Croft TV coverage

[Bill]

Do others share my disappointment concerning the coverage of the croft races on the ITV programme. For what were clearly quite interesting races, I didn't feel remotely entertained at any point. What with the constant use of the circuit cameras with hardly any on boards at all, coupled with a feeling that the right cars weren't being shown anyway, I found it fairly dull. The commentary doesn't help build up excitement, although at least Tim tries to sound interested.

I feel it would take some fairly big tweaks (but not costly ones) to make the coverage a lot more exciting. Anyone else agree? :)

[touring fan]

The ITV could do with more onboard cameras and stuff to give it something different to the motors live coverage or it just ends up as an edited version of what's been shown already with the odd interview thrown in. Cameras in interesting places (on the front or side of the cars or in a kerb) would give some good shots, and make it more entertaining.

[Claw]

2 words - Higher cameras!

The one at the first corner was far to low. Also the cameramen since 2001 have been poor. Miss everything and follow the wrong things. Eg.Today Chilton had a massive slid on and the cameraman didn't follw it.

On boards? Have they ever been exciting? I prefer to watch things from the outside cos you know what's going on!

[John]

Yep - just watched the coverage and have to say it was pretty crap considering.

Where I was stood last weekend we saw Carl Breeze swipe the tyres which caused the damage you see in race 1, Buxton went off into the barrier in race two causing the damage you see on the coverage, and Leslie went straight into a dislodged tyre in the second race which is why the front of his car was made out of sticky tape - but they managed to miss all of that - despite the fact that it looked as if Leslie was carrying an on-board camera (unless that was something else I saw in the cockpit?)

Agree with claw - the cameras are too low, and it didnt seem much different to a live motors broadcast (apart from being shorter!), whereas in the earlier races there were different angles/cameras etc on the ITV show (not seen Crofts motors coverage so it may have been different).

As Bill says it wont cost much to improve the coverage, but something needs to be done cos that was a good race which didnt seem that good on the TV - in contrast to the Rockingham race last time that came across very well on TV in my opinion.

[Sarah]

I didn't see the Motors TV coverage so was looking forward to seeing the highlights but I have to agree it was dull. They seemed to concentrate on the front runners too much and some drivers further down the field hardly got a mention.

[touring fan]

On a similar topic, does anybody know how long the motors tv deal was for? (i.e, can we expect it to continue next season?)

[Kelvin]

You talk as if there are two sets of cameras, ITV and Motors, well I dont think this is the case, does anyone know different?

Until your track-side panning with a camera you dont realise how difficut it is to capture ALL incidents. While the camera is pointing one way, something is going on further back/ahead. In and an ideal situation what is needed are 2 cameras at various points, panning in opposite directions, this way a lot more action would be caught!

Kelvin

[cos]

Originally posted by Claw
On boards? Have they ever been exciting? I prefer to watch things from the outside cos you know what's going on!

Agreed - remember 2001 Silverstone night race - the first corner was shown on TV entirely from the on-board of Luby (I think) and it was rubbish!

[touring fan]

I love the view you get from a camera on the side of the car as another one appears from nowhere and slides down the side of you to overtake. I remember there being a camera mounted in the headlight of one of the cars once, that was a good view. I agree that the normal camera miunted behind the driver looking out the windscreen can be annoying as you can't really see much.

[touringlegend]

Haven't seen any cameras from the rear wings lately - remember the Lexus and MG in 2001 - those were cool ?

Think Kelvin's right - Motors TV is I believe simply the feed that the teams get in the garages - and it is Granada cameras that film the races ? Nobody honestly thinks they are going to waste money on two cameras in the same place ?

[John]

Think the comments re motors vs itv is more about the pictures that are used than the positions of the cameras - motors is live and they commentate on the pictures available at the time, a week later when the itv version goes out there has been plenty of time to view incidents from other angles and/or onboard cameras etc which may not have been used for the live stream.

Therefore its essentially using the same cameras etc, but a highlights delayed programme will benefit from much better editing and directing because of the time available - so its reasonable to excpect more action to be on screen for the itv show.

[tvgod]

Originally posted by touringlegend
Haven't seen any cameras from the rear wings lately - remember the Lexus and MG in 2001 - those were cool ?


ITV had these on the MGs last year too, and one of the Alfas at some rounds.
The MG has a different shape rear wing this year, so maybe there's nowhere to mount a camera on it?

[Croft fan]

I was stood at the second chicane during the second race and was watching the lead cars when I suddenly looked down to see Dan Buxton hitting the barrier not more that 1 1/2 meters away non of it was shown, was it?
It also missed David Lesile going through the tire barrier as well.
I alway buy the end of season review DVD and find it amazing, but the past two years have been disappointing. There used to be alot more post race interviews and bits of the race where things actually happen, like a crash, or an overtaking move. I know they changed companies for the start of the 2001 season, but I thought by now they would have got their act together.
I hope that this years DVD is better and shows more action, and not the boring bits of the races.:(

[tvgod]

Originally posted by Croft fan
I was stood at the second chicane during the second race and was watching the lead cars when I suddenly looked down to see Dan Buxton hitting the barrier not more that 1 1/2 meters away non of it was shown, was it?


Well presumably none of it was caught on camera then!

I agree about the season review videos though - they have been rubbish recently. Last year's was just bits of the TV show cut together, and it wasn't even widescreen for the DVD version.

[Ed- the MG fan]

I saw both live and the ITV 1 highlights show, Couldn't they just use the same commentory from the live coverage beacuse Ben Edwards put so much enthusaim into it. Like at the ROCK when Ried got in to the lead when Neal was smoking, and when O'Neil ran into the back of Ried at Croft, Ben was shouting down the micrphone. The highlight show is very predictable, and I agree not very intersting to watch. They have to cram even more action into the same time sapnd as last year, meaning thet miss alot out

[John]

I watched the live coverage after the highlights programme and was far more impressed with the live commentary - I dont know why, maybe I was expecting it to be rubbish after the highlights show? But it came across much better in my view.

[Les]

Originally posted by Croft fan
I was stood at the second chicane during the second race and was watching the lead cars when I suddenly looked down to see Dan Buxton hitting the barrier not more that 1 1/2 meters away non of it was shown, was it?

You must have been standing next to us!

[Croft fan]

It seems as if everyone was stood at the second chicane during the second race!!!!!!!!!

[Les]

well there was a fair few people around us and that lovely ice-cream van!

and the cars got pretty close as well

[John]

Originally posted by Ed- the MG fan
I saw both live and the ITV 1 highlights show, Couldn't they just use the same commentory from the live coverage beacuse Ben Edwards put so much enthusaim into it. Like at the ROCK when Ried got in to the lead when Neal was smoking, and when O'Neil ran into the back of Ried at Croft, Ben was shouting down the micrphone. The highlight show is very predictable, and I agree not very intersting to watch. They have to cram even more action into the same time sapnd as last year, meaning thet miss alot out

ITS REID!!!!


I was another stood next to the ice cream van - the theory was that there was shade when we got there - but by the time we got back from the pit walkabout....... there wasnt!! Oh well a bit of dehydration never hurt anyone did it!?
;)