Abysmal ITV Vuelta Commentary…

Simon is absolutely right
Simon is absolutely right about the reason that there are so many shots of Anton – Eurosport and ITV are just taking the coverage produced by Spanish television.

It’s slightly different at the Olympics – there is an ‘independent’ host broadcast company which puts out an international and fairly neutral feed.

Then the big broadcasters like NBC and the BBC pay for additional specific coverage and rights – so they are getting the host feed plus enough to focus more on their athletes.

It would be like ITV for example paying for the Spanish coverage of the Vuelta and then as part of the deal getting some extra camera feeds that focused on Wiggins and Cavendish.

I’m surprised ASO haven’t taken the route that other big sports have and set up their own broadcast company which then sells the rights. Formula 1 for example has its own broadcasting arm which rolls into town with the rest of the circus and pumps out the coverage.

Relying on the skill and interest of local broadcasters produces very uneven coverage. For example the Spanish coverage has some good bits – speed readings and gradient graphics for example – but the camera placement at the finish lines has been appallingly bad. The French tour coverage is not bad, just 10 years behind what it should and could be.

I think as it becomes more popular in other countries they will start to demand a higher and more consistent level of coverage, which can only be done using a neutral host broadcast. Plus you have control over equipment e.g. cars and bikes, which can be important, as Johnny Hoogerland will testify.

It’s the Vuelta a Espana.
It’s the Vuelta a Espana. Pictures are from Spanish TV. Anton was the pre-race favourite, he’s very popular in his home country (particularly after the way he crashed out last year)… so it’s unsurprising that the director will be more interested in what he is up to than most other riders.

It doesn’t matter what sport you’re watching or what country it’s set in, the host broadcaster is almost always going to focus more on home athletes (as no doubt we’ll see in London next summer).

Eurosport has a thing with
Eurosport has a thing with Anton aswell

Its because everyday the host broadcaster seems to focus on him, the pictures are the same on both channels, there is only one crew filming the race, so thats why there is so much of him on the TV

The thing about the adverts isn’t as simple as why dont cycling firms advertise, its about what ITV are charging for the spots in those breaks and if i know ITV they will be trying to get the same kinda money they got for the TdF which to a retailer of cycling products is just not worth it

I would love to know the viewing figures, i bet its at least 30% down on the TdF

The one thing i do like is
The one thing i do like is its free on ITV and if you have a sky HD box then its free in HD aswell, just dont like the team doing it

Now Ch5 have the cricket and
Now Ch5 have the cricket and Ch4 the athletics, its confusing 👿

To me, i dont understand why
To me, i dont understand why Ch4 hasn’t got into the act, now they have More 4, E4 and that they could do it and they used to have good coverage of the TdF when i was younger

The reason i mention this is i am currently enjoying the coverage of Daegu World champs on Ch4 and it seems to me they have all the guys who normally did the commentary on BBC, nothing has changed apart from the channel, nice work 😀

Right i dont watch the ITV
Right i dont watch the ITV because i have Eurosport or i’d get it online

BUT my question is, Is the guy doing the commentary in Spain or in the UK?

He just doesn’t seem prepared and i could do his job with the startlist, tracker and live stream

Well we’re lucky to have it
Well we’re lucky to have it on ITV anyway, means the Eurosport pigs don’t get any more money…

As well I love how Ned says, “after this VERY short break, the rest of your cycling will be uninterrupted.”