Ashes coverage and commentary

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Nikoftime

103 posts

Master Geek

#74901 10-Jan-2011 09:01

Firstly a thank you to Sky for the coverage of an historic test series..most enjoyable to see England play so well and defeat the Aussies (Lets not mention the Blackcaps!)
I have a suggestion for improved coverage. SKY UK have an excellent commentray team, could we possibly be able to receive this commentary rather than the Channel 9, Australian commentary. Perhaps alternating between each one on a test by test basis or day by day, or even better still give us the option of choosing using the red button?

minigopher17

281 posts

Ultimate Geek

#425653 10-Jan-2011 10:19

There is an Audio selection button on Sky remotes which allows you to choose the audio source. I've previously seen some programmes available in Maori as well as English. And I remember one time there was this rugby league match where viewers could select between the Aussie commentary or the NZ commentary. So I'm guessing it's not hard for Sky to be able to do it, just sourcing it in the first place is the hardest bit.

Now if we had sport on free-to-air TV like Australia... now that's a different debate.

DS9

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#425670 10-Jan-2011 11:04

minigopher17: There is an Audio selection button on Sky remotes which allows you to choose the audio source. I've previously seen some programmes available in Maori as well as English. And I remember one time there was this rugby league match where viewers could select between the Aussie commentary or the NZ commentary. So I'm guessing it's not hard for Sky to be able to do it, just sourcing it in the first place is the hardest bit.

Now if we had sport on free-to-air TV like Australia... now that's a different debate.

it is because there would be no way we could have watched all 5 days of all 5 tests on FTA just like most sport, FTA is only good for one offs like in the UK e.g. F.A. Cup final, World cup, Grand National. really the only national event that anyone really cares about is the rugby world cup and that is FTA.

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farcus

1554 posts

Uber Geek

#425675 10-Jan-2011 11:21

I beg to differ. They used to broadcast five day test matches on free to air TV so no reason why they couldn't do ti again - it's all about the money.
Don't expect they would go back to showing test matches but would be nice to have one day games free to air.

I used to watch every cricket game until it changed to Sky. Since then I haven't watched any and have pretty much given up on viewing sport

minigopher17

281 posts

Ultimate Geek

#425678 10-Jan-2011 11:27

It looks like my tangent has hijacked the original point of multiple commentaries. FTA sport is possible, it was back in the day, it's in action in Australia, it's just revenue is more important these days, and it's a shame. Maybe TVNZ should've changed TVNZ6 into a FTA sports channel instead of a youth oriented one. But that's me again going on a tangent!

DS9

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#425755 10-Jan-2011 14:14

minigopher17: It looks like my tangent has hijacked the original point of multiple commentaries. FTA sport is possible, it was back in the day, it's in action in Australia, it's just revenue is more important these days, and it's a shame. Maybe TVNZ should've changed TVNZ6 into a FTA sports channel instead of a youth oriented one. But that's me again going on a tangent!

you are right and being english I would have liked the english commentary, remember times have changed, all or at least most sports are professional now, back in the day the BBC and I guess TVNZ could afford amateur sports rights but now the sports bodies have to pay contracts many $m more per sportsman. Hence in todays terms rights now cost $350m+ just for super 14 and australia has a far bigger population to support the 3/4 Networks and then they only pick and choose what they want you to watch. I prefer the pay model because fans get to see all teams.

I aim to misbehave.

DS9

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#425788 10-Jan-2011 15:34

double post

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nigelj

856 posts

Ultimate Geek

#425889 10-Jan-2011 19:42

Nikoftime: Firstly a thank you to Sky for the coverage of an historic test series..most enjoyable to see England play so well and defeat the Aussies (Lets not mention the Blackcaps!)
I have a suggestion for improved coverage. SKY UK have an excellent commentray team, could we possibly be able to receive this commentary rather than the Channel 9, Australian commentary. Perhaps alternating between each one on a test by test basis or day by day, or even better still give us the option of choosing using the red button?

I had pondered this as well, my assumption is:

* Sky UK may have had editorial control over their own pictures, which would mean that the alternative commentary may start referring to video etc that you can't see - not a very good experience imo).
* Sky NZ may not have been able to get access rights to the UK commentary feed

When the League Four Nations were playing in NZ, in the NZL v ENG match you could select between the NZ or English commentary feed (on a standard decoder: + then select English - Alt), and as they must've been using the same video, as it made sense. Was quite nice to not have to listen to the NZ Commentary team bragging all the time.

But yeah, rights likely purchased from Channel 9 directly, UK commentary perhaps in the too-hard basket?

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mentalinc

3225 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#425907 10-Jan-2011 21:11

Phone up sky and ask them this.
Let them know there is demand. I also think they should "invest" in advertising that this option is available so all sky subscribers know this feature exists.

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JarrodM

969 posts

Ultimate Geek

#425919 10-Jan-2011 21:42

The UK BSkB (or whatever it's called) bring out their on cameras. they did it when the english were touring here a couple of years ago. there were 2 sets of cameras(NZ sky and then UK sky). Waste of money if you ask me.

nigelj

856 posts

Ultimate Geek

#425925 10-Jan-2011 21:56

JarrodM: The UK BSkB (or whatever it's called) bring out their on cameras. they did it when the english were touring here a couple of years ago. there were 2 sets of cameras(NZ sky and then UK sky). Waste of money if you ask me.

Might not be out of choice, from what I can tell, some events only allow one camera crew in, and allow them to resell the stream to Sky NZ/Sky UK/Foxtel/etc, essentially a Host Broadcaster arrangement (I believe from what I've seen over the years, the Olympics are run like this). The other is, "You can DIY, or buy from someone that is doing it themselves".

Having dual commentary streams is pointless if the graphics aren't the same, imagine "Look at that awful no-ball" while you are watching a highlight of a wicket taken in a previous match. They'd need to be able to have dual video streams as well and for something as trivial as "I want to hear the English POV" doesn't seem worth the expense in my opinion.

Also I'd say that having individual coverage by both Sky NZ & Sky UK is a good thing, especially for international markets that may want to see it (should improve the quality of both broadcasts).

bigbadkiwi

85 posts

Master Geek

#425959 10-Jan-2011 23:31

I disagree that the Sky UK commentry is better than the channel 9 commentry. The channel 9 australian commentry is somewhat of an aussie icon.
Having dual streams (like the international rugby league matches) is completely understandable and would be a worthy addition. but completely replacing the channel 9 commentry with the Sky UK commentry? you surely have to be kidding

Nikoftime

103 posts

Master Geek

#425990 11-Jan-2011 08:20

bigbadkiwi: I disagree that the Sky UK commentry is better than the channel 9 commentry. The channel 9 australian commentry is somewhat of an aussie icon.
Having dual streams (like the international rugby league matches) is completely understandable and would be a worthy addition. but completely replacing the channel 9 commentry with the Sky UK commentry? you surely have to be kidding

If you reread my original post you will see that I didn't say Sky UK commentary was better, only implied that some people may prefer it. I also offered some options such as commentary from the Aussies for one test and then UK the next test or complete freedom to choose by having the red button function. I didn't say that channel 9 should be replaced, so NO i'm not kidding at all, I'm serious!