Poor TV coverage of most games

[Chieftain]

I am really tired of much of the Television coverage these days.

I don't want to see the faces of players, lining up.
I don't want to see the backs of players helmets close up.
I don't want to see studio graphics while a play is being run.
I don't want to hear about the announcers Grandmothers apple pie while a penalty is being announced.
I don't want to see the fans that much either. If I need to, I will use my own mirror. Some is okay when nothing is going on, but don't show fans and cut back at the last minute as the play is snapped. They do that with the face coverage too.

Just because they can show a close up of a man's face, doesn't mean they need to, or I want to see it. If the guy is hurt, get the camera's off him. If there is a fight on the sidelines, that is okay. If there is a story, okay do it. But often you just see the back of some others players head while the talking heads talk about a player you can't see.

How many times do you need to see, Tom Brady looking down field or Moss lining up? I would rather see the offensive and defensive sets.

I do want to see the Offensive and Defensive sets before the play.
I do want to see the Referee signal the penalty, and hear it too.
I do want to see critical plays, replayed.
AND
I WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE PLAYS IN THE GAME.

I am not talking about advertising either. I am talking about the announcers talking about their golf game that weekend, and I am trying to follow the game. Camera coverage that seems to scream, "Look we can take real kool closeups of nothing anyone wants to see."

I find Fox the worst, with ESPN very close behind. The NetWorks are better but not by much.

At least get the faces off, unless there is a good reason.

Oh yea, How do we convince these folks that we want to watch the game, not the networks idea of other entertainment that they try to cram into the broadcast.

After all they took the cheerleaders off TV for the most part.

Go figure.

Fred

 

[ThunderCard]

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I am really tired of much of the Television coverage these days.

I don't want to see the faces of players, lining up.
I don't want to see the backs of players helmets close up.
I don't want to see studio graphics while a play is being run.
I don't want to hear about the announcers Grandmothers apple pie while a penalty is being announced.
I don't want to see the fans that much either. If I need to, I will use my own mirror. Some is okay when nothing is going on, but don't show fans and cut back at the last minute as the play is snapped. They do that with the face coverage too.

Just because they can show a close up of a man's face, doesn't mean they need to, or I want to see it. If the guy is hurt, get the camera's off him. If there is a fight on the sidelines, that is okay. If there is a story, okay do it. But often you just see the back of some others players head while the talking heads talk about a player you can't see.

How many times do you need to see, Tom Brady looking down field or Moss lining up? I would rather see the offensive and defensive sets.

I do want to see the Offensive and Defensive sets before the play.
I do want to see the Referee signal the penalty, and hear it too.
I do want to see critical plays, replayed.
AND
I WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE PLAYS IN THE GAME.

I am not talking about advertising either. I am talking about the announcers talking about their golf game that weekend, and I am trying to follow the game. Camera coverage that seems to scream, "Look we can take real kool closeups of nothing anyone wants to see."

I find Fox the worst, with ESPN very close behind. The NetWorks are better but not by much.

At least get the faces off, unless there is a good reason.

Oh yea, How do we convince these folks that we want to watch the game, not the networks idea of other entertainment that they try to cram into the broadcast.

After all they took the cheerleaders off TV for the most part.

Go figure.

Fred

I don't know why Football doesn't use individual team announcers like in every other sport.

I have tried, and tried by it is almost impossible to sync up the TV with the Radio because of delays between the two. If I could I would listen to Paul, and Ron while watching the game instead of whatever two schmucks the network decides to call a game.

I agree FOX is horrible. No replays, they skip over extra point tries, and punts ALL the time. The guys announcing the game sound un-interested and seem to have no idea about the teams they are watching unless it is the Patriots or Cowboys.

Furthermore, it is embarrassing. Fox has assigned some pitiful announcers to Cardinals games. Bill Romanowski was the worst. Bill should have been embarrassed after he called a game. A stoned alzhiemer's patient could sound more "with it" than Bill.

For the popularity of the game the coverage is atrocious. I think the answer is for all non-national games to be called by announcers that are picked by the individual teams, just like they do in every other sport in the nation.

 

[Fiasco]

You forgot to mention Fox's ultra cool video game sound effects that let you know their obnoxious score bar (which is two inches below the top of the screen to waste even more viewable area) is doing something like changing a number.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

You forgot to mention Fox's ultra cool video game sound effects that let you know their obnoxious score bar (which is two inches below the top of the screen to waste even more viewable area) is doing something like changing a number.

My fiance' hats the FOX "Football Robot" with a passion. Many a rant has been started on the subject. I don't know why it irks her so, but it is funny.

But I understand her point of "What the *bleep* does a robot have to do with football?" and "What the heck is it doing anyway?"

 

[DaisyCutter]

For what it's worth, I guess because networks think that anyone who cares is probably watching on NFL Sunday ticket or at a bar, but it sure seems like they do a lot less game breaks than they used to. It's not so bad when I'm watching a CBS game, since they'll put stats on their ticker on the bottom of the screen, but FOX is especially stingy with highlights from other games.

Especially at halftime, when they'll run highlights from all the other FOX games, not matter how stinky, but if there's a 35-24 halftime score on a CBS game, so way that they're going to show anything that happened.

 

[SuperSpck]

I am really tired of much of the Television coverage these days.

I don't want to see the faces of players, lining up.
I don't want to see the backs of players helmets close up.
I don't want to see studio graphics while a play is being run.
I don't want to hear about the announcers Grandmothers apple pie while a penalty is being announced.
I don't want to see the fans that much either. If I need to, I will use my own mirror. Some is okay when nothing is going on, but don't show fans and cut back at the last minute as the play is snapped. They do that with the face coverage too.

Just because they can show a close up of a man's face, doesn't mean they need to, or I want to see it. If the guy is hurt, get the camera's off him. If there is a fight on the sidelines, that is okay. If there is a story, okay do it. But often you just see the back of some others players head while the talking heads talk about a player you can't see.

How many times do you need to see, Tom Brady looking down field or Moss lining up? I would rather see the offensive and defensive sets.

I do want to see the Offensive and Defensive sets before the play.
I do want to see the Referee signal the penalty, and hear it too.
I do want to see critical plays, replayed.
AND
I WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE PLAYS IN THE GAME.

I am not talking about advertising either. I am talking about the announcers talking about their golf game that weekend, and I am trying to follow the game. Camera coverage that seems to scream, "Look we can take real kool closeups of nothing anyone wants to see."

I find Fox the worst, with ESPN very close behind. The NetWorks are better but not by much.

At least get the faces off, unless there is a good reason.

Oh yea, How do we convince these folks that we want to watch the game, not the networks idea of other entertainment that they try to cram into the broadcast.

After all they took the cheerleaders off TV for the most part.

Go figure.

Fred

Good post! I bolded my favorite parts.

I think the best thing that could be added to the list would be more usage of the camera where we see the play from the offensive backfield facing upfield.

I know not every game on TV has that angle, but something like a coaches' cam from the end zones would work just as well. Sure it'd take a while to get used to, but in the end I think it'd be totally worth it.

 

[abomb]

Good post! I bolded my favorite parts.

I think the best thing that could be added to the list would be more usage of the camera where we see the play from the offensive backfield facing upfield.

I know not every game on TV has that angle, but something like a coaches' cam from the end zones would work just as well. Sure it'd take a while to get used to, but in the end I think it'd be totally worth it.

I couldnt agree more. The "Madden Video Game Angle" will be the norm someday.

 

[Rockstar]

My fiance' hats the FOX "Football Robot" with a passion. Many a rant has been started on the subject. I don't know why it irks her so, but it is funny.

But I understand her point of "What the *bleep* does a robot have to do with football?" and "What the heck is it doing anyway?"

That and the fact that the robot doesn't at all move like a robot. If you're going to have a robot on during your broadcasts you should a) make it a sweet robot, all it does is jump and clap its hands, lame, and b) make it move like a robot.

Better yet get rid of the robot.

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

My fiance' hats the FOX "Football Robot" with a passion. Many a rant has been started on the subject. I don't know why it irks her so, but it is funny.

But I understand her point of "What the *bleep* does a robot have to do with football?" and "What the heck is it doing anyway?"

My wife does the exact same thing! That robot drives her crazy. I don't like it either, but she goes off on a rant almost every Sunday about it.

 

[Skkorpion]

The point on chieftain's list I most agree with is wanting to see a wider view of the play sets.

I want to see the whole spread of a spread formation and I want to see it early enough to watch how the defense aligns against it.

I don't want to suddenly see it a split second before the ball is snapped, after a 17 second closeup view of Tom Brady calling false signals.

Chieftain is almost right about Fox having the worst productions. Almost. The NFL network and Bryant egomaniac/motormouth Gumbel make new lows in game broadcasts every week.

And bring back more gratuitous shots of cheerleaders -- without overlaying them with ads for beer that hide everything from the top of their boots to the bottom of their pretty necks.

As a charter member of the dirty old men's club, I always like sexy cheerleaders to go along with good football. That's the way it's always been and always should be, world without end, amen.

 

[Mulli]

I need more bonus coverage of other games once the outcome of the game is known.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I need more bonus coverage of other games once the outcome of the game is known.

and better fantasy updates

 

[abomb]

I need more bonus coverage of other games once the outcome of the game is known.

Yeah, no kidding.

The NBA is horrible about this with the TNT and ESPN double headers where the early game, often DET vs SomeTeam is a 15 point game with 8 minutes remaining, while the second game is tipping off!

I miss the days of "we will now take you to a more competitive game...".

 

[football karma]

y'know what I hate;

Gratiutious interview with celebrity (usually starring in show on the network broadcasting the game) while there is game action going on.

Sideline interview with someone while game is going on.

For goodness sake -- I want to watch the game, not hear about what a great time John Cryer had on the set of 2 1/2 Men.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Yeah, no kidding.

The NBA is horrible about this with the TNT and ESPN double headers where the early game, often DET vs SomeTeam is a 15 point game with 8 minutes remaining, while the second game is tipping off!

I miss the days of "we will now take you to a more competitive game...".

Yep, they should start the 1st game 30 minutes sooner, and have a 30 minute buffer between games. If the game ends on time, talk about that game, or the next game, or other talk around the league.

 

[Skkorpion]

y'know what I hate;

Gratiutious interview with celebrity (usually starring in show on the network broadcasting the game) while there is game action going on.

Sideline interview with someone while game is going on.

For goodness sake -- I want to watch the game, not hear about what a great time John Cryer had on the set of 2 1/2 Men.

Yes! Yes! ESPN is the worst there. Kornheiser sucking up to Russell Crowe talking about his rugby team, while the game is going on. Ugh.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

agreed

celebs be gone

also get rid of all sideline reporters

"I talked to the coach coming out after the half and he said he was pleased over obvious things and upset over the things that didn't go so well - when questioned about his game plan for the 2nd half he told me some fluff because only an idiotic would answer this with any depth ..... back to Phil!"

 

[CardsRep03]

I need more bonus coverage of other games once the outcome of the game is known.

Case in point: Falcons vs. Cardinals, week 15. The Titans are about to beat the Jets with a minute left to play. The ticker at the bottom shows the Falcons have just tied the Cardinals with 4 minutes to play in their game. I'm out of state (Tennessee) with no Sunday Ticket waiting for them to cut to the Cardinals/Falcons game, which I know they're not going to because I'm in a CBS market...and, they (drumroll, please)...they go to the CBS game...a real stinker; Patriots vs. Dolphins, and it's a blowout 35--10 or something. 8 minutes left to play! No way they'll go to the Cardinals game, and they don't. An overtime win game for the Cardinals, yet! Good ending a lot of people didn't get to see it. I had it TIVO'd at home but still!

The NFL needs to relax some of it's stringent rules. If they can simulcast the Patriots last game vs the Giants then they can do more. What did Roger Goodell say the reason that they simulcast? For the Fans. How 'bout more angles during games and cutting to other games that are more competitive--no matter which station they're on. For the Fans. (repeat)

 

[Syracusecards]

I don't know why Football doesn't use individual team announcers like in every other sport.

I have tried, and tried by it is almost impossible to sync up the TV with the Radio because of delays between the two. If I could I would listen to Paul, and Ron while watching the game instead of whatever two schmucks the network decides to call a game.

I agree FOX is horrible. No replays, they skip over extra point tries, and punts ALL the time. The guys announcing the game sound un-interested and seem to have no idea about the teams they are watching unless it is the Patriots or Cowboys.

Furthermore, it is embarrassing. Fox has assigned some pitiful announcers to Cardinals games. Bill Romanowski was the worst. Bill should have been embarrassed after he called a game. A stoned alzhiemer's patient could sound more "with it" than Bill.

For the popularity of the game the coverage is atrocious. I think the answer is for all non-national games to be called by announcers that are picked by the individual teams, just like they do in every other sport in the nation.

I think the darkest day for me as a Cardinals fan was when they had some guy with a freaking lisp announcing. I think it was 2 years ago. That was pathetic.

 

[8ndkorner]

agreed

celebs be gone

also get rid of all sideline reporters

"I talked to the coach coming out after the half and he said he was pleased over obvious things and upset over the things that didn't go so well - when questioned about his game plan for the 2nd half he told me some fluff because only an idiotic would answer this with any depth ..... back to Phil!"

I agree. Not just sidelines but all sports. Why do they even ask the questions? Why answer? If/When the athelete answers honestly the way he feels in his heart it's bulletin board material or the press is crucifying him.

 

[JeffGollin]

Patience Grasshoppers - Help (I think) is On the Way

I agree with just about everything said - For example, seldom if ever, do I leave the sound on past the 4th minute of the game. (I don't want someone telling me what I am seeing when that info is incomplete or wrong).

That said - my understanding is that several things are coming down the pike that will change all that.

Start with "convergence" (i.e. the ability to stream video content from the Internet to PC's and then TV screens). The technology is available now. You've got to figure that, sooner rather than later, this will become more user-friendly to install and use and that there will be more and more ways to leverage the technology.

Why is this important? Because Internet technology (already available from the cable news nets) already makes it possible to stream video-content from more than one source; and enables the viewer to select which streamed content he/she wants to watch.

In other words, if there are 4 or 5 camera views of a game (including possibly an overhead "crane shot" of the entire field), you'll be able to select that camera-view. Or, if you're obsessed with the QB's cute looks, you could select the camera close-up view of the QB. (I believe Roger Goodall has already outlined this possibility in one of his State of the League speeches).

All of which means that - at some time in the future (My guess would be within 18 months) - convergence will catch on like the I-Pod for mainstream Americans. Standard TV setup will consist of TV monitor, Slingblade Router and PC (with TV tuner).

People will have the option on their remotes of either watching a cable, or satellite feed or DVR recording on their TV screens or dialing up Internet Explorer, going to NFL.com (or whatever) and watching the Internet feed of any game.

When Internet content is filling the TV screen, the remote will no doubt be turned into a "mouse" so that the TV viewer can navigate and click onto various camera feeds of any game.

If you record the game TIVO-style, you'll be able to "become your own producer"and replay a different view of the play you just watched. Or if the game is boring, you can always check out the cheerleaders.

The technology is here already, but there are possible obstacles - The nets, cable companies and satellite services will scream bloody murder if it means they'll lose audience and advertising revenues (So those issues will have to be worked out). The issue of remote carriage may once again become another obstacle vis a vis local network rights.

But I think this is the way things are heading - probably sooner than later - and the prospects are exciting.

 

[jefftheshark]

Between 3 kids, their friends, my wife, my wife's friends, neighbors who drop in, the phone ringing, honey-do chores around the house and the 1000's of other distractions that happen each and every Sunday, it is no wonder that I have no idea what you guys are talking about.

I haven't heard a word an announcer has said for probably 10 years.

JTS

 

[SuperSpck]

I haven't heard a word an announcer has said for probably 10 years.

JTS

That means you're either sane or happy. Lucky Shark...

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Yes! Yes! ESPN is the worst there. Kornheiser sucking up to Russell Crowe talking about his rugby team, while the game is going on. Ugh.

Kornheiser should be given a lifetime ban from sportcasting, and ESPN should be destroyed.

ESPN is to sports what MTV is to music.