What do we actually want out of TV coverage?
Discussion
Indeed. C4 are making the Sunday morning hangover slot a go-to place for Motorsports, with coverage of British GT, "Mobil1 The Grid" and now the WEC.
Hopefully later in the season (and into next year) the highlights will only be a week or two after each race rather than several months.
Hopefully later in the season (and into next year) the highlights will only be a week or two after each race rather than several months.
groomi said:
It looks like Channel 4 have picked up the rights to show WEC highlights with immediate effect. Interesting...
This is a great move. A strong highlights package is what the series needs. Anyone keen enough to watch 6 hours of racing live will already have found a way to do that. What it needed was an easier to digest platform. It'd be great to see one more manufacturer get involved in P1.
Eric Mc said:
I really used to like BBC's mid week roundup that they used to run in the mid 1990s. It was called "Top Gear Motorsport" and it was an excellent way of keeping abreast of what was happening in the world of motor sport outside F1 without having to devote hours and hours of your time. Something like that would be appreciated by me.
Check out Mobil 1:The Grid - it's an interesting snapshot of many forms of motorsport, especially US stuff that we don't see a lot of.(Channel 4 I *think)
Vandenberg said:
Just like with all televised sports, I would like the option to mute the commentators and just keep the noise of the sport.
Eurosport generally do a video only feed of a lot of WEC.I personally think commentary adds more than it takes away, especially for something as drawn out as WEC. But I would say that as a commentator (at events, not broadcast)
Vocal Minority said:
Eurosport generally do a video only feed of a lot of WEC.
I personally think commentary adds more than it takes away, especially for something as drawn out as WEC. But I would say that as a commentator (at events, not broadcast)
Thanks I will check that out. There older I get the more I dislike the commentary for me it adds nothing and I would watch more sport if I didn't have to listen to the Inane chatter.I personally think commentary adds more than it takes away, especially for something as drawn out as WEC. But I would say that as a commentator (at events, not broadcast)
A few things spring to mind for me, but most of this is personal, rather than generic to everyone:
1) I wish they'd stop jumping about between drivers. To follow what's really happening you need to stick with a driver for at least a few corners. F1 are the best at this, but could do better; but with lower formulae and tin tops etc it's sometimes almost impossible to follow the race!
2) More relevant data. F1 coverage used to show the last 3/4 lap times for two drivers involved in a battle, but we don't seem to get this anymore, or at least not regularly. Another thing would be total pit stop time expected (i.e. from 'in' to 'out') and the critical stationary time needed to stay in front or get in front would also be useful, obviously presented alongside the gap. For example, if a pit stop takes a total of 20 seconds sat on the PLSL plus stationary time and a driver is 23 seconds in front of another driver, it's exciting watching to see if they can do a <3 second pit stop and keep the driver out front.
3) More in-car footage. This is where the technique is and where the interest in the sport is for me. For me, external camera views are like watching a tennis game where you can only see the ball - it's fine, but you miss the different techniques etc. In-car is just so rare and it's the main reason I don't really watch motorsport, even though it's my favourite sport.
4) More features on the engineering. F1 is not just about drivers, it's also about engineers, and I wish they'd do more in-depth features and broadcast them. You Tube currently serves me well for these, but it'd enhance everyone's enjoyment if they put them on the TV, I'm sure.
5) On the subject of un-sung heroes, how about a 'day in the life of' feature every race weekend, picked from the thousands of people that make a Grand Prix happen?
1) I wish they'd stop jumping about between drivers. To follow what's really happening you need to stick with a driver for at least a few corners. F1 are the best at this, but could do better; but with lower formulae and tin tops etc it's sometimes almost impossible to follow the race!
2) More relevant data. F1 coverage used to show the last 3/4 lap times for two drivers involved in a battle, but we don't seem to get this anymore, or at least not regularly. Another thing would be total pit stop time expected (i.e. from 'in' to 'out') and the critical stationary time needed to stay in front or get in front would also be useful, obviously presented alongside the gap. For example, if a pit stop takes a total of 20 seconds sat on the PLSL plus stationary time and a driver is 23 seconds in front of another driver, it's exciting watching to see if they can do a <3 second pit stop and keep the driver out front.
3) More in-car footage. This is where the technique is and where the interest in the sport is for me. For me, external camera views are like watching a tennis game where you can only see the ball - it's fine, but you miss the different techniques etc. In-car is just so rare and it's the main reason I don't really watch motorsport, even though it's my favourite sport.
4) More features on the engineering. F1 is not just about drivers, it's also about engineers, and I wish they'd do more in-depth features and broadcast them. You Tube currently serves me well for these, but it'd enhance everyone's enjoyment if they put them on the TV, I'm sure.
5) On the subject of un-sung heroes, how about a 'day in the life of' feature every race weekend, picked from the thousands of people that make a Grand Prix happen?
Vandenberg said:
Vocal Minority said:
Eurosport generally do a video only feed of a lot of WEC.
I personally think commentary adds more than it takes away, especially for something as drawn out as WEC. But I would say that as a commentator (at events, not broadcast)
Thanks I will check that out. There older I get the more I dislike the commentary for me it adds nothing and I would watch more sport if I didn't have to listen to the Inane chatter.I personally think commentary adds more than it takes away, especially for something as drawn out as WEC. But I would say that as a commentator (at events, not broadcast)
Other motorsport die hards should be look at the events calendars of there local (or not local, roadtrip!) race circuits and just going to watch.. You can go to a club meet, walk around the pits, see some pretty cool machinery and a full days racing with different formulas for a tenner normally. Pop along to a BRSCC, MSV or 750 day etc and you will see more racing in one day than you would in a whole season of some formulas.. Some forms of club motorsport also have TV coverage that can be good to watch because they use alot of driver on board content!
This year I got in a bit of a muddle about how to watch Le Mans at various times of day and in different rooms/devices. I didn't plan ahead, so just sort of tried everything to see what worked best.
I paid for the WEC Android app on my phone/tablet, and it was great. It was a bit frustrating that there was literally race coverage and nothing shown in the hour leading up to the race, but once the race was going, no complaints. Some build-up and parade coverage would have been nice.
I also paid for the WEC online/website access to watch in a browser, and it too was great. Same as the app really. (Paying for the app doesn't get you access to the website streaming and vice versa, unless I missed a trick, so I just paid twice.)
Then for the big TV I paid for a 1-month pass for EuroSport streaming, and that was garbage. Adverts every 15 minutes, and at really critical moments, like they just stuck to an advertising schedule and had no interest in timing the ads for quiet moments on track. Infuriating. Never again. I've watched it before on EuroSport, and hated it then too, so I and should have known better. Waste of £6.99.
So, I went back to the WEC app. I popped out and bought a Chromecast for £30, and streamed the WEC app to the TV. WOW! Perfection. Not a single glitch, and full access to the live timing, multi cameras etc. I have to admit I'd never even looked at the Chromecast before, so didn't appreciate how good a thing it is. It's probably changed the way I watch telly for ever.
I don't care which channel shows Le Mans on TV in future. I'll just get the Android app next year again and watch on phone/tablet or cast to the big screen when I'm on the sofa. I think I'll get a Chromecast for every screen in the house too.
WEC commentary was ok. I flipped between that and RLM.
I paid for the WEC Android app on my phone/tablet, and it was great. It was a bit frustrating that there was literally race coverage and nothing shown in the hour leading up to the race, but once the race was going, no complaints. Some build-up and parade coverage would have been nice.
I also paid for the WEC online/website access to watch in a browser, and it too was great. Same as the app really. (Paying for the app doesn't get you access to the website streaming and vice versa, unless I missed a trick, so I just paid twice.)
Then for the big TV I paid for a 1-month pass for EuroSport streaming, and that was garbage. Adverts every 15 minutes, and at really critical moments, like they just stuck to an advertising schedule and had no interest in timing the ads for quiet moments on track. Infuriating. Never again. I've watched it before on EuroSport, and hated it then too, so I and should have known better. Waste of £6.99.
So, I went back to the WEC app. I popped out and bought a Chromecast for £30, and streamed the WEC app to the TV. WOW! Perfection. Not a single glitch, and full access to the live timing, multi cameras etc. I have to admit I'd never even looked at the Chromecast before, so didn't appreciate how good a thing it is. It's probably changed the way I watch telly for ever.
I don't care which channel shows Le Mans on TV in future. I'll just get the Android app next year again and watch on phone/tablet or cast to the big screen when I'm on the sofa. I think I'll get a Chromecast for every screen in the house too.
WEC commentary was ok. I flipped between that and RLM.
Edited by TartanPaint on Tuesday 21st June 12:30
TartanPaint said:
This year I got in a bit of a muddle about how to watch Le Mans at various times of day and in different rooms/devices. I didn't plan ahead, so just sort of tried everything to see what worked best.
I paid for the WEC Android app on my phone/tablet, and it was great. It was a bit frustrating that there was literally race coverage and nothing shown in the hour leading up to the race, but once the race was going, no complaints. Some build-up and parade coverage would have been nice.
I also paid for the WEC online/website access to watch in a browser, and it too was great. Same as the app really. (Paying for the app doesn't get you access to the website streaming and vice versa, unless I missed a trick, so I just paid twice.)
Then for the big TV I paid for a 1-month pass for EuroSport streaming, and that was garbage. Adverts every 15 minutes, and at really critical moments, like they just stuck to an advertising schedule and had no interest in timing the ads for quiet moments on track. Infuriating. Never again. I've watched it before on EuroSport, and hated it then too, so I and should have known better. Waste of £6.99.
So, I went back to the WEC app. I popped out and bought a Chromecast for £30, and streamed the WEC app to the TV. WOW! Perfection. Not a single glitch, and full access to the live timing, multi cameras etc. I have to admit I'd never even looked at the Chromecast before, so didn't appreciate how good a thing it is. It's probably changed the way I watch telly for ever.
I don't care which channel shows Le Mans on TV in future. I'll just get the Android app next year again and watch on phone/tablet or cast to the big screen when I'm on the sofa. I think I'll get a Chromecast for every screen in the house too.
WEC commentary was ok. I flipped between that and RLM.
The Eurosport streaming also had an option to watch the international tv feed with all the normal onscreeb graphics etc, no ad breaks and with just ambient/trackside noise (i.e. no commentary). That plus RLM through some speakers gave the best of both worlds, and well worth the £6.99 for meI paid for the WEC Android app on my phone/tablet, and it was great. It was a bit frustrating that there was literally race coverage and nothing shown in the hour leading up to the race, but once the race was going, no complaints. Some build-up and parade coverage would have been nice.
I also paid for the WEC online/website access to watch in a browser, and it too was great. Same as the app really. (Paying for the app doesn't get you access to the website streaming and vice versa, unless I missed a trick, so I just paid twice.)
Then for the big TV I paid for a 1-month pass for EuroSport streaming, and that was garbage. Adverts every 15 minutes, and at really critical moments, like they just stuck to an advertising schedule and had no interest in timing the ads for quiet moments on track. Infuriating. Never again. I've watched it before on EuroSport, and hated it then too, so I and should have known better. Waste of £6.99.
So, I went back to the WEC app. I popped out and bought a Chromecast for £30, and streamed the WEC app to the TV. WOW! Perfection. Not a single glitch, and full access to the live timing, multi cameras etc. I have to admit I'd never even looked at the Chromecast before, so didn't appreciate how good a thing it is. It's probably changed the way I watch telly for ever.
I don't care which channel shows Le Mans on TV in future. I'll just get the Android app next year again and watch on phone/tablet or cast to the big screen when I'm on the sofa. I think I'll get a Chromecast for every screen in the house too.
WEC commentary was ok. I flipped between that and RLM.
Edited by TartanPaint on Tuesday 21st June 12:30
geeks said:
TP, would it be fair to say you are happy with your Chromecast? 
Yeah, just a bit. I'm not even a luddite, quite a techy really. I've just never had a need for casting (I watch so little TV), and just didn't appreciate how slick it was. Shame on me.I think I'll get the F1 App too. F1 on the big screen, live, with multi camera angles, no Sky subscription costs, no adverts and no Eddie Bloodie Jordan. Why isn't everybody doing this?
djmck30 said:
The Eurosport streaming also had an option to watch the international tv feed with all the normal onscreeb graphics etc, no ad breaks and with just ambient/trackside noise (i.e. no commentary). That plus RLM through some speakers gave the best of both worlds, and well worth the £6.99 for me
I totally missed that. That would have worked fine for me too.For info, in a side-by-side but totally unscientific test, stream quality was 10% subjectively better using the WEC App + Chromecast than EuroSport player. Noticable on the sharpness of the 24h logo, but more so on anything moving, like the scrolling position ticker.
The feed (camera angles/on-screen graphics) was identical, but EuroSport player was 10 seconds behind WEC app feed.
Edited by TartanPaint on Tuesday 21st June 13:30
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