Well Done ITV!

**Craig** · 6 Apr 2002, 13:58 (Ref:253442)

Just finished watching the ITV coverage of last weekend's opening round of the BTCC at Brands Hatch and I have to say a big well done to Ben Edwards, Chris Goodwin and the lovely Vicki Butler-Henderson - excellent work!

Let's hope that the producers stick to the current ratio of driver interviews/lifestyle articles/race coverage - it all worked exceptionally well, and I look forward to seeing how it helps build the exposure of the series.

Well done especially though to Richard West who pulled it all together...

Jonny Apex · 6 Apr 2002, 14:00 (Ref:253443)

Gotta say, it worked pretty well for the first show. Just loved Harvey's comments about Chilton. Ooo, controversial ...

rlinter · 6 Apr 2002, 14:01 (Ref:253444)

Here Here - That is some of the best coverage I have ever seen from the BTCC. I think the F3 coverage may be upto that level as well!!

redshoes · 6 Apr 2002, 14:05 (Ref:253446)

Pity about the almost total lack of any Production coverage.

Invincible · 6 Apr 2002, 14:06 (Ref:253447)

Well done ITV!!!!

Brilliant coverage!!

Way better than that lot at ***

Roll on Oulton Park!

**Craig** · 6 Apr 2002, 14:06 (Ref:253450)

oooh... I'm excited now - officially! Roll on Oulton

And, indeed, let's hope that the F3/GT coverage is on a similar level - we need all motorsport to be promoted this way...

Only down side of the coverage was the lack of Charlie Cox's excitement, and the presence of the ads. Oh well, you can't have it all I guess...

Speedworx · 6 Apr 2002, 14:23 (Ref:253465)

That was great coverage. I have not enjoyed watching the BTCC this much for a long time.

Roll on Oulton Park!

Michelle16 · 6 Apr 2002, 14:39 (Ref:253488)

yeah but its better actually going to watch it there!

Speedworx · 6 Apr 2002, 14:42 (Ref:253496)

Like I can afford it!

**Craig** · 6 Apr 2002, 14:43 (Ref:253497)

It is better to do both!

Speedworx · 6 Apr 2002, 14:45 (Ref:253500)

I'll make do with TV only for now. As I can't afford many race meetings in one year.

**Craig** · 6 Apr 2002, 14:46 (Ref:253501)

Phew!

Speedworx · 6 Apr 2002, 14:49 (Ref:253505)

This I'm going to 2 free rounds of ASCAR and the CART race at Rockingahm

BootsOntheSide · 6 Apr 2002, 14:50 (Ref:253506)

Great stuff. A good mix of features and interviews, great commentary from Ben Edwards, good if a bit stating-the-bloody-obvious comment from Chris Goodwin (he had the bitterness at not being on the track similar to Brundle back in 1997) and a fantastic race. The Proddies could have got more, all we saw was their crashes (although by the sound of it that's all they spent the weekend doing, Mark Thomas' car was a real mess!)

Sato san · 6 Apr 2002, 14:56 (Ref:253514)

very impressed ! brilliant computer graphics of the track as well .
well done to the itv team .

runnyhunny · 6 Apr 2002, 15:10 (Ref:253541)

I think there was a touch too much waffle (and not enough on-track action). Apart from that, great!

In case no-one else noticed, the coverage MINUS ADVERTS was approx. 50 minutes. The same as the BBC! Hurrah!

Hopefully, once the Production class is fully prepared, and we get those extra indie entries, they'll devote more air time to them.

**Craig** · 6 Apr 2002, 15:13 (Ref:253543)

The first 15 minutes of the program was devoted to introducing the series in a similar manner to what C5 did when they took over the WRC coverage. Next time out this will likely be 15 minutes more coverage where they can follow the indies/proddies

I just dug out the coverage that BBC screened for the opening round of 2001 to contrast the two. ITV (and the BTCC 2002) were miles aheads... super stuff. Though I'd love to see the return of the two sprint/one feature format...

cos · 6 Apr 2002, 15:19 (Ref:253548)

Quote:

Originally posted by BootsOntheSide
Great stuff. A good mix of features and interviews, great commentary from Ben Edwards, good if a bit stating-the-bloody-obvious comment from Chris Goodwin (he had the bitterness at not being on the track similar to Brundle back in 1997) and a fantastic race. The Proddies could have got more, all we saw was their crashes (although by the sound of it that's all they spent the weekend doing, Mark Thomas' car was a real mess!)

Mind you, Chris probably got paid more for doing the commentary than he would have got in a whole season playing second fiddle to Chilton

Speedworx · 6 Apr 2002, 15:23 (Ref:253550)

The I prefer the forat as it is now, as I didn't really like the two sprint race format.

Jimeth · 6 Apr 2002, 15:37 (Ref:253561)

i thought it was fantastic!! Well made, good graphics, good racing stuff, plenty of camera shots and stuff, only bit i didn't like was VBH seemed a bit nervous doing interviews and the comp at the end was a bit naff. Top marks!

Paul Rayner · 6 Apr 2002, 15:55 (Ref:253571)

I was impressed. I thought Production got the coverage they deserve. Maybe they did get less than last year, I don't know, but they were brought in to make up the numbers, and as the Touring grid increases production is obviously going to get less coverage. We saw some good crashes in production, and were kept in touch with what was going on. Top marks to ITV and everyone that put it together!

**touringlegend** · 6 Apr 2002, 16:42 (Ref:253587)

It was very good in my opinion, just the right balance of interviews/action/analysis etc etc, pity that when they showed the Production class all it was was crashes.

redshoes · 6 Apr 2002, 16:47 (Ref:253588)

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Rayner
We saw some good crashes in production, and were kept in touch with what was going on.

Not really kept in touch though. Each of the Touring teams were mentioned in the intro individually then "oh and theres some Production car as well". During the race it was 10 seconds of "oh look a Production crash" then straight back to the Tourers.

Jimeth · 6 Apr 2002, 17:05 (Ref:253595)

true the production class was neglected a bit, but come on it was the first show! They'll sort things out, but for a first showing we haven't go much to complain about have we?

Pip · 6 Apr 2002, 17:16 (Ref:253598)

Hopefully the show will bring some new support to the series. The racing and coverage was certainly good enough to...