The BBC are to blame for the BTCC failure

Sodemo · 1 Jan 2001, 19:38 (Ref:55552)

Touring Cars is Big in other countries, but not Britian. I blame the BBC, why didn't they try and advertise the series, or put it on at a more-prime time slot.

When they lost the F1 coverage, you would have thought they would have capitalised on the BTCC.

I can't help feeling the BTCC could be really huge if people knew about it, and it gained the right exposure.

I am studying Film + TV for my degree. When i pass my aim is to be head of BBC (motor)sport and to bring racing to the screens of Britian!!

**Craig** · 2 Jan 2001, 10:44 (Ref:55751)

I disagree. The BBC, along with BHP, were solely responsible for bringing 'the show' to the masses when the series was booming. It's not their fault that the racing tailed off after wings were introduced, and then manufacturers started pulling out and leaving gaps on the grid.

They DID however introduce live races and some pretty good race build up stuff on the recorded events. I'd suggest that about the only thing they could do to improve coverage of the series would be to introduce regularly scheduled highlighs parograms - maybe featuring the support package too ? If they had a regular 1 hour program every Monday evening, say, people would get used to that and tune in accordingly...

Carrie · 2 Jan 2001, 11:05 (Ref:55756)

I wouldn't complain about the coverage itself, the biggest problem is the timing. Somewhere on a Saturday or Sunday grandstand we're going to get BTCC coverage, but we never quite know where. Who remembers the fuss about the Oulton Park coverage from last year? It was given a scheduled time and then replaced with tennis!!

Eddie_harasym · 2 Jan 2001, 12:05 (Ref:55763)

I remember that well Carrie.

The BBC does need to make more relialbe and interesting coverage of the whole TOCA tour next year.

hunttheshunt · 2 Jan 2001, 16:26 (Ref:55796)

i think the btcc became a victim of its own success-there was no way the bbc could show more than three live race meetings a year with grids of less than 15; imagine if they would have shown this years thruxton feature race, when only 6 super tourers and morrison's pug finished! disaster! i think the beeb gave the btcc much needed publicity in the early years and that they helped, not hindered, its success.

redshoes · 2 Jan 2001, 18:57 (Ref:55816)

Oh dear, live TV coverage just a minute.. <gets out soapbox>

I've never been convinced of the merits of live TV. The director frequently concentrates on the top 3 cars and totally ignores the real action. Oulton last year is a prime example - the biggest field and closest battle in Class B all year and if you were sitting at home you wouldn't have seen any of it. More Production cars this year means more action thoughout the field and even more for teh cameras to miss.

If I remember correctly this year PowerTour are planning to have a regular round-up show in addition the usual GT and F3 highlight, plus a support race highlights show as well. Surely there has to be a market for something similar here.

What about a return of Top Gear Motorsport in a decent timeslot, not 1:30 on a Monday afternoon.

**Craig** · 2 Jan 2001, 20:56 (Ref:55851)

I have to say I agree with Redshoes about live TV - i've changed my mind over the past couple years.

If you try and remember, apart from the wet Donington race in 98, was there ever an exciting live race ?

**touringlegend** · 3 Jan 2001, 19:57 (Ref:56010)

I remember the live first round at Brands last year the Vauxhalls kept going green due to the live TV

transeuropexpre · 4 May 2004, 19:22 (Ref:960752)

" Touring Cars is Big in other countries, but not Britian. I blame the BBC, why didn't they try and advertise the series, or put it on at a more-prime time slot. "

Is that a joke ? It must, since if there is a country in Europa where touring car championship has succeed in becoming a major motorsport series, it is clearly the U.K.

Do not complain and imagine you are in France, where i live ...

the_tsar · 4 May 2004, 21:20 (Ref:960882)

this thread is three years old.

touringcarnut · 4 May 2004, 21:31 (Ref:960896)

Indeed!
A very old thread when the BTCC's future was a lot bleaker than it is now. Things are rather more rosey now by comparision!

Sodemo · 4 May 2004, 21:50 (Ref:960924)

Hey!
I clicked on this topic just wondering what it was going to be about, it turns out its one of my old threads!
I used to use the login "sodemo" but kind of forgot my password when I bought a new PC.

Just an update guys, I have since finished my film + TV degree, and I am working at the BBC, but i'm not head of motorsport just yet!
Give me 6 months!!

Hazard · 4 May 2004, 22:33 (Ref:960965)

Irrelevant now since ITV now have the rights.

You're on the wrong channel mate. Good luck with it anyway. See if you can get the ETCC or DTM on BBC while you're there. Tell 'em the DTM's like F1 but with overtaking.

codename_47 · 4 May 2004, 23:58 (Ref:961027)

Funny looking at this thread and seeing how wrong people were about LIVE TV.....

I blame Murray Walker!

Hazard · 5 May 2004, 00:29 (Ref:961035)

Yeah :confused:

Live TV's way better than highlights. In most cases, highlights will ignore all those you think aren't important.

Anyway - this threads confusing me heavily, since it's all talking about the pre-2001 - it's difficult for my mind to harker back to those three yellow Mondeo's thrashing the pants off everyone, with the Honda's in tow, and those oh so slow Vauxhall's of Muller, Plato & Radermacker always finishing 7th, 8th & 9th etc. Useless team, will never get anywhere. They may aswell have quit then and allowed the BTCC to die - it clearly wasn't going anywhere

transeuropexpre · 5 May 2004, 05:07 (Ref:961129)

When i replied to this topic, i knew it was three years old.

However, i was so surprised to read such a thing :

"Touring Cars is Big in other countries, but not Britian."

What was wrong with btcc in this time ?

Do not complain about your championship.It is powered by a great association of drivers and teams, is it not, who know how to make it work, instead to what happen in France.

touringcarnut · 5 May 2004, 07:28 (Ref:961182)

It was the start of the new rules era, but after the 2000 season, things were just looking very bleak for 2001. And the BBC's coverage took some of that blame.

When did the rule changes come in? they must have been in place by January 2001?

**touringlegend** · 5 May 2004, 17:07 (Ref:961686)

As far as I can remember the regs were clarified by mid 2000 at some point. Officially I imagine Super Touring regs ended on 31st December 2000 and BTCTouring began 1 January 2001.

Hamness · 6 May 2004, 22:59 (Ref:962968)

Live motor sport is a total turn-off to most, unless you have Castrol R in your nostrils. I have been hooked on the bloody sport for 45 years now , and, unless you take the days of Rallycross on BBC1 many years ago, which did provide the Corporation with good viewing figures,your average punter does not give a toss about the BTCC or whatever name you would like to give it. Ardent followers will travel hundreds of miles to watch it live (at the circuit) but as far as main stream TV is concerned it is of little interest. Jenson might up the figures for ITV in the short term, but, apart from that, Zilch.

codename_47 · 7 May 2004, 00:25 (Ref:962989)

Quote:

Originally posted by Hamness
Ardent followers will travel hundreds of miles to watch it live (at the circuit)

Or, perhaps the less costly option of buying a Satallite dish and watch it on Motors TV...

Ask the sponsers, the life blood of Motorsport remember (yes I know that's annoying...but it's true) whether they'd like to race in a series that is only followed by a few ardent followers at the circuit, or one that has high profile coverage, (including the odd live round for any Tom, Dick or Harry to flick to when they get bored of Kids TV on a Sunday!) on a Terrestrial TV channel as well as the 100% dedicated live broadcast on a satalitte channel, and I think the decision is easy for them!

TV Brings exposure

Rob29 · 7 May 2004, 07:59 (Ref:963170)

Quote:

Originally posted by Hamness
Ardent followers will travel hundreds of miles to watch it live (at the circuit)

I used to be one of those,even walked miles to reach circuits. Over the years you can see less and are treated worse.You can see a lot more with modern TV wonders.Is this weekend a record? Motors TV has continuous live or delayed same day,motor racing 8.30am to 8 pm. VCR will be working hard as there is also little matter of 3hrs F1 on ITV and poss. F3000 on Eurosport.

codename_47 · 7 May 2004, 19:56 (Ref:963772)

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob29
I used to be one of those,even walked miles to reach circuits. Over the years you can see less and are treated worse.You can see a lot more with modern TV wonders.Is this weekend a record? Motors TV has continuous live or delayed same day,motor racing 8.30am to 8 pm. VCR will be working hard as there is also little matter of 3hrs F1 on ITV and poss. F3000 on Eurosport.

There's a nice little break when the BTCC handily goes off for a Lunch break at almost the exact time the F1 Race starts...so you can see the only exciting moments of the race, then be back for BTCC race 2 once the proccesion sets in....

How Handy!

As for F3000, I wouldn't hold your breath....Motorsport Weekend will probably be the most we see of it...

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