Ideas for The Morning Line

EC1

EC1

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If possible can we keep this reasonably serious and hopefully someone like Rory, or anyone in the racing media that does read the forum, could pass on our thoughts as punters as to what we would like to see to make the show interesting to cynical sods like us.
 
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It never recover after it lost it's 9.00am slot

8.00 - 9.00 is kids morning TV, sticking a racing programme on was really tantamount to surrender that Ch4 don't have a kids portfolio so just filled it with a complete alternative. Most things can be sold if they involve, money, sex, violence, or alcohol! Well there might be some scope with three of those mentioned under certain controlled environments, but realistically it's money that you're aiming at. If the programme developed a reputation for finding winners and making people a few extra bob, then people would watch it
 
I would think adding a slot for DO or EC1 for a forensic deconstruction of a handicap each week would be fascinating. Just logic and objectivity.
 
Fair enough to have a constructive thread about improvement, but I've long since stopped caring about and watching the programme. In fact, tuning in for the last 20 minutes this morning, is there first time I've seen it since the mid-week slots during the last Festival - and it was exactly the same as its always been. The format hasn't worked for years, it was wholly-broken long-before the recent staff changes, and there are much better alternatives on ATR and RUK.

As you can imagine, I'm not an advocate of the 'Racing needs terrestrial coverage' argument, and I would be perfectly happy to see this mince put out of its misery.
 
an capall said:
I would think adding a slot for DO or EC1 for a forensic deconstruction of a handicap each week would be fascinating. Just logic and objectivity.
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the best two pundits i've heard are Andy Holding + Rory DeLargy..they would be the main people i'd personally pick for looking at the main races of the day
 
Suggesting that Rory has any influence shows this thread for what it is, a load of ******* bollocks. The morning line tries to be something for everyone while only succeeding in being nothing to anybody.
 
an capall said:
I would think adding a slot for DO or EC1 for a forensic deconstruction of a handicap each week would be fascinating. Just logic and objectivity.
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If it meant free transport, overnight accom, entry and hospitality to all the major meetings, plus a fee, I could be tempted.

What are the chances?
 
i never said he personally has influence Slim..but he does know people in the racing media...invitethem to read what punters would like the show to be like...you are saying Rory doesn't know anyone in the game then??

the only bollocks on the thread Slim is your pointless post tbh.

like i have said many times...you know if you have no interest in a thread..then don't post.
 
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EC1 said:
so..looking at a positive in your post:)...what is better about ATR + RUK?
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They're not trying to be all things to all men.

They broadcast to an audience that is knowledge about their racing, hence they don't tend to patronise. Also, most of the presenters on ATR/RUK come across as punters that happen to present, whereas the C4 mob almost always come across as presenters that happen to punt. C4R also comes across (or more accurately used to come across) as a cosy little club of insiders, throwing bones to the great unwashed. And they just never looked serious enough about it, four my tastes. Plus, I could never be arsed with the misty-eyed flannel that Down used to routinely trout-out, I can't be arsed with the histrionics of Nick Luck (and his incessant 'Team Ditcheat' stylings), Mcgrath was pompous, Graham was just useless, McCririck was an anachronism, Plunkett was a minter, and Thommo was a buffoon.

All of this is largely missing from the dedicated channel outputs, which makes it infinitely better by default, imo.

Need I go on?
 
I don't particularly want to see the show re-vamped, EC1. I'm quite happy with there coverage on ATR and RUK, and wholly disagree with the notion that The Morning Line (or C4R for that matter) bring punters into the sport.
 
EC1 said:
i never said he personally has influence Slim..but he does know people in the racing media...invitethem to read what punters would like the show to be like...you are saying Rory doesn't know anyone in the game then??

the only bollocks on the thread Slim is your pointless post tbh.

like i have said many times...you know if you have no interest in a thread..then don't post.
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My post accurately represents what the programme is.
 
Grasshopper said:
I don't particularly want to see the show re-vamped, EC1. I'm quite happy with there coverage on ATR and RUK, and wholly disagree with the notion that The Morning Line (or C4R for that matter) bring punters into the sport.
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The only people they watch the show are die hard racing fans, bookmakers and nothing in between.
 
There has to be big chance that the type of TV viewer who is seriously into racing will have a sub to RUK/ATR/both and will no longer feel the need to watch C4.

I can't justify the expense of the subs as I only watch the Saturday/festival stuff, which C4 covers most of anyway.

I have no real issues with any of the C4 team other than Banks.

I think they should bin altogether all bookie input that is PR-based. Get rid of the interviews with them on the ML. They have their own agenda and are using the programme against the interests of punters.
 
Desert Orchid said:
There has to be big chance that the type of TV viewer who is seriously into racing will have a sub to RUK/ATR/both and will no longer feel the need to watch C4.

I can't justify the expense of the subs as I only watch the Saturday/festival stuff, which C4 covers most of anyway.

I have no real issues with any of the C4 team other than Banks.

I think they should bin altogether all bookie input that is PR-based. Get rid of the interviews with them on the ML. They have their own agenda and are using the programme against the interests of punters.
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I could not agree more. Bookmakers PR representatives drain the life out of me. They add nothing to any show they are on.
 
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EC1 said:
we aren't bothered about what the show is..its what we want it to be

if you don't want a show..or have nowt positive to add then feel free not to bother posting..we get the message that you aren't bothered..thats fine
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Don't use "we" when you're referring to yourself. This is a forum, I'm free to post what I want when I want.
 
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we as in the thread title..is we as a forum...that means people who are interested in the topic..you clearly aren't.

but post away on a thread of no interest to you whatsover..a waste of your time imo..but you carry on...i just don't understand why anyone with a brain would post on threads they have no interest in..but it takes all sorts..sorry for not allowing for this

i apologise profusely
 
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EC1 said:
you are like a lot of people Slim..very negative about something..then when someone tries to do something positive instead of just whinging like you and a few others do..you have to stomp all over it with yer size nines..lots of bluster..but nothing of value to the topic in hand..except..look at how big i am.

do what you want...but you are threadcrapping by not putting positives forward..not that that matters on here obviously
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The other way to look at it is that this thread will have no affect on anything.
 
lost that post in transit Slim...you must have grabbed it when i thought it hadn't posted..so i typed another one..having problems getting posts to stick

anyway

maybe it won't affect anything..but its better than just moaning and doing nothing isn't it?

is that what we do?..just keep moaning about something without making any effort to suggest how we improve it?

if it is..then so be it

i tried..i didn't just keep knocking it week in week out in a sheeplike manner
 
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EC, discussion of how to improve it is fine, but then again, so is adopting a position of 'It ain't worth saving' or 'I don't give a sh*it one way or the other'.

Not everything needs to be a crusade.

As for 'knocking it week-in week-out',where is the evidence of this? The only 'opinion' on The Morning Line on this forum, seems to be one of massive indifference. The programme hardly ever comes up as a discussion-point on these pages.
 
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I would like to see Mick Fitz gone, why after every race does he have to tell whoever he co presents; "what you must remember on a horse like this is, on ground like this is" he talks to the audience like they are Jockeys then passes his aftertiming insight but mentions none of it beforehand. I'd like to see Tanya gone, she can't even remember the time when she's just looked at her watch, utterly useless. Don't they realise we have oddschecker tools and up to the minute information at our finger tips. Cunningham sits in the middle like a wimbledon tennis fan, and butts in more times than an angry Rhino.

Just give us the prevailing ground and weather conditions, any non runners, stable news, roll it all into 15 minutes and then slot in an extra Everybody Loves Raymond.
 
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The "aint worth saving it" position is fine in the short term and I agree the programme is terrible but what it stands for and peoples long terms views are the issue. We're all into the sport but do you think people will pay subscriptions in the future to watch something they know nothing about? No. Wheres the long term future in that? Nowhere. If we want people to love our sport in the long term we need to face facts. I'm in my early 30's and only got into the sport through luck and because i am an analytical bloke who likes complex things, which is what this sport is, complicated. We need to find a way of explaining it but, and at the expense of being heckled, make it cool and interesting.

The morning line is terrible, I agree, the opportunity it represents its massive so EC has a point and a cynical attitude is short sighted.

What we need is younger presenters, younger pundits, more energy (its like watching a balloon deflate) and jockeys who engage with the media. McCoy and Walsh have got better but only on their own terms.

Make it something people want to watch and they will come. Once they've been they will be hooked because its a bloody great sport.

One area they need to look at is the directing and cinematography of the whole thing. Racing is a spectacle, but on TV they aren't getting the thrill and excitement across.

Ive been out on the beer in case any wonders :)
 
As someone who loves watching the racing but has it behind another sport in his priorities (like a lot who will be morning line target audience) then they have missed a trick or ten over the years. Typical tv really, they think we're all idiots who just want to listen to ex-pros or polished media bods treating us with contempt whilst spouting obvious shite at us.
Same as match of the day with football. You don't learn a thing watching it as they put together a safe, bland formula that won't rock the boat. Morning line and match of the day are cut from the same cloth - background noise put together with little thought, ambition or respect for the viewer.

Personally I think a starting point would be to at least get pundits, etc in who have strong views and allow them to air them.

Basically show the morning odds, movers, etc but spend vast majority of the time really debating a handful of races. I've seen the irish match of the day once and although there was some shite being spoken it at least had some vigour, passion, knowledge and balls behind it unlike the English version.

Similar needs to happen.

Anyway that's my two penneth worth...


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