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TV coverage

I watch the last couple of mins before the races just to laugh at their bias for certain horses and how badly they tip. Only chappers tipped calandagan. Just saying.
 
I just think the earlier they start with the poppies the more they're diluting the importance of Remembrance Day and all they do is end up guilting all the sheep into following suit.
 
I find it ridiculous that we send young people to put their lives on the line for this country yet when the soldiers need help we don't fund their care but rely on charity. My dad, and I'm sure a lot of peoples dads on here ,fought in the second world war and 3 others of my family fought in the Falklands and Iraq. Shame on consecutive govts for getting to the stage where we have our veterans relying on charity from most folk who have very little money.
 
Shocking that Racing TV start the Cheltenham season - probably one of the most competitive ever first days of the Showcase meeting with a dreadful combination of James Millman and Meg Nicholls - a day to watch ITV - only a couple of years back it was Lydia H and the late Jonathan Neesom .
 
As a punter I rate James Millman -I think he is shrewd,knowledgeable and always well prepared.Meg Nicholls is bang average at best
Jonathan Neesom was different gravy.
 
LUKE said:
As a punter I rate James Millman -I think he is shrewd,knowledgeable and always well prepared.Meg Nicholls is bang average at best
Jonathan Neesom was different gravy.
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Absolutely Luke Jonathan Neesom said what he thought and so funny when he wanted to be. He is a great loss to our racing television screens.
 
Why do ITV Racing think groups of owners (who weirdly never watch the race in the flesh and instead watch it on the screen in the paddock) going crackers after a win is good television week after week after week?

IMO horse racing is about the racing (and the betting) not the people.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Why do ITV Racing think groups of owners (who weirdly never watch the race in the flesh and instead watch it on the screen in the paddock) going crackers after a win is good television week after week after week?

IMO horse racing is about the racing (and the betting) not the people.
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They're trying to turn TV viewers into racegoers so 'sell the experience' to them. The racing is purely secondary to the ITV agenda but at least we get to see lots of racing on TV because of it.
 
So no Luck,Hislop or even Stanley today . The same dreadful duo . I can’t stand either of Millman or Nicholls voices let alone their pretty cliched delivery.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Why do ITV Racing think groups of owners (who weirdly never watch the race in the flesh and instead watch it on the screen in the paddock) going crackers after a win is good television week after week after week?

IMO horse racing is about the racing (and the betting) not the people.
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Many owners watch races from the parade ring at courses like Cheltenham because you get a better view of the race than from the stands and you don't have to push your way through the hoi polloi to greet your horse back in the winners enclosure.
 
Thanks for the replies, chaps.

Why do ITV Racing want to turn viewers into racegoers?

Do they want reduced viewing audiences, then?

The commercial break advertisers (who fund the channel) certainly don't.

ITV shouldn't be confused with the BHA - ITV pay to screen racing because they believe they can make even more money from ad revenues during broadcasts. End of.

Odds on the lummoxes think an endless succession of people jumping up and down makes good "people TV."

And, owner or not, anyone who watches a race on a big screen might as well be at home.

Stood round the back of a stand while your horse wins a race the other side of it - insane.

Surely the hoi poloi, riff raff and even people who look like Walsworth can be banned from some exclusive tunnel that ferries you from owner viewing area to winner's enclosure in a positive jiffy!

They need to get me designing racecourses, but then they need me for do many things.

But they don't know it and they couldn't afford me even if they did.

To the Futurity!
 
Ian_Davies said:
Why do ITV Racing want to turn viewers into racegoers?

Do they want reduced viewing audiences, then?
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Churnover?

More than 600k people turn 18 every year in the UK so there's the ongoing feed-in to TV viewing and ITV racing love banging on about big crowds at the tracks.

And imo there are ever-increasing numbers of fannies wanting to be seen on TV at these meetings with ITV obliging by putting on vox-pop segments (my cue to get the kettle on).
 
I think what's more likely, Maurice, is that an agreement that ITV Racing markets the race going experience to viewers is part of the deal.

"Why the F would you want to be here when you can watch with us at home?" would not go down well with the BHA, so ITV Racing do a bit of a BHA come racing cheerleader number as part of the agreement.

You'll note I've actually got the telly on with it muted in the background today - I hope you're impressed!
 
archie said:
ITV wouldn't have a vehicle to help sell Lenor Unstoppables.
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True dat!

I've nothing against owners - I just don't think watching endless successions of randoms - or stable staff - going bonkers every week makes good TV, that's all.

Maybe it's "human interest."

And I honestly don't get this whole watching on a screen when your beast is winning in real life t'other side of yonder building thing either.

Hardly the stuff of making memories in my book.

Each to their own!
 
Ian_Davies said:
And I honestly don't get this whole watching on a screen when your beast is winning in real life t'other side of yonder building thing either.
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I suppose that it's hard to appreciate if you haven't been in that position.

There is a difference between flat and NH racing in that 95% of flat action is in the final 2 furlongs which are clearly visible from the stands. Most of the NH action occurs over half a mile away from the spectator in the stands so to keep a proper eye on an individual horse, you either need extremely powerful binoculars 9and steady hands!) or the assistance of a screen. Big meetings have a screen in front of the stands but, by and large, it still takes a fair amount of time to get from the stand to the winners enclosure if you're lucky enough to get in there.

Believe me, the atmosphere in the paddock when Ruby got Kemboy home in his final race at Punchestown was absolutely as good as it was out front at Aintree when he'd won a few weeks earlier.
 
archie said:
I suppose that it's hard to appreciate if you haven't been in that position.
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Well, I have actually been involved in a winning horse in the dim and distant past, but for me the memory worth having is of actually seeing it win in real time in front of me, rather than on a screen.

But, as with so many things, it really is a case of each to their own.
 
I found on the few times I was at the track that I preferred seeing it on the screen because I could actually see what was happening.

I think when money is involved in the outcome of a race, seeing it unfold in an optimum way is more important than witnessing the rippling muscles of the horse's shoulders or the flailing of the jockey's whip in amongst the roars of the crowd drowning out the course commentary, not knowing if you're going to be on the receiving end of some lager lout's lager.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Well, I have actually been involved in a winning horse in the dim and distant past, but for me the memory worth having is of actually seeing it win in real time in front of me, rather than on a screen.

But, as with so many things, it really is a case of each to their own.
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Not so sure one of the syndicate organisers enjoyed either win all that much....
 
I have to say that I am smiling…no laughing at people on this and other like threads that say “only turn the tv on at the start of the race and turn it straight off as they pass the post” or always watch and “mute” the sound on the tv and then have so much to say critising then presenter’s and how they cannot stand or those they find tolerable 😎 you either watch the coverage or you don’t simples surely you can’t have an ew bet on this there are only two runners 🤪 I will also add when I was part owner in a horse if I had been told where I had to watch the race from they would have been told to fvck off and had they insisted would have asked the trainer to withdraw the horse (not that they would) but would certainly never have another runner again there ever. He who pays the piper calls the tune surely.
How can anyone have an opinion about presenters if they do not listen to what they are saying 🤔
 
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I too have reached for the mute button on many ocassions due to just how tedious and clichéd the presenters are. Is it too much to ask for the presenters to have as much interest and knowledge of the horses as I and thousands of racing nuts,have.
Tom Scudamore clearly knows his stuff and shows his knowledge as does Jason weaver and Adele is good too imho. I'm afraid the rest are either poor or superfluous and add nothing to the coverage.
At least I've got the superb coverage of the breeders Cup where the insight they give is way above what itv offer. Imho of course.
 
Coach miguel said:
I too have reached for the mute button on many ocassions due to just how tedious and clichéd the presenters are. Is it too much to ask for the presenters to have as much interest and knowledge of the horses as I and thousands of racing nuts,have.
Tom Scudamore clearly knows his stuff and shows his knowledge as does Jason weaver and Adele is good too imho. I'm afraid the rest are either poor or superfluous and add nothing to the coverage.
At least I've got the superb coverage of the breeders Cup where the insight they give is way above what itv offer. Imho of course.
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Yes, obviously I've tuned in and listened on a few occasions in the past - that's what made me eventually decide to mute the coverage.

What I can't fault ITV for is the number of races they screen - loads today, loads more tomorrow.

I had the broadcast on throughout today and enjoyed the silent pictures of the live races.

But I agree about the Breeders' Cup - I linked here to the pre-entry show on Wednesday and IMO it was different gravy.

They explained everything to any newcomers to the meeting without being patronising and it was a 100% focus on the races, the contenders and the various betting opportunities (the "wagering menu").

I'm no newcomer to it all, but it was still everything I'd want in a racing broadcast.
 
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Exactly Ian. Hugely informative and entertaining. Ive so enjoyed the breeders cup since we got it shown over here.Yes the guys are great at it but surely we can do better than what we're served here. Same with the nba coverage compared to the Premier league. Totally different gravy.
 

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