[UFJon]

The biggest improvement they could do IMO is get the helicopter back in the air.

But this is bull for the spectators out on the stages. The noisy helicopters following the cars make watching a lot less interesting but much more dangerous because you can´t hear oncoming cars.

[rhybrisee]

I stopped watching most WRC coverage this year. I did watch the IRC coverage though, I like it because it has a lot of onboard, but probably for too much for viewers who are less addicted to the driving.

They need to find a way to put the onboard camera close to the front, more engine sound instead of the turbo whistle and the Ford's lawn mower farting exhaustion.

I don't agree..During IRC coverage all I heard was stupid helicopter sound. I prefer turbo whistle than helicopter : )
WRC coverage is much more better than IRC one.

[LoveTTatall]

I don't agree..During IRC coverage all I heard was stupid helicopter sound. I prefer turbo whistle than helicopter : )
WRC coverage is much more better than IRC one.

I don't understand all the IRC/s2000 hype either. It's more of a protest agains current wrc I suppose. I think Monte was one the better TV coverages for a while, but it certainly left a lot to wish for. Even in current format, WRC is 10 times more interesting

[rionetrozasa]

But this is bull for the spectators out on the stages. The noisy helicopters following the cars make watching a lot less interesting but much more dangerous because you can´t hear oncoming cars.

But you can hear the oncoming helicopters

[Vedun*]

As someone said before, some graphics with new telemetries for the public (they tried in 2005-2006), more TV-crews on the stages will improve the media coverage of the event.

Also the MTV3 strategy for Finland was extremely interesting, with a "TV-studio" in the Service Park, able to pick the drivers and talk with them immediately after the event. That would be perfect for what AndyRAC asks... a talk-show with experts!

Also the "Rally Preview" magazine could be improved, maybe talking about hospitality, glamour in the series, etc. For example, let me talk about Red Bull's party in Catalunya, last year. It was so glamour and nice, but nobody talked about it... I could say the same things for Ford's and Suzuki's media functions... all these things could be interesting to show on TV.

For what concern the INTERNET, they have to unlock the 16:9 clips for web-tv's. Actually, the WRC images are an "exclusive" for just wrc.com...
...also Racing-Live.com was blocked, and is an ESPN website!

They have to follow the example of the TOUR DE FRANCE of cyclism. ASO (the same editorial group that organize the Dakar rally) started the massive media coverage of the event giving to the TVs the footages of the event. Then, when the event was "famous" all around the world, they started to ask lots of money, and now is one of the biggest sporting events of the year.

[Vedun*]

Meanwhile, I've found the website for the Company that provides the actual TV compound.

It's the "Special Event Services, ltd" and, some years ago, they had also a proper TV studio!



http://www.sesltd.info/html/news_pg3.htm

[Unonounaple]

For what concern the INTERNET, they have to unlock the 16:9 clips for web-tv's. Actually, the WRC images are an "exclusive" for just wrc.com...
...also Racing-Live.com was blocked, and is an ESPN website!

wrc.com has become almost disgusting with ads littered everywhere.

[mbaueee]

But this is bull for the spectators out on the stages. The noisy helicopters following the cars make watching a lot less interesting but much more dangerous because you can´t hear oncoming cars.

That isn't really relevant though IMO. How do you show the spectacle of rallying from static cameras amongst the trees. The helicopter is so effective the shots you get are amazing, plus you see more action.

Just an example of this is Kresta's crash on the Monte in the Octavia in '02 or whenever. An iconic shot of the post-millenium WRC. Filmed from a helicopter. Gronholm's roll later that same year on Halfway. Captured perfectly. Even last year on the rare occasions they were used like in NZ, we got to see the rally deciding mistakes from the Ford drivers.

I understand what you are saying about being annoying for speccys but in the grand scheme of things WRC is not designed to appeal only to the spectators on the stages. It is a TV sport now with sponsors to think about. I have been to many WRC events. The helicopter to me added to the buzz of the first car coming through and there was certainly never any danger of missing it.

A helicopter costs a lot no doubt about it. But it is money well-spent IMO. Unless they are ACTUALLY mandated to get at least 2-3 sponsor banners in every shot. I suppose they could call it 'Airwaves Cam' if they had to.

[HedoShoodovex]

"eye in the sky" Was that a sucsess?

[WordofViagra]

Inboard camera with splitscreen.. easy to compare 2 drivers to see where someone looses time. Or telemetry as you say to see toppspeed and where they brake etc.. I remember it used to be that, and the Citroen was going fastest on all the straights.. Maybe the teams won't allow that?? I think it would be more inteeressting then watching the faces of drivers... In some situations anyway...

And there you have the problem with deciding what people want, because I really couldn't care less about the things you mention.

[HedoShoodovex]

What do you care about?

[Loonakind]

What do you care about?

A good narrative that explains a lot while not mucking about with too much graphics. Basically what we had about ten years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGdYqACF9Vw

[mbaueee]

What do you care about?

They already try to do split screen stuff and it's just terrible. What's that thing they do these days. I think they call it 'Head to Head'. All the 'technical' stuff like this just sends me to sleep. They just use it to take up more time if there's only been a few stages that day or something. People would prefer to see the PWRC stuff IMO. It would also destroy the myth that there are only 8 cars in any given rally.

[mbaueee]

"eye in the sky" Was that a sucsess?

I'm not on about that live helicopter stuff they did on the down under events recently. If they would do that for more rounds I would watch it, but I'm talking about just incorporating good quality helicopter shots into the highlights shows and overall coverage.

If a helicopter is up there anyway then they might then take a punt at using it to get live pictures, should they ever try to mimic what the IRC did.

[Appeselve]

A good narrative that explains a lot while not mucking about with too much graphics. Basically what we had about ten years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGdYqACF9Vw

It wasn't ISC filming it, was it? A coincidence...??

[orapope]

But this is bull for the spectators out on the stages. The noisy helicopters following the cars make watching a lot less interesting but much more dangerous because you can´t hear oncoming cars.

i'm pretty sure that it, in the rally program safety info, says that you should be aware on oncoming helicopters because it usually means that there is car coming.

[mbaueee]

Interview extract from wrc.com with ISC head honcho Simon Long:
http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk...48&pageid=1615


Here's the bit regarding TV:

"And what plans do you have for television?
As ISC we've had around 10 years experience of working with North One Television on the production side, so we've got a product which I think stands the test. WRC TV is now regarded as a quality benchmark but we believe we have to raise the game. The trick is to put the consumer at the heart of the action and to cater to the mainstream rally audience and our rally fans.

Mostly our television programming is a chronological reportage of the event, but in the broadcast universe now there is a proliferation of choice; there's leisure, sport, music, travel, lifestyle and so on. The beauty about rally is that we have content that can tick all of those boxes. In October we'll unveil a new portfolio of sports programming which will offer great WRC coverage to our established fan base but also a broader scope of coverage which is more lifestyle, music and travel oriented.

Right now we have over 200 broadcast partners and the WRC is shown in about 130 countries. We're looking to increase our international edit facilities on rally so broadcasters from around the world can customise the programme to their local audiences. We're looking to increase the quality of our on-board cameras, too. We're working towards a solid state high-definition technology and to get it into more cars."


So clearly more cooking related features on the way....in Hi Def.

[iioijjjkkojhbb]

At least it's broadcast in W I D E S C R E E N! (16:9)

[WordofViagra]

What do you care about?

I want to see a narrative of the event with intelligent commentary and interviews, and good use of on-board cameras backing up footage from cameras on the stages. Split times do not interest me at all — the times at the end of each stage do. And the fact that there are now so few stages in each WRC event that there is time in a TV programme to mess about with such gimmicks as split times is a sad reflection on the sport, in my opinion.

[Appeselve]

Interview extract from wrc.com with ISC head honcho Simon Long:
http://www.wrc.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk...48&pageid=1615


Here's the bit regarding TV:

"And what plans do you have for television?
As ISC we've had around 10 years experience of working with North One Television on the production side, so we've got a product which I think stands the test. WRC TV is now regarded as a quality benchmark but we believe we have to raise the game. The trick is to put the consumer at the heart of the action and to cater to the mainstream rally audience and our rally fans.

Mostly our television programming is a chronological reportage of the event, but in the broadcast universe now there is a proliferation of choice; there's leisure, sport, music, travel, lifestyle and so on. The beauty about rally is that we have content that can tick all of those boxes. In October we'll unveil a new portfolio of sports programming which will offer great WRC coverage to our established fan base but also a broader scope of coverage which is more lifestyle, music and travel oriented.

Right now we have over 200 broadcast partners and the WRC is shown in about 130 countries. We're looking to increase our international edit facilities on rally so broadcasters from around the world can customise the programme to their local audiences. We're looking to increase the quality of our on-board cameras, too. We're working towards a solid state high-definition technology and to get it into more cars."


So clearly more cooking related features on the way....in Hi Def.

Sorry, I can't agree with him - the coverage was better 10+ years ago, watching some highlights of WRC 1997/98 the other day which was broadcast on BBC tv, is far superior, so is the commentary from Mark James/Tiff Needell (no pretending it's live). Even look at older highlights on You Tube - they are better as well.
What is the fascination with the camera looking back at the driver's face? Just can't see the point in it.
It might also help if the WRC was exciting - at the moment it's about as exciting as a wet weekend in Bognor.....