Epic TV coverage disappointing

[Trackmonster]

So the Epic is the Tour de France of Mountainbiking! Wow thats something to be proud of as a South Afican!

Is it only me then who finds the TV coverage and commentary a little disappointing. Half an hour a night and its barely doing justice to a race of this magnitude. It realy does feel like it could be a whole lot better if you compare it to the Tour de France or even some of the other Pro-Tours coverage and commentary. They know how to draw you in, to give you the whole experience and make you want to be there even as a spectator if anything. The TDF dont just showcase the race but showcase the country in such a cool way.

Some of the most amazing scenery this country has to offer if not some of the best MTB race scenery in the world. Just look at some of the amazing photos that are being taken of the Epic. The radical untamed mountains, valleys, forests, local wildlife and world class competitors unlike any other event.

Yet the photos do more justice to the scenery and race than the TV footage does. The photos draw me into the race more and make me want to be riding there so much more that the Tv commentary.

Im so proud that we have a race as amazing as this but I am so disappointed in how we are showcasing and covering it on TV. Come on guys give us more and stop disappointing! We and surely every other MTB in the world wants it.

[Cav']

You can't compare the epic with the tour.

[Johny Bravo]

I agree, the Tv coverage is weak. Also, after showing us the pros, show us some of the real heroes. The guys and girls with dayjobs, achieving a dream. Just a thought.

[r0adrunner]

The TV coverage is really bad. Should be live all day.

['Dale]

It's complicated.

 

TV broadcasting rights, mobile tv studios, covering remote locations, navigating heavy and sensitive equipment above and on arduous terrain, costs for flying multiple helicopters to cover various elite riders / groups, cost, cost and cost.

 

 

 

[Trackmonster]

They have more than enough cameras if you look at the daily coverage. So thats not the problem. At the moment 10minutes of the 25 minutes coverage is a recap. The commentator is talking so fast to try get it all in. And the commentary is nowhere near where it should be for a race of this magnitude. Our Rugby and Cricket commentary is world class but this cycling commentary is not good at all. For the biggest MTB race in the world, it feels like I'm watching a 3rd rate Supercycling production. I will switch off every other programme just to sit, watch and enjoy Epic coverage. Hell even if they can't get the commentry and production quality up, at least give us more than 25 minutes a day.

[xamnam]

Considering the logistic I think they are doing the best they can. Can they improve, yes. But compared to other Multi stage races in SA this is way above average.

[Brent]

I agree, the tv coverage or rather what is broadcast to us on DSTV is definitely where some serious improvements can be made.

They advertise the event as being the biggest televised MTB race in the world yet we get 30 minutes of coverage of which about 10 minutes covers a recap of the previous days' stage.

Those motorbikes, choppers, stationery camera people e.t.c. are certainly out there for many hours of the day. The material is probably there in the form of recordings yet it is not broadcast to us South Africans. Do other countries (perhaps Europe) get a more comprehensive coverage ???

If they can stream coverage to the web, then surely they can provide the South African viewers with a more comprehensive highlights package.

The sponsors surely deserve better !!!

[Luegar]

Considering the logistic I think they are doing the best they can. Can they improve, yes. But compared to other Multi stage races in SA this is way above average.

 

I think the issue is that the Epic is marketed as a "world class event", so therefore the coverage should at least be approaching world class. The other multi stage race in SA aren't marketed as such (and there certainly isn't the international audience on the scale of the Epic).

 

A 25 minute daily highlight package including a 5 minute racap of the previous day and 5 minutes of adverts only leaves 15 minutes for actual footage of that day's stage. How can Super Sport say this is the most televised MTB race in the world?

[Danger Dassie]

They have more than enough cameras if you look at the daily coverage. So thats not the problem. At the moment 10minutes of the 25 minutes coverage is a recap. The commentator is talking so fast to try get it all in. And the commentary is nowhere near where it should be for a race of this magnitude. Our Rugby and Cricket commentary is world class but this cycling commentary is not good at all. For the biggest MTB race in the world, it feels like I'm watching a 3rd rate Supercycling production. I will switch off every other programme just to sit, watch and enjoy Epic coverage. Hell even if they can't get the commentry and production quality up, at least give us more than 25 minutes a day.

 

Yet the Epic is leading in terms of broadcasting, why do other production/broadcast houses ask the crew for info on how the Epic is shot, edited and broadcast.

To broadcast live from that kind of terrain is a logistical and technical nightmare, so to do that, who will pay the millions needed?

[Danger Dassie]

I think the issue is that the Epic is marketed as a "world class event", so therefore the coverage should at least be approaching world class. The other multi stage race in SA aren't marketed as such (and there certainly isn't the international audience on the scale of the Epic).

 

A 25 minute daily highlight package including a 5 minute racap of the previous day and 5 minutes of adverts only leaves 15 minutes for actual footage of that day's stage. How can Super Sport say this is the most televised MTB race in the world?

 

Because it is. Name one MTB event in the world with the same number of live broadcasts and same day highlights packages over the course of a week?

There isn't one. Even the XCO world cups have productions issue, and that is an easier setup logistically.

 

Commentary could improve, but overall it's consistent and clear.

[GoLefty!!]

It's complicated.

 

TV broadcasting rights, mobile tv studios, covering remote locations, navigating heavy and sensitive equipment above and on arduous terrain, costs for flying multiple helicopters to cover various elite riders / groups, cost, cost and cost.

 

 

Not buying into that. There is a technology called drones. I can fly one of those things. I have pals who are making a living out of filming anf taking pictures with drones and at a fraction of the cost of a heli.

 

where there is a will there is a way.

 

 

Commentary is pretty crap. Bring back Paul Valstar and Mike the Mike

[Brent]

I think the point is being missed.

 

If coverage can be streamed to the web then it certainly can be incorporated into a highlights package....the material is there....they just arent using it for the highlights package !!

Edited March 28, 2014 by Btus

[xamnam]

Pleeeeese don't bring back Paul Valstar!!! Anything is better than PV

[Danger Dassie]

I think the point is being missed.

 

If coverage can be streamed to the web then it certainly can be incorporated into a highlights package....the material is there....they just arent using it for the highlights package !!

 

Wether it's streamed or used on broadcast makes no difference. You still face the same issues, web streaming is still unreliable and a higher compression compared to a broadcast feed.

 

 

Not buying into that. There is a technology called drones. I can fly one of those things. I have pals who are making a living out of filming anf taking pictures with drones and at a fraction of the cost of a heli.

 

where there is a will there is a way.

 

 

Commentary is pretty crap. Bring back Paul Valstar and Mike the Mike

 

Yes, but the visuals you can use are limited and vastly different, plus they need to be incorporated into existing footage.

Using them within a broadcast framework is a world apart from doing it on the side.

[Brent]

Wether it's streamed or used on broadcast makes no difference. You still face the same issues, web streaming is still unreliable and a higher compression compared to a broadcast feed.

 

There is a big difference between incorporating streamed content into a live broadcast and using it in a post production facility where it can be converted into the necessary format for a post production highlights package.