How many BTCC cars will compete at the Brands Hatch WTCC races?

[the interpreter]

How many BTCC cars will compete at the Brands Hatch WTCC races?

Plato and Turner could race, as could the Motorbase and WSR BMWs, the old Toledos and the Chevy.

If it isn't on the cards then we should lobby the teams to enter the races!!

[awrb]

There's a clash with the BTCC race at Oulton, so none.

Very poor scheduling really.

[BootsOntheSide]

If only the BTCC didn't take a five-week break mid-season. I think it's partly due to Euro 2008 (which partially explains the first two Sundays, as those have matches clashing with BTCC race 3), but it's still silly to lose some of the most suitable conditions for racing. They only have 10 meetings compared to 16 for MotoGP and 18 for F1, so there's no real need for the employees to have time off - and it doesn't tie in with the UK school holidays anyway.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

If only the BTCC didn't take a five-week break mid-season. I think it's partly due to Euro 2008 (which partially explains the first two Sundays, as those have matches clashing with BTCC race 3), but it's still silly to lose some of the most suitable conditions for racing.

Don't forget to include F1 in that 5 week gap, that would take care of the third Sunday.

01 Jun - BTCC Croft
08 Jun - Euro 2008 / Canadian GP
15 Jun - Euro 2008
22 Jun - Euro 2008 / French GP
29 Jun - Euro 2008
06 Jul - British GP
13 Jul - BTCC Snetterton

Given the broadcast timings they could have squeezed in another BTCC meeting this weekend (28/29 Jun) without clashing with Euro 2008 final.

[Aunt Sally]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

I think it's partly due to Euro 2008.

It is TOTALLY due to Euro 2008 and Live TV. If the BTCC was not broadcast live then there would not have been a problem!

[trebor901]

well BTCC is better than Euro 2008. I dunno why Euro 2008 had to be shown in England anyway, we werent in it so who gives a toss who wins?

[redshoes]

Does matter if England (and Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) were in it or not, ITV had a contract to show Euro 2008. As I recall England hadn't definitely not qualified until Nov 07, long after the 08 BTCC calendar had been finalised.

If TOCA want live coverage they have to block out the Euro 2008 dates, just as they did with the Rugby World Cup last year. The Olympics is less of an issue due the time difference between here and China. What happens in 2012 when we have Euro 2012 in Poland and Olympics in London to work around is anyone's guess.

[BootsOntheSide]

That shouldn't matter - Euro 2008 is on ITV1 and BTCC on ITV4. Does ITV have a rule limiting them to only showing sport on one channel at a time? No, because they often show Champions' League football on both ITV1 and ITV4.

[kristof14]

Its possibly more down to the staff/equipment they have available to produce the broadcasts?

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

That shouldn't matter - Euro 2008 is on ITV1 and BTCC on ITV4.

What if England had qualified and there was a live game on ITV1 at the same time as live BTCC on ITV4? Think how much of an effect on viewing figures would that have. F1 is shown on ITV1 but TOCA don't want a BTCC race at the same time for exactly the same reason.

[FIRE]

I don't see the problem. All matches were in the evening (except for 2 matches, which began at 18:00 CET)

[Hazard]

I don't see a problem...football's boring

[trebor901]

Originally Posted by kristof14

Its possibly more down to the staff/equipment they have available to produce the broadcasts?

Nope because ITV dont control the coverage they get through, they have to make do with what they get as its the exact same as every other broadcaster gets. Just like F1. So i dont see how there would be a lack of equipment for ITV.

[redshoes]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I don't see the problem. All matches were in the evening (except for 2 matches, which began at 18:00 CET)

Kick off for the Sunday matches was 5pm UK time, however coverage usually starts 30 mins earlier. BTCC coverage is normally scheduled to finish 5.30pm. That means the 3rd race would clash with the first half.

Where the kick-off times known when the BTCC calendar was being decided? If not then TOCA couldn't take the chance that it was going to be a later evening game.

I'm not trying to defend the decision, far from it. Personally I have no interest in football of any sort. The simple truth is that if you want the BTCC to get live coverage then this is the price you have to pay.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by redshoes

Don't forget to include F1 in that 5 week gap, that would take care of the third Sunday.

01 Jun - BTCC Croft
08 Jun - Euro 2008 / Canadian GP
15 Jun - Euro 2008
22 Jun - Euro 2008 / French GP
29 Jun - Euro 2008
06 Jul - British GP
13 Jul - BTCC Snetterton

Given the broadcast timings they could have squeezed in another BTCC meeting this weekend (28/29 Jun) without clashing with Euro 2008 final.

You've forgotten that the 15th was Le Mans, which they wouldn't want to clash with, and also that there was British Superbikes today, which everyone was expecting to be on ITV at the time the BTCC calendar was produced.

[kristof14]

Originally Posted by trebor901

Nope because ITV dont control the coverage they get through, they have to make do with what they get as its the exact same as every other broadcaster gets. Just like F1. So i dont see how there would be a lack of equipment for ITV.

The actual match coverage I know, but they still have their own OB units out at the venues for the commentary, the studio punditry, any features being filmed out there. I'd guess a lot of staff involved in this on the ITV side are also involved in BTCC, F1 and any other sports they broadcast?

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by trebor901

Nope because ITV dont control the coverage they get through, they have to make do with what they get as its the exact same as every other broadcaster gets. Just like F1. So i dont see how there would be a lack of equipment for ITV.

ITV have to produce the BTCC - that's why the graphics have ITV Sport plastered all over them.

It's only some major events that are produced generically internationally - sometimes it's just the local broadcaster, or the local broadcaster using the normal graphics (like F1 at Brazil and Japan, both of those races use the national broadcaster's cameramen and directors).

[sceptic]

UEFA actually subcontracted some of the coverage of Euro2008 to ITV, so two of the five broadcast teams making the match coverage were ITV staff.

Of the other three, two were from France, and one was from Germany.

In addition, the ITV OB unit which is normally used for the BTCC was working with the German crew in Klagenfurt.

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by duke_toaster

ITV have to produce the BTCC - that's why the graphics have ITV Sport plastered all over them.

It's only some major events that are produced generically internationally - sometimes it's just the local broadcaster, or the local broadcaster using the normal graphics (like F1 at Brazil and Japan, both of those races use the national broadcaster's cameramen and directors).

actually, its a company contracted by ITV to produce the Graphics (and moi . I suspect an outside company is also contracted to produce the race coverage by ITV as well, but I wouldnt know 100% .

Thats quite common in sport and thats how BHP and 021 started for example. When F1 went to BBC, what many people didnt realise, was the director and people working on the 'ITV feed' were the same as bbc

,,,so dont think it was a problem