NBC Coverage

[Copyroomjim]

I would have thought NBC's coverage couldn't get any worse, but I was wrong.
What crap, especially with the gay guys all dressed up like freaks. Does anybody give a damn about that stuff? Even the women at the party I was at thought it was so stupid. I figure Bruce-Caitlyn Jenner will be added next year to achieve a new low.

[cutchemist42]

Yeah the coverage is pretty bad, and maybe the 14% decline is showing its crap.

[wreckless]

my issue is that the coverage, rightly or wrongly, puts off a lot of people.

this year i told a bunch of 24-34 year old guys on my hockey team they should tune in..

the moment the coverage started and i realized 'oh yea, it's this again' i instantly though about my buddies tuning in for the first time.


i must say though, the production of the videos with Costas narrating are always awesome.

[Tall One]

Paraphrase Migliore's tweet last night, what exactly is the point of them being part of the race coverage?

Jmo here, but they, NBC, should reevaluate this decision going forward.

[yankeelpn]

Its just something to fill in space. Prob 1 hr coverage would be enough.

[Rex Phinney]

Its just something to fill in space. Prob 1 hr coverage would be enough.

There is plenty of good looking women around a racetrack, go find some of them and put them on, it surely would get the 24-34 year old hockey players to keep watching.

I watched all day and I didn't see a single mention of the Breeders Cup, how about a 5 minute spot on the sport's championships (could have easily been tied into Pharaoh and Nyquist as they both won last year) a little cross promotion???

Finally, how about sprinkling in 2 minute segments with the cappers about how to actually make a bet. When I take new people to the track it's always the biggest rub, they don't understand the betting. It's confusing to them and sometimes they are making bets at very long odds because they don't know any better. Makes it hard to get them back if they just lose all day.

There is plenty they could be doing.

[AlBundy33]

Its just something to fill in space. Prob 1 hr coverage would be enough.

Let me suggest dropping a safe on Johnny Weir for starters and you could easily fit that within that hour of programming.

[dilanesp]

Its just something to fill in space. Prob 1 hr coverage would be enough.

This is the key. They do a longer telecast because they can, and get a decent rating for it, but if you think about it, an actual horse race requires about 20 minutes of TV time plus the commercials. You discuss the field, you show the race and then you do the post-race. Maybe you need more just in case there's an inquiry or something.

So everything they do beyond that is going to be fill, and my suggestion is don't watch it.

What ticks me off is their insistence on switching to multiple cameras during the race. Makes it impossible to follow closers.

I really don't give a crap about the director's ego and artistry. There's a reason that racetracks show a panned shot throughout the race from a finish line camera. Save the fancy angles for the replays.

[PowerUpPaynter]

Ashley Judd always does a great job.

[Racey]

Love the hat & pin.....a fashion icon...LOL :lol:

[FrankieFigs]

I was disappointed that they didn't have extra coverage after the race on NBCSN. I've always enjoyed the extra 20-30 minutes they would have breaking the race down, showing the whole race from the blimp, etc.

[ronsmac]

There is plenty of good looking women around a racetrack, go find some of them and put them on, it surely would get the 24-34 year old hockey players to keep watching.

I watched all day and I didn't see a single mention of the Breeders Cup, how about a 5 minute spot on the sport's championships (could have easily been tied into Pharaoh and Nyquist as they both won last year) a little cross promotion???

Finally, how about sprinkling in 2 minute segments with the cappers about how to actually make a bet. When I take new people to the track it's always the biggest rub, they don't understand the betting. It's confusing to them and sometimes they are making bets at very long odds because they don't know any better. Makes it hard to get them back if they just lose all day.

There is plenty they could be doing.I didn't care for the coverage either but the 24-34 yr old hockey player demographic. That just made my day. I think the 45 yr old Korean lady demo is bigger than that.

[JayTris07]

Saw that thing on NBC and threw up my beverage. Switched to the Twinspires feed. Didn't eat for the rest of the day. NBC, not everyone wants to see that crap.

[Lemon Drop Husker]

Honest question, did they even show the races leading up to the Derby with actual 'cappers giving breakdowns and logical winners?

There were multiple Graded Stakes races of very very good horses running yesterday. Did NBC give them any love at all?

[tanner12oz]

Honest question, did they even show the races leading up to the Derby with actual 'cappers giving breakdowns and logical winners?

There were multiple Graded Stakes races of very very good horses running yesterday. Did NBC give them any love at all?

yeah they showed the woodford and included super slo mo replays of the accident which is in incredibly bad taste and doesn't help the sport in any way

[horses4courses]

yeah they showed the woodford and included super slo mo replays of the accident which is in incredibly bad taste and doesn't help the sport in any way

They would not have shown them had there been any injuries.

[dilanesp]

They would not have shown them had there been any injuries.

National TV shows the breakdowns. Period.

I'm always shocked when people in the industry don't understand this. NBC has a totally different view of the sport than TVG. They view it journalistically. When Go For Wand broke down, they showed a zillion replays. Honks in the sport whined about them doing it and claimed they wouldn't do it again if a similar thing happened. When Eight Belles broke down, they did it again-- showed a zillion replays.

A breakdown in a big nationally televised race is a huge story. They will cover it, and they SHOULD. NBC's approach to this issue is far superior to TVG's actually. But even if you disagree, it doesn't matter. Network television will never approach this sort of thing as cheerleaders for the sport. That's not how they roll with some very narrow exceptions.

[horses4courses]

National TV shows the breakdowns. Period.

I'm always shocked when people in the industry don't understand this. NBC has a totally different view of the sport than TVG. They view it journalistically. When Go For Wand broke down, they showed a zillion replays. Honks in the sport whined about them doing it and claimed they wouldn't do it again if a similar thing happened. When Eight Belles broke down, they did it again-- showed a zillion replays.

A breakdown in a big nationally televised race is a huge story. They will cover it, and they SHOULD. NBC's approach to this issue is far superior to TVG's actually. But even if you disagree, it doesn't matter. Network television will never approach this sort of thing as cheerleaders for the sport. That's not how they roll with some very narrow exceptions.

The TV viewing audience are a blood thirsty bunch.
That has increased over the years.
Jaded palates, I guess. :ThmbDown:

Barbaro and Go For Wand are two I remember.
I don't stick around to watch the replays.

[VeryOldMan]

Let me suggest dropping a safe on Johnny Weir for starters and you could easily fit that within that hour of programming.
I'd pay money to see the safe drop on Weir and Lipinski. Just saying.

[RunForTheRoses]

I hate to be all off topic, somewhat but the media seems to love shoving this shit down our throats even when it is not the demographic. Witness the Bruce Jenner SI cover.
I mean it could open up horse racing to the stonewall crowd but they were never excluded as it was...Strange days indeed

[Tall One]

Saw that thing on NBC and threw up my beverage. Switched to the Twinspires feed. Didn't eat for the rest of the day. NBC, not everyone wants to see that crap.


Had the local affiliate's coverage on for some background noise while I'm watching the live feed on the laptop. It ended, channel stayed on NBC, look up, and there's Johnny moonwalkin' down the red carpet....:D

Off went the tv, and back to the on-track feed.

[cutchemist42]

Personally breakdowns can ruin a raceday for me. and seeing any accident more than once is enough for me. However, I think the broadcast should show a replay of the highs and lows.

That being said, their coverage of the 3(?) undercard races was bad. They aired them but with zero discussion of the merits of each one, with zero capping.

Really would prefer a more Jockey Club Tour like broadcast that Fox Sports was doing, where they didnt shy away from handicapping talk.