|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
1 Feb 2008, 09:05 (Ref:2118145) | #51 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,597
|
Quote:
It would mean that rather than just taking the World feed, Motors would need to send their own satellite truck, and pay for their own satellite space. The person on the ground would also need to have communications to both Motors HQ in Paris, and to the commentators who are usually in England. For a 1000km race you are looking at upwards of Euro10,000 for that. In addition, I get the impression that some of the ALMS stuff in Endurance mag is done by Hindy, who is obviously otherwise engaged during the races. |
||
|
1 Feb 2008, 09:16 (Ref:2118154) | #52 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,597
|
Quote:
1) It's a long track. That makes it very difficult to cover using the modern ground-based link systems. The fact that there are so many trees there doesn't help either. In the past they've used helicopters for the links but that's very expensive, and not ideal for a 24 hour race because they have to stop to refuel every two hours. 2) The on board cameras need to be powered somehow. Mostly the teams won't want them to be drawing power from the car, so they need their own batteries, which need to be changed on a regular basis. The other option is to put lots of batteries in the car at the start. But batteries are heavy things and for some reason teams don't like you weighing down their cars like that. 3) There is no way that the audio will be out of sync on the onboard links. The audio and video are sent on the same path. If the sound doesn't match the pictures it's probably because you are getting sound from one car and pictures from a different car. 4) Picture and signal quality on live links are now far more stable than they were in the analogue era, although the amount of RF interference around these days means you will never get a perfect signal. |
||
|
1 Feb 2008, 15:07 (Ref:2118446) | #53 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 10,500
|
Quote:
Motors TV do provide live coverage of Le Mans scrutineering during the daytime when few are watching, it's seems strange to penny pinch for actual race day coverage at peak times. Considering Audi's spend on DTM promotion, which must be in the millions, they likely have commited funds to at least improve the quality of the world feed. |
||
|
1 Feb 2008, 21:50 (Ref:2118708) | #54 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,555
|
Quote:
I think what makes sportscar racing difficult for the commentator is having 50+ cars on the track in four different classes with anyone of 150+ drivers in those cars at any one time. However, at the same time, this can often make for some great stories and events that could, and probably should, make every race a classic as far as TV coverage is concerned. Last edited by TheNewBob; 1 Feb 2008 at 21:54. |
|||
|
1 Feb 2008, 22:12 (Ref:2118713) | #55 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,264
|
Quote:
|
||
__________________
Michael Delaney was wrong. In between is not waiting - in between is the glory, the passion. In between is what elevates racing. |
2 Feb 2008, 01:13 (Ref:2118795) | #56 | |
Rookie
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1
|
I'll add my tuppence worth here...
I was delighted that the Daytona race got live coverage this year and I guess the frustration was that after a long wait, it could and should have been a bit better. Commentary teams are absolutely key to great race coverage and having the right blend of analysts and experts in the team is a priority, along with good information to allow viewers feel that they are there (or better still, are at an advantage to those watching trackside!). I really didn't get this from the Eurosport coverage this time round - I actually got more info from live timing and the internet radio coverage (when I could get it to work), plus the ticker tape banner at the top of the screen. Carlton Kirby and Mark Cole both have their strengths and weaknesses (Mark, for heaven's sake, can you learn how to pronounce half the names properly, please....) and Carlton for one is excellent on pre-recorded or scripted events such as the Dakar, while I don't doubt Mark's overall enthusiasm and experience in following the sport - even if his 'facts' seem a bit questionable from time to time. However, pair the two together and it simply doesn't work for me. They have a tendency to wander down conversational cul-de-sacs, despite action on the screen warranting more attention. They also always seem very removed from the race (which, of course, they physically often are) but they don't appear to be capable of analysing in detail what is happening in front of them on screen - but then, neither are ex drivers, so we shouldn't necessarily expect them to. This is where a Brundle or a Crompton-type is invaluable. When you put two 'armchair experts' together, you get a conversation, not a commentary. Another disappointing element of the coverage was that, while we did get a fair few chunks across the whole of the race, there was no effort to update us on what had happened in the preceding hours each time coverage resumed. Now, I realise Eurosport could not control the live footage, but I can't believe they couldn't have edited some replays together and at the very least I would have thought the commentators could have done more in this regard. Overall, sportscar TV coverage is a bit hit and miss; the Speed commentary is good, even if the ALMS TV deal doesn't allow them to show much of the action in depth. I find the LMES coverage pretty average, to the point that I really can't be bothered to watch an entire race - with the lack of decent commentary/on screen info, I have better things to spend my time doing. Best coverage on car racing is the V8 Supercars (thank you Motors for continuing to show more than even the Aussies get!!) and NASCAR, followed by ITV's F1 coverage and then A1 GP, everything else seems a pretty average to me. |
|
|
2 Feb 2008, 11:30 (Ref:2118992) | #57 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,007
|
"Another disappointing element of the coverage was that, while we did get a fair few chunks across the whole of the race, there was no effort to update us on what had happened in the preceding hours each time coverage resumed. Now, I realise Eurosport could not control the live footage, but I can't believe they couldn't have edited some replays together and at the very least I would have thought the commentators could have done more in this regard." (Speed Demon)
As you say, Speed Demon, you can get a lot of info from live timing and and other web coverage and a good team would spend the time when not on air watching what they could get and making a story for the resumption of coverage. We sat up for hours after the TV cover stopped and got up early morning so that when the TV came back we knew where we were. This would increase the interest, viewing figures and ultimayely, their fee |
||
|
3 Feb 2008, 00:01 (Ref:2119391) | #58 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,264
|
Carlton had other things to do that weekend though, he was commentating the live skiing in between the Daytona coverage!
|
|
__________________
Michael Delaney was wrong. In between is not waiting - in between is the glory, the passion. In between is what elevates racing. |
3 Feb 2008, 09:44 (Ref:2119553) | #59 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,597
|
Quote:
|
||
|
3 Feb 2008, 17:09 (Ref:2119829) | #60 | |||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,007
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
[TV] Champ Car TV coverage in the UK (merged) | Sodemo | Armchair Enthusiast | 33 | 9 Apr 2007 20:07 |
Sportscar racing - Overseas TV coverage? | TCR | Sportscar & GT Racing | 2 | 21 Sep 2006 05:02 |
(Aus TV) Channel Ten F1 TV Coverage | mabs_nsx | Formula One | 17 | 12 Jun 2005 12:33 |
Anyone know anything about a new european Sportscar championship? | String | Sportscar & GT Racing | 70 | 13 Dec 2002 14:30 |
european sportscar championship | TVRfan | Sportscar & GT Racing | 15 | 2 Sep 2002 14:30 |