ITV4 coverage of the Vuelta

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Comments

  • timturpinfleck
    timturpinfleck Posts: 59
    Pross wrote:
    The live coverage is bearable but the highlights are terrible. 35 minutes isn't enough time.

    It's not that long since we only had 30 minutes of highlights for the Tour and no live coverage so this is much better than when Channel 4 had the cycling. Like with the Tour, I watch some of the highlights and then switch to the live coverage for the last 10-30 kilometres depending on the stage and how much time I have.

    I think the coverage has been good and is getting better. If people don't like it then switch off but don't moan about there being no coverage on freeview TV. The shows have been produced on a shoestring budget and the guests are inexperienced but what do we expect - football potentially has thousands of pundits who played/managed from the 1970's onwards to call upon whereas there were only a handful of top British cyclists each generation prior to Team Sky.

    Keep up the good work Ned, Matt and team and this will get bigger and better.
  • HCR
    HCR Posts: 3
    Moomaloid wrote:
    The Aussie chap in the other hand was bloody awful. He sounded like a US commentator when they're not sure of the sport they are commentating on. Just coming out with facts and statements. [...]
    Including some "facts" which seem to be wrong. Stuart O'Grady looks like the third-oldest rider this vuelta to me... but still not bad for a lone drone.
  • boristhespie
    boristhespie Posts: 109
    God watching mountain stage now and coverage is patchy. Fairdos to guys in studio having to deal with this mess. They're copeing unlike Ortis Deley. The diegos should sort their telly out. Watched the tt and the times were all wrong negating the point of the coverage. Poor. Itv just have to make do. Shame.

    Wish the classics were covered. Parid roubaix etc
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    timturpinfleck wrote:
    Pross wrote:
    The live coverage is bearable but the highlights are terrible. 35 minutes isn't enough time.

    It's not that long since we only had 30 minutes of highlights for the Tour and no live coverage so this is much better than when Channel 4 had the cycling. Like with the Tour, I watch some of the highlights and then switch to the live coverage for the last 10-30 kilometres depending on the stage and how much time I have.

    I think the coverage has been good and is getting better. If people don't like it then switch off but don't moan about there being no coverage on freeview TV. The shows have been produced on a shoestring budget and the guests are inexperienced but what do we expect - football potentially has thousands of pundits who played/managed from the 1970's onwards to call upon whereas there were only a handful of top British cyclists each generation prior to Team Sky.

    Keep up the good work Ned, Matt and team and this will get bigger and better.

    Yes, 20 years ago when we had 4 terrestrial channels and a fledgling sattelite service I could understand it. We now have loads of digital channels and ITV4 isn't exactly weighted down with new series or live sport is it? How hard would it be to provide a well editted 1 hour highlight show? They do it for the Tour and it isn't exactly taking valuable TV time if it stops them airing a repeat of The Sweeney is it?

    I enjoy Matt and Ned (and Boardman when he is on) and that is part of my issue - they have the people there, watching a feed, so why not get them to do the commentary instead of using the Aussie coverage? As I have said elsewhere, I think it is good that they have had Dowsett and Swift on as guests and people need to realise that that is all they were there for, just to have a bit of a chat. It's all well and good to say we should be happy with what we have got but if no-one pushes for more then they won't provide it.
  • derbygrimpeur
    derbygrimpeur Posts: 822
    Matt and Ned are good journalists & Ned is a good presenter. But that doesn't necessarily mean they would be good commentators, or that they would want to do it. I suspect there is a significant difference in cost between the Tour highlights and Vuelta. Part of why the Tour is alot more polished is becasue they're in France. Matt & Ned spend alot of time off camera finding the stories etc. You can't do that remotely so the highlights lacks some of the stuff that gives the sparkle to the Tour highlights.

    It's been said before but ITV have put this on at low cost, i.e. low risk. If viewing figures warrant it, hopefully they'll put a better package together next year. But currently, what they have put on is good as the alternative = nothing.
  • Tim Farr
    Tim Farr Posts: 665
    I'm enjoying the coverage on ITV4. In particular the comments of matt Rendell. I realise that without the adverts there would be no programme - but they are frequent and too long. So I'm switching from Eurosport to ITV4 and back all afternoon. The Aussie commentator is not as good as David Harmon. He could do with Rendell at his side.
    T Farr
  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    I think it's got better as the Vuelta's gone on.

    or could be that I'm now comparing to Channel 4 Athletics coverage.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6o52kZxvtg

    Maybe a bit of both.
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  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    Time to bring this thread back to the fore, just to say a big chapeau to ITV 4 for undertaking a live race, other than Le Tour.
    A pretty good all round effort. Tonight's highlights ended on a high, with the Sky duo on the podium.
    I hope they feel the effort was worth it and that 2012, they'll go head-to-head with the complacent lot at Eurosport.

    Now, onto their ToB highlights.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rebs
    rebs Posts: 891
    I'm really starting to warm to Ned alot more lately. I like his approach. Esecialyl since he is very honest and admits he isn't a know it all. I thought the studio stuff ITV put on was great. Would have been nice to have an hour long highlight show.

    I do hope Matt Rendell is alot more involved in the future also.
  • FCE2007
    FCE2007 Posts: 962
    I've got into The Sweeney. And The Professionals :oops:

    ANY cycling coverage is good.
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  • HCR
    HCR Posts: 3
    Yes, brilliant show on the whole, itv4, bringing la vuelta to a lot more people. And more Matt Rendell please!

    However, I now hate Alun Cochrane (one of the two "Real Men") with a passion, will avoid Tetley's beers from now on and I'm very glad Sharp are sponsoring the Tour of Britain coverage!
  • Tusher
    Tusher Posts: 2,762
    rebs wrote:
    I'm really starting to warm to Ned alot more lately. I like his approach. Esecialyl since he is very honest and admits he isn't a know it all. I thought the studio stuff ITV put on was great. Would have been nice to have an hour long highlight show.

    I do hope Matt Rendell is alot more involved in the future also.

    Totally agree. Ned and Matt are excellent on their own, but adding Chris Boardman in the mix take sit up to a higher level.


    Only teeny, weeny criticism is that Ned appeared to have too much make-up on, esp in week 1.

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