The Y Series: Speed Channel > ITV
November 3rd, 2006 | by wingnutsc |When watching a race on TV, what do we want? The answer is that we want to either feel like we are actually there, or that we are a part of it. Having watched a wide variety of sports in my day, I know what i want in an announcer. I want them to be: A) Knowledgeable, B) Enthusiastic, C) Fun to listen to, and D) Know when to, and not to, talk.
Many people who have heard some commentary from the ITV and Speed Channel teams will probably side with the ITV crew. I think this is because they are British. Subconsciously, we associate that people in Europe know more about F1 than Americans do. By and large, that’s probably a fair assumption. But if I had a choice of listening to commentary from either ITV of Speed Channel, I’d take Speed Channel in a heartbeat. Y you ask? It’s simple really. The team of Varsha, Hobbs, Matchett, and Windsor is just that, a team. Varsha knows his stuff, knows his motorsports history, and, critically, knows when to shut up. This is most evident in two situations. The first is whenever FOM switches to an onboard, and the other is at the race start. How many times have we heard James Allen scream and the start, “…and the race starts……. NOWWWWWWW!!!!! (10-15 seconds)” Compare that to Varsha’s, “…turn up the volume… (4th light, 5th light…)?” David Hobbs adds his insight from his racing years, and a bit of odd-ball comedy every now and then. But, Matchett is the clincher. Being a mechanic at Benetton for 9 years, he is THE authority on F1 technology. He also still keeps in contact with with likes of Ross Brawn, Pat Symonds, and other big names in the paddock. If there’s anything new in the way of technology, not only does he know about it, but he can break it down in basic terms that the average person can understand.
Now about Martin Brundle, he may fulfill the knowledge requirements, but he is the most bloody boring announcer I’ve ever heard. It sounds like he’s count reporter reading back the transcript of the trial. Let’s use Schumacher’s engine failure in Japan as an example. The Speed crew reacted like I would have, “It’s Michael! Oh no! Can you believe it?!” Now I know ITV was at commercial when this happened, but i hypothesize that this would have been the transcript:
Allen: “And Micheal has blown up! Unbelievable! Where’s Button?! Is he going to win? O damn, there goes Alonso.”
Brundle: “Ya that’s a shame. I wonder if it’s going to rain? Is Button leading yet? Why is FOM showing Sato’s and Yamamoto’s pitstops?”
The problem with ITV is that Allen is annoying, a shrill for Button, and doesn’t know when to shut up, and Brundle is boring, a shrill for Button, and unenthusiastic. I want someone who gets excited when something exciting happens. I want them to express the emotions I’m expressing. Brundle sounds like John Kerry, really. Who wants to sound like him?
Tags: itv, speed channel, tv
By LOUD HOWARD on Nov 3, 2006
I think Brundles alright, he’s definately gotten worse though. He was perfect with Murray because Muzza was so over the top, it was good to have the voice of reason beside him. Obviously they’ve tried to recreate that with Jallen - but he’s an idiot so the whole system breaks down.
I don’t mind the Speed coverage, but I hate whenever someone has a little spin or something they ALL sit there going “Oooh oH OH AAAH ooooh ooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOoooHHHHH!” I also don’t like the term “He’s just reset fast lap” - “He’s just set the fastest lap” sounds so much better. I’m hard to please…
By Farzad on Nov 4, 2006
I couldn’t disagree more. I think the Speed pre and post race coverage is very good. But Speed doesn’t have the commentators at the track and for me that destroys their credibility. Peter Windsor does a good job but having the announcers their makes a big difference otherwise it’s like me and you sitting around in my living room and commenting to the TV set.
I think Martin Brundle’s insight is worth putting up with Jensonmania. His colour commentary is that good. He has a decent sense of humour as well. The way he can speak to a car’s performance by just looking at has led me to learn alot about the cars.
I think Steve Matchett is excellent as well but those two boneheads are always cutting him and I’ve had enough of Dave Hobbs inanity getting in the way of Matchett’s insight.
By Arnet on Nov 8, 2006
I agree with Farzad. In Canada I watch Speed for qualifying because TSN in-house coverage just lacks the depth that Speeds crew has, but for the race TSN switches over to ITV, and that’s where I go every time. If I hear those Speed guys say “On the bubble” one more time…….
By Col on Feb 1, 2007
I’m British and now living in Canada, I can’t wait for the new season of F1 to start and I’m so happy that TSN takes the ITV feed, watch F1 in the UK was a total pleasure. For many years the BBC used to run the feed and their coverage was disgraceful. ITV won the contract and immediately opened up the coverage showing qualifying for 1st time!!! I find the commentary is so full of information, last time I was in Canada and watched a race on the Speed channel I had to switch off cause it was just so bad!! Thank god TSN takes the ITV feed and we can enjoy good reliable commentary from ITV.
By Walleye on Sep 16, 2007
I could not disagree more. I watch ITV, if I miss a race I am forced to download SPeed coverage so I watch both a lot. Have you ever watched ITV? Either that or you know nothing about F1. Speed broadcasters are not even there. They offer no insight as to what battles are going on, they do not replay anything of interest, commercials seem to come at the worst times (like when the leaders are coming in or a pit stop, or when the leaders are coming up on lapped traffic - who needs to see that?), I could go on but I hope you get the point. The commentators talk about potential things unfolding like a pit stop that could change position and then leave it up to you to figure out if it happened. Last year Japan was a fantastic race, so good that I downloaded it so I could watch it again, unfortuately I got the Speed coverage and it did not show any of the things that made it a fantastic race (like the pass at 200 mph on an off camber corner), I am not even too sure they know what makes a fantastic race.