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Alan Lee writes a most pertinent article on this topic in the Times.
The link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ … 947956.ece
He makes a number of interesting points, in particular with regard to C4’s plans to drastically cut costs.
With racing having declared a few years ago that it has no monetary value in broadcasting terms (the only televised sport, so far as I know, that has done this), and the possibility/probability that the sponsorship of C4 Racing by Darley will dry up soon, I, for one, am very concerned for the future of televised racing on mainstream television. As Lee remarks, you can hardly blame the BBC for not wanting to pay for a sport that already pays a rival channel to broadcast.
I don’t know what the answer is, maybe a completely free-to-air digital channel that everyone can see without having to subscribe to some package or other. But that’s still not going to reach the wider audience that racing, or indeed any sport, needs to survive and prosper in the 21st century.
Well i would rather listen to dog bark at a cat than listen to Alistar Down so the fact he has been gasumped from the summer is just about a perfect news for me.
Less of Thommo maybe good for the health.
I would rather Nick Luck just did the whole presenting of the program and Catt/Spencer does the secretary job of annoying people at the racecourse. Big Mac is needed in the betting ring as thats the main reason i listen to CH4.
I don’t know what the answer is, maybe a completely free-to-air digital channel that everyone can see without having to subscribe to some package or other.
Didn’t Betfair want to sponsor such a channel when RUK started up but were turned downed by the BHA. Maybe someone could enlighten us as to their reasoning for rejecting the idea.
I’ve always been puzzled that such an unpopular sport as we are often told it is has 2 dedicated channels and have always thought it could be so more people can have their fingers in the pie.It’s very simple. He who pays the piper calls the tune. This used to be the big bookies, until most of them rolled onto the plane to Gib laughing their arses off. Now it’s the fast pic spivs in private boxes that grease racing’s palms, so I’d expect they’d dictate terrestrial coverage.
Expect to see the following:
1) Terrestrial coverage to be binned with the possibilility of ressurection once the analogue signal is switched off completely and an artifical delay can be added.
2) Courses prepared for their clients. Just as the Beverley draw bias was pushed down the A1, expect to see fences becoming much tougher and much more bedlam during races. The average chase will become much more like the Grand National, particularly at SIS tracks.
3) Continued blackouts, video rewinds, advert overides etc at the spiv’s flagship track.
Disturbing article from A Lee. But maybe a little too gloomy when refering to the "dubai accountants". In the scheme of things the sum involved is neither here nor there and not sure that the Sheik is going to be dictated to by some bookeeper.
Nice move with the presenters. That always needed better focusing and Lesely Graham certainly wont be missed by me
"Nice move with the presenters. That always needed better focusing and Lesely Graham certainly wont be missed by me"
Clivex,
I would gladly swop Lesley Graham with the ghastly Emma Spencer.
Regards – Matron
I would also gladly drop the awful Emma Spencer together with the wooden Tom Lee and see less of Tanya Stevenson and Lesley Graham. Not a huge fan of snobby Nick Luck but don’t know why Richard Hoiles isn’t used more.
Also totally agree how boring the Morning Line is nowadays, I hardly ever bothet to watch it anymore. They should replace it with what ATR used to do and have Robert Cooper and Claude Duval preview the day’s racing.
Anyone remember when the Jack "The Fox" Ramsden auctioned a night out with his wife, the lovely Linda? That fetched close to three grand, didn’t it?
I’d bust the bankroll if Jamie offered similar with Emmo. Can’t understand the problem with her myself.
I quite fancy Kate Miller too, but she has that threatening look about her. One suggestion out of place and instead of a flirty kiss, you’re on the receiving end of a tasty right hook.
The Morning Line? I’d keep Emmo. I’d dispense with the overexposed Nick Luck completely, and the cigar store Indian, Tom..er..Tom whatever. I’d keep Tanya on the exchanges and all the commentators, bar DT, Mike C and GG who have had their day in the sunshine. Ditto, Alistair Down, a pale shadow of the fire spitting Behan worshipper of three years ago. Cheers lads and thanks for all the memories.
Francome stays, Jim McG goes. I’d have the greek fella from Betfair running punting seminars and Stephen Miller from ATR doing features. I’d have a workout slot in the summer;(see "The Works")I’d have a poker slot presented by Vicky Coren and have a celebrity racing enthusiast every week discussing their love of racing, such as that Irish fella with the perm.
I’d ensure Channel 4 run a "Wayne Rooney Street Striker" style Reality Show next year where Netheads from various fora compete to become a regular Morning Line presenter. I’d have a go and be up against Big Dave Osborne and that. Who is game from here? Who are the beauties and who are the beasts? I’m lurving this new show…
And the ringmaster? Its gotta be Big Mac, the greatest racing TV presence there has ever been. In fact, I’d call it "Big Mac’s Big Saturday At The Races". I mean, who knows what a Morning Line is in TV land. The kids probably think its something to do with a cocaine hair of the dog. And that…
I would also gladly drop the awful Emma Spencer together with the wooden Tom Lee and see less of Tanya Stevenson and Lesley Graham. Not a huge fan of snobby Nick Luck but don’t know why Richard Hoiles isn’t used more.
Also totally agree how boring the Morning Line is nowadays, I hardly ever bothet to watch it anymore. They should replace it with what ATR used to do and have Robert Cooper and Claude Duval preview the day’s racing.
Pretty much agree with every word of the above. Unfortunately, Racing’s relationship with BBC & CH4 has never recovered from the old attheraces debacle. CH4 especially got their fingers badly burnt!
Give it a couple of years and the "crown jewels" will be all that’s left on "Traditional" (as there will be no terrestrial as such with the digital switchover).
I’d bust the bankroll if Jamie offered similar with Emmo. Can’t understand the problem with her myself.
Includes "extras"?
Channel 4 racing may or may not be going downhill! One thing is for sure,if we the public were to see the real programme,the one that hasn"t been rehearsed since the cock started crowing! I mean the real discussions when the cameras have all been unplugged and the cables all rolled up! Francome going on about how many stable girls he"s jumped on and the number of horses he"s jumped off! Barry Dennis stringing a sentence together,in an attempt to "Lay" Posh bird!MCcririck phoning his bookmakers just so Thommo can get the best prices before he leaves another loser on his tipping line! Mike Catt on about his chances on next years Strictly come dancing!Meanwhile Jimbo Mcgrath has just layed his Charity bet! And yet there"s Tanya still telling it like it is,unfazed by those around her, as sincere as ever!Keeping it together!Now that would keep us viewing!
I’d echo the comments made about Lesley Graham I find her continued employment astonishing.
As for Jamie and Emma… I hear that Jamie’s in no position to have an opinion on who she’s involved with. Separated are they not?
I think they’re keeping Lesley on because she smiles a lot – and inanely – and it also gives Barry ( cannot tip a loser ) Dennis the weekly opportunity to use the phrase, " posh bird "
Ditch her ! But do keep Barry ( cos he’s "one of us "
)While they’re at it, Tom Lee’s annoyingly misplaced smugness grates with me too – as does Tanya’s dress (no) sense and that nauseating nasal estuary tongue tied whine of hers.
Keep Mike Cattermole, Lord Snooty, Big Mac, Jim McGrath and Francome.
I thank you.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
I love Francome, Tanya [not her dress sense at all; she wouldn’t dress like that if she could help it..I get the feeling they’ve roped in a stylist…she’s got more important things on her mind than frocks and that’s picking winners] and Alice, who I think is really sincere and knowledgeable about horses. Must admit to finding Emma Spencer totally irritating, and it’s not a bitchfest because she’s pretty as I don’t think she is. I find the thought of no CH 4 racing awful as I don’t have Skye or anything. It may result in me having to take up a new hobby in my old age, like needlepoint or something.
I do agree that ML needs a freshen up, i remember a few years ago when they covered Haydock and Newcastle one December and the ML did not have a single look at any race that they were televising.
Why not do it from the course with invited racegoers as an audience like Soccer AM.
Bring back the Monkey Business and have some more competitions that make people tune in.
Why not get real racing fans as guests as we will be honest and not skirt around issues that matter.
Big Mac must stay, Francome too. Jim McGrath and Tanya I’d also keep. The rest to be honest offer nothing and need shipping out.
Lesley "Grinner" Graham is arguably the worst of the lot. Toss up between her and the incredibly boring Tom Lee.
I watched the show last Saturday the first time for months.
Get Matt Chapman on there him and Mac together are not only electric but they know their stuff as well, they bring racing alive and they will attract people more than anyone else. Richard Hoiles is greatly under-used.
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