BBC2 9pm tonight

Re: Not sailing

Short sharp features, about Superyachts, exotic places and quirkey stuff, rather like Top Gear, might work but the rest fails to interest anyone. It certainly won't interest most commercial companies. Even at dead of night on obscure channels there's no market for most areas of sailing. Even those that do pump money into sailing ventures don't do it based on a TV model. Look at B&Q. For Pindar that UK exposure last night was a bonus.

People I sail with who work in TV would love to make it work. It reaches a target market that you'd expect most companies would kill to get at. The problem sailings got is that loads of other subjects, that are televisual, reach those people already.

So there you have it. Quality sailing programmes are loads of dosh to produce, reach only a small market and that markets already well served. That's why low cost, fringe pieces, like last nights effort are all we can hope for.



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Re: Not sailing

So why is our market already served if we dont get the program we want?

Surely there must be others who want something after all the SIBS program actually got more viewers than ITVs F-1 and what did most people think of it? You tell me I think Stellgirl summed it up aprt from the others who didnt like it as it wasnt really about the show.

Small market ?? last survey reckoned there were 6 million peole in the south of england who went out on the water on something that floats. BMF figures.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Re: Not sailing

Agreed.

Top Gear actually tried a series one summer, called Top Gear Waterworld, I think. Mostly motor boaty with Clarkson salivating over Sunseekers and Tiff Needell talking about racing (his father, Tony N. was one of the original guiding spirits behind the Cowes-Torquay Powerboat Race).

It didn't survive for long, so I assume it didn't work - for the reasons stated above, no doubt.

RT1998Jeremy.jpg


<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho
 
Re: Not sailing

THe question is more what do people want, here again I find people diggin up whats given to them rather than saying I WANT.

So people didnt like Top Gear doing boaty stuff doesnt that say something to everyone. People who do want to see it on tv must say what they want rather than complain about whats given.

Top Gear attains 7 million viewers a show maybe if they halved that they thought it wasnt worth doing as they werent pulling in the money/viewers they want however another channel may be well happy to have a target audience of 3.5 million viewers on a program that lasts half the time.

Its not that it was unsuccesful it jut may not have hit the amount of people they wanted to hit. Diversuity is great but doesnt always work and every thing must be quantifiable.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Re: Not sailing

I would suspect, would like to know if Pindar had made the film or sponsored it themselves, its possible.

What gets my goat with regard to sailing on TV is that coverage of the Whitbread/Volvo races have always been good, good TV most could follow. Yet despite this country clearly doing well with sailing at international level, McAurther, Ainslee etc we get little regular coverage. The TV companies will say its a minority interest sport.

The real reason is more likely to be that it is easier to stick a camera up at the end of a snooker table than it is to follow the racing at Cowes week, Cork etc in a RIB. Also the audiance who are likely to watch sailing are going to be out there doing it; as for snooker, if anyone can sit there and watch a whole competion, they will most likely sit and watch anything! Me, I'd rather scrap off antifouling than have to watch 10 minutes snooker!

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Re: Not sailing

....Diversuity is great ........

What exactly is Diversuity........some soprt of spotted dick in a scuba outfit?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>
 
Re: Not sailing

Typical! A dig at spelling rather than a structural, informative reply! I am sure we are all educated enough to see spelling mistakes ourselves - and generally they are typos and not a lack of knowledge of the English Dictionary.

I shall now sit back and wait for the abuse for that post.... /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Its 11.59am - lets open the beers...
 
Re: Not sailing

Wasn't complaining about it; I rather liked it so, in my terms, it succeeded. My point (I think) was that it plainly didn't push the right buttons at Mission Control, Shepherd's Bush, which is a pity because it probably means that it will be some years before they have another go at a boating magazine programme (putting aside the aaargh Narrowboating programme that occasionally appears on Satellite TV at 3.00 am).

I agree that we should be vocal about what we want, but the imperative for most channels is viewing figures, with a public service element trailing along far behind. No one has really found a way to capture the essence of sailing and powerboating on the small screen and, until we do, I don't think you'll see the current crop of reality shows and soap operas replaced by anything more to our liking. Ironically, "Howard's Way" is probably the nearest that boats have got to mass market acceptance on UK telly - but it was as much about Boating as "Dallas" was about the Oil Industry...........

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho
 
Re: Not sailing

Oh dear....you dont take hostages do you.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

I was not having a dig at spelling mistakes.........it was really a play on words....Divers=scuba and suity = suet pudding=spotted dick.........am I forgiven?

Probably not but at least i tried.......

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Re: Pindar

I agree with many comments, and perhaps those in the know can knock the film on a technical basis, BUT I really enjoyed it as anything on sailing is so rare on the screen.

No I don't race, but if the race is on water I will enjoy.

Why can we not see the coverage they have in Europe, on a break to Menorca I saw more coverage of sailing in one evening than I have seen in the UK over the last few years, sadly my Spanish does not exist, but if I could find those channel here then I might dig out the old language books

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Re: Maybe I\'m not explaining this well

The reason is it's unnecessary. From a broadcasters standpoint, the sailing demographic, all them AB's 30-60's BMW drivers, is already dealt with in other areas of broadcasting. Thats not just a concern of commercial companies either. The sailing topic is not cost effective/interesting to broadcast. So hit the same people with cost effective (easy to do) programming. Why knock yourself out chasing a small, fragmented, non London, elite clique.

I suspect if you start a campaign to get TV to show sailing you'll pretty soon find that each sailing interest group is really quite small. If the programmes are made by nonsailors no sailors watch them. If the producers are sailors the programmes don't have general appeal. it's a tricky circle to square. They attempt to do it through human interest, but, unless life is at risk, it's a bit weak.

In answer to your question "What do I want to see?" nothing. No sailing without purpose at all. If it's technical, engineering of a race yacht, has a narrative beyond sailing, ie. "Atlantic Coast" well fine, I'll find it on Discovery. Just watching people sailing? No thanks.

I can't be the only sailor who doesn't want to watch sailing on TV, am I?

I want more football on TV. I like watching football.



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Some thoughts

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

So, what sort of programme would you like to see.

What would make good content?

<hr></blockquote>

Here are some thoughts;

When producers come on these boards asking for anyone who is interested in making a television program we all shun them. Ok reality TV is crap, but there are people in 'telly' land thinking sailing, but they also obviously don't really know how to present it, so try to fit it into a current model.

I was recently watching a series of short films on Sky travel from a couple who sailed from Canada to the Med. Completely about cruising, lots on the boat and also the locations they visited. It was on at around 8 am and 4pm. I don't remember the name, but it was good escapism, even watching them stock up for the Ocean crossing was interesting. I learnt about long term cruising in my living room, that was great.

It worked I think, because the first thing people do when they step on a yacht is to think about far away places, it's exotic. The couple did their own filming and she did the narration. There are videos available. The boat was only around 35ft, so this was within scope of most.

Things they do wrong in 'Telly' land - Instinctively they go for super yachts or racing hybrids or all out carbon fibre racers; Hands up on here who has one or can afford one, Matt put your hand down you ain't that rich /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Programs need to be attainable, like the one a few months back about the two friends who owned the benny 32 and crossed with the arc. It showed us we could all do it. Believability!



As to lasts nights proggy - I liked it, although I did not like the way the crew in sweden treated her, they are the reason yachties have a bad name. She sat down and they all completely blanked her while playing with telephones. I could not imagine a situation ever where I would do that to another person. If that is race crews then you can keep it as far as I am concerned.

Just some thoughts..........

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>All New website</A>
 
Re: Maybe I\'m not explaining this well

If it is unnecessary from a broadcasters' perspective in the UK, how come Italy has a whole sailing CHANNEL, not just a programme. If they can justify it, finance it and deliver some interesting programmes (and some cr*p as well), why can't the UK?

God preserve us from more football! It's enough to drive you to.........well, sailing actually./forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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Re: Not sailing

I watched the prog last night, and enjoyed it immensely. By having a camera on board the boat, catching the action close up, the whole sailing experience was presented in a very vivid way.

On the other hand, I have watched the Volvo sponsored sailing programme on Sky Sports on occasion, and have found the coverage of the racing about as exciting as watching paint dry. It didn't matter whether it was supermaxis or dinghy racing, watching it from a shorebased camera completely failed to capture the excitement. Having monotone commentators doesn't help much either. The coverage of the Olympic sailing was a bit like this.

Perhaps having cameras actually on the boats catching the action as it happens would make it more real to the average viewer.

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Re: Maybe I\'m not explaining this well

Why knock yourself out chasing a small, fragmented, non London, elite clique.

I think you have aswered the question from a pessimistic perspective. Of course if we take the above phrase and used it for anything that was tough in life we would all cop out and be doing the same thing like sheep. Alan Priddy wouldnt have tried to take a 33ft RIB around the world, Neil Mcgrigor wouldnt be going round Britain to break his own record Bear Gryls wouldnt have crossed the Atlantic and so on and so forth. Most of these were done on a shoestring budget and the point was not to appeal to the above criteria but to break that mould and do something different profit making or not.

I think as far as the boating community stands you are in the minority wanting MORE football. Ask your self one question why does IPC magazines sell so many boating titles, because people are interested. If they can get the amount of viewing figures (more than F1) for a half hour program about a boat show then I think (especialy compared to the cost of covering F1) there must be something in there for the TV channels to work something out and get us what we want.

It all adds up but the missing item is the program itself.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Re: Not sailing

Tony

Think yourself lucky, this lady would eat you for breakfast and spit out the pieces she dont like. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Re: Maybe I\'m not explaining this well

Exactly and the Italians have a smaller amount of boaters in comparison to the UK although it is getting bigger.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Re: Not sailing

No the same people will be covering the London boat show (Televisionary) and will fit the same remit given to them by Carlton so we are bound to see more celebs buying stuff most people cant afford (shutup Matt) and covering things with a glance rather than a review.

The only way to vote is with your finger. If they dont reach the figurs they need they will have to rethink. If you cant risk not watching just in case then at least voice your disgust if you think its crap. If you dont say anything then they wont know and will continue to pat themselves on the back.

I suspect lots of people read this thread but only a handful are willing to put a reply in. That is why these pople think they are doing us a service.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Re: Not sailing

...Think yourself lucky, this lady would eat you for breakfast and spit out the pieces she dont like.....

Lady ???? ...... (...my turn to sit back and wait for abuse now,,,,,,/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>
 
Re: Another programme

>>> Forget Cathys' ability, or 'was it good TV', Pindar and Alphagrapics got a hour of prime time TV, that was worth a fortune to them.

I'd say that the TV programme was worth very little to Pindar/ Alphagraphics. Most people don't even know what Pindar do. It's hardly as if (at Alphagraphics' prices) every yacht club in the country will rush out and switch their club magazine's printing. Pindar's target is doubtless procurement managers with million-pound plus print budgets and the yacht serves as a focus for corporate hospitality and motivational talks. Canada Life never earned name recognition for sponsoring Steve Redgrave.

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