Bt Coverage

[RobMcCaffery]

Having been down to Poole a couple of times I know the problems that can occur with the stands and views.

 

Sky's coverage used to be done by platform from the grandstand roof without problems. The same camera angle was used at Belle Vue last week too so does seem more of a choice issue I do wonder if BT have done any site visits to check out camera angles and facilities available.

 

The actual on screen production is ok but last night with the bright sunlight it showed up the older kit that is being used this year.

 

From what I know CloudBass who are BTs OB partner for Speedway British league is using the same truck and equipment that used to be used for Sky's coverage back in 2009 so obviously technology has advanced a lot in this time.

 

You will notice a big difference on Saturday where BT are the host broadcaster for BSI with a full UHD production so will be more than what has been expected

Thanks for the information. Regarding the stadium roof it's a question of budgets. I note the clips of other meetings provided on the BSPA website are from a low angle. I didn't bother to watch a great deal of Sky's matches from Poole so obviously the memory's failed me re a low angle in that case. Would there be significant savings from putting the camera at the back of the stand rather than on a roof platform?

 

It's also fascinating to know the age of the equipment in use and does emphasise the 'low cost' approach to this half-season. Thankfully the on-screen talent are helping to compensate. It does suggest the heights that a proper permanent deal could achieve if they can still put together a decent programme this year with limited facilities (and a track that killed the racing).

 

Technicalities aside, I thought it a very good move to try to show exactly how much the low sunlight affected the riders' line of sight.

 

At least Poole managed to get a reasonable crowd into the place for the cameras.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Rob McCaffery

[Grand Central]

I know I am a bit weird ... but can't agree on the camera angle issues here.

 

Just had a quick look back at last years Sky coverage from Wimborne Road and they seem to use a camera angle from the home straight that is way too high.

So looked back at many previous years and realised that Sky always seemed to have that angle far too high. And yet I never noticed it.
It gives you a very artificial view that 'takes you away from the action'.

And I absolutely hate the high crane that they use on the first bend at some tracksthat gives a view that 'flattens' the action in a quite bizarre way.

 

I'm all for the way BT are covering it.

Only problem - I admit - is the stand roof in picture.

 

But so far, so much better for me all round.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Grand Central

[Halifaxtiger]

 

It had nothing to do with the track... it was due to the fact that we mix riders who've got years of racing experience, with children who've only been riding speedway bikes for a year or two and that the best riders in the world don't even bother with Britain anymore.

 

There will be absolutely no better going forward. It will consistently go down hill. It blows my mind how many fans online are genuinely stumped as to what is wrong with the league!

 

Let me spell it out for you... dinosaur promoters making no effort to understand the modern climate, charging over the odds prices for a lackluster product.

 

Of course it was to do with the track. It was bloody awful.

 

As to children, I suppose that might refer to Dan Bewley (although its a nonsense to suggest that Bewley wasn't competitive), Jack Smith and James Shanes. What about the other 10 ?

 

When I first went to speedway in 1982, Wimbledon had Dave Jessup, Malcolm Simmons and..................Alan Mogridge. The next season they had a child called Kelvin Tatum. Its always been like that.

 

I doubt if there are many who would disagree that there is a degree of complacency within the sport but that had nothing whatsoever to do with just how poor that meeting was.

[BobC]

BT must be thinking what have they let themselves in for after that complete load of rubbish last night!!!

Have to say that I don't think the camera work and certainly the camera angles, were up to SKY's standard although the fact that we only had to hear Pearson and not actually see him, was a bonus!! (would be even better still if we didn't have to hear him too though!).

Liked the lack of inane interviews between EVERY race and Natalie's presentation was good too.

After that drivel last night, things can only get better for BT and their coverage, although I don't hold out much hope for their next league meeting as that will be a big disappointment too (for different reasons though i.e. the score line!)

Good job you didnt see him. Matchstick white legs in shorts. Good grief, even HalifaxTiger doesnt look that bad!

[RobMcCaffery]

I know I am a bit weird ... but can't agree on the camera angle issues here.

 

Just had a quick look back at last years Sky coverage from Wimborne Road and they seem to use a camera angle from the home straight that is way too high.

So looked back at many previous years and realised that Sky always seemed to have that angle far too high. And yet I never noticed it.

It gives you a very artificial view that 'takes you away from the action'.

And I absolutely hate the high crane that they use on the first bend at some tracksthat gives a view that 'flattens' the action in a quite bizarre way.

 

I'm all for the way BT are covering it.

Only problem - I admit - is the stand roof in picture.

 

But so far, so much better for me all round.

The problem with the stand camera was that intrusion of roof and stanchions. I didn't have a problem with the actual angle.

 

Wimborne Road is the only track likely to feature in this year's coverage with one of these old football-style stands, unlike the modern-style cantilever (e.g. NSS or Peterborough) so the problem is unlikely to recur. I'd say it's the only stand where you could shoot from the back even if that was the director's preference.

 

Even in Poland where high budgets rule camera views are often obscured by lighting or speaker poles.

[Fromafar]

We're lucky to get any coverage given the product we are producing.All you read about nowadays is track grading after riders complaining.

[The White Knight]

We're lucky to get any coverage given the product we are producing.All you read about nowadays is track grading after riders complaining.

Sadly that is very true. We need to look after BT - there isn't anyone else - at least I don't think there is?

[longlivefrankie]

I didn't have any problem with BTs coverage , but then I tend to like their other sports coverage compared to sky's shout & hype coverage. If nite & kelv could just tone down the commentating a touch I be quite happy though, The problems were the state of the track for me.

Edited June 27, 2017 by Ken Morgan

[New Science]

Think its plain to see from last night that despite criticism over the last couple of years over the surface at Wimborne Road that there is not much appetite to fix the issues . Whether Matt Ford has run out of money or wants out of Poole or is waiting for the stadium development, these track problems don't look like being fixed anytime soon. Not exactly fair on their paying customers

[OveFundinFan]

Think its plain to see from last night that despite criticism over the last couple of years over the surface at Wimborne Road that there is not much appetite to fix the issues . Whether Matt Ford has run out of money or wants out of Poole or is waiting for the stadium development, these track problems don't look like being fixed anytime soon. Not exactly fair on their paying customers

 

MF seems a bit quite this year, or is this normal and he "wakes" up near play off time. I was wondering does he want out of Poole.

[Bagpuss]

 

Of course it was to do with the track. It was bloody awful.

 

As to children, I suppose that might refer to Dan Bewley (although its a nonsense to suggest that Bewley wasn't competitive), Jack Smith and James Shanes. What about the other 10 ?

 

When I first went to speedway in 1982, Wimbledon had Dave Jessup, Malcolm Simmons and..................Alan Mogridge. The next season they had a child called Kelvin Tatum. Its always been like that.

 

I doubt if there are many who would disagree that there is a degree of complacency within the sport but that had nothing whatsoever to do with just how poor that meeting was.

Precisely. You put those thirteen riders on a track like Belle Vue, Somerset, P'boro or Scunny and you instantly have a massively better meeting.

[Ommer Mon]

Bob C

 

Off at a tangent.

 

Just to say I love that photo of Christer Lofqvist. One of my all time favourite riders from the early 70s. One of the most spectacular riders I've ever seen. His outside runs at Custom House, leaving tyre tracks on the fence, were legendary.

 

RIP

[waytogo28]

It was very good coverage and we are lucky to have BT taking up the slack after Sky decided to opt out. We can only hope that IF the racing is better than that at Poole, they will continue to cover the sport. We cannot turn all tracks into Scunny, the NSS, Peterborough or Somerset but the BSPA need to sit down at an emergency meeting and decide what can be done immediately to improve track surfaces that will be broadcast.

Nearly all the "blazers" will be on display at the World Cup, can't they step away from that enough to see what they can do to make the BT coverage this year, even better? It's a partnership and the £9.99 admission should result in more faces at this season's meetings. Get the tracks in the best shape for racing and that too, could make a difference.

[Steve Shovlar]

Pretty sure the £9.99 got more people through the gate at Poole on Monday.

 

But if the promoters could have just afforded to bite the bullet and opened the gates for free on this one occassion when the cameras are in town it would pack out the stadiums and maybe entice new fans in future. Speculate to accumulate!

Edited June 28, 2017 by Steve Shovlar

[steve roberts]

Pretty sure the £9.99 got more people through the gate at Poole on Monday.

 

But if the promoters could have just afforded to bite the bullet and opened the gates for free on this one occassion when the cameras are in town it would pack out the stadiums and maybe entice new fans in future. Speculate to accumulate!

I think that Arena Essex (as they were then known) tried this on one occasion whereby admission was free for the one meeting. Apparently at the next meeting the attendance was back to it's usual level...which I guess suggests that potential punters didn't see the appeal in returning when it meant paying for the privilege.

[Halifaxtiger]

Pretty sure the £9.99 got more people through the gate at Poole on Monday.

 

But if the promoters could have just afforded to bite the bullet and opened the gates for free on this one occassion when the cameras are in town it would pack out the stadiums and maybe entice new fans in future. Speculate to accumulate!

 

To me, putting on a decent show on track is far more important than a full house in the stadium.

[The White Knight]

 

To me, putting on a decent show on track is far more important than a full house in the stadium.

I can only repeat that looking at the Track against Belle Vue on the Television it was nothing short of a disgrace.

 

I can't see Supporters flooding back to Speedway if that is the best racing surface they can come up with.

[RobMcCaffery]

I can only repeat that looking at the Track against Belle Vue on the Television it was nothing short of a disgrace.

 

I can't see Supporters flooding back to Speedway if that is the best racing surface they can come up with.

It looked to me that they'd given up. It was not the best start especially considering Poole's endless boasting about how perfect they are down there.

 

Putting it in theatrical terms, "There we were on opening night and nobody could be bothered to check the stage".

[Gemini]

Pretty sure the £9.99 got more people through the gate at Poole on Monday.

 

But if the promoters could have just afforded to bite the bullet and opened the gates for free on this one occassion when the cameras are in town it would pack out the stadiums and maybe entice new fans in future. Speculate to accumulate!

Judging by comments though by people who were actually there or watching on TV (and weren't biased), the 'racing' at Poole would hardly encourage any new fans to return for the next match and pay the full price so no real point in letting everyone in free.

[waiheke1]

 

To me, putting on a decent show on track is far more important than a full house in the stadium.

Yes, but you are a speedway fan. To get a "casual" to come along is suggest a full house is at least as important, by making it look like the place to be. Obviously the ideal is both!