ITV coverage of TdF
Discussion
I've been on Gardening Leave for most of le Tour, and I have to say I thought ITV coverage was better, only because Eurosport commentators were generally droning on and on about irrelevant rubbish, whilst ITV tended to deal with what was happening on screen. Much the same as the DTM and Le Mans on Eurosport as well, it must be said.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the coverage and have tried to catch the live programme every day. However, whilst watching this two things have occurred to me, neither of which have anything to do with cycling whatsoever...
Firstly, I am not used to watching television in the daytime, but having endured the copious advert breaks it does seem to give a glimpse of how Broken Britain got a foot hold: People sitting around the house watching TV all day are then bombarded with endless "HAVE YOU HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT'S NOT YOUR FAULT?", "HAVE YOU BEEN MIS-SOLD FINANCIAL PRODUCTS?", "DO YOU HAVE UN-SECURED LOANS?", "SEND US YOUR UN-WANTED PLUTONIUM..." advertisements, with no "Get off yer fat arse and get a job" adverts to balance it up a bit. I guess the irony being that nobody has pointed out to the ad-bookers that for these 2 hours every day for 3 weeks the people watching these ads are generally highly motivated and finely honed cyclists and athletes - just like me...
Secondly; daytime telly's great. If you leave the TV on after the race coverage it's remarkable to see just how super cool all the old cars were on The Professionals...
Firstly, I am not used to watching television in the daytime, but having endured the copious advert breaks it does seem to give a glimpse of how Broken Britain got a foot hold: People sitting around the house watching TV all day are then bombarded with endless "HAVE YOU HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT'S NOT YOUR FAULT?", "HAVE YOU BEEN MIS-SOLD FINANCIAL PRODUCTS?", "DO YOU HAVE UN-SECURED LOANS?", "SEND US YOUR UN-WANTED PLUTONIUM..." advertisements, with no "Get off yer fat arse and get a job" adverts to balance it up a bit. I guess the irony being that nobody has pointed out to the ad-bookers that for these 2 hours every day for 3 weeks the people watching these ads are generally highly motivated and finely honed cyclists and athletes - just like me...
Secondly; daytime telly's great. If you leave the TV on after the race coverage it's remarkable to see just how super cool all the old cars were on The Professionals...
For full stages I prefer the Eurosport coverage as I like the rubbish they talk about 
Yesterday during the relatively dull flat stage they were asking for contributions of song titles with Tour stage start or finish towns in them. Some very funny suggestions came in.
For the highlights I prefer the ITV coverage as I like the mix of action and tech info.
Yesterday during the relatively dull flat stage they were asking for contributions of song titles with Tour stage start or finish towns in them. Some very funny suggestions came in.For the highlights I prefer the ITV coverage as I like the mix of action and tech info.
AndrewM said:
I just think it's a shame the cycling got in the way of the adverts....
Otherwise, really good coverage and the commentators must have to keep a straight face sometimes - did anyone see those 3 blokes in Mankinis on the Tourmalet?
Unfortunately yes, I saw them too. There was also a bloke the other day exposing his arrse right in front of the riders. Why no females? Otherwise, really good coverage and the commentators must have to keep a straight face sometimes - did anyone see those 3 blokes in Mankinis on the Tourmalet?
Been stuck with the ITV coverage as I have been in France (not close enough to visit the tour though )the past week and it is unbearably bad compared to Eurosport.
Loads of irritating little things that really started to get under my skin - generally the commentators irritated the hell out of me - Schleck is a better descender than Contador? No. At least twice I heard them refer to the Pyrenees as the Alps - and the fact that the pronounce Denis Menchov's name funny - plenty of others I can't think of, but thank god I'm back to Kelly and Harmon today.
Also, the adverts are the worst I have ever seen - is everyone who watches ITV a dole scrounging, compensation seeking benefits thief? Every second advert was for some sort of debt recovery/workplace compensation affair - and as if that wasn't bad enough - they put them on during Schleck's attack on the Tourmalet - totally unacceptable.
Kelly and Harmon may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are extremely knowledgeable, and the ads on Eurosport are much more bearable - not to mention the fact that Sean Kelly is a living legend.
)the past week and it is unbearably bad compared to Eurosport.Loads of irritating little things that really started to get under my skin - generally the commentators irritated the hell out of me - Schleck is a better descender than Contador? No. At least twice I heard them refer to the Pyrenees as the Alps - and the fact that the pronounce Denis Menchov's name funny - plenty of others I can't think of, but thank god I'm back to Kelly and Harmon today.
Also, the adverts are the worst I have ever seen - is everyone who watches ITV a dole scrounging, compensation seeking benefits thief? Every second advert was for some sort of debt recovery/workplace compensation affair - and as if that wasn't bad enough - they put them on during Schleck's attack on the Tourmalet - totally unacceptable.
Kelly and Harmon may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are extremely knowledgeable, and the ads on Eurosport are much more bearable - not to mention the fact that Sean Kelly is a living legend.
Parsnip said:
Kelly and Harmon may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are extremely knowledgeable, and the ads on Eurosport are much more bearable - not to mention the fact that Sean Kelly is a living legend.
Even the Contador ads?!More cheese there than a busy cheese shop in Gloucester.
raf_gti said:
Parsnip said:
Kelly and Harmon may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they are extremely knowledgeable, and the ads on Eurosport are much more bearable - not to mention the fact that Sean Kelly is a living legend.
Even the Contador ads?!More cheese there than a busy cheese shop in Gloucester.
Considering all you used to get was a 5 minute slot on World Of Sport sometime on a Saturday afternoon (if Dickie Davies remembered the tour was going on anyway) the coverage these days is excellent..and seeing Cavendish just go past those riders yesterday as if they were standing still was defiantely a case of "speed matters" 
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