The race in Fontana was, as usual, not even to the most exciting in years, but the coverage of ABC made things even worse.
The race in Fontana are usually pretty dull, as the race in Pocono, yes, depending on the weather sometimes are not so bad. But Fontana is just the problem that it is only two miles oval with 14 degree banking is. You could increase the banking, but that would drive up rates, which will also be no. And NASCAR has already made clear that they will have no further restrictor plate races. That would devalue Daytona and Talladega and by the way teams and drivers like the lottery not much. The race remains so boring, but also from crappy race can do something. At least if they are not shown on ABC.
The first race of the year at Fontana is on FOX and is produced together with the team speed (speed is one of FOX). Even that may not make a bad race well, but they use the long and boring races to really deep into midfield and sometimes even further to go backwards. Sun splits the intermediate result is like getting back to positions 1 to 15 and 16 to 30, if need be.
At ABC, everything is different. There, after the final top ten. It shows no more and no matter what rumkurven back there. Sunday there was again good examples: Junior was launched as 38ster, but he was only mentioned when he came into the Top Ten. Tony Stewart lost a lap because Speedings. This has been studiously ignored until later interspersed short and properly explained, it was again only when Stewart showed up again. From 10th place, it seems to be no race for ABC more. Therefore it was all (!) Pit stop by Jimmie Johnson and accompanied him on his lonely journey around long at the top.
This is not only boring, because in Fontana forward in the long runs, doing nothing, but it is an outrage against the small teams that are responsible for the NASCAR just as important as Hendrick and Co. Sure, even the back does not do much in Fontana, but should be interesting, for ABC to show a few overtaking? A Stewart, a junior or a Kurt Busch, who dig through the back of the field names are always appeal to the fans.
It's always a pity to see how the coverage changed over the course of the year. FOX, TNT and Speed set the bar high. They report with some Hemdsärmeligkeit, a deep knowledge and it does not feel that they hold a lobotomized to complete. ESPN takes over, but this summer that had a surprisingly good coverage, even if the quality difference is already noticeable.
But as soon as the ABC network this happens, it goes completely down the drain. Sure - the major networks are narrow-minded, they have strict rules and they think of the expensive advertising time. But strangely enough, works for the coverage of the NFL, too. Why do NASCAR are treated as if it were a completely liberated noticeable sport where it's all about the list of sponsors? And when Tim Brewer will get a new set of teeth, with which one sees him?
NASCAR introduced the Chase format upon request of the networks (then NBC). They wanted a playoff because it would attract more viewers. Especially as in the fall against the NFL and the MLB playoffs competes. This has been effective, but why ABC made the original so good as anything does, is a mystery to me. It would really be a blessing if FOX would take over the entire season, but that is nothing before 2013 and probably will never come, because the TV rights are so expensive that they alone can not shoulder transmitter.
No related posts.
Exactly what I like in general in the U.S. series (but was also at the Supercars above). Even a boring race, by the commentary and the trappings so still entertaining enough that it does not feel afterwards, only to have wasted time. The successful broadcasters in Germa not even in the approach - apart from Euro sport, but have far too little in the motorsports program.
The problem ABC (and ESPN I see too much of a difference, as the production comes from the same team) is in my view much more complex than you present here. Basically, it certainly has the problem of how the chase is reasonable in the picture. It's not like the other playoffs, where the eliminated teams play in NASCAR still driving with all drivers. And a junior fan does not switch on times and Gordon degrees because that is in the chase, while Junior may still only mitrollen. ESPN / ABC have been stiffened to formulate times exaggerated, the virtual state championship runterzubeten all 10 rounds, promos einzuspielen to demonstrate pit stops and to advertise. That there also happen to be a race is taking place, mostly forgotten. The battle for the championship is at the top. The race this is only an accessory. So far, so good (or rather bad)
But, in my view, much more serious is the absolute inability of Jerry Punch as the main commentator. He does not understand himself and his two co's use so that the race comes across better with his acting. He can read only prescribed promos, always the same thresh phrases ("50 year old Mark Martin"), and knows not to raise his voice at appropriate moments or lower. Significant was the intro of ABC in Kansas scenes with commentary snippets from Dover, where it has been calculated at resorted Logano rollover to the comment from the MRN. This was, in my opinion ne resounding slap against his own trio commentators.
The trio in the booth has also caused by the interminable preliminary reports easy to tell in the phases of the race, which happens less, nothing more.
Very interesting and detailed information about the problem is also at The Daly Planet ( http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com ) blogged and discussed.
Stefan
Daly Planet twitters also very nice :)
Punch is considered by many as "the big problem," but I think again that the blame lies not with him. There is little sense of humor, that's true, but certainly no one who had no idea. Punch in 1984 in NASCAR, so knows his way around. I think it's easy to ABC and the very strict corset Network lies in that he is forced. His comments at the NW race, at least sometimes, something better.