TVG & HRTV Are Underrated

[samyn on the green]

Read the res (http://gregcalabrese.blogspot.com/2009/04/tvg-and-hrtv-are-underrated.html)t


For the last few weeks there has been almost a weekly announcement (http://equispace.blogspot.com/2009/04/another-tv-black-eye.html)that some racing telecast on ESPN has been canceled. First it was the Kentucky Oaks (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/49648/espn-drops-live-kentucky-oaks-coverage)and now it is the Preakness undercard (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/April/10/ESPN-networks-drop-Preakness-undercard-races.aspx). For the summer the races from Saratoga have migrated to MSG+, which is a regional sports channel and not a way to slowly terminate your mother in-law by Sesame Chicken. With coverage declining racing should stop trying to make juice with an unattainable seasonal fruit and make lemonade with the abundance of lemons it holds. TVG and HRTV both do fine work, they both present the races professionally and frankly better than ESPN has ever presented the races.


The first thing that I notice when I watch a ESPN racing broadcasts is the camera angles. Racing is the rare camera subject where more is less. The explosive action of the thoroughbreds running is so concentrated and explosive that one static camera angle will suffice. ESPN usually has some MTV style/short attention span camera angle changes every five seconds. This type of camera work may work for pimple faced music videos watchers or for bored ball fans in need of mental masturbation. Knowledgeable race fans we need a static shot so we can maintain a constant knowledge of where our horses are in the pack. ESPN has consistently failed in this regard and has never acquired this basic knowledge on how to present racing. You finally snag a glimpse of your deep closer making a move on the pan shot and then they jump to the head-on which is quickly followed by the blimp shot, by then you don't know who is who and what is happening.

[bobbyb]

ESPN sells the sizzle, not the Steak.

bobby

[Onion Monster]

More good news: less Hank "The Stammer." He makes TVG's "talent" look talented.

It's a shame that a network can devote 24-hour news coverage to the NFL Draft, but can't cover a 100 second horse race deftly. ESPN lumbers through the odds, shows the payouts as an afterthought and God forbid if there's an inquiry.

[Relwob Owner]

Read the res (http://gregcalabrese.blogspot.com/2009/04/tvg-and-hrtv-are-underrated.html)t


For the last few weeks there has been almost a weekly announcement (http://equispace.blogspot.com/2009/04/another-tv-black-eye.html)that some racing telecast on ESPN has been canceled. First it was the Kentucky Oaks (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/49648/espn-drops-live-kentucky-oaks-coverage)and now it is the Preakness undercard (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/April/10/ESPN-networks-drop-Preakness-undercard-races.aspx). For the summer the races from Saratoga have migrated to MSG+, which is a regional sports channel and not a way to slowly terminate your mother in-law by Sesame Chicken. With coverage declining racing should stop trying to make juice with an unattainable seasonal fruit and make lemonade with the abundance of lemons it holds. TVG and HRTV both do fine work, they both present the races professionally and frankly better than ESPN has ever presented the races.


The first thing that I notice when I watch a ESPN racing broadcasts is the camera angles. Racing is the rare camera subject where more is less. The explosive action of the thoroughbreds running is so concentrated and explosive that one static camera angle will suffice. ESPN usually has some MTV style/short attention span camera angle changes every five seconds. This type of camera work may work for pimple faced music videos watchers or for bored ball fans in need of mental masturbation. Knowledgeable race fans we need a static shot so we can maintain a constant knowledge of where our horses are in the pack. ESPN has consistently failed in this regard and has never acquired this basic knowledge on how to present racing. You finally snag a glimpse of your deep closer making a move on the pan shot and then they jump to the head-on which is quickly followed by the blimp shot, by then you don't know who is who and what is happening.

Wow-you hit the nail on the head with the angle switches and the "more is less"....it drives me nuts, especially in the Derby....with 20 horses, it is all you can do to find your horse going into the first turn and then they switch angles and you are lost again....question that I have never looked into....if you watch the Derby on Brisnt video, will you get the regular track feed?

[trigger]

Read the res (http://gregcalabrese.blogspot.com/2009/04/tvg-and-hrtv-are-underrated.html)t


For the last few weeks there has been almost a weekly announcement (http://equispace.blogspot.com/2009/04/another-tv-black-eye.html)that some racing telecast on ESPN has been canceled. First it was the Kentucky Oaks (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/49648/espn-drops-live-kentucky-oaks-coverage)and now it is the Preakness undercard (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/April/10/ESPN-networks-drop-Preakness-undercard-races.aspx). For the summer the races from Saratoga have migrated to MSG+, which is a regional sports channel and not a way to slowly terminate your mother in-law by Sesame Chicken. With coverage declining racing should stop trying to make juice with an unattainable seasonal fruit and make lemonade with the abundance of lemons it holds. TVG and HRTV both do fine work, they both present the races professionally and frankly better than ESPN has ever presented the races.

partial

FYI-Direct TV currently has MSG+ in their line-up in New England and I would guess across the country. Don't know what their plans are for telecasting Saratoga (live or recap?). They may blackout Saratoga except in NY.
Anybody know the details?

[trigger]

FYI-Direct TV currently has MSG+ in their line-up in New England and I would guess across the country. Don't know what their plans are for telecasting Saratoga (live or recap?). They may blackout Saratoga except in NY.
Anybody know the details?

Never mind, I just found the PA thread on MSG+.

[startngate]

Wow-you hit the nail on the head with the angle switches and the "more is less"....it drives me nuts, especially in the Derby....with 20 horses, it is all you can do to find your horse going into the first turn and then they switch angles and you are lost again....question that I have never looked into....if you watch the Derby on Brisnt video, will you get the regular track feed?Most ADW's turn off the live streaming video feed for the races that are on network TV due to the broadcast exclusives.

[toussaud]

i do admit to being fond of that war chant breeders cup mile race becuase of the camera view

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neQjyzTthtU
but yeah you can keep the horrid camera views. even when ESPN is on I dont' turn off HRTV

[Fingal]

With the ESPN flipping of the picture so there's no continuity, i.e. by the time you see a horse making a move they flip the angle so you have to start over again.

It's gotten to the point that I'd rather wait for TVG or HRTV to show it delayed because I'll get the track feed rather than watch it live where only the end is important in the ESPN universe of broadcasting.

[Relwob Owner]

With the ESPN flipping of the picture so there's no continuity, i.e. by the time you see a horse making a move they flip the angle so you have to start over again.

It's gotten to the point that I'd rather wait for TVG or HRTV to show it delayed because I'll get the track feed rather than watch it live where only the end is important in the ESPN universe of broadcasting.


:ThmbUp:

[CBedo]

I agree wholeheartedly about the camera angle changes. Drives me nuts. The one angle I do enjoy seeing though is the overhead (blimp I think) shot. I love seeing the race develop on the final turn from overhead.

[SMOO]

I agree wholeheartedly about the camera angle changes. Drives me nuts. The one angle I do enjoy seeing though is the overhead (blimp I think) shot. I love seeing the race develop on the final turn from overhead.
:ThmbUp:
The basic side view doesn't really show how jammed up horses are.

If they could paint the horse's number on top of the jock's cap the overhead view would be the perfect view.

:6: :1: :5:
:7: :4: :2: :3:

[big frank]

i think we all take it for granted that we now have 2 stations to watch tv from home. I think they both do good jobs.. But my preference is Hrtv. Sorry bob grant but hrtv is a better product

[JimG]

What I will miss with ESPN reducing their racing coverage, is the ability to watch more races in high definition.

Jim

[philofbelloni]

:ThmbUp:
The basic side view doesn't really show how jammed up horses are.

If they could paint the horse's number on top of the jock's cap the overhead view would be the perfect view.

:6: :1: :5:
:7: :4: :2: :3:
All of the aforementioned networks should partner up with Trakus for the split screen view. Trakus does an excellent job of showing realtime pace.

[Imriledup]

ESPN sells the sizzle, not the Steak.

bobby

:ThmbUp:

[The Hawk]

What a coincidence that ABC, which is televising only the Belmont during the Triple Crown, also owns ESPN. Which just happens to think the Belmont is so important that it needs 5 hours of pre-coverage, while the Derby, still the most important race in this country, deserves nothing. Bravo?

Funny thing is, if two different horses win the Derby and Preakness, the Belmont essentially becomes just another stakes race to us, and a complete non-event to casual fans.