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I think one of the major gripes on C4 is not showing enough of the horses beforehand. I don’t think this will change on ITV and we may see even less. I think the programme will be dumbed down with more celeb chat. History shows ITV don’t usually do very well at sports.
ITV will definitely take this downmarket. Expect lots of celebrities with little knowledge of the sport, plenty of comps with 50p a minute phone lines and there’s bound to be some sort of reality tie in as well. Trainers in tears begging viewers to allow their horse in the Derby as we have vote one out of the field each week?
Still, many of you will be happy as long as it’s not on Channel 4.
Perhaps we should have a presentation team of Tom O’Ryan and David Cleary instead?
It appears that some people think we are still living in 1975. In many ways the racing might have been better but the presentation would never have stood the test of time. The days of the likes of Julian Wilson and co are thankfully long gone.
Trainers in tears begging viewers to allow their horse in the Derby as we have vote one out of the field each week?
Well, funnily enough, they do that (or did a year or two back) in Sweden to choose the last runner in the Elitlopp.
I should say even though my comment re dumbing down and Matt Chapman was slightly tongue in cheek I do think he could be a good fit for ITV coverage and he is probably the type of presenter, moreso than any of the current crop, who could make the sport attractive to the more casual viewer.
Although he can sometimes go OTT (and that is my main frustration with him) he isn’t afraid to criticise, which is refreshing, and he can be a very good interviewer (again when he doesn’t go too OTT) at least he is passionate about the sport. So I would have him as the main presenter with The Cat as secondary presenter when Chapman isn’t available and maybe bring in Kyle as co-presenter for the big ones.
Sean Boyce could be the betting man. I’d have Lydia Hislop as the main paddock presenter with Jonathan Neesom as the Jumps guru and Steve Melish as the flat guru.
As for commentators, they don’t need dedicated commentators, just use the course commentary, the general standard of commentary nowadays is good enough so any of them are capable of being the mainstream commentator – plus (and most importantly) if they use the course commentator there will be none of the ridiculous handing over to the so called experts mid-race for their opinions.
I was very shocked when I saw the announcement about ITV taking over, despite the speculation, and suspect that it will not ultimately be good news.
I suspect that people will see changes that will not be for the better. Critics of Nick Luck, Graham Cunningham and Mick Fitzgerald will undoubtedly get their wish and see them disappear but I won’t count any chickens about seeing the back of Tanya Stevenson belatedly, knowing her ability to defy the odds and keep surviving. I doubt Clare Balding will be involved.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see John Hunt get the call for ITV as main commentator, despite Simon Holt being excellent. They are bound to have their own main commentator and will probably not just rely on taking the course commentary.
Hunt was named broadcaster of the year recently and his appointment would no doubt be welcomed on this forum by many including Yeats.
I doubt the new ITV team will cover nearly as many meetings and I suspect a lot of people will rue the day that Channel 4 lost out.
I agree John Hunt would be an excellent choice as their main commentator, just ahead of Simon Holt, although they might opt to do without a “tied” caller.
The general standard of race commentating is so high these days that it probably isn’t such a big deal as it used to be.
It would be good if they surveyed people on the various horse racing forums for their opinions.
Admirable suggestion. However the racing media seem to regard anybody writing on a forum as “pocket talking scum”. They all have their annually-renewable season tickets on the gravy train and anybody that deigns to criticise them results in the forming of squares to protect said season tickets, along with the person criticising being called a “nutter”.
I hope ITV do return to the old guard with the likes of Chapman brought into to replace them when the time comes.
However Richard Fitzgerald was at the centre of the deal and I cannot help but feel he was behind the RUK influenced team which now dominate the C4 coverage. So with him still at the helm is there not a chance his influence on the ITV coverage will still be significant, and he will make sure his “boys and girls” get jobs?
It would be good if they surveyed people on the various horse racing forums for their opinions.
Admirable suggestion. However the racing media seem to regard anybody writing on a forum as “pocket talking scum”. They all have their annually-renewable season tickets on the gravy train and anybody that deigns to criticise them results in the forming of squares to protect said season tickets, along with the person criticising being called a “nutter”.
I hope ITV do return to the old guard with the likes of Chapman brought into to replace them when the time comes.
However Richard Fitzgerald was at the centre of the deal and I cannot help but feel he was behind the RUK influenced team which now dominate the C4 coverage. So with him still at the helm is there not a chance his influence on the ITV coverage will still be significant, and he will make sure his “boys and girls” get jobs?
RMG and the jockey club hate Chapman there is no chance he will be head of itv coverage he tweeted last night that he was hoping itv liked him unlike C4, but RMG have the majority of the courses shown on itv and I think it’s going to be Oli Bell, Tom Stanley or even that awful Chris bloke.
RMG made sure Matt Chapman was banned from commentating on their courses he has few friends in the RUK circle.
I agree John Hunt would be an excellent choice as their main commentator, just ahead of Simon Holt, although they might opt to do without a “tied” caller.
The general standard of race commentating is so high these days that it probably isn’t such a big deal as it used to be.
I know I am in the minority of people who can’t stand Simon Holt’s voice it bores me to tears but itv really need a clean slate complete new presenting team, complete new commentator and betting experts.
itv4 showing will be studio based so maybe they will have two teams one for live coverage and one for in studio.
I would like to see David Fitzgerald or Gareth Topham as lead commentators.It wouldn’t surprise me to see John Hunt get the call for ITV as main commentator, despite Simon Holt being excellent. They are bound to have their own main commentator and will probably not just rely on taking the course commentary.
Hunt was named broadcaster of the year recently and his appointment would no doubt be welcomed on this forum by many including Yeats.
A bit premature to celebrate just yet Crusty.It will all depend on who is making the decisions, hopefully none of the last 2 production companies for C4, you’d have to question anyone’s judgement who thought Tanya was best to do the betting.
My understanding is that RMG wont have any input, it will up to ITV and the production company if they employ one. Mark Pougatch could be a possible with him currently in favour at ITV. Hopefully he can put in good word for ex colleague at the BBC, Hunty, if he is.
Think Chappers would have been in with a much better chance if Sky had got the contract, it all depends if the new people like him. He’s supposed to be even money to be signed up, that seems a bit skinny to me.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see John Hunt get the call for ITV as main commentator, despite Simon Holt being excellent. They are bound to have their own main commentator and will probably not just rely on taking the course commentary.
Hunt was named broadcaster of the year recently and his appointment would no doubt be welcomed on this forum by many including Yeats.
A bit premature to celebrate just yet Crusty.It will all depend on who is making the decisions, hopefully none of the last 2 production companies for C4, you’d have to question anyone’s judgement who thought Tanya was best to do the betting.
My understanding is that RMG wont have any input, it will up to ITV and the production company if they employ one. Mark Pougatch could be a possible with him currently in favour at ITV. Hopefully he can put in good word for ex colleague at the BBC, Hunty if he is.
Think Chappers would have been in with a much better chance if Sky had got the contract, it all depends if the new people like him. He’s supposed to be even money to be signed up, that seems a bit skinny to me.
As what must be 90% of the courses itv will broadcast from will be RMG I can’t see how they won’t have a say and I doubt they want Chapman wondering around their courses they don’t even like ATR standing in the Cheltenham carpark every year.
I see the RP speculating today that someone like Mark Pougatch or John Inverdale might be involved (there was mention of J Kyle, but I think that would be a huge and horrible mistake: I know he has a TV ‘personality’ to play on his show but I find the guy detestable and his show the most exploitative thing on TV)
I’m not aware of too much of the TV work of Pougatch (I’m not a football fan) or Inverdale, but find them generally excellent on radio. Inverdale is one of the most charismatic and charming people I’ve met and I was amazed to find that this does not transfer to TV (a producer once told me the camera simply did not ‘like’ him). He comes across kind of okay on TV, but nothing at all like his true personality.
Pougatch, on radio at least, seems authoritative and very likeable with just the right tone of enthusiasm (about 4 octaves below Matt Chapman’s). If he is respected by football fans, he might be an excellent choice to help broaden racing’s audience. Of course there is a channel loyalty, but I think there’ll be a presenter loyalty too, perhaps similar to an author. If you like detective novels by a certain author who then brings out an adventure story, many would trust him enough to buy it. That’s the sort of presenter racing needs imo.
Also, I’d be very surprised if ITV don’t have a strong commercial ambition too, going well beyond your premium phone rate and questions like ‘which season comes after autumn?’. The Tote’s monopoly on Pool betting will surely come to an end soon, and there’ll be plenty rubbing their hands at the prospect of grabbing a piece of it. Will we see a return of the ITV7, but with it being licensed to bookmakers/pools? There are other such superbets and I’d be pretty confident ITV don’t want racing just for the advertising slots.
As to the punditry team – there are plenty around. I don’t understand the general coolness about Nick Luck; I think he’s a superb broadcaster, a top professional. I think all of the CH4 team do well aside from Tanya and the young lad (is it Tom?) who both seem well out of their depths. Mick Fitz has come on a ton as a broadcaster; the most improved by a long way imo.
It’ll be interesting to see who makes the cut.
Nick Luck is very arrogant as anyone who saw him being interviewed on ATR a few weeks ago by Tommo when his horse was running, total snob ATR not good enough for him to appear on.
ITV won’t touch Matt Chapman with barge pole if they have got any sense (he’s far too cutting edge, controversial and bombastic for a mainstream channel).
Simon Holt is being quoted as 1-10 to be retained as main commentator and I would be very glad if they did even if he can be a bit too “languid” as McCririck used to say. I doubt Richard Hoiles would be chosen over him.
I doubt Big Mac himself will be asked to rejoin ITV. He will be even more doddery and trembly by them, not to mention still being seen as obnoxious and too politically incorrect.
It would be great to see Mike Cattermole on ITV. I see that Emma Spencer is 1-5 to join ITV but I’d be amazed if ITV wanted her.
I hope they don’t bring in a non-racing-specialist or so-called personality host supposedly to appeal to non-racing fans but I suspect they will and we will end up with a huge dog’s breakfast of a programme that will have viewers wishing they were back to the disciplined, if admittedly often lacklustre, Channel 4 programmes we have now.
I fear the move to ITV is potentially a retrograde step. Just as many people regret that the often-criticised BBC don’t cover racing, we might in a year or so be regretting the passing of Channel 4’s coverage if, as I fear, the move to ITV turns out to be even more of a disaster.
Odds
Matt Chapman Eve
Jeremy Kyle 5-2
Oli Bell 5-25/1 John Inverdale
5/1 Mark Pougatch
5/1 John Francome
6/1 Derek Thompson
6/1 Alastair Down
6/1 Mike Cattermole
8/1 Ed Chamberlain
8/1 John Hunt
8/1 Sean Boyce
10/1 Tom Stanley
10/1 Tom Segal
10/1 Dave Nevison
14/1 Lydia Hislop
16/1 Kevin Blake
16/1 John McCririck
20/1 James Willoughby
20/1 Steve Mellish
20/1 Francesca Cumani
25/1 Ant and Dec
25/1 Michael Atherton
25/1 Hayley Turner
50/1
A bit premature to celebrate just yet Crusty.
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