ESPN's "look 'o FS" getting better.... | Golden Skate

ESPN's "look 'o FS" getting better....

SeaniBu

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 19, 2006
Do you like the slight changes????

Is it going OK for everyone, do you like the direction? Is it so slight no one really is noticing. Are there things missed, wanted. To tell the truth, I have got to believe this stuff is being read here. TOO MANY coincidences happening all at once.

My thought though is the "look" is getting to be a little more on speed with the other popular sports, rather then using the same old "shlep" as in the past. It is slight and I think they are doing a good job while maintaining respect for the "older" or "traditional" crowd as the slight appearance changes occur.

Original post -
I really think the production crew at ESPN has been doing a much better job with the "look" that it presents in FS. The into's, fluff, etc... it is taking on a SLIGHTLY new look with more emphases on excitement. Nothing against the "blue hairs" (just what we called the 60 + age groups in the art academy) crowd, but the change is necessary to generate growth. You shouldn't focus on the oldest viewer crowd if you are thinking of the future to be sure.

Music and all is getting a slow moderate but headed the direction of the future rather than clinging to the past. This is just the look of broadcasting, but I think it to is making a difference.

What do you all think, see, like or don't like.


BTW, Peter, your last 2 interviews were much better. Thanks for reading???

Mods - does this belong here? or should I have put it on the Cafe?
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
Can't help but have some jealousy over Terry Gannon getting all these gigs to great cities of the World, and all he has to do is rehash everything we already know. Oh well, my next life.

Joe
 

Jhar55

Medalist
Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Blue Hairs! That's what we call the eldery ladies that ride the bus and come to the Casino, get out of their way and stay off their nickle slots :chorus:
BTW I haven't really noticed any change, at least not yet.
 

CzarinaAnya

Medalist
Joined
Aug 29, 2003
Can't help but have some jealousy over Terry Gannon getting all these gigs to great cities of the World, and all he has to do is rehash everything we already know. Oh well, my next life.

Joe

I know it! I want his job, as well. :)
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
I do notice there's less "fluff" and "filler time" in the broadcasts but I don't notice much change outside of that. I get the impression that skating on ESPN is covered like a show rather than a sporting event. What I mean is that they don't show the whole thing "uninterrupted"...they seem to break from this part of the competition to this other part, and so on. For example I thought NBC's Olympic coverage of the freeskate was covered like a sporting event and I think THAT added excitement to the competition, even though it wasn't shown live (but I was NOT spoiled, so that was even better). ABC's live Nationals coverage is a similar style- it's being covered like a sporting event (it's happening "in sequence"), and that's fun. Show more backstage footage instead of more commercials (again, like NBC did during the Olympics). A couple of fluff pieces are OK by me- the way they're doing it now is fine IMO.

Your opinion may vary, but that's my take on it. They need to start covering ALL these comps like sporting events, and even if they can't show them live, don't delay the broadcast for more than a couple of days. I think the time they showed the Skate America ladies' short was fine, but then why did they wait a whole week to show the free? See, things like that. Just show the whole thing at once or split the broadcast between the Sunday and the Monday after the competition. Also, any time you can, show some live coverage as well. Especially with people getting impatient and going on Youtube now, that'll likely boost ratings (along with the "sporting event" broadcast method I described above).
 
Last edited:

Wolfgang

On the Ice
Joined
Apr 9, 2006
Blue hair is cool, what can be a little disconcerting is the brown mixed with white plus pink and purple(?) streaks, topped off with some blondish 'highlights', complete the look with tight fitting rhinestoned and 'destroyed' jeans.......
Yes, she exists, and obviously thinks that 60 is the new 16........

Can't comment on ESPN, I live in the Stone Age with only over the air TV, but I sure wish they (= ABC) could bring themselves to show the entire competition just once.
Not just the winner and the Americans.
 

SeaniBu

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 19, 2006
What did you guys think when they aired the entire Petrova & Tikhonov without commentary?

:clap: :clap: :clap:
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
What did you guys think when they aired the entire Petrova & Tikhonov without commentary?

:clap: :clap: :clap:

Can't comment on that because I only care about the ladies.
shrug.gif
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
RD - I think many skating events at the Olys on NBC or CBS are done LIVE as they are for Nats on ABC. What one gets on ESPN are Tapes.

Joe
 

bostonskater

Rinkside
Joined
Apr 2, 2006
Can't comment on that because I only care about the ladies.
shrug.gif

ESPN clearly thinks that all viewers are like you - that hasn't changed. Hey ESPN!! Are you listening?? I only care about MEN and PAIRS!! Stop chacking good pairs for certain dreadful ladies... I name no names...
 

SeaniBu

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 19, 2006
ESPN clearly thinks that all viewers are like you - that hasn't changed. Hey ESPN!! Are you listening?? I only care about MEN and PAIRS!! Stop chacking good pairs for certain dreadful ladies... I name no names...

I have got to agree with that, I would rather see the good performances then the poor pros from the ladies.

BUT, What in the world would make you not want to see the ladies perform in Pairs and Dance? D&S T&M:love: :love: :love: And the ever present TANITH!! even if Ben is out there with her, her rarely blocks my view;) Oh and the "romance." Will alway be a fond memory to see Tat's face - :love: :love: - as she gazed into Max's eyes as he set her back on the ice, one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.:bow:

Your opinion may vary, but that's my take on it. They need to start covering ALL these comps like sporting events,

? I don't see that much of a difference of approach to tell you the truth. Particularly because FS is a "performance" sport.
 
Last edited:

Bill508

Rinkside
Joined
Mar 4, 2006
Problem with the "60 is the new 40" thing going around. The brain says 40 but the body says 60. :)
 

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
RD - I think many skating events at the Olys on NBC or CBS are done LIVE as they are for Nats on ABC. What one gets on ESPN are Tapes.

Joe

Torino was tape delayed for the entire US... so technically it could have been edited if the network so desired...

SLC was also tape delayed on the west coast... again could be edited if need be by producers...

IIRC, Scott Hamilton mentions CBS calling him back in in 94 (shortly after his father died) to re commentate part of the ladies LP... so it wasn't a 'live broadcast' in the states... and they had time to rework a story (it was a thing about controversial judging...)
 

Dee4707

Ice Is Slippery - Alexie Yagudin
Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Country
United-States
The one thing I noticed about coverage this year is that it looks like they put a thin plastic film over the camera lenses. The clarity is terrible. Other than I wished they would show more than the US skaters I wish they would do all the early spots. I liked it last year when they would show on Monday nights.

Dee
 

R.D.

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Wasn't the ESPN picture always inferior to that of ABC and other stations? It's no different than before, IMO. Now that ESPN runs ABC sports I also notice the ABC picture isn't as nice and crisp as it was before (but it still looks better than on ESPN).

RD - I think many skating events at the Olys on NBC or CBS are done LIVE as they are for Nats on ABC. What one gets on ESPN are Tapes.

Joe

Yes, but even though the Olympics were shown on tape delay they still showed it more or less in sequence like it was a real sporting event (save the jumping from sport to sport). IOW, the coverage doesn't have to be live in order to be put together nicely. However, I bet what ESPN likes to do is tape the broadcast and sit on it for 7+ days so they can chop and edit the heck out of it and create all those fancy fluff pieces and shows. There you go, a very good reason for the casual viewer not to take skating seriously as a "real sport".

If ESPN broadcasted every event like they did US Nats, I don't think we'd be discussing this right now.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Tonichelle

Idita-Rock-n-Roll
Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Wasn't the ESPN picture always inferior to that of ABC and other stations? It's no different than before, IMO. Now that ESPN runs ABC sports I also notice the ABC picture isn't as nice and crisp as it was before (but it still looks better than on ESPN).

I don't see how they can be, they're the same cameras :laugh:
 

SeaniBu

Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 19, 2006
If ESPN broadcasted every event like they did US Nats, I don't think we'd be discussing this right now.

That is a good point, but so often I see fluff pieces in other sports. I also believe (thinking the notion RD is presenting is totally valid and possibly helpful direction) the commentators need to comment less on "fluffy"crud. Focus more on the aspects of skating and less of what "Emily had for dinner."
 
Last edited:
Top