It was on TMD this morning and Id like to weigh in on this.
In the past, before the FOX TV contract, the absolute best coverage was without a doubt, ESPN. It was basic, insightful, intellegent, and best of all, the racing was the main theme of the show.
Now in present time, the best coverage is FOX. All the other networks are head over heels trying to copy them. Which is the problem I have with TNT and ESPN. Its the same show as Fox. Hollywood Hotel, 3 announcers, same formula, same idea. Now ESPN did a fantastic job this year of showing us the end of races commercial free. Im actually surprised nobody brought this up. In the final 5 races, they showed at least the last 35-40 minutes of the race commercial free.
My beef with the coverage in 2008 is that, the on track product takes a back seat to certain elements. With this respect, FOX does this the most. FOX will put its production, its announcers, Digger, and any half brained idea they have ahead of anything that happens on the track. I absolutly hate, with a passion that the announcers put themselves at the forefront of the coverage. Sitting there screaming about Digger once an hour while plugging your website. You never saw that with the announcers of the networks in the 90's.
I think NBC/TNT had it best in the first tv package. 7 on air personalities, good coverage, through the feild, etc etc.
And I dont get what David Pooles big hate-on for through the feild, or showing other cars in the race. What is wrong, in a 4.5 hour broadcast, is there showing some on track action for whatever position. Sure its not for the lead but isnt watching some on track battling more exciting than watching the clowns in the hotel eating food, or watching Dale Jr ride around in 6th while listening to his in-car audio for the 1000th time? Show some variety during the broadcast. Maybe it will keep peoples attention longer instead of showing the same cars over and over again. So David, to answer, why do you care about people racing back in the pack? Because its 10006% better than what they show instead.
In the past, before the FOX TV contract, the absolute best coverage was without a doubt, ESPN. It was basic, insightful, intellegent, and best of all, the racing was the main theme of the show.
Now in present time, the best coverage is FOX. All the other networks are head over heels trying to copy them. Which is the problem I have with TNT and ESPN. Its the same show as Fox. Hollywood Hotel, 3 announcers, same formula, same idea. Now ESPN did a fantastic job this year of showing us the end of races commercial free. Im actually surprised nobody brought this up. In the final 5 races, they showed at least the last 35-40 minutes of the race commercial free.
My beef with the coverage in 2008 is that, the on track product takes a back seat to certain elements. With this respect, FOX does this the most. FOX will put its production, its announcers, Digger, and any half brained idea they have ahead of anything that happens on the track. I absolutly hate, with a passion that the announcers put themselves at the forefront of the coverage. Sitting there screaming about Digger once an hour while plugging your website. You never saw that with the announcers of the networks in the 90's.
I think NBC/TNT had it best in the first tv package. 7 on air personalities, good coverage, through the feild, etc etc.
And I dont get what David Pooles big hate-on for through the feild, or showing other cars in the race. What is wrong, in a 4.5 hour broadcast, is there showing some on track action for whatever position. Sure its not for the lead but isnt watching some on track battling more exciting than watching the clowns in the hotel eating food, or watching Dale Jr ride around in 6th while listening to his in-car audio for the 1000th time? Show some variety during the broadcast. Maybe it will keep peoples attention longer instead of showing the same cars over and over again. So David, to answer, why do you care about people racing back in the pack? Because its 10006% better than what they show instead.
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