DeuceOfClub
09-08-2007, 12:40 PM
As a die-hard NFL fan that watches 5+ games every week, I found myself too often frustrated with unprofessional coverage.
I realize that I might not be the target audience, since, most likely, I will watch the game even if it was only available on a 12” B&W screen with Bob Goldthwait in the booth. But there are few simple things that can improve the enjoyment of the game for everyone.
First, a pledge: I promise to be as patriotic as I can, to support our troops and our wonderful country, I also promise to take a Chevy to a test drive the next time I’m in the market for a pick-up truck. Please, please, please, please, please. No more “This is our country”.
Game coverage:
Having 72 cameras in the stadium is great. But during live game feed please use only the ‘traditional’ top sideline camera. Maybe I’m too old or maybe I’m too ‘old-school’ but when the game is on, nothing is better for me than the regular view. Keep your other views to replays and highlights. It would be nice to use as wide angle as possible but I realize not everyone watch the game on a big screen. The traditional angle allows us to get max information about what’s going on. Which lead us to my next point:
Graphics:
Every year the networks compete who can implement more computers enhanced graphic and other visual effects. It has become ridicules. Here are few Dos and Don’ts:
In game Scoreboard: keep it to minimum size please. CBS was the last network to change from a small corner behind the QB to a full running line. All we care about is the score, time left (quarter), down and to go. No reason to eliminate almost 10% of my screen.
Do not put “crap” on the field: One yellow line to indicate the first down marker is enough. Again, without stopping to think all the networks (it seems) adopted the “down and to-go” on the field display. There is zero added value, while it makes the game looks stupid. And who, on earth, came up with the “brilliant” idea of painting the entire red zone in Red when showing red zone statistic? Makes the entire screen look like poor Japanese animation.
Starting lineup: keep it short and informative, since they started implementing all those “great” features it's almost always spill into live game action. (why do I need to see a “video” of the player instead of a pictures is beyond me, yay Broncos’ O-line)
Other games scoreboard and fantasy line: just use common sense. No need to show baseball results from 10 hours ago over and over, use longer interval unless there are updates. I know that FF is huge today (I play it myself, though, I do not care about it during games) but stupid lines like “Ron Dayne: 3 carries 7 yards 0 TDs 0 receptions 0 yards 0 TDs” are just . . . stupid.
Commercial breaks:
I understand this is a necessity. But once again, please use common sense. NBC is currently the worst; I get the feeling we are not far away from Breaks during measurements. Every possible opportunity they go to a break. If you watch the season opener you might noticed at the end of the 1st quarter the Saints went ‘3 and out’ the Colts fielded the punt with 19sec’ to go, commercial break, one play later the quarter was over, commercial break.
Charge more for airtime, take longer breaks, but stay on the field when possible.
Take a longer break after score, but stay on the field after the kickoff!
Here is a constructive idea: run a sport ticker (a-la’ ESPN News) during commercial breaks with scoreboard and fantasy lines. You get more exposure to the commercials while improving the chance of interested costumers staying in front of the TV and not changing channels or running to their computers.
Personal and coverage:
Sideline reporters: I guess they are here to stay, but remember they are far less important than a good replay or a ‘game-break-update’. No reason to give airtime to a sideline reporter only to hear: “Still no information about Player X injury, we’ll get back to you as soon as we know something”
Studio coverage: I don’t care too much since it is happening out side of the game, but still: this is not a competition to see who can get more bubbleheads in the studio. Once again NBC lead the charts with almost 10 people fighting for time. 3-4 should be standard. At half time I’m more interested in highlights and scores, than WWE microphone-death-cage fight.
On location studios: Zero times zero of added value. If anything it looks amateurish when 6 experts fighting for air time while trying to ignore the weather elements and the local “objective” fans.
Now, on purpose, I avoided mentioning any names. I realized long ago that one's favorites are another most hated ones. But I think there is one thing we can all agree on: under no circumstances, not in the booth, not in the studio and not on the sideline. Not before not during and not after the game. Not to watch and not to listen.
Keep Tony Siragusa off my TV screen. Thank you.
Replays:
Replays are the most useful way to fill the gaps between plays, use it! When possible show us the ‘top-end-zone’ camera (game film) that allow to watch almost the entire field and action.
Also, there is no need for a 3sec’ screens flying and fireworks when moving to a replay (ESPN!) a quick ‘cut’ will do.
NFL Network games:
Enough! Experiment failed. Their coverage is the worst, the games are on Thursday for crying out loud, and still many of us cannot gain access to the network.
If it is a must, please join venture with someone that knows what he is doing and move the games to Saturdays.
Other Pet peeves:
“Miked-up”: Cool, if there are actually good sound bites. Stupid if not. No need to listen to players moaning and groaning. (Here’s a free tip: I love Champ as much as the next Broncos’ fan, but he is a terrible candidate to be “Miked-up”)
Updated pictures: you know what I’m talking about: Plummer Mustache or Terry Glenn comb-over to name a few.
ESPN’s MNF: Usually leading the way in actual coverage (best HD, good camera angles and replays, stat and info) but please, keep it professional: Lock the booth from the inside, get rid of Tony’s mail and other great “family entertainment” ideas.
Broadcasters, be prepared: you only have one game per week. make sure you are ready. Players names, team standing and record, recent news… you know, do your job.
Final words:
This might sound funny to some, but the main reason we watch football is to, how should I say it? To watch the game.
When there is flag, show us the infraction.
When there is a challenge, give us the replays.
When a spectacular play happens you can’t over show it.
And remember (most networks are actually very good at that) the game is above everything else. There are no excuses for missing live action.
Have a great, great season.
I realize that I might not be the target audience, since, most likely, I will watch the game even if it was only available on a 12” B&W screen with Bob Goldthwait in the booth. But there are few simple things that can improve the enjoyment of the game for everyone.
First, a pledge: I promise to be as patriotic as I can, to support our troops and our wonderful country, I also promise to take a Chevy to a test drive the next time I’m in the market for a pick-up truck. Please, please, please, please, please. No more “This is our country”.
Game coverage:
Having 72 cameras in the stadium is great. But during live game feed please use only the ‘traditional’ top sideline camera. Maybe I’m too old or maybe I’m too ‘old-school’ but when the game is on, nothing is better for me than the regular view. Keep your other views to replays and highlights. It would be nice to use as wide angle as possible but I realize not everyone watch the game on a big screen. The traditional angle allows us to get max information about what’s going on. Which lead us to my next point:
Graphics:
Every year the networks compete who can implement more computers enhanced graphic and other visual effects. It has become ridicules. Here are few Dos and Don’ts:
In game Scoreboard: keep it to minimum size please. CBS was the last network to change from a small corner behind the QB to a full running line. All we care about is the score, time left (quarter), down and to go. No reason to eliminate almost 10% of my screen.
Do not put “crap” on the field: One yellow line to indicate the first down marker is enough. Again, without stopping to think all the networks (it seems) adopted the “down and to-go” on the field display. There is zero added value, while it makes the game looks stupid. And who, on earth, came up with the “brilliant” idea of painting the entire red zone in Red when showing red zone statistic? Makes the entire screen look like poor Japanese animation.
Starting lineup: keep it short and informative, since they started implementing all those “great” features it's almost always spill into live game action. (why do I need to see a “video” of the player instead of a pictures is beyond me, yay Broncos’ O-line)
Other games scoreboard and fantasy line: just use common sense. No need to show baseball results from 10 hours ago over and over, use longer interval unless there are updates. I know that FF is huge today (I play it myself, though, I do not care about it during games) but stupid lines like “Ron Dayne: 3 carries 7 yards 0 TDs 0 receptions 0 yards 0 TDs” are just . . . stupid.
Commercial breaks:
I understand this is a necessity. But once again, please use common sense. NBC is currently the worst; I get the feeling we are not far away from Breaks during measurements. Every possible opportunity they go to a break. If you watch the season opener you might noticed at the end of the 1st quarter the Saints went ‘3 and out’ the Colts fielded the punt with 19sec’ to go, commercial break, one play later the quarter was over, commercial break.
Charge more for airtime, take longer breaks, but stay on the field when possible.
Take a longer break after score, but stay on the field after the kickoff!
Here is a constructive idea: run a sport ticker (a-la’ ESPN News) during commercial breaks with scoreboard and fantasy lines. You get more exposure to the commercials while improving the chance of interested costumers staying in front of the TV and not changing channels or running to their computers.
Personal and coverage:
Sideline reporters: I guess they are here to stay, but remember they are far less important than a good replay or a ‘game-break-update’. No reason to give airtime to a sideline reporter only to hear: “Still no information about Player X injury, we’ll get back to you as soon as we know something”
Studio coverage: I don’t care too much since it is happening out side of the game, but still: this is not a competition to see who can get more bubbleheads in the studio. Once again NBC lead the charts with almost 10 people fighting for time. 3-4 should be standard. At half time I’m more interested in highlights and scores, than WWE microphone-death-cage fight.
On location studios: Zero times zero of added value. If anything it looks amateurish when 6 experts fighting for air time while trying to ignore the weather elements and the local “objective” fans.
Now, on purpose, I avoided mentioning any names. I realized long ago that one's favorites are another most hated ones. But I think there is one thing we can all agree on: under no circumstances, not in the booth, not in the studio and not on the sideline. Not before not during and not after the game. Not to watch and not to listen.
Keep Tony Siragusa off my TV screen. Thank you.
Replays:
Replays are the most useful way to fill the gaps between plays, use it! When possible show us the ‘top-end-zone’ camera (game film) that allow to watch almost the entire field and action.
Also, there is no need for a 3sec’ screens flying and fireworks when moving to a replay (ESPN!) a quick ‘cut’ will do.
NFL Network games:
Enough! Experiment failed. Their coverage is the worst, the games are on Thursday for crying out loud, and still many of us cannot gain access to the network.
If it is a must, please join venture with someone that knows what he is doing and move the games to Saturdays.
Other Pet peeves:
“Miked-up”: Cool, if there are actually good sound bites. Stupid if not. No need to listen to players moaning and groaning. (Here’s a free tip: I love Champ as much as the next Broncos’ fan, but he is a terrible candidate to be “Miked-up”)
Updated pictures: you know what I’m talking about: Plummer Mustache or Terry Glenn comb-over to name a few.
ESPN’s MNF: Usually leading the way in actual coverage (best HD, good camera angles and replays, stat and info) but please, keep it professional: Lock the booth from the inside, get rid of Tony’s mail and other great “family entertainment” ideas.
Broadcasters, be prepared: you only have one game per week. make sure you are ready. Players names, team standing and record, recent news… you know, do your job.
Final words:
This might sound funny to some, but the main reason we watch football is to, how should I say it? To watch the game.
When there is flag, show us the infraction.
When there is a challenge, give us the replays.
When a spectacular play happens you can’t over show it.
And remember (most networks are actually very good at that) the game is above everything else. There are no excuses for missing live action.
Have a great, great season.