channel 4 racing - a "complete yawn"

[TightEnd]

agree or disagree?

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/david-redvers-sheikh-fahad-al-thani-qipco-blames-channel-4-for-shrinking-audience/1992014/top/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews

[AlunB]

Really interesting to see that point of view. I think the complete opposite.

It's a total yawn because it spends SO much time interviewing and talking to owners and various random people I couldn't care less about. It's completely alienating to anyone not interested in the whole "world of racing" bollocks, which I would guess is most punters.

Imagine if F1 was just interviews with the owners of the teams and people who worked in the pit lane. That's basically what CH4 racing is.

And saying less betting chat is daft. Let's be honest if you couldn't bet on it about 99.9% of people watching wouldn't bother.

[arbboy]

Yes.  The coverage is far too corporate.  They went too young with all the presenters and lost a lot of the expertise of the old timers.  Tanya could send anyone to sleep.  She still talks like the betting ring controls the betfair market and not the other way around.  She is clueless and should go and adds nothing to the product imo.  As for 50 minutes a show at the summer meetings with Gok Wan GTFO.  

Down/Big mac/Francome could all do with being brought back.  The experiment hasn't worked.  Viewing figures were declining in racing not because of the old school c4 mob but because the product in general is declining.  All c4 did by getting rid of the old timers was lose a lot of the older generations who actually still watch and enjoy racing who don't like the current format.

[The Camel]

I don't really like the fella, but Matt Chapman should be given a spin.

[The Camel]

Redvers "I do not think it's racing's fault. I believe racing provides the storyline. How the storyline is used, produced and sold to the masses is the job of the broadcaster."

That's all well and good for the Derby, Cheltenham, Royal Ascot, York, Grand National etc

But most CH4 races are crappy handicaps with no storyline apart from the betting.

[The Camel]

FWIW the only time I watch CH4 racing is when they show ATR meetings, which is basically Doncaster, Lingfield and Irish racing.


RUK >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CH4 >>>>>>>>>ATR


If Channel 4 want to appeal to the racing enthusiast they should employ the cream of RUK presenters, Cunningham was a good start. Now get Mellish, Machin (who is seriously underrated IMO), Neesom, the Dixon brothers, Eddie the Shoe and the luscious Lydia.

Forget ex jockeys. Apart from Cash Asmussen and Steve Cauthen (and Ruby Walsh actually - he was brilliant on RUKs Derby coverage) I've never heard one of them talk any sense at all.

[arbboy]

Lydia would be perfect for channel 4.  Clearly not arse kissing and corporate enough hence why the Balding/Spencer type birds keep getting the gigs.

I think the problem is they are trying to grow the product to people who are not interested in watching racing.  The focus on fashion at times is just comical how much time it takes up.  Do housewifes really check into just to watch the fashion and ignore the racing?  I just can't have the fashion angle adds any viewing figures at all.  Just pisses off the real viewers who couldn't care less about it.  High end ponsey fashion and the betting jungle are polar opposites where hardly anyone would be mutually interested in both.

The only time it was entertaining was when Tommo was chatting up/groping the birds who all wanted 5 seconds of tv time.

[The Camel]

Lydia would be perfect for channel 4.  Clearly not arse kissing and corporate enough hence why the Balding/Spencer type birds keep getting the gigs.

I think the problem is they are trying to grow the product to people who are not interested in watching racing.  The focus on fashion at times is just comical how much time it takes up.  Do housewifes really check into just to watch the fashion and ignore the racing?  I just can't have the fashion angle adds any viewing figures at all.  Just pisses off the real viewers who couldn't care less about it.  High end ponsey fashion and the betting jungle are polar opposites where hardly anyone would be mutually interested in both.

The only time it was entertaining was when Tommo was chatting up/groping the birds who all wanted 5 seconds of tv time.

General sports fans might well be interested in the biggest 4 or 5 meetings of the year.

But all the Saturday handicaps? No interest whatsoever.

If you try to attract a "new audience" you'll end up alienating the core supporters.

As I say, I doubt I have watched CH4 racing more than 4 times in the last 12 months. Mainly because the presenters irritate me and the whole tone is banal.

[AndrewT]

I'm pretty sure that moving coverage of anything from BBC1 to Ch4 would mean a sizable double digit drop in viewing figures, no matter what it was, irrespective of quality.

Remember, it's not all that long ago that TV racing meant John Parrott and Gary Wiltshire stinking up our screens.

[arbboy]

Lydia would be perfect for channel 4.  Clearly not arse kissing and corporate enough hence why the Balding/Spencer type birds keep getting the gigs.

I think the problem is they are trying to grow the product to people who are not interested in watching racing.  The focus on fashion at times is just comical how much time it takes up.  Do housewifes really check into just to watch the fashion and ignore the racing?  I just can't have the fashion angle adds any viewing figures at all.  Just pisses off the real viewers who couldn't care less about it.  High end ponsey fashion and the betting jungle are polar opposites where hardly anyone would be mutually interested in both.

The only time it was entertaining was when Tommo was chatting up/groping the birds who all wanted 5 seconds of tv time.

General sports fans might well be interested in the biggest 4 or 5 meetings of the year.

But all the Saturday handicaps? No interest whatsoever.

If you try to attract a "new audience" you'll end up alienating the core supporters.

As I say, I doubt I have watched CH4 racing more than 4 times in the last 12 months. Mainly because the presenters irritate me and the whole tone is banal.

I used to watch the morning line every week.  Can't remember the last time i watched it tbh.

I think racing needs to realise it is a niche sport now and it's heyday is long gone.  It is driven/financed by betting and 90% of casual punters under the age of 30 don't bet on racing anymore.  All about football/inplay/cashout etc etc.  Until they realise this shift they will keep finding excuses why the viewing figures are down when this is the real reason.  20 years ago if you wanted a bet you had to bet on racing pretty much and go to a betting shop to bet/watch it.  In 2015 that has all changed and racing hasn't moved with the new age.

[The Camel]

I'm pretty sure that moving coverage of anything from BBC1 to Ch4 would mean a sizable double digit drop in viewing figures, no matter what it was, irrespective of quality.

Remember, it's not all that long ago that TV racing meant John Parrott and Gary Wiltshire stinking up our screens.

And Willie Carson. In a sea of mediocrity he was the worst (NAP)

[arbboy]

Who would everyone have in the betting ring?  Tanya/Tommy Lee/Brian Leeson are just souless machine watchers.  Wiltshire too old.  Chapman probably a bit too OTT for main stream tv.

[The Camel]

Lydia would be perfect for channel 4.  Clearly not arse kissing and corporate enough hence why the Balding/Spencer type birds keep getting the gigs.

I think the problem is they are trying to grow the product to people who are not interested in watching racing.  The focus on fashion at times is just comical how much time it takes up.  Do housewifes really check into just to watch the fashion and ignore the racing?  I just can't have the fashion angle adds any viewing figures at all.  Just pisses off the real viewers who couldn't care less about it.  High end ponsey fashion and the betting jungle are polar opposites where hardly anyone would be mutually interested in both.

The only time it was entertaining was when Tommo was chatting up/groping the birds who all wanted 5 seconds of tv time.

General sports fans might well be interested in the biggest 4 or 5 meetings of the year.

But all the Saturday handicaps? No interest whatsoever.

If you try to attract a "new audience" you'll end up alienating the core supporters.

As I say, I doubt I have watched CH4 racing more than 4 times in the last 12 months. Mainly because the presenters irritate me and the whole tone is banal.

I used to watch the morning line every week.  Can't remember the last time i watched it tbh.

I think racing needs to realise it is a niche sport now and it's heyday is long gone.  It is driven/financed by betting and 90% of casual punters under the age of 30 don't bet on racing anymore.  All about football/inplay/cashout etc etc.  Until they realise this shift they will keep finding excuses why the viewing figures are down when this is the real reason.  20 years ago if you wanted a bet you had to bet on racing pretty much and go to a betting shop to bet/watch it.  In 2015 that has all changed and racing hasn't moved with the new age.

Sports fans are not going to watch CH4 Racing when Soccer Saturday is on the other side.

The only way to get young people into racing is to get them to actually go racing. A couple of winners on a nice summers day and they'll be back. And drop the ridiculous dress code at some racetracks, I wanted to go to Thirsk in the summer. I was turned away from the Members wearing a shirt and trousers, because I had trainers on.

No football shirts I understand. Possibly no bare chests. But that's it.

[The Camel]

Who would everyone have in the betting ring?  Tanya/Tommy Lee/Brian Leeson are just souless machine watchers.  Wiltshire too old.  Chapman probably a bit too OTT for main stream tv.

Meh, I would have someone watching the Betfair market. That's all that matters.

Never really enjoyed Tony Calvin, but he's been pretty good on RUK recently.

Certainly 1000 times better than Tanya, Mac or anyone else I've heard talking about betting.

[arbboy]

Lydia would be perfect for channel 4.  Clearly not arse kissing and corporate enough hence why the Balding/Spencer type birds keep getting the gigs.

I think the problem is they are trying to grow the product to people who are not interested in watching racing.  The focus on fashion at times is just comical how much time it takes up.  Do housewifes really check into just to watch the fashion and ignore the racing?  I just can't have the fashion angle adds any viewing figures at all.  Just pisses off the real viewers who couldn't care less about it.  High end ponsey fashion and the betting jungle are polar opposites where hardly anyone would be mutually interested in both.

The only time it was entertaining was when Tommo was chatting up/groping the birds who all wanted 5 seconds of tv time.

General sports fans might well be interested in the biggest 4 or 5 meetings of the year.

But all the Saturday handicaps? No interest whatsoever.

If you try to attract a "new audience" you'll end up alienating the core supporters.

As I say, I doubt I have watched CH4 racing more than 4 times in the last 12 months. Mainly because the presenters irritate me and the whole tone is banal.

I used to watch the morning line every week.  Can't remember the last time i watched it tbh.

I think racing needs to realise it is a niche sport now and it's heyday is long gone.  It is driven/financed by betting and 90% of casual punters under the age of 30 don't bet on racing anymore.  All about football/inplay/cashout etc etc.  Until they realise this shift they will keep finding excuses why the viewing figures are down when this is the real reason.  20 years ago if you wanted a bet you had to bet on racing pretty much and go to a betting shop to bet/watch it.  In 2015 that has all changed and racing hasn't moved with the new age.

Sports fans are not going to watch CH4 Racing when Soccer Saturday is on the other side.

The only way to get young people into racing is to get them to actually go racing. A couple of winners on a nice summers day and they'll be back. And drop the ridiculous dress code at some racetracks, I wanted to go to Thirsk in the summer. I was turned away from the Members wearing a shirt and trousers, because I had trainers on.

No football shirts I understand. Possibly no bare chests. But that's it.

Going racing once or twice a year isn't going to convert hardly any people into proper racing fans imo nowadays.  Racing is much more of a piss up now than when i first went racing in the early 90s.  We went there to gamble predominately from start to finish because of the 10% tax advantages of coming racing.  The vast majority of people go racing now to take selfies of how pretty they look to impress their mates and to get shitfaced imo (and of course see Status Quo or Abba afterwards).