RobMcCaffery Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 (edited) Personally I would have thought the minimum requirement for a stadium is a good racing track, some creature comforts in the way of good covered seats, facilities and decent toilets should also go hand in hand but very very few of the tracks I have been to don't even offer a decent race track and racing never mind seats and facilities etc. I said stadium, not track. Anyway a great racetrack in a field will only attract the diehards and there's few enough of those. The general public will say, "Yes a great race, but where do I hide from rain, sit down or go to the loo." I'm involved in other leisure interests and the basic rule is there. It's no use having a great product if there are no decent facilities. BSF members may accept primitive conditions as long a the racing's good but few of the general public will. Edited July 4, 2017 by Rob McCaffery 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Sorry speedibee, you might be disappointed to hear that Suzi Perry is back for the Cardiff GP. And I think thats her schedule complete for this year, may be wrong on that. Fine by me . Ill be there so I won't have to hear it These are the BARB figures. The are published a few weeks after the event, so w/c 19 June is the latest available. No BT Sport data for 24 - 30 April Sat 13 May - SGP (Warsaw): 10k - ironically the repeat on Sunday got 13k Sat 27 May - SGP (Latvia): 17k Sat 10 June - SGP (Prague): 47k Monday 19 June - Speedway GB (British Final): 31k Sat 24 June - SGP (Horsens): 29k For comparison, MotoGP seems to get between 180k and 210k viewers. http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ I've noticed that the British SGP is currently being advertised on BT Sport during the MotoGP coverage. Thats because nobody wants to pay £100 for a total borefest , and a lot would rather watch on tv , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 These are the BARB figures. The are published a few weeks after the event, so w/c 19 June is the latest available. No BT Sport data for 24 - 30 April Sat 13 May - SGP (Warsaw): 10k - ironically the repeat on Sunday got 13k Sat 27 May - SGP (Latvia): 17k Sat 10 June - SGP (Prague): 47k Monday 19 June - Speedway GB (British Final): 31k Sat 24 June - SGP (Horsens): 29k For comparison, MotoGP seems to get between 180k and 210k viewers. http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ I've noticed that the British SGP is currently being advertised on BT Sport during the MotoGP coverage. CORRECT me if I am wrong but I believe they are average figures for the whole of the broadcast. There are, of course, peaks and troughs over a three hour programmes. KL on Saturday peaked at 90,000 I'm told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 CORRECT me if I am wrong but I believe they are average figures for the whole of the broadcast. There are, of course, peaks and troughs over a three hour programmes. KL on Saturday peaked at 90,000 I'm told. But surely it doesn't matter when comparing figures from meeting to meeting and/or figures for another sport?They are all worked out the same way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Bit off topic but does anyone know why David Norris was dropped off the commentary team back in the day. Thought he was very good, knew his stuff and came over as a natural 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 CORRECT me if I am wrong but I believe they are average figures for the whole of the broadcast. There are, of course, peaks and troughs over a three hour programmes. KL on Saturday peaked at 90,000 I'm told. Correct, they are averages. Will be interesting to see the SWC figures. It looks as if the viewers are growing steadily, which suggests speedway fans are slowly subscribing to BT Sport. Given that BT are getting SGB rights for free, there must be a business case for a dedicated subscription-based speedway channel, even if it is online rather than broadcast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flagrag Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Well on Saturday there was over 21k viewers or recordings on Sky let alone what Virgin media had or BT themselves so quite possibly hit a peak of 90k The figures are definitely up and although it's early looking very positive for UK racing although I expect may drop a little soon when the T20 Cricket starts so you lose some of the sport casuals. Interesting comments from Mr Rising about the UHD broadcast on Saturday not being that impressive as I was talking to one of the guys from Timeline OB who did Saturday he thought it looked very impressive and as good as F1 in UHD but he would have been looking at it before BT had encoded it and decoded it which does knock down the quality, I just wish that they would allow BT sport 4K onto the Sky platform so more can watch it. The Cricket on Sky this week in UHD I am sure that you will be impressed with especially if the sun comes out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 , I just wish that they would allow BT sport 4K onto the Sky platform so more can watch it. And on Virgin Media. There is life beyond Sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Interesting Steve, but once again I remind you of what you have said in the past. You consider yourself a speedway fan, but won't go to Sheffield despite living in York. How does that square with your points highlighted above. ...because as I have often stated I personally no longer feel that speedway offers good value for money since the demise of second halves and after taking petrol and running costs into consideration a trip to Sheffield doesn't appeal. When I lived in Oxford the track was literally on my doorstop and I continued to attend because of the convenience of same...but during my last ten years attending I very rarely travelled to away matches only taking in Cowley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 (edited) Well on Saturday there was over 21k viewers or recordings on Sky let alone what Virgin media had or BT themselves so quite possibly hit a peak of 90k The figures are definitely up and although it's early looking very positive for UK racing although I expect may drop a little soon when the T20 Cricket starts so you lose some of the sport casuals. Interesting comments from Mr Rising about the UHD broadcast on Saturday not being that impressive as I was talking to one of the guys from Timeline OB who did Saturday he thought it looked very impressive and as good as F1 in UHD but he would have been looking at it before BT had encoded it and decoded it which does knock down the quality, I just wish that they would allow BT sport 4K onto the Sky platform so more can watch it. The Cricket on Sky this week in UHD I am sure that you will be impressed with especially if the sun comes out HEY, everything is in the eye of the beholder. Never watched F1 in UHD so cannot comment. Not saying that I am not impressed by UHD, I am, just didn't think there was a significant difference with the actual racing. But surely it doesn't matter when comparing figures from meeting to meeting and/or figures for another sport?They are all worked out the same way OF course they are but the peak figure is still significant. Edited July 4, 2017 by PHILIPRISING 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadster Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 BT lost out in the battle for cricket coverage so that might be good for speedway as another summer sport to fill the schedules that might have gone to cricket. It also means that BT should have some cash available...unless they decide to save it all up to try and crack Sky's position in football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 BT lost out in the battle for cricket coverage so that might be good for speedway as another summer sport to fill the schedules that might have gone to cricket. It also means that BT should have some cash available...unless they decide to save it all up to try and crack Sky's position in football. The feeling I get from observing the industry (speedway's not my only fascination) is that BT are happy to just take one of the PL packages but force Sky to over-pay, and rely on Europe and possibly the EFL who are reportedly fed up with Sky's scheduling of their League 1 & 2 matches. It remains to be seen just how large BT's war chest is. It's like watching poker at times - quite fascinating. Getting back on-topic, BT have had a clear need to beef up their summer schedules. Beneficiaries have been boxing and now hockey, with even the Henley Regatta getting blanket coverage. Yes, speedway could be an excellent fit, even in spring and autumn when they are strong in European football weeks from Tuesday to Thursday but weak on Mondays. Looking on from the sidelines I suspect there is a huge opportunity and if so the sport needs to work to expoit it and not just sit back and wait for the fees to roll in. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flagrag Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 If British Speedway and SGP continue to deliver as they have been so far this year, I predict a brighter future with regards to TV broadcasting. As I said before from a Sky point of view the door is not permanently shut for Speedway even more so with the improvements this year with viewing figures for both league and SGPs this type of thing always prompts The acquisitions team to start looking at things. You could even get into a positive position of two bids for U.K. Racing in 2018 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Fascinating that outsiders seem to see more in speedway than many of its supporters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReturn Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Bt Sport coverage is pretty good. Only thing to improve is the commentator who spends every race screaming rather than actually commentating. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 (edited) Bt Sport coverage is pretty good. Only thing to improve is the commentator who spends every race screaming rather than actually commentating. I'm just grateful that we have Speedway on Telly. To be honest I don't care who the commentators are. I think the ones we already have do a very decent job - but that is only my opinion - I know lots of people wouldn't agree with me. Edited July 5, 2017 by The White Knight 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoke Potter Posted July 4, 2017 Report Share Posted July 4, 2017 Personally I would have thought the minimum requirement for a stadium is a good racing track, some creature comforts in the way of good covered seats, facilities and decent toilets should also go hand in hand but very very few of the tracks I have been to don't even offer a decent race track and racing never mind seats and facilities etc. This is so true! If you want more people to go then fix the damn tracks. (Message to Naysayers, yes I will keep banging this drum about crap tracks because it's the fundamental problem.) The racing tonight at Vastervik was light years ahead of what you got at Lynn the other night. King's Lynn needs reshaping, a one-line wonder. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 This is so true! If you want more people to go then fix the damn tracks. (Message to Naysayers, yes I will keep banging this drum about crap tracks because it's the fundamental problem.) The racing tonight at Vastervik was light years ahead of what you got at Lynn the other night. King's Lynn needs reshaping, a one-line wonder. Great tracks please the devoted. Awful stadia repel the general public. Tracks in fields with limited facilities but a great racetrack will appeal to you but not the majority of the public that we need to attract to survive. People's standards and expectations are higher than ever today. Obviously you want a great track AND decent facilities and I have always believed that great racing is more important than 'names'. but in the 21st century people are more likely to notice the lack of facilities rather than the racing on first visits, unfortunately. What the committed speedway fan wants and what the potential fan want do not always coincide. Going back to my original point, which clearly was misunderstood, my comment that undercover seating should be a minimum requirement was referring the stadium, not the track They are two completely different things! I have some very good friends who I've known for nearly forty years now. Without talking to me they decided to visit Kirkmanshulme Lane as one of their 'dodgy sports' nights. The talk afterwards was how awful the stadium was, not the racing. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Central Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 (edited) Comparing the coverage of the Vastervik round with that from Kings Lynn. Have to say the camerawork from Sweden was far superior. The camera positioning with much lower angle to the track gives a much better 'spectator-like' view of the racing and a greater feeling of speed of the action. The (seemingly) british fixation with mounting cameras way too high on the home straight so that we get a 'drones-eye' view of a race is much poorer. And the ridioculous obsession, in this country, with use of the first bend super high crane is just dreadful. Edited July 5, 2017 by Grand Central 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted July 5, 2017 Report Share Posted July 5, 2017 Comparing the coverage of the Vastervik round with that from Kings Lynn. Have to say the camerawork from Sweden was far superior. The camera positioning with much lower angle to the track gives a much better 'spectator-like' view of the racing and a greater feeling of speed of the action. The (seemingly) british fixation with mounting cameras way too high on the home straight so that we get a 'drones-eye' view of a race is much poorer. And the ridioculous obsession, in this country, with use of the first bend super high crane is just dreadful. TV production in Sweden was handled by the same people who were at King's Lynn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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