This is going to be the last real example of how ESPN chooses to present the Sprint Cup Series races in 2010. The final event in Homestead is always very strange. Lots of network executives are on hand, there are extra TV programs to do and the tone is very different.
This season, despite changes in personnel behind the scenes, ESPN has clung firmly to a philosophy that has been used since the network's Sprint Cup Series coverage began. The pre-race show offers "talking points" that the telecast then follows. Regardless of the actual racing, this pre-race script is followed throughout the live telecast.
The result has been a loss of viewers for several reasons. First, the focus on fewer and fewer drivers as the Chase progresses alienates fans of drivers no longer mentioned. Second, the lack of attention to the stories of non-Chasers who are in the top ten on the track. Finally, the inability of the director to open the cameras wide and show the actual racing for position instead of focusing on drivers selected in advance.
It's not the Chase, the COT or the racing. Those are elements that TV just has to deal with in any motorsports series. Those are the rules. The responsibility of the network covering the race is simply to step back and provide an accurate view of what is going on in the event for the fans watching on TV. It sounds relatively simple.
Allen Bestwick has been a rock for ESPN since 2007. First as a pit reporter, then as a Nationwide Series booth announcer and now as the anchor of the telecasts, Bestwick is often the voice of reason. This weekend, he has Ray Evernham, Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty alongside.
The Infield Pit Studio is rather unique. Used for both Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series races, Bestwick and crew are often limited to in-race recaps once the green flag falls. This season, ESPN has added a convoluted SportsCenter post-race show. This format stripped Bestwick of the NASCAR focus and inserted a usually ill-informed Bristol, CT announcer into the NASCAR telecast.
The end result is that many viewers switch to SPEED for the three hours of Sunday night programming that begins at 7PM ET every week. Had ESPN allowed Bestwick to anchor the coverage and throw to Bristol for some highlights of other sports, the results would have been much different.
Marty Reid sounds like a man who needs a break. Handling both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series races during this time of the season, Reid has been struggling to keep up with the information that needs to be passed along to TV viewers. Lucky Dogs, restart orders, pit road penalties and even on-track incidents have all been sometimes lost in space.
Reid has often been caught watching the TV monitors in the booth as opposed to the action on the track. Accidents are relayed by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree, who are once again providing most of the credible content on the telecasts. This duo has quietly cemented themselves as the foundation of the ESPN coverage.
Keep an eye out today on how tight the director chooses to shoot the cameras. Criticism is mounting and ratings are plummeting as fans at home simply don't get to see what is actually happening on the track. As we often say, when the TV coverage does not even relate to what fans hear on the MRN radio coverage, there is a big problem.
Jimmie Johnson is loved by ESPN almost as much as Carl Edwards. Last year, JJ was the focus of the final telecasts and the fan reaction was brutal. ESPN is a network that likes "hyper coverage." That is a seemingly endless focus on only one item. That item last year was the #48 team.
Tim Brewer has become almost a cult figure. Popping-up in the telecast to relate fundamental issues about tires, shocks and even fueling, Brewer's presence is often forced into the telecasts quickly after an incident. This makes Brewer's explanations of what he thinks happened often proven incorrect later when a pit reporter interviews the drivers. Talk about a no win situation.
At the end of this season, ESPN will once again evaluate the entire on-air line-up. Personalities like Ricky Craven and Ray Evernham deserve bigger roles. Meanwhile, those struggling like Reid and Daugherty may find themselves looking over their shoulders.
All of this means that this PIR event is big for many reasons. Like the race teams, a good performance today may mean an extended TV contract for some and a bad performance may mean a change for next season. It's going to be very interesting to watch.
This post will serve to host your comments about the ESPN coverage of the Sprint Cup Series race from Phoenix International Raceway. To add your TV-related comment, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
306 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 306 of 306I can't believe that. They just did a Chevy commercial while they were showing the 48
Marty Reid is sighing like Jerry Punch. That can't be good.
Anon I subscribe the trackpass on nascar.com to hear the scanners. You can also get the MRN/PRN feed that way too in case you are interested
OK, I am very bored now, just like Marty
Is Seth Rogan the new Will Ferrell? Why are they advertising (to death) a movie that isn't coming out for 2 months? Between the race yesterday and today I think we have seen 15 commercials for it.
Hey everyone! Only reason im enjoying this broadcast is cause its from my favorite track PIR! Coverage sucks but still I love this track so its fun to see
Motor mouth Marty, the king of obvious...
Mercy...
Wow, that ground shot was actually pretty good
Gina yes it is I love shots like that but ESPN NEVER ever uses em! Fox will I dont understand it I love those shots once in a while but we get em maybe 3 times a year from ESPN!????
The reason fans complain about the races being boring is because TV insists on covering only a few cars on the track. Watching them circle the track in isolation just isn't very compelling. Just becasue someone is leading the points doesn't mean you should only show that car ad nauseum!
get'em, Tony!
Cute attempt to chuck Formula One under the bus, Dale - if he had actually watched the race this morning he'd know that (thank god) team orders weren't an issue and Vettel won the title by virtue of Alonso having just a flat terrible race of his own accord.
Where's my mute button?
The camera worked well that last bit with the tire build up because the broadcasters started the story about it and the cameras had to follow.
Not the cameras telling the announcers what to say.
fox will show that at least 2 or 3 times a race and for a bit longer than 5 secounds
It's either that or a five minute commercial every two minutes. Something like that.
is it sold out today??? Sure looks like it or close to it
I know, Jonathan. I like a variety of shots. I don't know why they want to do such close shots or single shots as Sally said which just makes for a boring presentation.
LOL, gee, chadley sounds like he's a "nice" guy doesn't he? Encouraging his driver.
everfdytime I tune in Krusty or the cheerleader is babbling away, click right back to the football game, so sick of E$PN and the Cha$e
Ever rattlesnake mountain looks pretty full...
Charlie, you are on the nose about that. The camera shot made sense because they were talking about the race and an aspect of it, not just blathering on about nothing.
Gina, I think his name is Kchad Knaus, talking to his boy, Kjimmie Kjohnson.
So now you people WANT digger??? hmmn let's go back and find all the comments that say it added nothing to thebroadcast when fox used it.....
I just love the way the booth talks about someone as being the 'forgotten man' as if they weren't the ones responsible for forgetting them!
LOL, NO digger, but that isn't to say that a variety of camera shots aren't good, including the ground camera. It doesn't require a cartoon character to intro it at all.
Bill -- I have other names I call both of them, but this is a family friendly site.
well look at that, ESPN caught something WHILE it happened? Is there a new person in the truck?
@Anon - no one wants Digger, honest, the shot from the cam was cool. The 2 lap cartoon before & after was grating.
Ugh, Rusty, I hate you and I hate that they stole the 24's team out for under him. "Business decision" or not, it ticks me off.
If they worked the TV crew, this race could be good. Recap the field, look for the racing and crank it up.
That was just weak by ESPN. Stepped back and waited for something to happen.
My brother is at this race and I really wanted to try to listen or watch live. Could not. Just got back after quick outing down the street. I see they are still focusing on the same old cars & tight shots.
THIS is why folks ain't watching. Has NOTHING to do with NFL...but even DW said on Twitter the season should end in August before NFL. Man has a point. Shorten the season and start a bit earlier.
I say SHORTEN the races but what's it matter...200 laps of crap camera junk or 350?
:(
Soph
What is Digger like as a color commentator? Does he try to sell less merchandise than DW?
How late can they still adjust tire pressure in a tire. Can the crew chief as they are coming down pit road tell the tire guy he wants such and such tire pressure and it gets done or is that to late.
I never once said anything bad about digger lol a bit cheesy yes but it was during Crank It Up and if you know me you know I absolutley love when Fox does it! It gives a nice change of pace during the broadcast! I see ESPN is trying to bring the Full Throttle back saw it today and last week! This is good but dump the spotters and show it for more than 10 secounds please!
Does anyone remember the DLP camera Fox had that was on a cable over the racetrack???? See thats when the broadcasts were fun and not boring we need more shots cause whats ESPN shows us is getting OLD
wow, thanks NASCAR for the coverage for us in the UK. Shame it cant be like this all the time....
Darn, Harvick's crew missed a lug nut.
Charlie, I believe that they will adjust the tire pressures as they are coming down to pit. That's based on conversations heard on the scanner.
Turned on race late. Too nice a day to be inside. See it's commercial city.
see here we go just what I was talking about!!!! NO SPOTTERS THOUGH PLEASE
and only 10 secounds?????
The truth is Open Access UK failed to pay bills for the delivery of the feed. NASCAR and ESPN have been fantastic during the whole process and refused to pull the feed, despite the huge amount owed by James Jegede of Open Access.
So please do not blame NASCAR or ESPN, Open Access can only blame themselves!!!
I agree. Let us hear the cars and not the spotter.
Jonathan, I don't care as much about gimmicky shots as I ust want to see as much of the racing they can possibly show me! Since wider shots do that best, I am less interested in the 'gopher cam, bumper cam, in-car cam', etc. Just show me more that one or two cars in isolation!
Thanks Dawn.
MRN guys are wound up talking about passes. They paint better pictures in my mind that I love!
Rather than watch tv and get NO ACTION & only 2-3 cars on my screen.
It's a CRIME what they are doing to the broadcast.
p.s. could finally log in easily..this time
What's been GOOD about today's race?
And the silence is deafening...
The racing is just rarely exciting these days.Tag on a horrible tv crew-well you get the picture.
I think they just gave up on luck dog, wave around, pit road penalties and updates on anyone other than the three contenders.
I think this is the least informative telecast of the year.
"Bull in the China Shop" Is that a new bad Martyism?
my darn computer just went and gave me the dreaded blue screen. I kept ESPN on, but I got about as much info from them as I did while my computer was rebooting.
Geez. Cowboys v Giants on TV. I don't like either team but that's still better than what I'm getting from race
Nobody's blaming ESPN and Nascar tonight where I am reading. Most people are very thankful for Nascar pulling out the stops and providing us a legal alternative.
Steve said wow, thanks NASCAR for the coverage for us in the UK. Shame it cant be like this all the time....
Amen to that.
There is a package to build here too. Nascar races for 3 series, Speed shows like Raceday and Victory Lane, and a playback function to show the race at another time. I used to subscribe to ESPN Gameplan, which was a bit like that.
I'd love to hear about some of 'the other' guys in the field. For instance, Junior had a fast car in practice. What happened to him? Anything about Rousch besides Edwards? Montoya was up front...what happened? see? Lots of info there if they bothered to find it out and relay it to the fans.
Bill, on Mythbusters they proved that a bull won't knock anything over in a china shop.
Was kinda nice to have the 29 back in the pack. Even got to see some nice wide shots.
Ok I'm back.
Hmm I see Delenn is in. Say, Delenn why cannot I get the European Late Model Series races over here? Just wondering if there is a way to do it.
Anything else going on, huh? Like I told GinaV/24 Team Eminem is on the case. Salutes all around abound and, guess what? JJ is fading and fading fast now.
OH! The POWER! Oh! The JOY!
Kenseth had a missing lug nut on his 2 tire stop and lost a ton of spots after being a top ten car all day.
AR- c'mon man, I'm counting on Team Eminem to keep the scruffy one from completing his mission
Thanks Vicky. I guess it will be OK if Harve eats a meat sandwich while DeLana shops for new dinner plates.
How often do you see Jeff Gordon running behind ALL of the other HMS cars?
"If the race ended now" - I can't stand that !
Looks as if Burton is having a good race..what's going on with the 16?
@ AncientRacer
European Late Model Series was on Motors TV, which is on Sky or Virgin Media (or Wight Cable if you are on the Isle of Wight).
http://www.motorstv.com/car/others/european-late-model-series
Open Access didn't pay the bills in the UK, not one penny to NASCAR or the company that supplies the feed on this side of the pond. Did they really tell you that it was because NASCAR charged too much?
I think NASCAR have been more than reasonable and have promised that they would not pull the feed, despite the money owed. The only thing that could stop the coverage would be if OA went belly up... looks like it's the beginning of the end for them!!!
OsbornK, ever since he has a crew chief that can't adjust the car to be better during the race.
Jeff didn't understand the 4 tire stop - wanted 2 for track position.
AR- there's your godaddy commercial!
Can KyBu make it on fuel?
So BSPN just ruined their own broadcast tonite for the Funny Car championship by showing that clip?? How dumb are they?
Gina, apparently that's info they don't think we need to know.
Sally, that's because Jeff isn't in the 3 man contention, so who cares about him?
Cover the race, the whole race. Every driver out there has fans and they should all get info - even if it's a through the field.
This is sad. Just talking about 3 cars.
Wait till next week with the possibility of just 2 cars.
There is NO WAY NASCAR is going to let this race end without a caution!
Bill, I agree unless Hamlin runs out and Johnson can finish, then it would close up the points and add to the "excitement" of the chase.
@Delenn
Thanx! But I'm not on the Isle of Wight. HMMM. Did not George IV have a place there and did not The Beatles reference it in a song?
Wow, two cool things this weekend. Alice's restaurant (Tip o' the hat Ginav/24) on 93.3 outta Philly on (US) Thanksgiving, and a link through to the ELMS!
@GinaV/24
We are workin here as diligently as we might! JJ has not led EVEN ONE LAP and KYBu cleared the path for Denny. How many fingers do ya think we have here. We are workin' it. :)
OA says it was simply a provider problem and the next race will be fine.
Some fans say OA owes money and that was the issue.
Two statements from two sources. Take it for what you will.
count on it there will be a debris caution soon. guaranteed!
Just throw out a water bottle.
Um, did Marty just say that this would be Carl Edwards' first Cup win??? I don't believe that's accurate.
New rule is needed.. No Rusty within 25 laps of finish.
Have they ever confirmed whether Denny or Jimmie think they can actually make it on fuel??
Multiple times they have said that fuel is the major issue, but they have never actually given any real information about that issue.
@Brad
If you will consult my previously published works on today's blog you will find a obscure reference to Jaques being seen pre-race on or nearby the entrance to 3
I didn't know the 42 was in the race and could win.
If JPM wins this race ESPN is going to have egg all over their faces.
Cathy - Of course not. It's Carl's first Cup win of the season, but Marty doesn't read all the notes he's given.
I like eggs.
@JD There is a rumour going round that Nascar has not been paid a penny from the company broadcasting it in the UK for the whole 2010 season, and yet Nascar has refused to withdraw the feed because for the sake of their fans in the UK. If that is true, mega-thanks from all of us in the UK. Nascar have really gone up in my estimations if this is true.
Uh, oh. This is getting serious. Duckboy may do it.
D,
NASCAR races are sold by ESPN International. No way they would handle not being paid. Not Disney's style of doing business.
Hamlin was 12 laps short, he had to pit. Johnson is gambling on fuel and I'm hoping he can't really make it.
AR- maybe a small bump to the 48?
@JD. I would normally agree with you, but then they go and sort out a web feed at short notice. That is not really like Nascar either.
LMAO @ the 11 being 12 laps short.. That's great.
Just turned on for the end. can't BELIEVE JPM ran out of gas :(
WHY is Carl Edwards in the crowd? What is that all about? I don't understand.
I wonder if this makes Denny & co. a bit less cocky?
VERY COOL - Edwards goes into the crowd with the common fans.
NASCAR has their close points race for homestead. BZF must be happier than a pig in muck
Duckboy wins.
But the most upset person at the track is Chadderly. He needed the win at Dega to fill out his nefarious scheme. Then a mysterious thing happened to JG's car.
BTW: on the POLICE REPORT I shall say I think the broadcast was pretty good today.
Thanks JD for this blog & your hard work on it!
Congrats to 99 & Carl, & their fans
If you are leaving, the TV Police post is up for a comment on the way out the door.
JD, is it not technically possible for them to keep the top ticker running when they show a replay? When something happens on the track, that's often when I want to see where everyone's at, yet the ticker stops during the replay.
Gina, it doesn't really matter if it's a close points race if no one cares. I will watch, but I would watch no matter what the points are. Well, maybe not, seeing as how the coverage is so diluted now. Doesn't bode well for the end of the season.
Y'all know...with all my whining and *itching it has hit me that there is but one more race. Then, like, nothing, ya know?
I'll be at Homely, but that is the end.
Why, despite my complaining and all, am I sad suddenly?
JD, thanks for the good company here. Keeps me sane during the race.
Anon, it's all programmed into a computer before the race. When a certain effect is used, things happen.
I agree with you.
The product placement from Carl was over the top. I immediately shut off the tv. They've lost me for the post race.
diane,
Stay tuned! Carl will be coming to the Infield TV Studio for his post-race analysis.
You can't get too much Carl!
That 48 car gets some fuel mileage for sure. Same as the race 2 years ago :)
Nice one NASCAR on the coverage, hopefully something will be sorted soon for next week and next year :)
Thanks again everyone for hanging with us today.
The new TV Police post is up for your post-race comments.
See you for the last race weekend of 2010!
JD
Thanks, JD. It was fun being here with all y'all.
Time to eat the pot roast.
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