Until today my excitement about the new season was tempered by a nasty feeling that I had been barred from my favourite club; now that has changed. Granted, the main reason for this was the cracking qualifying session we had this morning but the BBC's presentation also brought a big smile to my face. Their bosses have sold out to Sky and their US-style moneybags technofest, so what do the BBC f1 team do? Present us with a black-and-white film pastiching crusty old Bob Dylan with hand-written pieces of paper! Verging on genius for me and all the more effective because it looked so cheap and amateurish. Then they passed the paper round the drivers for an extra personal touch, and presenting the star drivers as if they were their mates and yours is a trick they've always pulled off well. All in all, a great way to distinguish themselves and their style from their richer rivals. I'm not a fan of Sky's techno overload style, and I expect I'm not alone in that, but each to their own. Anyway, it made me feel I was back on the guest list and back in the club. I wanted to post this here because I've not been shy in bashing the BBC for their treachery to F1 fans or Benson's crappy reporting. So, it was a definite BBC win for me today: cheap as chips but quietly very clever.
Apart from Ben Edwards for Brundle (duh), I think every new BBC F1 employee is better than every one we've lost. I'm surprised to be saying that, but for practise sessions that are radio-only, I think James Allen and Jaime Alguersuari are both better than Croft and Davidson (I neither know nor care what they're like during quali and the race, practise is the only time I'm relying on them). For practise sessions that are televised Crofty and co's style probably will be missed, but let's see whether Allen does something differently in China before jumping to that conclusion. I also think that while Kravitz is a very knowledgeable man in his own right and is clearly more comfortable on screen and on mic, Anderson knows more, has the contacts necessary to compete with Kravitz in getting stories, and has already had a noticeable positive impact on the BBC's online coverage.
I have to agree North North Watford. Anthony Davidson was brilliant but having James Allen on the radio was much more professional and expert than David Croft who's in your face cocky style does my head in. James Allen might have gone a bit OTT at times on ITV but there's no doubting his knowledge and the fact he seems to already be a better commentator than he ever was, and I actually thought he was quite good on ITV. Glad Croft has pissed off to Sky. Ted Kravitz wasn't as good a pit lane reporter as James Allen was in his day and does not represent much on the technical front. Gary Anderson though on the other hand has really added some real intelligence to f1 coverage I have never seen. His analysis on what's the quicker strategy was excellent I though. His assessment on the new cars have been so professional and of the highest quality. A respected man throughout the F1 paddock, the BBC have got a right corker in Anderson.
Yes, as much as I like Kravitz, I really appreciated Gary Anderson's contribution and hopefully his presenting skills will improve; I mean, it was only his first time today.
Glad to be of service The other thing I think about that is that it suggests they're aiming for a slightly older audience.
I know this isn't strictly relevant to F1, but I've followed the Fabrice Muamba situation intensely over recent hours. Looking at what the BBC have said as the hours have gone on and what Sky have said, it's clear which of their respective sports departments has more of a culture of reporting what it is confident to be the truth, and which has more of a culture of reporting a story first at all costs. The latter approach is all very well on things such as contract speculation, but outrageous when we are talking about a matter of life and death.
Well said, and best wishes to Fabrice, once a gooner, always a gooner (even if he didn't make it at a senior level for us)
I know it is Sky's first race but at the moment the BBC coverage is better. It is more substantial and has more character, Sky seems more faffy, disjointed and cold.
I think sky has handled it well though, They have made it seem like they have done it for years and this wasnt thier first race. I didnt find crofty annoying on 5live but the amount of times he missed things and got drivers mixed up
I remember the BBC's first race back 3 years ago and that was far more professional and it seemed then that everyone had known each other for years. The Sky coverage seemed stiff and a bit cold. I seriously doubt Sky's ability to get anywhere near the quality of coverage the BBC provided. The lack of any real post race analysis was stark compared to the BBC. Genuinely not worth the money buying Sky for that and genuinely no point to Formula One being on pay tv in general. I'm sure there was a part of Martin Brundle which said to him 'Jesus I'm only commentating to peanuts in comparison to the mass audiences I had last year'.
Any idea when viewing figures get released? I'd also be interested to know how many people tuned in to 5 live this morning.
5 Live's coverage isn't at all bad but a bit annoying when you're watching the race on RTL. Too much straying from F1 to give news bulletins and other sport.
It'll be quite low due to the early start, and it will be significantly less than the Beeb pulled last year, but it will definitely be in six figures I'd imagine. 5 Live on the other hand will probably have gained a few more listeners from last year. EDIT: I'd guess overnight figures will go up tomorrow morning; depending on how successful those are we might get to see them, we might not.
Whether because of or in spite of Brundle not being there, DC's in race punditry has in my opinion stepped up this year.
And Brundle's dropped off somewhat. Coulthard was very good at interpretation. Edwards was better than Croft at focusing on what's important but he needs to get on the pit radio wavelength and stop telling us he has no idea what the drivers were saying. Overall, the BBC presentation looks and feels 'special' where Sky's looks ordinary (e.g. proper backgrounds and lighting instead of blank, flat lit studios) and they play the obvious advantage of familiar figures well. It has personality (which I don't think Sky will ever achieve) without being overbearing.
Pretty impressed with the BBC highlights show. The only thing it really missed was a few more replays of overtakes, etc, during the highlights. Nice to see Gary Anderson is getting input during the race, looking forward to hearing more from him in the live races. Commentary team was pretty good in general, it sounds controversial, but I didn't miss Brundle, and having a more 'professional' commentator alongside Coulthard was an improvement in my opinion. Edwards did a solid job, and as he gets used to F1 and learns more, I think he'll get better. Good to see JB coming on to speak to the BBC like last season, and I think having a genuinely likeable coverage team helps in that respect, rather than a Pinkham/Thompson-like figure who is just that - a figure. F1 drivers have can have all the women they want, so I'd imagine they'd be fairly indifferent towards her, whilst talking to people you genuinely enjoy talking to will always produce a better interview. Obviously, having not seen the sky coverage, I can't say for certain, but that would be my impression anyway, and Sky may have got some excellent interviews.
I found Croft to get very excited at times, he would shout and then Brundle would join in with a much lower voice. Felt at times they were commentating for separate stations.
Even watching the highlights show on the BBC reminds us just how good the coverage is: they're good at explaining technical issues, pointing out when certain on-track situations are mere racing incidents or otherwise, and have informative, fluent interviews with drivers and team bosses. Added to that is the very relaxed, informal way the show is presented. Again BBC, shame on you for letting this jewel in your crown slip through your fingers.
