GCN fatigue

lettingthedaysgoby

ben@31 wrote:

Bungle73 wrote:

I don't know why people whinge about the paid sponsorship really, as it's that sponsorship that pays for the channel to exist. It doesn't really affect the information they provide.

My only criticism is GCN becoming a sell out to product placement. Yes it does affect the information they provide, as how can we trust videos to be impartial and unbiased, when they are paid to publicise a sponsors product. One particular GCN video wasn't informative but was just like watching a Wahoo advert.
"Pays for the channel to exist?" How much does it cost to post a video on YouTube? When some kid talking in his bedroom about video games can get upto 54.1million subscribers, I don't think you need the budget of Time Warner. Maybe these kids making Youtube videos in their home using a webcam have such a passion for their hobby. that they're happy to talk about it for free without the financial greed?

Professionally produced content costs a lot of money. Keeping content coming at the rate they do, at the standards they have, requires the work of a lot of people working full time. They all need to be paid.

If you're happy watching a kid in his bedroom talk to a cheap webcam, fine. But that is light years away from the sort of stuff GCN are putting out.

ben@31

lettingthedaysgoby wrote:

If you're happy watching a kid in his bedroom talk to a cheap webcam, fine. But that is light years away from the sort of stuff GCN are putting out.

Lets agree to disagree.

Its the script that makes an informative video. When GCN is in their studio how is it any different to watching a kid in his bedroom? Still indoors.

lettingthedaysgoby

ben@31 wrote:

Its the script that makes an informative video. When GCN is in their studio how is it any different to watching a kid in his bedroom? Still indoors.

But there studio has a set, proper professional lighting... The end video is edited well, with good graphics and overlays etc

It all adds up to make a substantially better looking product.

If you're happy with purely factual content, then so be it. But there is a huge market for professional, slickly produced material.

ben@31

Yes I'm happy for pure factual content rather than biased product placement.
As soon as manufacturers start paying for content, the video (especially reviews) loose all credibility.

svetty

ben@31 wrote:

Yes I'm happy for pure factual content rather than biased product placement.
As soon as manufacturers start paying for content, the video (especially reviews) loose all credibility.

You don't have to watch it you know

Alex99

ben@31 wrote:

Yes I'm happy for pure factual content rather than biased product placement.
As soon as manufacturers start paying for content, the video (especially reviews) loose all credibility.

I can't recall them doing reviews. Vids on aero testing for example, might have nice shots of equipment, but what are they supposed to do? Black branding out with tape?

lettingthedaysgoby

Alex99 wrote:

ben@31 wrote:

Yes I'm happy for pure factual content rather than biased product placement.
As soon as manufacturers start paying for content, the video (especially reviews) loose all credibility.

I can't recall them doing reviews. Vids on aero testing for example, might have nice shots of equipment, but what are they supposed to do? Black branding out with tape?

Simon on twitter has stated that they specifically don't do reviews, but that they can and have refused to be sponsored by/work with/feature products or brands they don't like/agree/rate.

barongreenback

One good example where factual testing works in their favour was that they were happy to admit that aero wheels are mostly bought on the basis of looking cool rather than gaining a few watts!

daddy0

I get what the OP is saying, the product advertising is a bit jarring sometimes, but worth putting up with for the content.

The worst thing about the GCN show, however, is the sound recording. They need to sort out the mic placement, get a better mic or put the audio through a decent compressor during post production etc...

lettingthedaysgoby

Daddy0 wrote:

The worst thing about the GCN show, however, is the sound recording. They need to sort out the mic placement, get a better mic or put the audio through a decent compressor during post production etc...

As a professional sound engineer I couldn't agree more.

I did send a message offering my services/advice but didn't hear anything back

Dan - if you're still reading this the offer still stands!

bungle73

ben@31 wrote:

Bungle73 wrote:

I don't know why people whinge about the paid sponsorship really, as it's that sponsorship that pays for the channel to exist. It doesn't really affect the information they provide.

My only criticism is GCN becoming a sell out to product placement. Yes it does affect the information they provide, as how can we trust videos to be impartial and unbiased, when they are paid to publicise a sponsors product. One particular GCN video wasn't informative but was just like watching a Wahoo advert.
"Pays for the channel to exist?" How much does it cost to post a video on YouTube? When some kid talking in his bedroom about video games can get upto 54.1million subscribers, I don't think you need the budget of Time Warner. Maybe these kids making Youtube videos in their home using a webcam have such a passion for their hobby. that they're happy to talk about it for free without the financial greed?

You think that some kid making videos in his bedroom, in his spare time, is the same thing a the slick, professional operation that GCN are running....?

For a start you've got four full time presenters who all want paying, then you've got the behind the scenes people who also need to be paid, then you've got the cost of the equipment they need. And I haven't even got to the travels costs of sending incurred sending a team of people to far off locations. I can assure you that financing an operation like that isn't going to be cheap. "Greed" doesn't even cone into it.

bungle73

ben@31 wrote:

lettingthedaysgoby wrote:

If you're happy watching a kid in his bedroom talk to a cheap webcam, fine. But that is light years away from the sort of stuff GCN are putting out.

Lets agree to disagree.

Its the script that makes an informative video. When GCN is in their studio how is it any different to watching a kid in his bedroom? Still indoors.

The difference is one is a hobby, and the other is a job.

ben@31 wrote:

Yes I'm happy for pure factual content rather than biased product placement.
As soon as manufacturers start paying for content, the video (especially reviews) loose all credibility.

Please give a specific example where they have issued "biased" advice because of a sponsor.

onionmk

I stopped watching when the content stopped appealing to me and then started watching when there was some new stuff on there. Because let’s be honest- A LOT of stuff us just recycled! There’s countless iterations of the the same ‘how to’ videos on there and the jokes like you mentioned are constantly recycled- Dan riding cervelo, Matt being old/not being clipped in, Tom designing his own paint job etc. But admittedly, when I do watch one, I end up watching everything I’ve missed too so they got me in the end! Whose to complain though? It’s Free!

ravey1981

Literally can't believe some people are moaning about something which is entertaining, informative and free.......

neeb

ravey1981 wrote:

Literally can't believe some people are moaning about something which is entertaining, informative and free.......

+1, I enjoy it. I only recently started watching it though.

If I get fatigued with it I'll stop watching it for a bit.. A bit of a radical solution, eh?

luv2ride

I like it and watch regularly. They're also based locally so nice to see familiar locations used. I think their onscreen chemistry works in the main, but there's now a fair bit of recycling of items which isn't exactly surprising given the rate they get content out. They also need to refresh some of their standard link pieces (Lizzie saying "Its now time for Cycling Shorts" is wearing a bit thin, as an example). I'll stop watching if and when I get bored, and, yes, the sound recording definately needs improving. There was an edition last week in the local studio which had the worst sound yet, IMO it's definately the biggest weak link in an otherwise (for me ) entertaining show.

surfercyclist

I like GCN and find the maintenance videos useful plus a lot of stuff is amusing. However, it's fairly evident they are running a bit short on ideas at times hence a lot of content is basically repeated in a slightly different format. In fairness it must be tricky to think of something new 7 days a week.

gaffer_slow

it can be challenging for a channel with a relatively narrow interest to keep this fresh / new. i have enjoyed watching the various presenters become more confident and skilled in-front-of camera presenting.

the one truly valuable thing is it presents cycling as accessible and non-elitest - which is a great thing considering ....

kammybear

onionmk wrote:

I stopped watching when the content stopped appealing to me and then started watching when there was some new stuff on there. Because let’s be honest- A LOT of stuff us just recycled! There’s countless iterations of the the same ‘how to’ videos on there and the jokes like you mentioned are constantly recycled- Dan riding cervelo, Matt being old/not being clipped in, Tom designing his own paint job etc. But admittedly, when I do watch one, I end up watching everything I’ve missed too so they got me in the end! Whose to complain though? It’s Free!

But how much is to to subscribe??

lettingthedaysgoby

They’ve just announced Emma Pooley as a new presenter. This is a good thing

daniel_b

lettingthedaysgoby wrote:

They’ve just announced Emma Pooley as a new presenter. This is a good thing

It is, she's excellent - much better than the woman they had on last year a few times - whose name I forget, retired ex pro as well.

dannbodge

That's fine as long as Dan stops dropping how he was in the Cervelo test team every 5 seconds with her.

thegreatdivide

Dannbodge wrote:

That's fine as long as Dan stops dropping how he was in the Cervelo test team every 5 seconds with her.

Pooley was in the Cervelo Test Team in the 2009 and 2010 seasons then rode for Gramin Cervelo in 2011.

dannbodge

thegreatdivide wrote:

Dannbodge wrote:

That's fine as long as Dan stops dropping how he was in the Cervelo test team every 5 seconds with her.

Pooley was in the Cervelo Test Team in the 2009 and 2010 seasons then rode for Gramin Cervelo in 2011.

Yeah I know. Every time she has anything to do with the show, he brings up not only that he was in the team, but she was too

luv2ride

Just watched Emma's first studio stint with Si. Thought she was pretty good, and brings a welcome new dynamic to the show. Fair play to them.

sloppyschleckonds

Luv2ride wrote:

Just watched Emma's first studio stint with Si. Thought she was pretty good, and brings a welcome new dynamic to the show. Fair play to them.

Tbf it probably wasn't difficult to do as its one of the most un-dynamic presented shows

lettingthedaysgoby

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Luv2ride wrote:

Just watched Emma's first studio stint with Si. Thought she was pretty good, and brings a welcome new dynamic to the show. Fair play to them.

Tbf it probably wasn't difficult to do as its one of the most un-dynamic presented shows

It’s still a lot harder to talk naturally into a camera than most people think, she did pretty well.

Just have a look at some of the very first GCN videos for examples of how bad they were at the start

daniel_b

Luv2ride wrote:

Just watched Emma's first studio stint with Si. Thought she was pretty good, and brings a welcome new dynamic to the show. Fair play to them.

Ditto, and the Aero commute thing she did with Si - Overall 8\10 from me, and I think she will only get better, more natural, and more relaxed.

cgfw201

It's amazing how crap it used to look compared to the new stuff. PRetty sure I thought it was great at the time. The Epic ride in Gran Can a week or two ago was amazing production wise, as was that 650b vs 700c one.

burnthesheep

Now, GTN on the other hand.........I've had that come up while I was on the trainer and a GCN show ended.......I couldn't handle it.

It's a little too short of a show to be good enough, speaking of GTN. Also, for some reason the hosts and segments so far seem really dry.

Maybe it's a sign I wouldn't ever fit in well with triathlon folks.

I've actually been thinking Gaimon should take his worst retirement ever series up a notch. Make each episode a shorter interview (15min), a KOM challenge, and some other fun stuff thrown in. The podcasts are interesting, but a bit long for me usually.