[davedpg]

Originally Posted by stefmeister

Seems Red Bull Media House are going to be named the new promoter for the WRC:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101750

Hopefully, one of their first priorities should be to get a programme back on FTA telly, even if it's the same as the poor Dave coverage used to be.

This year I couldn't tell you whose doing what in the championship with the lack of coverage

[codename_47]

Originally Posted by stefmeister

Seems Red Bull Media House are going to be named the new promoter for the WRC:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/101750

Just let it die!

Then we can all get behind the IRC instead!

Seriously though there is always going to be a top level of rallying and its just a shame it is suffering a seeming lack of interest in recent time from teams, manufacturers, drivers, fans, media, etc.

Its going through a fallow period in the way F1 did in the early part of the last decade, hopefully it can wake up soon, pay Loeb an obscene amount of money to retire and attract some new manufacturer interest

Rallying is one of the hardest sports to cover, TV wise, but if the tour de france can get great coverage on much longer stages, there's no reason why rallying couldn't, except perhaps for the criminal lack of interest in it atm, compared with TDF's millions of fans.

[pakokelso93]

I've not watched the WRC in detail since McRae and Channel 4 left the sport in 2003 in reality. Even with Loeb dominating I would of stuck with it. 2004/05 ITV did make an effort but when they cut costs and took the Official highlights that was the final straw!

Channel 4 looked like they were going to improve their coverage too by the end of 2003. Showing live British stage, lot of studio bits and bobs... just a shame!

[Regis Magnae]

Originally Posted by pakokelso93

I've not watched the WRC in detail since McRae and Channel 4 left the sport in 2003 in reality. Even with Loeb dominating I would of stuck with it. 2004/05 ITV did make an effort but when they cut costs and took the Official highlights that was the final straw!

Channel 4 looked like they were going to improve their coverage too by the end of 2003. Showing live British stage, lot of studio bits and bobs... just a shame!

I'm pretty much the same. It seems to me that WRC has been mismanaged quite considerably in the past decade.

[LesterForbes]

This will be great news if if does happen. I dont think there's a better, more experienced, financially stable company that could pull off such a contract. I think RedBull media will totally revolutionise the way we think about consuming the WRC and most likely give the championship it's rightful place, back on a major TV network and back in people's attention again.

[ariusuk]

Originally Posted by ptl141

I can't see Lee or DC moving as Sky don't want to be accused of "snatching" more people from the BBC. I think DC is happy with what he's doing (including DTM - don't know how much money he gets doing DTM).

I would certainly expect one person to be changing sides over the winter.

Originally Posted by davedpg

This year I couldn't tell you whose doing what in the championship with the lack of coverage

I think it is pretty safe to assume that regardless of coverage Sebastien Loeb is leading the championship. Always.

[D.M.N.]

Originally Posted by ariusuk

I would certainly expect one person to be changing sides over the winter.

I can't see Lee changing sides, she seems pretty safe and happy where she is at BBC, after all, she did consider moving to Sky but eventually chose to stay at BBC.

Coulthard would depend on how much Brundle can persuade him to move over, and in what role. If Coulthard is liking the commentary role, is it feasible we could see one David out of the box, one David into the box for Qualifying and the Race?

And if Coulthard moves over, what does that mean for the BBC line-up?

Hmmmm. Questions, questions and a lot more questions....

[F1 Mike]

I think Lee might make the switch

[BenFranklin]

Originally Posted by codename_47

Rallying is one of the hardest sports to cover, TV wise, but if the tour de france can get great coverage on much longer stages, there's no reason why rallying couldn't, except perhaps for the criminal lack of interest in it atm, compared with TDF's millions of fans.

Bit mistake rallying made was moving away from the hardcore fan and trying to go all tv friendly. Basically ended up in the middle with nobody thinking it was that great.

I think as you say the Tour de France is the model to follow (sort of), plus the internet should in theory be able to provide superb coverage.

Imagine live timings for all the stages, would be great and with GPS technology and the like is surely feasible.

[_SpeedRacer_]

Lee already rejected Sky's approach last year. I don't see why she would change her mind now unless Sky offered her the presenter's role and ditched Lazenby.

[madmusician]

Could Garry Anderson be tempted over? After all, putting him in the pits with Ted would create rather a 'dream team' wouldn't it?

[ballon]

If Sky make a full Sky Sports subscription required for 2013 season (rather than just the HD pack), they might go all out for a BBC person to try to tempt more people to pay the extra. I'm a Sky HD subscriber and possibly the only thing that would make me consider paying the full Sports subscription would be Ben Edwards moving across...

How many Sky HD subscribers here would pay the extra for the full Sports package if it was needed for the F1 channel next year?

[Adder]

Originally Posted by ballon

If Sky make a full Sky Sports subscription required for 2013 season (rather than just the HD pack), they might go all out for a BBC person to try to tempt more people to pay the extra. I'm a Sky HD subscriber and possibly the only thing that would make me consider paying the full Sports subscription would be Ben Edwards moving across...

How many Sky HD subscribers here would pay the extra for the full Sports package if it was needed for the F1 channel next year?

Not only would I not, I'd switch back to cable again! The TiVo box is superior to the Sky+HD one, the only reason I switched was the the F1 HD channel and I miss the TiVo.

[_SpeedRacer_]

Random but I couldn't help noticing in the Olympics dressage one of the German horses is called Damon Hill..!

[Paul555]

Originally Posted by Adder

Not only would I not, I'd switch back to cable again! The TiVo box is superior to the Sky+HD one, the only reason I switched was the the F1 HD channel and I miss the TiVo.

Same here. I only really keep Sky HD for Sky F1 HD. I would be off to Tivo if they try and charge more for it. I had Tivo years ago, long before cable, and loved it.

[F1-Addict]

I don't think there's any chance of Croft being displaced by Edwards or Coulthard, even more so given he's likely to join Sky's darts coverage having departed from his BDO commentary job. I wouldn't rule out Coulthard moving across but since he's now the prominent figure in the BBC's coverage I'd be surprised if he was tempted away to do punditry alone.

I reckon Lee is on Sky's radar to replace either Pinkham or more likely Lazenby but having (presumably) turned Sky down already I don't see what could have changed since last year to lure her over.

On a random note, I see 'Just Drive' will be part of the soundtrack on F1 2012 to add to the presence of Croft (media pen interviews) and Davidson (track guides) in the game.

[D.M.N.]

Originally Posted by F1-Addict

I reckon Lee is on Sky's radar to replace either Pinkham or more likely Lazenby but having (presumably) turned Sky down already I don't see what could have changed since last year to lure her over.

She did turn Sky down as she said so in her Autosport blog: http://plus.autosport.com/premium/fe...ights-of-2011/ (subscription only, but here's the relevant bit)

And as for me, well I'll stay with the BBC next season. Having been at Sky and ITV previously, I did think about it [leaving] for a long time, but the BBC will be at every race next year – and it's not often that you can be part of a BAFTA-winning team.

Of course, like you, I wish we could do every race live, but I'm sure you'll be suitably impressed with our highlights show for the non-live events; and as for the live races, they'll be bigger and better than ever.

I'm very proud of what we have achieved over the last three years and there is no reason that should change in the future.

[Pete_uk]

Originally Posted by _SpeedRacer_

Random but I couldn't help noticing in the Olympics dressage one of the German horses is called Damon Hill..!

I found that quite amusing!

[LesterForbes]

Originally Posted by BenFranklin

the Tour de France is the model to follow (sort of), plus the internet should in theory be able to provide superb coverage.

Imagine live timings for all the stages, would be great and with GPS technology and the like is surely feasible.

absoloutley agree! the WRC could show live GPS on screen with live split times, there could be a companion app (if there isn't already similar to softpauer's F1 GPS/timing app)

I think I would actuallly enjoy watching that.

[codename_47]

The thing that usually annoys me about the WRC is you don't get commentary, you get narration.

All most broadcasts usually are is the commentator telling you a story of what happened on each stage over some nice shots of the cars powersliding through bends.

When it comes to incidents or accidents, if you're really lucky you'll get an on-board of the accident or aftermath...

Now I realise a ten mile long stage is hard to cover especially as you have more that one car on it at the same time, but the IRC TV people seem a lot better at this than the WRC so it can be done...

[stefmeister]

Originally Posted by codename_47

The thing that usually annoys me about the WRC is you don't get commentary, you get narration.

Its been pretty poor this year because the narration is a lot less intresting than in the past, Really don't think the commentary duo they have work well together.

Originally Posted by codename_47

When it comes to incidents or accidents, if you're really lucky you'll get an on-board of the accident or aftermath...

Now I realise a ten mile long stage is hard to cover especially as you have more that one car on it at the same time, but the IRC TV people seem a lot better at this than the WRC so it can be done...

When North One had several OnBoard cameras in most of the cars recording to a tape in the back more was captured.

This year it seems like less cars carry OnBoard's & they don't seem to be recording on every stage so a lot more seems to be getting missed.



I Think the coverage overall is much worse this year compared to the past which is kind of understandable considering what happened with North One so close to the start of the year.


Its a pitty North One went bust as they had some good things lined up including a lot more live coverage which was to be streamed live online (I believe for free).
They had about 16 hours of live coverage for the French Rally last year (I plan to upload some of that tomorrow) as a trial for what they had planned for this year.



As to the IRC coverage, If EuroSport got rid of Carlton Kirby I'd probably watch more. He's not great to begin with but seems a ton more annoying in his IRC commentaries & it simply turns me off watching. Martin Haven was fantastic when he did an IRC round not long ago.

Also what happened to all the live coverage? Doesn't seem to have been a great deal this year compared to what we've had in the past.

[stefmeister]

2002 Spanish Gp qualifying OnBoard:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsq...g-onboard_auto

[MartS]

With the switcher next season.

So, if Lee did reject Sky this year, it doesn't mean they can't come back with an improved offer for next season. Money talks.
Can't see her replacing Lazenby. Probably slot her into co-presenter of the F1 Show with Ted, and release Georgie to be back-up presenter and to do more roving pitlane long form reports/interviews. That said Lee leaving would leave the BBC with a rather interesting problem about replacement though. Maybe tv and Five Live would have to finally share 'the Jenny Gow' radio mic signal.

If it was DC, then apart from Sky going with three wise men in the commentary box, then there really is no role for him, other than to cover for Ant in the Sky Pod and to do more technical features. It's going to look rather crowded with (perm 4 from 6) Hill, Herbert, Coulthard, McNish, Lazenby and Brundle down in the pit line on raceday for the first half hour all offering opinions.

[solarflare]

F1 Show: Journalists Review was pretty good - precisely the sort of thing a dedicated F1 show should be doing (more of).

If you wanted to nitpick, the skypad element felt especially clunky in that format, thankfully not used too much.

[stefmeister]

Part 1 of the Live day 1 coverage from the WRC French rally from last year that was streamed on wrc.com as a trial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlYQK91eIT4

http://wrc.com/news/wrc-to-pilot-liv...nce/?fid=15432


Had hoped to have all 6 parts from the day 1 coverage up by now but I've been having some speed problems with my internet the past few days