I'm sure you all agree the tv coverage for WRC is C##p not only on C4 but Eurosport isn't any better.What do we get from a 3 day rally 1.5-2hours programming, then take out probably 40% of that for commercials and presenter jabbering. Then its shown at stupid times of the night, i can understand this with the rallies run on the otherside of the world but not with the european stages, bring back t-time family viewing. There were 3 superspecial events run each evening in Cardiff this year, did we get to see any of it??. There must be 100's if not 1000's of hours of footage recorded from all the camera's during a rally event. Yet we get hours upon hours of coverage of cricket, golf, football, horseriding etc etc, oh and should one of the previous list run late then what gets shown later or even cancelled, yes you've got it rallying. With the amount of money C4 must pay for the tv rights you would think it would get better airtime.

I would like to see the following:

1. A dedicated satelite channel for rallying (football teams do it)
2. Interactive viewing i.e. being able to choose which drivers you watch the incar footage from, or which helicopters or fixed camera's.
3. Camera's in the service parks, so you can watch the skill of the mechanic's, have interviews with the drivers between stages.
4. Get full coverage from superspecial stages.
5. See coverage of more competitors, as you only see the top ten these days.
6. Have documentaries about the different teams, with the camera crews following a team for a full rally including the build up, history and runnings of the team (a bit like F1).
7. Have the main review show of the day shown at a decent family viewing time, because rallying is a family sport and if we want the sport to grow then it needs to be accessible to all generations.
8. And i wouldn't mind paying either subscription fee or pay per view fee for any of the above.

What would you like to see ?????

Anyone know what sort of coverage rallying gets on foreign tv????

[Edited by S Page - 11/15/2003 4:22:51 PM]

"What would you like to see ?????"
All of the above!

Thats a very good point. When C4 first got the rights for the rally coverage i was thrilled, i thought that we would have loads of coverage like they do for that really exciting sport Cricket. but no! half an hour at about 1.40 am on a monday morning. GRREAT.
i think we should start a petition.

what do you think?

There are some good points here. I would answer:

1 - Nice idea, but I doubt there is the demand to make this viable on a commercial basis.
2 - Nice idea again, but given the amount of cameras / crews and equipment to show the Margam stage, I'm not sure how technically feasible this would be on a complete rally.
3 - Service area stuff is OK, but from a television point-of-view, I'm not sure how exciting it would be watching the mechanics do a 20 min service.
4 - Superspecials work well as live events to get the crowds in for an evening, can't say I am overly bothered by them. Bearing in mind they are all the same, it could get a little repative showing highlights from all 3 Cardiff superspecials.
5 - Agreed
6 - Good as well
7 - Agree
8 - How much would you be willing to pay? Bearing in mind that Bernie's F1 television failed and this promised many of the things in F1 that you've asked for in Rallying (different camera angles, choice of views etc). As much as I love the sport, I'm also a realist.

I think from C4s point-of-view, they need to stablise the programmes and get a regular viewing spot. C4 have said they have been disppointed with the viewing figures - not suprising when they've moved the times around so much.

C4 do deserve praise for their live coverage on Sunday. OK, it wasn't perfect, but on the whole it worked well. The number of comments I've heard about the programme (many from people I know who aren't really into rallying), shows that this is probably the way forward. If they want to increase viewing figures, then they need more programmes like this.

Eurosport have repeated their coverage a number of times (3 times in the last 24 hours at reasonable hours) - it also featured extensive coverage of the JWRC and some background stories on previous winners etc, so they are getting pretty close to what you want.

The one thing Eurosport do better is cut down on the presenters and concentrate on the cars. What both channels have failed to grasp (and this constantly amazes me), is that most often, the best footage is from inside the car. They rarely show more than a few seconds before cutting away to an external shot.

Room for more improvement I think.

Chris

I actually much prefer to watch Eurosport to Ch4 for the reasons Chris pointed out, at least the ralling is king and not the presenters with their big ego's. Who wants to see Penny M & Co in the middle of a snow field etc etc etc, we want to see the cars!!!!!! The biggest trouble with Eurosport is that they are so flaming unreliable with their program times.

Robbie Head made me laugh though at Halfway he was there doing his bit to camera and there'd be no offs or anything, Colin came through cut the corner in a dip and kicked up a load of mud, he had to go and stand in it and do another bit to camera, so predictable!

They (CH4) moan about the veiwing figs, then instead of upping the profile with more advertising etc, what do they do move it to an unwatchable time of the night, then moan some more, they deserve all the bad feelings they get!!!! Mind they are better than the BBC watching the news on BBC last weekend (from what my Dad told me)one could'nt be blamed for saying what rally? Is there a rally on this weekend?

Yes as you say on a whole Eurosport coverage is better but there timings are so unreliable, if i tape it i alwys start it half hour early and half hour late just to make sure.

BBC1 did mention it on the main news on the sunday, but i mean just mention it, right at the end with no pictures, max 10 seconds coverage.

Didnt realise that Bernies F1 interactive service had failed but saying that i hardly ever watch F1 anyway, its just got so boring and too many adverts.

Maybe they could look at releasing a DVD or video of each rally with plenty of extra's but its got to be produced much better than the wrc 2002 reloaded DVD.