BBC2 9pm tonight

Re: Cant take any more of this...

I tend to agree with your point that it can be done with determination. Where there is a will, there is a way but that's the problem. I don't think there is any sign of a will. I was in France last week, checking my boat which I have laid up for the winter. I stayed in a hotel on the way down and when I switched on the tv, the first news item was the round the world race. You're going to wait a long time before that gets any sort of priority over here.

Our problem in Britain is that our media seems obsessed with ball games and team sports generally, with the emphasis on keeping the masses happy. The BBC doesn't need to chase ratings endlessly but I suspect that, with the right approach, sailing could enjoy a larger audience. They could make a start by dropping all that soppy music every time the camera cuts to a boat slicing through the waves, and treat the subject a little more seriously.

My other gripe is with cycling, which gets pathetic coverage here but is BIG in Europe. That's an example of an apparently minority sport that gets plenty of coverage abroad which in turn increases the public's awareness and interest.

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Re: Cant take any more of this...

It's not my place to mediate nor be anyone's apologist, but Peppermint did raise some important points about what those who commission progs look for - that's not to say they are "right" but that they make certain kinds of decisions.

They (he/she) raised the issue of how you present the drama of sailing visually on a flat screen. This is important because in developing a new audience you need to move beyond the detail that would interest only the aficionado. It's hard to do that with some sports. Horse events are physically constrained - in an arena or via predetermined fences - but sailing isn't (note his point about getting off-boat shots and setting the context of what's happening overall) - and racing around buoys is visually very confusing, even if you're out there, let alone trying to follow it in two dimensions. Rally driving has a similar problem - intrinsically, I would argue, the "chaotic" driving you see is far more interesting than an F1 prosession around a tarmac ring, but it just doesn't televise very well.

It's not about sailing being minority or boring, it's about how possible it is to make programmes interesting enough visually and dynamically that significant numbers of people will watch that rather than what they already have - in general, football, soaps and reality TV.

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Re: Another programme

Uisteach I don't take your comments as argumentative:

This is my interpretation of the situation -
Pindar isn't a household name nor, I suspect are they planning to become one. Their focus is more likely to be key clients or top salespeople - allowing them exclusive access to Emma; opportunities to sail with her; hear motivational talks from her...

This is hard work for any sports personality and to spend a lot of time on the yacht meeting Joe Public as well would have diluted the exclusivity and been exhausting when Emma should have been conserving her strength for the next leg.

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Make the programme a magazine....

I can understand the practical issues involved in showing sailing and racing but there is far more to boating than that. I would welcome a magazine style programme e.g. -

1. Follow progress of someone building his own boat - something relatively modest - say 30ft long. That should satisfy all the practical boat owner types and at the same time draw in people outside sailing who have an interest in DIY.

2. Five minutes devoted to a regional round up - people love local gossip - that should draw a few more non boaty types in.

3. Interviews with various people of influence in our sport - e.g. coastguard, RNLI and other 'personalities'.

4. Library footage of boats sailing in various races with informed commentary - not by some TV airhead with a pretty face and definitely without any music. We don't get music on F1, snooker, football, tennis etc - so why on earth are we treated to it during sailing programmes? Just give me the sound of the wind and waves please.

5. Cruising story - follow progress of person/couple/family living the dream complete with video footage - shot by amateurs and edited by pros to keep it alive. There must be plenty of people out there doing it.

6. Roundup of superyacht building - I mean - look at Mirabella V. What a lost opportunity to show the world we still make things.

7,8,9 etc ? - come on - all it takes is the will and a little imagination

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Re: Another programme

Hi Jeremy, Aye, sorry, didn't get the conext. You're right of course.

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Re: Make the programme a magazine....

Peter, Many of us would find some or all of that interesting, but would it attract a big enough audience for the investment? Would its viewing figures mean its survival after a pilot episode or two? This is the big problem. The question always to ask is, "would I invest MY money in this?" Would you invest a significant amount of your own money to set up a sailing series, as opposed to, say, buying in the next series of a successful crime title. If enough of you think that sailing is a viable TV option, then why not get together and write a business plan for a sailing channel on satellite TV. There's a gap there, maybe others are missing this chance?

I'm not being sarcastic, honestly I'm not, you may be right. This, though, is how and where decisions are made about programming. If you believe then invest and if you're right you'll make a lot of money, but if you're wrong then you might lose your reputation as a safe person to invest with, or even your house!

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Re: Crikey

It looks like you have actually read what I'm saying. That's completely taken me by surprise.

In my defence I'd say that my light slagging of Depsol followed his light mauling of my mate Dave. Up until then I can't see much slagging going on at all.

Yes you can make programmes about sailing but do they reach a quality that is worthwhile? The magazine format can be made to work, the Top Gear effort proved it. but will it satisfy the powers that be for any length of time. Well history says not.

Other subjects do get extensive coverage on dedicated channels, fishing, extreme sports and aviation are examples but they're not a very satisfying watch either.

It seems around here that a lot of people are looking for black and white, right and wrong answers. They don't exist. I'm not in TV so I don't have to solve the problem.

I hope you all get what you want. I just won't be watching it unless it's a lot lot better than any of the previous efforts I've seen.

Oh! and I hate bloody horses.

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Re: Make the programme a magazine....

Peter

this isd exactly what Powerskipper was trying to get people to do on her thread what would you like to see on tv.

Trouble is people dont want to pipe up and say and then when nothing turns up they moan. gladyou put your tuppence worth in.

This is what we need more of, all it takes is for some people to start talking in the right circles see what people like and then go for it.

Who knows someone may be watching this right now especailly with a title of BBC.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Re:Cycling

Your right. I can't get any sense out of my Dutch suppliers if there's a big race on.
Particularly if the Dutch competitors are in the frame.

We get a bit on Eurosport but none on mainstream TV. Though those city centre challenges were good to watch. Whatever happened to them I wonder.

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Re: Make the programme a magazine....

I don't view your reply as sarcastic but I'm too busy running my own business to get involved in another - I see that as the job of the great and good who run tv - and in the case of the beeb at our expense. My point is that the subject is a wide one and doesn't need to be restricted to a few boring shots of boats bobbing up and down and people shouting , getting wet and spraying each other with champagne at the end.

Incidentally, it was interesting to note from a survey I read recently that 60% of top tv execs read the Guardian and mostly live in north London. What hope does a sport have that's considered elitist?

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Re: Crikey

It wasnt a slagging I said your mate is of the type that prob reads Zoo etc etc. and I also reflected on it when I asked if I was right soit was speculation.

I dont think history is something to go on. People change and make history.

From your style of writing you sound like something out of Harry Enfields program.....naaah thats no good for the tv stick on the football, nnnnnnn I hate horses (other one says) stick on the sailing...nnaaaaah if its as good as the stuff I ve seen before I am not watching it nnnnnnnnn. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Sorry just my perception of what you would be like in person.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Re:No No

Sadly I'm a realist.

I don't have any dewy eyed visions about sailing, TV, or anything else. I did my banging of head and some heads against walls, years ago and learnt that it's best to go around them. Yes you can make a difference, with a bit of force, but you must choose time and place very carefully.

The Army have a saying. "Don't reinforce defeat" I suspect TV companies don't reinforce defeat either.

As to Harry Enfield I'm more like Stavross.

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Re:No No

Ok understand what you are saying.

If you were more like Stavros I think you would be up for the tv program /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:Cycling

Channel 4 were very cycling friendly for a while but dropped the Tour de France in favour of cricket. A shame because they covered it well. ITV have the rights now but coverage is a once a week graveyard slot.

Don't know about city centre cycling - good programme I thought. Ken Livingstone is pushing to have the Tour come to London - might make a diference to interest and coverage.


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