[Hermjca]

Discussion thread for the NASCAR coverage on Sky Sports this season....

[Delenn]

Go on then. I'll kick off.

Sky made a number of errors similar to the errors they make with the NFL. The UK studio there never shuts up in time either, and they always end up fading in the US commentary late. There are enough breaks in Nascar - Sky should never take a commercial when Fox are not. Even if Fox are on a break, they often show a pitstops feed, and Sky should take that.

The UK studio is not required in the slightest. How many of us fans that have been watching Nascar for longer than last years chase do not know how to pronounce Kahne. Really?

Fox have a pre-race show that we are all used to, and Sky should use it. Sky should remember that no-one asked them to get involved. Despite the errors NASN made (and have I been critical of them too), they did at least show the US telecast, and in full (most of the time). If they don't want to do that on Sky, how about on the red button.

We all know from a technical perspective, Sky are better. Superior picture, superior sound, HD. They also appear to have less technical problems than NASN do (in other sports). I really don't know why they insist in ruining US motorsports (they killed the IRL coverage years ago).

Finally, I am rather dismayed by various people on various forums expressing the "we'll have to put up with it" opinion. Not true. Complaining to ESPN last year has resulted in a number of personnel changes, and some format changes too. It is too early to tell if they are improvements, but the point is ESPN listened. We should all be telling Sky what we think. They may ignore us, but they may not. They may listen. Please let your voice be heard, and as always when contacting a broadcaster, be constructive and polite. It is also worth letting Nascar and ESPN know too.

[Drederick Tatum]

Originally Posted by Delenn

Go on then. I'll kick off.

Sky made a number of errors similar to the errors they make with the NFL. The UK studio there never shuts up in time either, and they always end up fading in the US commentary late. There are enough breaks in Nascar - Sky should never take a commercial when Fox are not. Even if Fox are on a break, they often show a pitstops feed, and Sky should take that.

The UK studio is not required in the slightest. How many of us fans that have been watching Nascar for longer than last years chase do not know how to pronounce Kahne. Really?

Fox have a pre-race show that we are all used to, and Sky should use it. Sky should remember that no-one asked them to get involved. Despite the errors NASN made (and have I been critical of them too), they did at least show the US telecast, and in full (most of the time). If they don't want to do that on Sky, how about on the red button.

We all know from a technical perspective, Sky are better. Superior picture, superior sound, HD. They also appear to have less technical problems than NASN do (in other sports). I really don't know why they insist in ruining US motorsports (they killed the IRL coverage years ago).

Finally, I am rather dismayed by various people on various forums expressing the "we'll have to put up with it" opinion. Not true. Complaining to ESPN last year has resulted in a number of personnel changes, and some format changes too. It is too early to tell if they are improvements, but the point is ESPN listened. We should all be telling Sky what we think. They may ignore us, but they may not. They may listen. Please let your voice be heard, and as always when contacting a broadcaster, be constructive and polite. It is also worth letting Nascar and ESPN know too.

Excellent post.

If we all put pressure on SKY early them hopefully they'll realise that we are passionate about our sport and don't want it messed around with.

I never thought I'd say this, but SKY could learn a thing or two from NASN on how to present NASCAR.

In an ideal world we would have the same coverage as NASN gave (The first 4 years) plus 16:9 and HD.
I don't have a problem with SKY taking ads instead of showing the "Nascar in-demand" feed, but please follow the Fox/ESPN/ABC pattern. (I was going to add TNT, but it would be too much to ask for Wide Open coverage! )


EDIT: Oh, when I'm here - I was thinking about starting a Nascar UK discussion forum.
Would anyone be interested, or am I wasting my time?

[Adder]

Just watched the Bud Shootout coverage and I would have to say I was impressed. Having widescreen coverage was awesome, the sound was really good and the picture was very sharp.

I thought Sky did well also with their break placement and on the returns from them to the US feed as well. Echo the frustration from elsewhere on the lack of telemetry on the international feed, though not much Sky can do about that.

I do agree that Huewin's pronunciation of driver names was poor and they made some bad calls on analysis, but some were reasonable. I thought Collins showed some promise in the pre-record on the Sprint Cup Car Test and spoke more confidently than he did on the live segments. Also good that they've opened up the studio to comments from viewers as well, and hope they take some of them onboard.

In terms of the US pre-race show and anthems/etc if I was Sky I probably wouldn't broadcast them as there are so many commercials in those segments and lots of not completely appropriate things for them to show. I would suggest they perhaps came on air maybe up to 30 mins before green flag having recorded the US pre-race show and play-out the best of the features into their own studio.

I have opposite views on the post-race show in that they need to show as many of the interviews from the international feed as they can and massively cut down on the post-race pontification. This is my main problem with the ITV F1 coverage in that I could easily live without the Rider/Blundell analysis after the races and same with Sky's studio analysis.

Good start, but room for improvements..

[aberboy]

One plus point, NASCAR is being shown to a wider audience, and the presenter did say that they would take on board viewer comments to improve the programme.
Im gonna miss Rusty Wallace on the ESPN Pre race show when the second half of the season starts though...

[Drederick Tatum]

Originally Posted by aberboy

One plus point, NASCAR is being shown to a wider audience, and the presenter did say that they would take on board viewer comments to improve the programme.
Im gonna miss Rusty Wallace on the ESPN Pre race show when the second half of the season starts though...

Rusty was the poorest of the analysts imo.

Well, with the notable exception of the woeful Tim Brewer.
Even Wally has managed to get better - then again this is his 7th year!

[Mr c]

Well ive just sent a polite email to sky sports about the loss of the US pre/post race shows and how most people enjoy catching up on the gossip of the week surrounding the sport & do we really need a UK studio team. Will let you know if i get a reply. No harm in asking i suppose

[solarflare]

The UK studio team really annoys me, on both the IRL and NASCAR. Pre- and post-race is a little more understandable, but during? Don't get it. Especially as it is usually facetious comments that add nothing to the experience.

[Hermjca]

as i said in the nasn forum, it was a shame we only had 2 post-race interviews, we missed the grid positions at the start, poor name speech 'clint bauer' etc

one positive thing, the ability to email/text in with opinions, this might make longer races such as the coke 600 more interactive and interesting

[ocox]

Well I am glad NASCAR is back on Sky I can only afford so much in subs & because of this have had to suffer the poor out put given by C5 for the last few years (it was better than nothing though).

It was watching NASCAR on Screen Sport (must be nearly 20 years ago) that inspired me into getting a bigger TV. Started of with a 37” Grundig CRT & have now progressed to a Hitach 55” Plasma. As our American cousins would say, “It’s Awesome”

Boogity, boogity, boogity

[Jonpollak]

Haady Y'all
I missed the Shootout coverage due to the myriad of streams available on the internet where one can see / hear the FOX coverage.

We are however having a "DO" at the pub on Thursday evening where the local race fans will be dragged kicking and highbrows screaming into the world of NECKCAR . Jp will witness SKY's coverage for the first time then as he is too cheap to plump for it at home*

Quals start at 6:10pm GMT
JV goes out second
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008...ual_order.html

Jp

*(missus & the kids would just switch over to DeadEnders anyway)

[Hermjca]

looking at the scheldule, there will be 40mins of buildup before the green flag of the 500 next sunday

sky coverage starts at 8pm (fox starts at 7pm) while the green flag is at 8.40pm

[Falconire]

I watched the nascar coverage on skysports it is not a near as good as Nasn coverage over the last two years and one of the most annoying things that they keep ghoing to the studio and not returning back to the track weven though the us broadcaster is back shoewing the race after there commercial break.

Also there was no pre & post race coverage.

Bring bask the wonderfull Nasn coverage it is worth it.

Please e-mail nascar@skysports.com complain if you are not happy like me with SkySports bad coverage.

[ElMarko]

The amount of furore about the move of the football graphics shows that Sky DOES listen occasionally. Give it a go.

[weebit]

i sent an email to nascar@skysports.com as well with my thoughts. in a nut shell in asks for pre-race and post-race coverage, less UK studio stuff during the race, and reminding them that NASCAR is a sport created for the fans, and so Sky should also think in that way.

i've also asked if i can speak to the producer as well!

[boogybaz]

It is nice to see it on a proper channel, and as said at the end, they are showing them all live (At least Sky have more than one channel to use

The studio was not that bad, I do prefer watching the pre race though, and that is something they need to address. Ben Collins is not the best person imho to have in there if they decide to keep the studio segment.

But overall, i am not dissapointed, NASN has daft Irish adverts, poor picture quality, interference, dodgy sound and on more than one occasion cut to another program 10 laps from the end

Is it confirmed that Sky are going to do races in HD?

[packerbully]

Originally Posted by boogybaz

But overall, i am not dissapointed, NASN has daft Irish adverts, poor picture quality, interference, dodgy sound and on more than one occasion cut to another program 10 laps from the end

Is it confirmed that Sky are going to do races in HD?

That was Setanta sports that did that, not NASN - it was because NASN leased time from Setanta. On my plasma NASN's picture was good - Sky is slightly better, I'll admit. MNASN hardly ever had breaks from the race though.

Yes some races on Sky will be HD, which, I also admit, does help take some of the pain away from the issues.

[dsweetenham]

Originally Posted by boogybaz

Is it confirmed that Sky are going to do races in HD?

Yeah certain ones will be starting with the Daytona 500...the rest should be 16:9 SD like the Shootout.

[Dan27]

I really dont think we're going to have too much pre or post race coverage from Sky. The frequency at which they go to commercials will make it too much of an improvised production rather than the usual structured Sky Sports effort. I expect the most we can have is pre-produced features taken from the days before each event such as the Camry test that was aired during the shootout.

My main complaint as regards to the Sky broadcasts has been echoed already. Sky shouldnt go to commericals when Fox isnt, and any studio coverage should switch back to track action when Fox do.

[Virtua Fighter]

If you guys are fans of NASCAR drivers, check them out on TNA Impact on Saturdays at 9pm on Bravo.

[Drederick Tatum]

Originally Posted by DanVitale

I really dont think we're going to have too much pre or post race coverage from Sky. The frequency at which they go to commercials will make it too much of an improvised production rather than the usual structured Sky Sports effort. I expect the most we can have is pre-produced features taken from the days before each event such as the Camry test that was aired during the shootout.

My main complaint as regards to the Sky broadcasts has been echoed already. Sky shouldnt go to commericals when Fox isnt, and any studio coverage should switch back to track action when Fox do.

See that's the only point in having the studio - when Fox / ESPN etc go to commercials (At a greater frequency then SKY) then the SKY studio should keep the continuity until the US broadcast comes back. If SKY go to ads at a ratio of 1:2 of the Americans, then the studio will just need to pad for a minute or two every 15-20 mins. (Like Cadle and Halling do for the NFL) They don't need any awful pre-recorded crap or to wrongly speculate on what has / is going on. Just read some texts & e-mails (They'll get a load of them!) This of course will depend on SKY getting a presenter and or pundit who actually know what they are talking about.

BTW Eurosport & Screensport used to manage fine without a studio when the US went to ads. They used to either take the ads or just have a Martin Haven doing a voice over summary of the race whilst showing a helicopter or in-car shot. Basically what NASN did, but with a voice over. No requirement at all for a sub standard studio presentation.

Whatever happened to Paul Musselle?

[gary_s]

Mail sent. Lets hope they listen to us, but i doubt it. I dont see why else they have the email address; most of us will be just sending mails that amount to "just show the damn race!!!"

[weebit]

Originally Posted by Drederick Tatum

BTW Eurosport & Screensport used to manage fine without a studio when the US went to ads. They used to either take the ads or just have a Martin Haven doing a voice over summary of the race whilst showing a helicopter or in-car shot. Basically what NASN did, but with a voice over. No requirement at all for a sub standard studio presentation.

Motors TV did this when they covered the (then) Busch Series. there was no studio what-so-ever, just some guy saying hello to the people who have posted on the forum.

[Drederick Tatum]

Originally Posted by weebit

Motors TV did this when they covered the (then) Busch Series. there was no studio what-so-ever, just some guy saying hello to the people who have posted on the forum.

Yep - it's all good, but then I suppose the other channels never have any on-screen presenters. I don't know why SKY sports feel the need to spoon feed us in situations like this.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to SKY presenters - well actually, thinking about it - I am!
Just give us the US production

[Mr c]

There is talk on another forum that NASN are trying to get NASCAR sprint series back as there losing to many customers. Seems unlikely though unless they get delayed highlights. Cant see them getting full race re-run.
Im about to call NASN today to cancel my subs or try and get it reduced