ALMS - Where/how to watch?
Discussion
Does anyone know where or how to watch the ALMS series Live! from the uk.
Last year some races was shown on MotorsTV but tbh most of the coverage was delayed and just highlights. (Rubbish!)
From the ALMS website it says it will be available via ESPN3 Live for every event, but i belive thats a USA only service (to the house).
I really want to watch the full ALMS Sebring race, but cannot find any definate answers yet as to how.
Ideally i would like to watch it on the TV, but will settle for a full live pc stream if need be.
Anyone have any pointers?
Regards
Last year some races was shown on MotorsTV but tbh most of the coverage was delayed and just highlights. (Rubbish!)
From the ALMS website it says it will be available via ESPN3 Live for every event, but i belive thats a USA only service (to the house).
I really want to watch the full ALMS Sebring race, but cannot find any definate answers yet as to how.
Ideally i would like to watch it on the TV, but will settle for a full live pc stream if need be.
Anyone have any pointers?
Regards
I believe Motors TV is showing much of the 2011 season live, with web content on the increase too. Nothing has been signed yet but contarcts are being discussed.
Last week saw the ALMS announce it’s US TV deal for 2011 and whilst nothing has been announced yet regarding live, delayed or highlights coverage in the UK, the deal suggests some interesting developments in terms of major series and their relationships with major broadcasters.
The deal for ALMS in the US this year basically consists of highlights programmes on network TV, the odd documentary or two plus live streaming of events (including qualifying) on ESPN3.com. The results of which should mean that the series broadens in terms of how many households have access to the programming with the flip side being that live coverage will now be over the internet rather than on TV.
Series bosses call this a game changing deal and one that reflects the direction of travel for much of sports broadcasting. That’s undoubtedly true on both counts but you have to wonder whether this is a move too soon in terms of people being ready to switch to the internet for live programming. On top of this, live streaming just like live broadcasting on a TV channel will only be successful if people log on and there is no guarantee that new fans will show up in the long term.
This deal therefore rests on a number of imponderables that will undoubtedly affect the series as a whole and future broadcast deals. The nature of the highlights programme will clearly be important. The programmes are expected to be 2 hours in length including commercials so the longer races will really have to be edited in such a way as to capture the excitement and also tell the story of the race. The shorter races should suit the highlights programme well, once again depending on the edit. The live streaming will only be successful if it’s easy to use and looks good. Once people have sought it out they don’t want buffering problems or a poor resolution.
There’s something about live tv coverage of an event that provides kudos. You have to wonder if the series will lose any of that due to this deal. Hopefully not. It would be wonderful if this deal meant that the fan base grew and a renewed interest was gained in endurance racing, which is without doubt riding high in terms of the actual racing and the health of the various series in terms of car numbers.
This deal does not include the rounds of the ALMS that are part of the ILMC. Those rounds are Sebring and Petit Le Mans and last year were shown on MotorsTV live in the UK and there is no reason to believe that they wont get covered this year. Eurosport had the rights for ACO events last year so it’s not unreasonable to assume the same will happen this year so hopefully at least those two events will be live in the UK. It’s unclear at this stage what else of the ALMS will be shown on UK TV, whether the live streaming will be available here, what any costs would be for live streaming or whether any highlights of the series will be shown.
The deal does undoubtedly point towards a future where the internet plays a much larger part in sports broadcasting and it’s for this reason that people worldwide will be taking an interest in how it works out. Perhaps we’ve got so used to live coverage of series such as the ALMS that we’ve forgotten about the harsh financial realities underpinning such coverage. The development isn’t completely surprising and already many people use the web to seek out events not shown on their local TV networks. This could point to a bright future where access and quality are good and backed up with comprehensive highlights programmes for people to stumble upon or catch up with later. The fear of course is that it will mean that live coverage becomes hard to find, technologically unstable in terms of quality of feed and possibly without the kind of network presence that the ALMS has managed to secure on this occasion.
Here’s hoping this works out.
Last week saw the ALMS announce it’s US TV deal for 2011 and whilst nothing has been announced yet regarding live, delayed or highlights coverage in the UK, the deal suggests some interesting developments in terms of major series and their relationships with major broadcasters.
The deal for ALMS in the US this year basically consists of highlights programmes on network TV, the odd documentary or two plus live streaming of events (including qualifying) on ESPN3.com. The results of which should mean that the series broadens in terms of how many households have access to the programming with the flip side being that live coverage will now be over the internet rather than on TV.
Series bosses call this a game changing deal and one that reflects the direction of travel for much of sports broadcasting. That’s undoubtedly true on both counts but you have to wonder whether this is a move too soon in terms of people being ready to switch to the internet for live programming. On top of this, live streaming just like live broadcasting on a TV channel will only be successful if people log on and there is no guarantee that new fans will show up in the long term.
This deal therefore rests on a number of imponderables that will undoubtedly affect the series as a whole and future broadcast deals. The nature of the highlights programme will clearly be important. The programmes are expected to be 2 hours in length including commercials so the longer races will really have to be edited in such a way as to capture the excitement and also tell the story of the race. The shorter races should suit the highlights programme well, once again depending on the edit. The live streaming will only be successful if it’s easy to use and looks good. Once people have sought it out they don’t want buffering problems or a poor resolution.
There’s something about live tv coverage of an event that provides kudos. You have to wonder if the series will lose any of that due to this deal. Hopefully not. It would be wonderful if this deal meant that the fan base grew and a renewed interest was gained in endurance racing, which is without doubt riding high in terms of the actual racing and the health of the various series in terms of car numbers.
This deal does not include the rounds of the ALMS that are part of the ILMC. Those rounds are Sebring and Petit Le Mans and last year were shown on MotorsTV live in the UK and there is no reason to believe that they wont get covered this year. Eurosport had the rights for ACO events last year so it’s not unreasonable to assume the same will happen this year so hopefully at least those two events will be live in the UK. It’s unclear at this stage what else of the ALMS will be shown on UK TV, whether the live streaming will be available here, what any costs would be for live streaming or whether any highlights of the series will be shown.
The deal does undoubtedly point towards a future where the internet plays a much larger part in sports broadcasting and it’s for this reason that people worldwide will be taking an interest in how it works out. Perhaps we’ve got so used to live coverage of series such as the ALMS that we’ve forgotten about the harsh financial realities underpinning such coverage. The development isn’t completely surprising and already many people use the web to seek out events not shown on their local TV networks. This could point to a bright future where access and quality are good and backed up with comprehensive highlights programmes for people to stumble upon or catch up with later. The fear of course is that it will mean that live coverage becomes hard to find, technologically unstable in terms of quality of feed and possibly without the kind of network presence that the ALMS has managed to secure on this occasion.
Here’s hoping this works out.
Edited by belleair302 on Wednesday 9th March 22:53
Unfortunatly even from that text which must be fairly old now. MotorsTV have confirmed they will not have any live coverage of the Sebring event, even though it was broadcast last year.
I belive from looking at it that MotorsTV must have had a deal with SPEED, but looks like SPEED no longer will be broadcasting live. Well i cant find it on both the UK and USA timetables.
Only ESPN3 via the internet which is a pay per view service. Which tbh is a load of rubbish. There is no coverage on ESPN UK either.
Hopefully the ALMS website has a live stream again this year.
I belive from looking at it that MotorsTV must have had a deal with SPEED, but looks like SPEED no longer will be broadcasting live. Well i cant find it on both the UK and USA timetables.
Only ESPN3 via the internet which is a pay per view service. Which tbh is a load of rubbish. There is no coverage on ESPN UK either.
Hopefully the ALMS website has a live stream again this year.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about this but reading this:
http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=tv
Bottom right box says:
"You don't get ESPN3? Have no fear. The same incredible live qualifying and race coverage will be available on this website. No matter where you're located in the world, you'll be able to watch!"
Seems to me like it we will be able to watch via web stream.
I'm sure RLM are covering all the races as well, have a look at their new website (with a forum so no Facebook problems now!) for more details.
Yes, just checked and RLM are covering Sebring from qualifying on the 18th through to the race on the 19th.
http://www.radiolemans.com/
http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=tv
Bottom right box says:
"You don't get ESPN3? Have no fear. The same incredible live qualifying and race coverage will be available on this website. No matter where you're located in the world, you'll be able to watch!"
Seems to me like it we will be able to watch via web stream.
I'm sure RLM are covering all the races as well, have a look at their new website (with a forum so no Facebook problems now!) for more details.
Yes, just checked and RLM are covering Sebring from qualifying on the 18th through to the race on the 19th.
http://www.radiolemans.com/
have a look at www.justin.tv.
They show feeds from other people, so you can watch Speed TV online- nascar and ALMS
They show feeds from other people, so you can watch Speed TV online- nascar and ALMS
My understanding is that the ACO has control over the TV rights to ALL ILMC events, so Sebring & Petit are seperated off from the rest of the ALMS events - maybe resolving this issue was why Petit was only confirmed as part of the ILMC after a period of "To Be Confirmed".
As best as I can figure it out Motors MAY show non-ILMC ALMS events along with the 2 Euopean LMS rounds that are NOT part of ILMC (Paul Ricard & Estoril).All ILMC events, including the 24 Hours, will be covered by Eurosport - a prospect that does not fill me with much optimism!! If last season was anything to go by this will mean 30 minutes of "highlights" at 2 in the morning or 3 in the morning if the beach tiddlywinks over-runs! In fairness their coverage of the 24 Hours is superb but the rest you feel was the minimum they could get away with.
Sorry to have rambled on!!
As best as I can figure it out Motors MAY show non-ILMC ALMS events along with the 2 Euopean LMS rounds that are NOT part of ILMC (Paul Ricard & Estoril).All ILMC events, including the 24 Hours, will be covered by Eurosport - a prospect that does not fill me with much optimism!! If last season was anything to go by this will mean 30 minutes of "highlights" at 2 in the morning or 3 in the morning if the beach tiddlywinks over-runs! In fairness their coverage of the 24 Hours is superb but the rest you feel was the minimum they could get away with.
Sorry to have rambled on!!
skeggysteve said:
I'm sure RLM are covering all the races as well, have a look at their new website (with a forum so no Facebook problems now!) for more details.
Yes, just checked and RLM are covering Sebring from qualifying on the 18th through to the race on the 19th.
http://www.radiolemans.com/
Something strange is happening with RLM for the ALMS this year, and I'm not sure I fully understand it myself yet. It appears Hindhaugh has been hired personally as a commentator for the online video content and this will also be broadcast (as audio) via the RLM website but RLM (and its parent company) have nothing to do with the content.Yes, just checked and RLM are covering Sebring from qualifying on the 18th through to the race on the 19th.
http://www.radiolemans.com/
My own opinion of the web streamed coverage is that they are making it confusing to even hardcore fans who are technically minded as with a week to go we've no definite idea where/when the coverage will be hosted and whether it is free or not, which just leads people to just goto justin.tv and bypass the official sites and content. It suspect because the marketing types are clueless themselves.
Broady88 said:
All ILMC events, including the 24 Hours, will be covered by Eurosport - a prospect that does not fill me with much optimism!! If last season was anything to go by this will mean 30 minutes of "highlights" at 2 in the morning or 3 in the morning if the beach tiddlywinks over-runs! In fairness their coverage of the 24 Hours is superb but the rest you feel was the minimum they could get away with.
+1Did you follow there Dakar coverage this year
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