Channel 4

rdjones · 5 Feb 2003, 21:04 (Ref:497695)

I have just checked to see what time the highlights are on over the weekend, Friday and Sunday are fine, but on Saturday the highlights are on at 00.05-00.35

Matthopps · 5 Feb 2003, 21:44 (Ref:497745)

That's not so good is it!?

SJ Spode · 6 Feb 2003, 08:54 (Ref:498166)

It seems that C4's love affair with the WRC is over. First the shakedown programme is relegated to the midnight hours & now the days coverage seems to be going that way too. Ironic as Eurosport now have to show their highlights at midnight so as not to offend the national coverage (ie; C4)that want to show it on the same day as live.

Most alarming is that this is all taking place before the Cricket even starts. By then we'll be down to a 1/2 hour highlight programme one week after the event.

rdjones · 6 Feb 2003, 21:14 (Ref:498857)

Quote:

Originally posted by SJ Spode
.Most alarming is that this is all taking place before the Cricket even starts.

Well there is the World Cup, which starts on Sunday, and Channel 4 are not even showing it.................

ss_collins · 7 Feb 2003, 11:51 (Ref:499305)

having it late night saturday is good - means I won't miss it by being out!

Raven · 7 Feb 2003, 14:11 (Ref:499506)

Quote:

Originally posted by ss_collins
having it late night saturday is good - means I won't miss it by being out!

Precisely! I wish they'd have it on after midnight tonight as well... Robot Wars & Rally, could Friday night late viewing be any better?

spanner · 9 Feb 2003, 17:38 (Ref:501556)

Well it seems that skiing is more important than rallying at the moment, which is why the shakedown was at a strange hour last week. But it all returns to normal next time.

SJ Spode · 19 Feb 2003, 16:32 (Ref:511683)

I e-mailed C4 when the pre-Sweden shakedown was relegated to the early hours & have just received this reply.

==================
Hi,

Thanks for your email.

We're sorry you're disappointed in the level of WRC coverage, and have passed your comments on to those responsible for scheduling our sports programming.

We are still committed to covering World Rally, and will continue to provide regular programmes on the sport both in primetime and late evening slots.

Thanks for taking the trouble to contact us, and for your interest in Channel 4.

Regards,

Myles Green
Information Officer
==============================

rdjones · 22 Feb 2003, 11:40 (Ref:514063)

They have done it again just been looking at the time for next weekend:-

Friday:- 19:35 – 20:00
Saturday:- 00:00 – 00:30
Sunday:- 16:00 – 17:30

What happen to Prime Time, this is not very good commitment, I think not..........

Hobson · 24 Feb 2003, 16:49 (Ref:516160)

And it was ony last year that they said WRC had the potential to be bigger than F1..... Not with support like this.

Raven · 25 Feb 2003, 07:53 (Ref:516910)

Well it's the same highlights programme anyway isn;t it? It's only a few hours later... Whats the big deal?

Matthopps · 25 Feb 2003, 21:41 (Ref:517654)

Quote:

Originally posted by Raven
Well it's the same highlights programme anyway isn;t it? It's only a few hours later... Whats the big deal?

The Big Deal is that Channel 4 are not living up to their promise of showing extended coverage of all of the WRC - especially as they said it had the potential to be bigger than F1. And with the fact that there is two British World Champions at the top of their sport: raising the profile of World Rallying in Great Britain.

That means not shoving the rally programes to some god-forsaken hour to the benefit of some lousy cricket match featuring another England Half-assed display of how-not-to-play-the-sport-we-invented.

Raven · 26 Feb 2003, 10:15 (Ref:518120)

Oh come on. Midnight is hardly a "god-forsaken hour" - and this isn't even a week night!

SJ Spode · 26 Feb 2003, 10:29 (Ref:518128)

The issue isn't so much the timing itself (VCRs cope with that), rather that C4 took over the WRC coverage with the promise of more complete coverage, broadcast in primetime, and that they've failed to live up to that.

On this basis we can presume that we won't get the benefits of the live stage coverage, Dave Richards plans to introduce this year either.

If this is C4's new policy then Eurosport should be freed up to broadcast their (much superior) coverage on the same day, rather than next day as they have to currently.

rdjones · 28 Feb 2003, 19:42 (Ref:520740)

Well its 7.38 and the Rallying is meant to be on and Channel 4 are still showing the news, just looked on there website and it looks like it will now be on at 23.40. Oh look they have just said it is going to be on late due to some progtam about Iraq.

It get worst come on Channel 4 sort it out

Sim_Da_BTCC_Man · 28 Feb 2003, 20:11 (Ref:520767)

Who cares about Iraq! We've seen so much about it they need not put back a good program for a crud program that is just regergitating facts and figures weve seen on countless other programs!

rdjones · 23 Mar 2003, 15:11 (Ref:545335)

They are at again,I picked up Rally XS up yesterday and what a suprise, highlights of Saturday's action from both New Zealand and Argentina is on after midnight.

Chris Gray · 24 Mar 2003, 11:15 (Ref:546206)

The late NZ coverage is a bit annoying, bearing in mind they're hours ahead and could show the programme at a decent hour. However, I reckon Argentina's on so late because they're behind us.

chunder · 27 Mar 2003, 10:04 (Ref:549742)

I have to admit to not watching it anymore.
It is so unbelievably biased, Now I know we have to guys very close to the top there but the pro Burns/McRae stuff is really over the top I think. And as for Jeremy Hart, please someone hand me a gun. We don't need tabloidism in rallying.
I think WRC must be suffering from the same stalemate that F1 suffered last year and people just turned off. But we shouls still all watch it to keep the figures up.

SJ Spode · 27 Mar 2003, 12:30 (Ref:549861)

Quote:

Originally posted by chunder

I think WRC must be suffering from the same stalemate that F1 suffered last year and people just turned off.

I don't think it's that; rather that the C4 coverage is poor.

rdjones · 12 Apr 2003, 21:39 (Ref:567602)

Sorry to complain about them again, but they are yet to show day 2 of the Rally New Zealand (it on at 00.10), in fact the rally will over by the time they show there coverage,what a joke.

Thank god World Rally Radio.

SJ Spode · 14 Apr 2003, 08:41 (Ref:568835)

One thing I noticed was there was no studio footage this time. I hope it's because C4 have decided to dump it, but fear that they just haven't shipped the set over to NZ this time.

SJ Spode · 14 Apr 2003, 12:16 (Ref:568995)

It was interesting, having seen both the C4 & Eurosport coverage for Leg 2 of the rally, that with regards Markko Martin's retirement, C4 said he spun and couldn;t restart the car, whilst Eurosport said the car stoped of it's own volaition. The Ford media release seems to bear out the latter version of events.

ATF · 23 Apr 2003, 22:20 (Ref:578725)

Eurosport is never on time either. This just drives you mad!

rdjones · 3 Oct 2003, 20:20 (Ref:739776)

Time for an other Channel 4 rant have you seen the time that they are showing the highlights for the San Remo rally:-

Friday:- 00:30 - 01:00
Saturday:- 00:00 - 01:00
Sunday:- 00:30 - 01:00

I hope Dave Richards dosn't give them the contract again and gives the rights to another channel next time round.

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