Are ITV sane ?
Discussion
There is a fair bit of motorsport coverage on terrestrial TV. Channel 4 show WTCC, World and British Superbike and SCSA, whilst Channel 5 show Indy Racing League, NASCAR, NASCAR Busch, Aussie V8 tourers and even European Drag Racing occaisionally, as well as Motorsport Mundial. It's just that all this is shown in the early hours of weekday mornings, so nobody watches it. Channel 4 also show British F3 and British GT at 7 a.m on a Saturday morning.
The DJ 27 said:
There is a fair bit of motorsport coverage on terrestrial TV. Channel 4 show WTCC, World and British Superbike and SCSA, whilst Channel 5 show Indy Racing League, NASCAR, NASCAR Busch, Aussie V8 tourers and even European Drag Racing occaisionally, as well as Motorsport Mundial. It's just that all this is shown in the early hours of weekday mornings, so nobody watches it. Channel 4 also show British F3 and British GT at 7 a.m on a Saturday morning.
And as someone who works full-time, how am I supposed to a) know about them; and b) watch them?
havoc said:Video, DVD recorder, Sky + box... I guess?
There is a fair bit of motorsport coverage on terrestrial TV. Channel 4 show WTCC, World and British Superbike and SCSA, whilst Channel 5 show Indy Racing League, NASCAR, NASCAR Busch, Aussie V8 tourers and even European Drag Racing occaisionally, as well as Motorsport Mundial. It's just that all this is shown in the early hours of weekday mornings, so nobody watches it. Channel 4 also show British F3 and British GT at 7 a.m on a Saturday morning.
And as someone who works full-time, how am I supposed to a) know about them; and b) watch them?
havoc said:
Stop whinging about F1 coverage - that damn circus gets more airtime on terrestrial TV than all other 4-wheeled motorsport put together.
BTCC - only get one race live, the other two are highlights. Forget about the supporting races. Worse, it's often shown a weekend late if it clashes with "more important" sport such as F1!!!
WRC - 1 hour (less adverts, so actually 45-50mins) summary of 3 DAYS worth of racing! And too much of that is those tts telling us stuff we already know, as opposed to focusing on the events and the racing!
LM-series endurance racing: Only LM itself is shown, and then paltry highlights.
British GT? Forget it
WTCC? Forget it
DTM? Never heard of it
A1 GP? No publicity at all
JGTC? What's that then?
But if you want to watch any of the above list you just have to purchase Digital television. Everyone complains that terrstrial tv doesn't show everything. Well, they can't, can they?! They have to appeal to the masses and as such have to stick to schedules that funds them. Which leaves Corrie and Adverts for the punters.
DTM, LMES AND ALMS and A1GP all have live coverage on Motors TV and/or Eurosport/Sky Sports.
Just because it isn't on one of the big four channels doesn't mean to say that its not being given great coverage. Can'tstand it when people complain that there's no live coverage of motorsport, there's plenty, nothing is free in this life.
If people were big enough fans they'd be out at the circuits watching from the spectator banks and grandstands rather than watching on the box anyway.
People whine on that they save up to watch the GP live at Silverstone once a year, whereas they could spend the entire fund on one GP tripto watch probably six or seven other major races events in the UK alone per year.
Everyone should get off their arses and watch racing live at the track. It's so much better and the atmosphere is there when there are people there. Its lazyness and its ruining motorsport, especially in Europe. The UK in particular.
RobM77 said:
Those animals were pretty funny though
I know i found the blonde one, who muttered about how he didnt win, while looking like a scared deer in the head lamps the most amusing.
but the one with the funny tufts of hair and the comical eyebrows, was a perky chap as well he made me laugh too.
Having all the motorsport in the early hours of the morning is not good enough. I am a motorsport fan but it takes a real effort to even REMEMBER when these programmes are on, set up video recorders etc and then find time to watch them during "normal" hours.
As I said earlier, one of the best ways of keeping up with motor sport was BBC's Top Gear Motor Sport which provided a very good weekly roundup of what was happening. Surely there could be room for a programme like that in a mainstream TV channel.
As I said earlier, one of the best ways of keeping up with motor sport was BBC's Top Gear Motor Sport which provided a very good weekly roundup of what was happening. Surely there could be room for a programme like that in a mainstream TV channel.
racefan_uk said:
Everyone should get off their arses and watch racing live at the track. It's so much better and the atmosphere is there when there are people there. Its lazyness and its ruining motorsport, especially in Europe. The UK in particular.
I did, for 12 years then I had kids - I am sure that this situation is the same for the majority of individuals on this forum. As a consequence, my choice of events to attend is a little more selective now...
racefan_uk said:
Everyone should get off their arses and watch racing live at the track. It's so much better and the atmosphere is there when there are people there. Its lazyness and its ruining motorsport, especially in Europe. The UK in particular.
I do get off my arse thankyou very much, but until i win the lottery i will never be able to attend ALL the races i want to see.
Therefore we need better TV coverage.
racefan_uk said:Which I'm lucky enough to have...and I pay handsomely for the privilege...but many people don't...and given the coverage that obscure golf tournaments, for example, get, plus ALL the BBC sports coverage (only motorsport is 2-wheeled!!!), you would expect more motorsport coverage.
But if you want to watch any of the above list you just have to purchase Digital television. Everyone complains that terrstrial tv doesn't show everything. Well, they can't, can they?! They have to appeal to the masses and as such have to stick to schedules that funds them. Which leaves Corrie and Adverts for the punters.
racefan_uk said:
If people were big enough fans they'd be out at the circuits watching from the spectator banks and grandstands rather than watching on the box anyway.
Everyone should get off their arses and watch racing live at the track. It's so much better and the atmosphere is there when there are people there. Its lazyness and its ruining motorsport, especially in Europe. The UK in particular.
Yep, been there, done that - do it a few times a year (plus trackdays, when I've a suitable car).
But it's not practical to go to Knockhill or Croft for a BTCC race, and certainly not to Finland, Argentina etc. for WRC (Did Wales and it was so poorly organised and marshalled I'm not going again...I'll save up and do Germany or similar...and maybe the Pirelli British rally), or to Suzuka for JGTC, or to Sebring for ALMS...hell even Le Mans is an expensive jaunt for most people.
Back to the point about small-hours coverage...you've got to really hunt to find it, and usually it doesn't tell you what it is, just "Motorsport UK" - I haven't the time to record every single one and watch it just to see if it would have interested me.
Eric Mc said:
Over the years motor sport has gradually dropped from mainstream TV. Back in 60s and 70s there was lots more, mainly on BBC.
Oh the happy days of yore when you could sit in front of the telly to watch Rallycross on Grandstand on Saturday afternoon...
I never have understood the stupidity of TV effectively inventing a form of motorsport that was perfect for TV, then virtually abdoning it just as it got to the peak of popularity....
Eurosport rescued it for a while back in the late 80's early 90's with good old Arthur Debs doing the commentary.....
A superb form of motorsport killed by indifference and a governing body deciding it new better.....
ITV 4 launches next month, what would you want to see as content from an MS POV bearing in mind its aimed squarely at the Men and Motors audience.
The other aspect to bear in mind is that these channels are commercial therefore they need to appeal to a big an audience as possible to entice the advertising revenue etc which makes them viable in the first place.
Does motorsport outside of F1 and two wheels generate enough interest to make coverage of specifc forms of MS viable other than a generic magazine program which has in theory a wider appeal?
Motors TV is perhaps the one exception
The other aspect to bear in mind is that these channels are commercial therefore they need to appeal to a big an audience as possible to entice the advertising revenue etc which makes them viable in the first place.
Does motorsport outside of F1 and two wheels generate enough interest to make coverage of specifc forms of MS viable other than a generic magazine program which has in theory a wider appeal?
Motors TV is perhaps the one exception
That's the problem. Commercialism and ratings Rule OK. Nothing else matters.
That is why the BBC should really be looking hard at its role in the TV broadcasting spectrum. Ratings should NEVER be an issue with the Beeb. It is paid for by public subscription and it should bloody well remember that.
Bring back F3 and BTTC on Grandstand I say.
That is why the BBC should really be looking hard at its role in the TV broadcasting spectrum. Ratings should NEVER be an issue with the Beeb. It is paid for by public subscription and it should bloody well remember that.
Bring back F3 and BTTC on Grandstand I say.
TBH it's all about marketing. Imagine if Snooker, Darts and Bowls weren't televised and you were trying to lobby support.
A few years ago Rallying would have been seen as the preserve of anoraks. Even good old Tony Mason (bless 'im) used to give that impression, especially when he appeared on Top Gear saying "And now, steam engines!". Now everyone knows Subarus and Mitsubishi Evos are great and have the Delta Integrale down as a classic.
Again, F1 was rarely televised regularly until the late '70s.
>> Edited by kevin ritson on Tuesday 18th October 08:50
A few years ago Rallying would have been seen as the preserve of anoraks. Even good old Tony Mason (bless 'im) used to give that impression, especially when he appeared on Top Gear saying "And now, steam engines!". Now everyone knows Subarus and Mitsubishi Evos are great and have the Delta Integrale down as a classic.
Again, F1 was rarely televised regularly until the late '70s.
>> Edited by kevin ritson on Tuesday 18th October 08:50
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