advert noise tacked on too. Whilst I know ITV can't start using the Chain again, why can't it use something simple and to the point.

Also, the BBC intro, with clips of excitement was a lot better than close ups of English drivers looking a bit stupid... WHY!!!

The fact that it's fronted by complete berks - Steve, Mark, James, Louise and the other pitlane guy. Why can't we have people on there that seem to know about F1 rather than just relying on Brundle for anything even remotely interesting...

For instance - according to Blundell the cars no longer have engine braking. How does he think that works then? Sure, he's been in F1, but having an IQ of a brick does not entitle him, in my opinion, to front an F1 programme.

[rpolinski]

How lucky are you guys when the worst you have to complain about is the theme music and one of the commentators. None of the CH 10 team have a clue about F1 and no post qual or race press conferences. Hell, it's only our home grand prix, nothing really special. Need to get my ADSL back on so I can watch the ITV coverage.

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

Why do we have to put up with the annoying 'noise' that is the credits for ITV footage, and now with the awful Sony advert noise tacked on too. Whilst I know ITV can't start using the Chain again, why can't it use something simple and to the point.

ITV have never used 'The Chain' - that went with the BBC coverage. I really don't think the theme music matters that much; yes, 'The Chain' was great, but I'm more interested in what happens in between!

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

The fact that it's fronted by complete berks - Steve, Mark, James, Louise and the other pitlane guy. Why can't we have people on there that seem to know about F1 rather than just relying on Brundle for anything even remotely interesting...

Even if some of these people aren't great broadcasters, some of them do actually know about F1 - Steve Rider introduced F1 coverage on the BBC, Louise Goodman used to work for the Jordan team, obviously Mark Blundell was a racing driver...the attempt is obviously there to strike a balance between using journalists/broadcasters and using amateurs who know about F1. Perhaps they just haven't got the balance right.

I will always want to punch James Allen though...they hadn't even started the warm-up lap when he started talking about the stripe on the tyres.

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

the awful Sony advert noise

You're going to be in trouble with the Iron Maiden fans now!

[duke_toaster]

duke_toaster votes to lynch Tristan [1/3] - press 1

Sorry mods, it's an injoke recycled from another forum

As for the main title music, Lift Me Up is a sheer pile of poo.

[Sodemo]

BBC was far better.

If they had it back it would be given the same dedication of coverage as they give to any major sport.

[Rockmunky]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

duke_toaster votes to lynch Tristan [1/3] - press 1

Sorry mods, it's an injoke recycled from another forum

As for the main title music, Lift Me Up is a sheer pile of poo.

1. in joke or not. blasphemy.


Well.... They need to get some new shiny titles, looking at the website, it looked as though it was all new graphics and such, so i kindof hoped that it meant there would be new things, rather than that "lift me up" rubbish.

Alas, no.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

If they had it back it would be given the same dedication of coverage as they give to any major sport.

Like MotoGP?