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Horse Racing on Terrestrial TV |
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#76 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,160
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Quote:
Cheltenham in particular, and to a lesser extent jump racing generally beyond the Grand National, have a profile now beyond anything they ever had when the BBC had Cheltenham and a definite advantage in the winter game (some of the jump meetings that filled out the ITV7 were shockingly poor - Fakenham, for heaven's sake! - but that didn't seem to matter so much in the 70s when the Flat was still widely seen as the only "proper" racing). Cheltenham's profile having risen while it's been on C4 is actually proof positive that you don't have to be on the BBC to gain a "national event" status beyond anything you had historically (in the 70s, let alone earlier, the Flat starting a week later probably inspired more excitement throughout the media).
Ascot does have historical associations that go beyond that, though. Whether or not you believe in shadowy rumours of royal interference, it may be one of the few things that modern-day Conservatives would ever allow to buck the market. But those very associations may be the main things putting a younger audience off - Cheltenham, which seemed so shire and tweedy in its BBC days, now seems massively egalitarian by comparison, and I think we can thank Channel 4 for that. I think it would be hard to argue that the Grand National's profile has been harmed by remaining on the BBC - it remains the highest profile race by a million miles. I can't imagine it would have a higher profile if it was on C4. I know it's not fair to compare viewing figures for Cheltenham (on weekdays) to anything at the weekend. But I think it's inconceivable that the Grand National would get a peak of 8m on C4 (its BBC peak from memory). Of course TV viewing figures are only one measure of an event's profile / success - they are certainly far from the only consideration. |
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#77 |
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Join Date: Feb 2010
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So no announcement during Cheltenham of a new exclusive TV deal with C4 for all racing.
I wonder if HMQ is having a word with the Chairman of the BBC and the trustees of Ascot - both of whom she (formally) appoints??? |
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#78 |
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 223
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I feel the BBC has lost the plot to such an extent that the miniscule amount of racing it has will hardly be missed. The best thing about the Champions Day coverage at Ascot at the tail end of last season was Hayley Turner - when she was allowed to speak. Which wasn't anywhere near enough because Balding couldn't keep her mouth shut long enough to get maximum value from Ms Turner.
The loss of Setanta in the UK was bad news because it made Racing UK justifiable even after my racing interest dropped from its peak levels. Can't really justify £20 per month for a single channel. But if and when they go HD and if the price dropped to a tenner a month I would re-subscribe instantly and consign Ch4 to history. Lydia Hislop and Racing UK generally knocks spots off Ch4. |
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#79 |
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Borders, Ayr & Glasgow
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Don't watch tons of racing. I however can't stand Lydia Hislop on Racing UK. I like CH4's coverage. I still think Derek Thompson and Lesley Graham should be presenting (certainly like how they did more a few years ago). Not so keen on Alistair and Alice.
I am in the 'i don't mind Clare balding' category. I think she is a very solid presenter and would fit into CH4 very well. To add to Simon Holt, he is brilliant. Jim McGrath on BBC is very good but you sense he is looking to pull reigns in over the next few years. Another shout for a great horse racing commentator is Ian Bartlett. |
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#80 |
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oldham
Posts: 2,072
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As for the comments about coverage being better than in the early 90s- I should bloody hope so, given the massive advances in technology since then. Durr...
![]() Actually, I think I may have shown my age there! |
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#81 |
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,136
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Do you mean Frankie?
![]() Actually, I think I may have shown my age there! (Oops, just shown my age, too.) |
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#82 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 13,188
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What annoys me with C4 racing is like today when they sit in a studio talking and don't go to the racecourse. Why are they sat in Cheltenham and not out and giving better coverage of Uttoxeter and Ffos Las. Cheltenham is over move on you don't need four people sat there looking bored. Poor Derek is tryng to do it all.
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#83 |
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Oldham
Posts: 2,072
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No, mon fils.
(Oops, just shown my age, too.)
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#84 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 31,434
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I am not a racing person (although I enjoy watching horses running) and don't bet. But from what has been said on this thread it seems the BBC coverage won't really be missed, if only because the races are also available on other channels like ATR and I know my betting friends can watch in the local bookie's.But it will be more worrying if the BBC begins to adopt this approach to such sports as football. I appreciate if cuts have to be made, something has to give and sport can't be ring-fenced. But the BBC still has about £3 billion a year to spend
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#85 |
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 12,020
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Quote:
I am not a racing person (although I enjoy watching horses running) and don't bet. But from what has been said on this thread it seems the BBC coverage won't really be missed, if only because the races are also available on other channels like ATR and I know my betting friends can watch in the local bookie's.But it will be more worrying if the BBC begins to adopt this approach to such sports as football. I appreciate if cuts have to be made, something has to give and sport can't be ring-fenced. But the BBC still has about £3 billion a year to spend
![]() The National though is a bit more, more than a horse race and the long history and tradition of broadcasting it has been entwined with BBC radio and television since 1927. Peter O'Sullivan called home the winner on 50 occasions. So for me it will seem strange that the corporation wont be involved. Having said that I felt the same about Test Cricket and Channel 4 did a good job. The only downside is that live Cricket took the Channel 4 route to SKY and is now completely lost to terrestrial broadcasters. One thing is for certain, no broadcaster can match the BBC when it comes to cross promotion and audience pull for big sporting events. I hope the racing hierarchy dont have some regrets to count some time in the future. |
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#86 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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At least Teletext on Freeview has a Red Button support for Channel 4 Racing.
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#87 |
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Join Date: Jul 2009
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BBC TV's Sports coverage started to go down the pan when a government committee forced them to sell off the BBC TV Outsidebroadcast fleet and all its crews, they like many broadcasters in uk now use private OB facilities for events which cannot be cheap, and perhaps added to Beebs nail in the coffin of sports coverage.
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#88 |
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Pontypool
Posts: 89
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Quote:
No, mon fils.
(Oops, just shown my age, too.) |
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#89 |
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Cymru
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And so it is confirmed: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/hor...next-year.html
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#90 |
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Join Date: Feb 2010
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And so it is confirmed: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/hor...next-year.html
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#91 |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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The end of an era then, the BBC have given up on horse racing, same as cricket and live football have now gone. Yet they still persist with tedious snooker, when surely the Grand National is a far bigger event.
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#92 |
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,765
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The end of an era then, the BBC have given up on horse racing, same as cricket and live football have now gone. Yet they still persist with tedious snooker, when surely the Grand National is a far bigger event.
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#93 |
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Join Date: Feb 2010
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Quote:
The end of an era then, the BBC have given up on horse racing, same as cricket and live football have now gone. Yet they still persist with tedious snooker, when surely the Grand National is a far bigger event.
And for that, it's down to the Tory-led Govermnent and their 6-year licence fee freeze, which has meant a 15% reduction in the sports rights budget. |
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#94 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,668
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I wonder if Channel 4 will poach some of the BBC Crew? (Just like sky did with the BBC F1 crew)
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#95 |
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Join Date: Feb 2010
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#96 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,525
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Wow I really didn't expect them to give up The Grand National! End of an era indeed and a huge surprise.
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#97 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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Quote:
Snooker is the second most watched sport on terrestrial television.
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#98 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: South Yorkshire, Emley Moor TX
Posts: 1,053
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At least it's still on free to air terrestrial.
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#99 |
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Join Date: Feb 2012
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#100 |
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,424
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Will soon be no sport on the BBC.
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