- Joined
- Jun 3, 2009
I think this question needs to be contextualized in a larger debate (meaning, how should the ISU in concernt with media corporations market figure skating) but I think this specific example of two commentaries have different effects on the audience is the clearest I can think of to demonstrate the difference between good and bad.
The Skate: Rahkamo/Kokko, 1995 Worlds, FD
The Bad: BBC Eurosport
Right of the bat, they signal a pretty massive bias with their "Spot of trouble comment." They're actually silent throughout the entire performance and they you enjoy it which is a definitely plus. But there's so little content in what they actually say. They keep emphasizing how the audience reacts ("are they all wrong?"), how nice they are ("just for their character they should win it"). There is massive booing from the audience ("not one of the judges has given them the verdict) and they say "needs no more words from Chris and I."
WRONG. We need to know why the judges (unanimously, I might add) prefered the G/P over the Finns. Leave it dangling like they did, you're inclined to view it as an unfair result.
The Good: Sandra Bezic (yes, I said Sandra Bezic)
They talk more during the performance, but it's not bad chatter. And they don't talk that much (just that the Eurosport guys were dead silent). But listen to what she says after the performance was over: "It was well skate and lots of fun to watch but far too simple.... I love watching them , but this is too simple" and "they [the judges] have rules to follow." Even when her co-announcer tries to goose the tension or tries to make it seem like more than it is, she won't have it. The same program, the same audience, the same result. But for the television viewers, you leave Sandra Bezic understanding that yes it was fair.
The Skate: Rahkamo/Kokko, 1995 Worlds, FD
The Bad: BBC Eurosport
Right of the bat, they signal a pretty massive bias with their "Spot of trouble comment." They're actually silent throughout the entire performance and they you enjoy it which is a definitely plus. But there's so little content in what they actually say. They keep emphasizing how the audience reacts ("are they all wrong?"), how nice they are ("just for their character they should win it"). There is massive booing from the audience ("not one of the judges has given them the verdict) and they say "needs no more words from Chris and I."
WRONG. We need to know why the judges (unanimously, I might add) prefered the G/P over the Finns. Leave it dangling like they did, you're inclined to view it as an unfair result.
The Good: Sandra Bezic (yes, I said Sandra Bezic)
They talk more during the performance, but it's not bad chatter. And they don't talk that much (just that the Eurosport guys were dead silent). But listen to what she says after the performance was over: "It was well skate and lots of fun to watch but far too simple.... I love watching them , but this is too simple" and "they [the judges] have rules to follow." Even when her co-announcer tries to goose the tension or tries to make it seem like more than it is, she won't have it. The same program, the same audience, the same result. But for the television viewers, you leave Sandra Bezic understanding that yes it was fair.