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Screaming At The TV Screen
Is it just me, or was NBC's telecast of the Sony HD 500 on Sunday night from California Speedway running on seven cylinders or less?
Seems that critical, dramatic moments in the race were missed because the cameras and airtime were devoted to what amounted to drivel.
For example, while Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were making spirited charges back to the front, NBC diverted the viewers from them to "run back through the field." Cameras were aimed at 10 or 12 other cars one at a time while pit reporters divulged the status of each. Mostly, this amounted to the annoying, repeated-endlessly revelation that the cars were either "tight going in, loose coming off" the turns. Or vice-versa.
I found myself screaming angrily at the TV screen, "Tell us what Kahne and Earnhardt are doing! What's happening at the front of the field!?"
When NBC finally broke away from the rundown, anchor Bill Weber announced that Kahne now was leading with Earnhardt in second place. The passes that put them in those positions weren't shown.
I know the tendency of most fans/viewers is to blame the guys in the booth for such sloppiness. In this case, that was Weber and cohort/analyst Wally Dallenbach Jr.
But it's not their fault. The blame lies with the person directing the telecast, as they say, "from the truck." The booth reporters are at his command and mercy.
Whoever was directing Sunday night did a disservice to NBC's audience, which I suspect numbered in the millions.
There were other miscues.
We weren't given much detail on the bobble with the lug nuts during a late pit stop that doomed Jeff Gordon's chance to win.
Nor was there satisfactory coverage of what was causing Mark Martin's strong run to fade at the end.
Both incidents could prove pivotal in these two drivers making "The Chase" for the Nextel Cup championship during the season's final 10 races.
Several friends here in Mooresville, N.C., where I live, were as frustrated as me. Said one, Joe Burden, who has followed NASCAR since the 1950s, "I got so disgusted I turned the TV off and went to bed. I didn't know that Kahne and Earnhardt eventually finished 1-2 until I got my newspaper the next morning. It takes the fun out of watching when you see crappy coverage like that on Sunday night. If NBC can't do any better, instead of watching next time I'll go play golf or go fishing."
So, no, it isn't just me.
It was a pathetic production.
September 5, 2006 in Racing | Permalink
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Comments
Damned if you didn't hit that nail square on the head.
Posted by: Hogrider | Sep 5, 2006 11:51:56 AM
Psst. It's Kahne, not Khane. :) And yeah, that was frustrating,just as much as two minutes of racing, 5 minutes of commericals. I was recording it and was constantly pausing the recording to eliminate commercials. I understand the need for them, but it is getting ridiculous.
Posted by: Melody | Sep 5, 2006 11:59:59 AM
How right you are. It's not just the networks causing people to turn off their tv's.
My Dad has been watching NASCAR forever. He is 70 and has been a true fan through all the years. Between the crap with the Chase, taking races away from good tracks, and the coverage of the races not being the best, he has now said he doesn't care at all about NASCAR.
NASCAR needs to wake up and remember who put them in the position they are in. The FANS!! If it wasn't for us, NASCAR would not be the billion dollar business it is. If they ignore their roots, they will lose fans.
Posted by: Kristy | Sep 5, 2006 12:00:35 PM
ESPN 20 years ago always found the crash or the wild passes for 1st, 12th, or 25th spot. So nowadays with the better technology there should be no excuse for poor footage.
Posted by: Scott | Sep 5, 2006 12:04:50 PM
My dad and brother have also given up on NASCAR because of the new rules BS and the endless commercials. I started keeping track of how many laps are covered over by commercials and I discovered that you literally see 60% of the GREEN FLAG racing...that's not counting the caution laps that are covered over by ads...so millions of viewers tune in to see half of an event. That won't go on forever.
Posted by: KurtMan | Sep 5, 2006 12:29:32 PM
No it wasn't a pathetic production, it's you refusing to be satisfied with what you're getting.
The coverage was fine - it's the fans who dislike it who have it all wrong. They need to just shut up and take what they're given, because it can't be done better.
Scott, ESPN never "found the crash or the wild passes" 20 years ago or now.
Posted by: Mike Daly | Sep 5, 2006 12:38:30 PM
We are continually told there is 'good racing all over the track', and fans shouldn't complain that tracks like California, Chicago, and Kansas produce dull races. But, if fans aren't ever shown on television where the racing is, why should we believe it? I'm not going to trade in my Bristol tickets for a race at Cali anytime soon. Would you?
Posted by: SallyB | Sep 5, 2006 12:47:09 PM
I couldn't sit without comment on this, MD has got to be kidding about being satisfied with what we get, I went to bed at 10:00PM and decided I would see as much on Victory Lane or Inside Cup as I was seeing between commercials on SAT nite. Can't really believe they could of gotten a full "10" positions going "Thur The Field between selling future NFL presentations and NAPA Spark plugs while I was Watching
Posted by: DLQ20guy | Sep 5, 2006 1:02:12 PM
Sorry "Thru The Field" we could use a "Spell Check Feature" in this comment box
Posted by: DLQ20guy | Sep 5, 2006 1:04:54 PM
I did notice at one point...when I awoke form my nap...that they broke away from commercials to cover "Green Flag" pitstops!...someone was thinking...and how about an "attaboy" for Reed Sorenson for goin for broke?
Posted by: Tbfka#5 | Sep 5, 2006 2:29:03 PM
I have watched Nascar racing for over forty years and I'll be watching (recording so I can fast forward through all those commercials) the race at Richmond this weekend. Then that's it for me and Nascar. Sure I'll probably still watch Bristol and some others but the days of watching every race are over for me and I find that sad. We all know what the problems are but no one at Nascar even acknowledges that there IS a problem. A new points leader for the first time since April and NBC didn't even interview him after that snoozefest at California. Passes for the lead, pit stop bobbles and we're TOLD about it but not allowed to SEE it. Kahne and Junior side-by-side on pit road and Kahne gets caught speeding. Drama Queen Bill Weber's "issues" and on and on it goes until the frustration level finally peaks like this week. I think Richmond is a good time to cut it off because, as far as I'm concerned, the points leader at the end of that race is the real Champ. Think about what a great points battle we'd be having between Kenseth and Johnson if it weren't for the artificial leveling of the playing field. It almost, no, it does seem to me like Nascar has been trying to get rid of us long time fans. It looks like WE are another example of Nascar's success.
Posted by: ron | Sep 5, 2006 2:39:59 PM
Hey didn't David Poole say a couple of weeks ago that NBC rarely misses anything. I think we once again have proof he put his foot in his mouth. Now NBC rarely catches anything, except of course the commercials..
Posted by: David | Sep 5, 2006 3:08:38 PM
I forgot, Mike Daly must be trying to keep his job at NBC? NBC - Now Back to Commercials. Nascar can con brain dead fans like you but I'm done and I get the feeling I'm not leaving alone.
Posted by: ron | Sep 5, 2006 3:34:11 PM
Sorry Mikey Daly (little MonkeeBoy), but that coverage just plain stunk. I was more frustated than a legless Ethiopian watchin a donut roll down a hill.
Posted by: LarryTheCableGuy | Sep 5, 2006 3:34:34 PM
Racing has never been covered well, and probably never will be. It's impossible by the very nature of the sport, everything happens fast and at the same time. If they don't go through the field, then fans complain that they didn't give any coverage to those teams that aren't running up front. If they go away from the front runners to go through the field then fans will complain about what was missed while they were away. A professional racing journalist worth his salt, should understand that and be able to explain it. Nope...easier just to throw somebody under the bus, and cast blame.
Complain, complain, complain. I remember a time when journalists used to get off their cushy seats and go out to get real stories. Now they just find something to complain about. Not all the negatives in NASCAR today are coming from the office in Daytona. If you no longer are finding this sport fun to cover, and only see negatives everywhere you look...then maybe it's time to give it up and retire to the old cogers couch. Racing is every bit as exciting and fun as it ever was. It's just that some people are getting old and cynical. That doesn't mean they should get a free pass to rain on everybody's parade because it's not like it used to be.
As for ESPN, it wasn't all that great. People remember it better than it was. Many of the same people that are getting the raspberries today, are ESPN born and bred. I guess I'm the only one that remembers that Bob Jenkins found it completely necessary to tell me the "points as they are now" 50 laps into the 4th race of the season, and if I missed it, he was sure to tell me several more times during the course of the event. See it's not only the journalists that are guilty of lazy reporting.
Posted by: Marysafan | Sep 5, 2006 4:02:50 PM
I will continue watching the races and thank God NBC/TNT will only be doing 7 races next year. I think I can handle through the field, Bill Weber and Wally Dallenbach 7 times next year if I can get through the next 10 races.
And Ron, you have NBC wrong. It stands for Nothing But Commercials.
Posted by: judyinlogan | Sep 5, 2006 4:09:56 PM
Where have you been, this has been going on for the last couple of years. The only way to keep up to the minute on the race is to listen on the radio. The TV coverage is pathetic. I just love hearing about 15th place when a lead change is going on. Its time to get rid of most of the current main TV script readers, commercial introducersand the directors.
Just my dang 2 cents, dagnubbit!
Posted by: red seedless | Sep 5, 2006 4:18:24 PM
Everyone says year after year, "if NASCAR doesn't remember who made them big, THE FANS, then they will lose them". Yet, I don't hear of the people leaving in droves which is why France and NASCAR pull this crap by getting big dollar, poor coverage. They get all the money, the fans get all the frustration. Why bother?
I love racing as much as anyone else but this series has become a shadow of its former self, it's all about making the money and less about racing anymore. Just stop tuning in, IF they pay attention and IF the numbers go down then maybe they'll straighten out the coverage and other problems making the series lame. Doubt it will happen though, people will tune in and bitch about it all the time and wonder why they're unhappy. Save yourself the headache, you can still keep up on the standings on the web and all and free up your weekends by not watching. It will give you less headaches, more free time and you'll wonder why you ever put yourself through all the hassles with the poor coverage for all that time. Trust me, that's what I do.
Posted by: Moe | Sep 5, 2006 4:25:13 PM
The biggest change in coverage is that at ESPN the guys covering the race in the trucks, were RACE FANS. The NBC/TNT crowd views it as nothing different from tennis, golf, or cup stacking!
IT is just a job, sit there and do you little job until it's over, they have no passion for the sport.
The sport is losing a big part of its fan base and its luster, and NASCAR does not care if their fan base leaves, they will take the "fan of the week".
But TV ratings have been off most all year. THERE IS A REASON! The coverage is BAD.
If Mike Daly and Maryfan can not see how bad the coverage is now, they obviously never watched before the era of the new "Network TV Deal".
HOPEFULLY when ESPN gets some of the races back, it will get better. Well until they finally kill the sport all together with that "Car of Tomorrow" thing and the slow killing of anything resembling personality in the drivers.
Nascar now just makes me sad.
Posted by: Newman Fan | Sep 5, 2006 5:53:38 PM
IF as you all claim are leaving Nascar then your quitters. You couls actually start a complaint email, run it around the country for a month and have all he disgruntled viewers sign it. The mail it to BF as registered mail. Maybe just maybe , he will get to read it. The next method of being heard is to pick a couple of sponsors who are NOT car sponsors but run adds during a race. (I HATE IT WHEN THEY GO TO COMMERCIAL TO ADVERTISE ANOTHER TV SHOW.) And let those sponsors know that you will boycot their products. How many times have they interupted the race and shown the same commercial twice in a row. These are the worse.
Posted by: 328 | Sep 5, 2006 7:48:59 PM
I don't think we would mind the commercials so much if we knew what was going on,on the track,,I am so sick of hearing TOP 10-TOP 10 I could puke,43-43-43 thats how many cars race and they all have fans,there is enough time for all,they just need to quit talking so much shit,bad jokes,and dumb questions,They have no pation for their job,Listen to MRN they get it..Wally and Bill stated that Casey K. was trying for five wins no less than 6 times,we know already!!!It's like they don't prepare and run out of things to say ,so they repeat what they do know,many times just to make niose. The person over production should be booted back to lawnmower racing,The scrole across the top takes up 1/2 the screen,you get no feel for the speeds they are going,Its just bad from top to bottom,I thought they were pros?
Posted by: Charles | Sep 5, 2006 8:59:08 PM
Remember smilin BOB who wanted a big weeney,How sick was that,and they played them over and over and over,It got to the point, I didn't watch the race with my Daughter in the room.GO BIG $$$$$$$$$$$
Posted by: lynn | Sep 5, 2006 9:27:21 PM
I miss TNN!
Posted by: Jeff | Sep 5, 2006 9:36:49 PM
I thought we had heard, seen, and read it all from Mike Daly. Now, he presumes to tell Tom Higgins something about anything, but particularly automobile racing and TV coverage of it. Sheesh.
Posted by: David Green | Sep 5, 2006 10:18:53 PM
Mike Daly get a life. I am soo tired of seeing your post that you write to purpusly piss off the level headed fans. I heard you got your own blog. Do us all a favor and write your non-sense on there. NBC is the worse when it comes to Nascar coverage..and all the fans in TV land except Mr. Daly can see it. Mind you, Mike Daly was the one that stated Pocono's races are better then Bristol..lol..what a dumb ass!!!..I too miss TNN's coverage with Buddy Baker and Ned Jarrett..and I miss ESPN (which is comming back real soon!!) Fox's broadcast has always been better, even though DW sometimes plays favorites, atleast Mike Joy can steer the ship pretty good and keep it a float. Bill Weber needs to go back and call the play by play for the high school foot ball games. Then maybe his irritating voice will really cause someone to finally put him out of his misery....Look foward to Richmond!!!!
Posted by: whyme? | Sep 6, 2006 12:13:05 AM
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