What do we actually want out of TV coverage?
Discussion
NOTE: I'm ignoring the show/business of F1 for this post, because it's too far-fetched to ever imagine it changing for the better.
Take the BBC for example. They now have a void of motorsport coverage, don't have a huge budget and don't seem to have a love of any sports as such anymore. They do however have a stated aim of trying to reduce 'entertainment' for more genuine content, and they ofcourse have an obligation to try to get as many viewing figures as possible to justify the content they do produce.
Generally speaking, we all bemoan the lack of coverage of WEC. It's an excellent championship, lots of manufacturers and independents, some realistic links to cars you can aspire to buying, cutting edge technology and races at some iconic circuits, with top-flight drivers and masses of home-grown talent. In many ways it has it all, but in terms of coverage it has very little. Why?
It's not hard to see that a TV station looking at the WEC sees races of six, twelve and twenty-four hours and immediately thinks it's impossible to cover. Full coverage would appease the hard-core fans, but even they are unlikely to tune in for the whole programme and certainly not in any significant numbers so it's unaffordable. A highlights package might draw in the casual viewers, but the hard-core fans would continue to moan and likely to try to find live news/updates elsewhere instead.
So what's the alternative? What could be done to appease these requirements:
1) Satisfy the hard-core fans - the people who will 'sell' your programme for you if they're happy.
2) Interest the casual viewer enough to get them hooked.
3) Provide a degree of educational content so it isn't just entertainment.
Well, here's my line of thinking...
RACE COVERAGE
Provide coverage in a three-pronged format.
1) A Sunday evening highlights package, made into a Saturday and Sunday evening package for Le Mans. Try to attract the casual viewer and give something for the hard-core fans to actually watch.
2) Linked to the highlights package, an hourly/two-hourly update bulletin. Just a 5-minute slot with a presenter from the highlights show talking through the events of that hour with a couple of short clips of significant action. Thjs will help to catch the attention of the casual viewer and give the hardcore fan a reason to leave the TV on in the background for the duration to catch the snippets and keep abreast of the action - while all the time increasing the viewing figures of the programmes inbetween.
3) Online coverage. In the same way as other sports are covered on the BBC website - at the very least have a live text update during the event, perhaps interspersed with some short clips or heaven forbid, perhaps even a live picture feed.
OTHER CONTENT
To sell the WEC to the casual viewer, catching their eye with race coverage should be only part of the package.
1) Show a two or three part series looking at the history of sports car racing. Nothing too serious or in-depth, nothing that hasn't really been down before so no big budget required. Show some nice shots of beautiful cars sliding round tracks with a bit of an explanation dubbed over the top - appeal to the Top Gear type viewers.
2) Tap into the huge motorsport engineering industry in this country. A documentary series focussing on the different classes and the unusual one-offs through history and Garage 56. Serious content for the hardcore enthusiast and the Open University student alike. Not necessarily any glitzy cinematography required, but a good interview with the likes of Bowlby, Brawn, Gade etc.
3) Online links. Spread the net - make the online pages like a central portal for anyone interested in WEC. From there, you can find all the teams, the venues, the ticket outlets, the sponsors, the drivers, the manufacturers, the (good) bloggers etc.
I don't see anything there that needs to cost a fraction of the old F1 budget, but with a decent coordinated approach, I believe coverage could be provided in a way that will satisfy most people.
What do you all think?
Take the BBC for example. They now have a void of motorsport coverage, don't have a huge budget and don't seem to have a love of any sports as such anymore. They do however have a stated aim of trying to reduce 'entertainment' for more genuine content, and they ofcourse have an obligation to try to get as many viewing figures as possible to justify the content they do produce.
Generally speaking, we all bemoan the lack of coverage of WEC. It's an excellent championship, lots of manufacturers and independents, some realistic links to cars you can aspire to buying, cutting edge technology and races at some iconic circuits, with top-flight drivers and masses of home-grown talent. In many ways it has it all, but in terms of coverage it has very little. Why?
It's not hard to see that a TV station looking at the WEC sees races of six, twelve and twenty-four hours and immediately thinks it's impossible to cover. Full coverage would appease the hard-core fans, but even they are unlikely to tune in for the whole programme and certainly not in any significant numbers so it's unaffordable. A highlights package might draw in the casual viewers, but the hard-core fans would continue to moan and likely to try to find live news/updates elsewhere instead.
So what's the alternative? What could be done to appease these requirements:
1) Satisfy the hard-core fans - the people who will 'sell' your programme for you if they're happy.
2) Interest the casual viewer enough to get them hooked.
3) Provide a degree of educational content so it isn't just entertainment.
Well, here's my line of thinking...
RACE COVERAGE
Provide coverage in a three-pronged format.
1) A Sunday evening highlights package, made into a Saturday and Sunday evening package for Le Mans. Try to attract the casual viewer and give something for the hard-core fans to actually watch.
2) Linked to the highlights package, an hourly/two-hourly update bulletin. Just a 5-minute slot with a presenter from the highlights show talking through the events of that hour with a couple of short clips of significant action. Thjs will help to catch the attention of the casual viewer and give the hardcore fan a reason to leave the TV on in the background for the duration to catch the snippets and keep abreast of the action - while all the time increasing the viewing figures of the programmes inbetween.
3) Online coverage. In the same way as other sports are covered on the BBC website - at the very least have a live text update during the event, perhaps interspersed with some short clips or heaven forbid, perhaps even a live picture feed.
OTHER CONTENT
To sell the WEC to the casual viewer, catching their eye with race coverage should be only part of the package.
1) Show a two or three part series looking at the history of sports car racing. Nothing too serious or in-depth, nothing that hasn't really been down before so no big budget required. Show some nice shots of beautiful cars sliding round tracks with a bit of an explanation dubbed over the top - appeal to the Top Gear type viewers.
2) Tap into the huge motorsport engineering industry in this country. A documentary series focussing on the different classes and the unusual one-offs through history and Garage 56. Serious content for the hardcore enthusiast and the Open University student alike. Not necessarily any glitzy cinematography required, but a good interview with the likes of Bowlby, Brawn, Gade etc.
3) Online links. Spread the net - make the online pages like a central portal for anyone interested in WEC. From there, you can find all the teams, the venues, the ticket outlets, the sponsors, the drivers, the manufacturers, the (good) bloggers etc.
I don't see anything there that needs to cost a fraction of the old F1 budget, but with a decent coordinated approach, I believe coverage could be provided in a way that will satisfy most people.
What do you all think?
So you're not a fan of the idea then?I also consider myself a hardcore fan, however I also have other responsibilities in life, so sitting to watch any TV over a weekend is a treat and 6, 12 or 24 hours is just never going to happen for me.
Sportscar races are interesting to see the strategies unfolding, but the actual action on-track is not usually lights-to-flag but happens in odd moments here and there. I think it's ripe for a highlights package or a 'dip in and out' format such as online text commentary with video clips of specific action. It would make it more accessible.
Full races on Motors TV are great, but that's never going to happen on mainstream TV channels.
I'd like to see something similar for the Dakar too. They have good potential with the App, but there's too little content on it. A nightly highlights package would be enough to keep abreast of the event.
This is nothing unusual - it's similar to the way other long sporting events are covered (cricket, Tour de France etc).
Sportscar races are interesting to see the strategies unfolding, but the actual action on-track is not usually lights-to-flag but happens in odd moments here and there. I think it's ripe for a highlights package or a 'dip in and out' format such as online text commentary with video clips of specific action. It would make it more accessible.
Full races on Motors TV are great, but that's never going to happen on mainstream TV channels.
I'd like to see something similar for the Dakar too. They have good potential with the App, but there's too little content on it. A nightly highlights package would be enough to keep abreast of the event.
This is nothing unusual - it's similar to the way other long sporting events are covered (cricket, Tour de France etc).
fatboy18 said:
I love the WEC and Le mans Sports car series, but even being a motorsports fan I find myself losing concentration from time to time 
Some of the commentators seem to be just rambling on with their voices laid over previously recorded vt.
I actually prefer the mini fly on the wall documentaries they have made about individual teams running their cars during the season.
Road to lemans was brilliant, also Patrick Dempsey's team quest to race at le mans was also great. Even my missus took an interest (which was a first).
As much as I like the LMP1 type cars, I feel there is far too much coverage of the Top Dogs and many times after the racing has finished they show the Top Dogs on the podium then drop coverage of everyone else
Rather than just the race coverage it would be good if they could do a technical section asking teams what they have changed from the previous season be it Aero development or something else. Even a little profile clip of various teams where are they based etc
Just some thoughts
Agreed, those are the things that add interest. Now I guess if you're Motors TV covering the whole event, the technical sections could be say 10 minutes long and during quiet periods of the race they could go to a split screen format while the feature is played? Some of the commentators seem to be just rambling on with their voices laid over previously recorded vt.I actually prefer the mini fly on the wall documentaries they have made about individual teams running their cars during the season.
Road to lemans was brilliant, also Patrick Dempsey's team quest to race at le mans was also great. Even my missus took an interest (which was a first).
As much as I like the LMP1 type cars, I feel there is far too much coverage of the Top Dogs and many times after the racing has finished they show the Top Dogs on the podium then drop coverage of everyone else
Rather than just the race coverage it would be good if they could do a technical section asking teams what they have changed from the previous season be it Aero development or something else. Even a little profile clip of various teams where are they based etc
Just some thoughts
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff