ITV scaling down the BTCC now?
Discussion
After the WRC fiasco, looks like ITV are cost-cutting on their BTCC coverage, judging by a couple of stories in Autsport:
Firstly they won't be showing the races live on ITV1 until round 6 at Donington in July, the previous events to be on an ITV digital channel....well if ITV4 doesn't broadcast until after 6 and I'd be surprised if ITV2 or 3 will show these, what does that leave, especially for the Freeview audience?
Next it appears that Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz will be presenting (please tell me Allen won't be commentating, please!). Not horrendous but you have to wonder if it's done to save paying additional people and therefore what's next? Ironic considering the grids have jumped in size.
Firstly they won't be showing the races live on ITV1 until round 6 at Donington in July, the previous events to be on an ITV digital channel....well if ITV4 doesn't broadcast until after 6 and I'd be surprised if ITV2 or 3 will show these, what does that leave, especially for the Freeview audience?
Next it appears that Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz will be presenting (please tell me Allen won't be commentating, please!). Not horrendous but you have to wonder if it's done to save paying additional people and therefore what's next? Ironic considering the grids have jumped in size.
kevin ritson said:
Next it appears that Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz will be presenting (please tell me Allen won't be commentating, please!). Not horrendous but you have to wonder if it's done to save paying additional people and therefore what's next? Ironic considering the grids have jumped in size.
Last year the BTCC was shown live at the same time on MotorsTV and ITV. Using the MotorsTV commentating team of Ben Edwards and Tim Harvey, you could tell when the ITV coverage started and left as there were slight pauses in the talking. I'm not sure if MotorsTV are showing the BTCC this year so it might be an ITV man......... which means it could be James Allen.
Motors tv aren't covering it this year, but Edwards and Harvey are still due to be commentating for ITV. (Its always been more of the other way round Motors tv used the itv commentators for the BTCC, they had John Hindhaugh and Simon Hill for the supports that ITV didn't show.) Setanta sports will also be showing the meetings live, in the same way that Motors tv used to. Trouble is Setanta is at least £10 a month extra.
Edited by Marc W on Thursday 15th March 15:20
FourWheelDrift said:
kevin ritson said:
Next it appears that Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz will be presenting (please tell me Allen won't be commentating, please!). Not horrendous but you have to wonder if it's done to save paying additional people and therefore what's next? Ironic considering the grids have jumped in size.
Last year the BTCC was shown live at the same time on MotorsTV and ITV. Using the MotorsTV commentating team of Ben Edwards and Tim Harvey, you could tell when the ITV coverage started and left as there were slight pauses in the talking. I'm not sure if MotorsTV are showing the BTCC this year so it might be an ITV man......... which means it could be James Allen.
James Allen? AAAAARRRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kevin ritson said:
After the WRC fiasco, looks like ITV are cost-cutting on their BTCC coverage, judging by a couple of stories in Autsport:
Firstly they won't be showing the races live on ITV1 until round 6 at Donington in July, the previous events to be on an ITV digital channel....well if ITV4 doesn't broadcast until after 6 and I'd be surprised if ITV2 or 3 will show these, what does that leave, especially for the Freeview audience?
Next it appears that Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz will be presenting (please tell me Allen won't be commentating, please!). Not horrendous but you have to wonder if it's done to save paying additional people and therefore what's next? Ironic considering the grids have jumped in size.
Firstly they won't be showing the races live on ITV1 until round 6 at Donington in July, the previous events to be on an ITV digital channel....well if ITV4 doesn't broadcast until after 6 and I'd be surprised if ITV2 or 3 will show these, what does that leave, especially for the Freeview audience?
Next it appears that Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz will be presenting (please tell me Allen won't be commentating, please!). Not horrendous but you have to wonder if it's done to save paying additional people and therefore what's next? Ironic considering the grids have jumped in size.
me thinks you may be getting a bit confused.
it cant be cost cutting if ITV are still covering all the races live. it costs the same amount of money to film and produce the program regardless of if it goes out on ITV1 or ITV4.
they announced that the first half of the season will be televised live on either ITV2/3/4, so as its live they obviously cant be at 6pm or later can they?
goodman and kravitz would cost ITV a heck of a lot more for the weekend than VBH so that isn't cost cutting either....they don't do things for nothing.
glad they left james allen out of it though!!
touring fan said:
it cant be cost cutting if ITV are still covering all the races live. it costs the same amount of money to film and produce the program regardless of if it goes out on ITV1 or ITV4.
Although that is strictly true, I think we can safely assume that the rate card for ad space on ITV1 is a lot fatter than the one for 2, 3 or 4. My guess is that they can sell space between the usual dross at top rates much more easily than the BTCC, so they bump the motor racing to their 'b' 'c' or 'd' channels where they can attract advertisers with the lower rates.
I guess we'll know for sure when we see what's on ITV1 in place of it.
woof said:
Looks like the BTCC did an exclusive deal with ITV (not to show the races !! )
Motors TV of course showed the whole race schedule and looks like there's nothing in there schedule
Brands Hatch - 4pm (ITV3)
I think I read somewhere a few months ago that Motors didnt get particularly high viewing figures for the BTCC so decided it wasn't viable to pay for the package.
Talking about the BTCC I've just seen the Halfords Hondas photos here - www.crash.net/news_View~cid~10~id~145021.htm
I always say if a car looks right it's a winner but to me they look bloody awful so by that rule they won't be winners this year.
I always say if a car looks right it's a winner but to me they look bloody awful so by that rule they won't be winners this year.
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