rugby world cup TV3 coverage

After four years of waiting, my beloved national Rugby team the All Blacks have fired their first warning shot at the Rugby World Cup by thrashing Italy by 76 points to 14. The boys look fit, ready and mentally prepared. They make me feel confident that we are in for a great world cup.

It's TV3's television coverage and commentary team that worry me.....

Last night the live coverage of the game was pitiful to say the least. I went to TV3's website this morning to see if they would offer any explanation as to why last nights imagery was grainy and suffering from sporadic  mini-blackouts- but no cigar. TV3 definitely need a taste of some decent web 2.0 strategy as I was eager to give them some of my irate feedback.

The thing is that TV3 have managed to get exclusive broadcasting rights for the RWC 2007 in the New Zealand market. Everyone has known about this for a while. I am not sure that kiwi rugby fans were so aware of how acquainted we have become to the experienced commentary and coverage offered by our usual rugby broadcaster, pay TV network SKY.

In my opinion, the problems that plague the TV3 RWC effort are not restricted to picture quality. The commentary is crap. Hamish McKay may be flanked by All Black RWC Legends like Fox and Whetton, but he is not a commentators left butt cheek. His ability is limited to announcing the name of each player that touches, passes or receives the ball. There are annoying periods of silence and a distinct monotone feel to his voice overs, particularly in exciting moments of gameplay.

It was only a few weeks ago that I was telling my dad that some of New Zealand's sport commentators were getting a bit long in the tooth. I want to take this opportunity to publicly apologize to Keith Quinn and Grant Nisbett. I was wrong guys, please come back. Take a contract at TV3 or something, help!

Not surprisingly, I found a great article from the New Zealand listener that also discusses the quality of Rugby commentary during our last major Rugby event, the 2005 lions tour.

TV3 need to raise the level of their performance. I am starting to think that Richie McCaw raising the golden Web Ellis trophy to the sound of Hamish McKays voice might just be a tiny anti-climax. And thats a huge call.

Comments

[Robert Skilton]

Not only was the picture crud but my wife commented on how bad the feed was and that was after returning home from a 50th birthday party. Also could someone shoot the brass band that played that god awful music all the way thru. i think they only new 2 tunes, surely the sound man could have got rid of it, it was bl**dy awful and intrusive as hell even with the terrible commentary team. Sky and TVNZ must be rolling on the floor with laughter at a commentary team that BAD

[James Fleet]

Thanks for the comment Robert. You make another great point about those trumpets! Crazy huh?

Im no sound engineer, however, I am pretty sure that in this day and age that type of disturbance can be minimized?

[roy]

Agree that the image was a bit crap, but boy am I glad to have live free-to-air rugby. Hopefully the commentary team improve and peak for the finals around the same time as the ABs.

[Kent]

I counted around 70 breaks in transmission during the first half. TV3 said it was outside their control in a later broadcast - I hope they get their money back for that one.

Also missing was the onfield mics. You could hear the ref and that damned brass band but a lot of the atmosphere is lost when you can't hear the ball being kicked or the calls from the players, etc.

Some of the stats looked a bit suspect. With 50/50 possession at half time? Yeah right. :)

-KENT

[Hadyn]

I didn't mind the trumpets (it's a bit like complaining about Bread of Heaven during Welsh games, "don't they know any other songs?").

But what i noticed on the replay, was how bad the sound was in general.

The TV3 commentary was better during the ABs game than it was during the France-Argentina one. That was bad.

But the commentry this morning during the Ireland Namibia game. Woooo, it was awesome!

[Rachel C]

Hi James,

Been reading your blog for a while (mainly for Web 2.0 stuff) but linked up yesterday from Throng about your post here. TV3 got a lot of complaints via phone (it's a little frustrating having to sign up in order to email them feedback) - I think almost 60 calls about the commentary or reception.

Cheers
Rachel

[james]

Hi Rachael,

Thanks for the link. Its great to find out that kiwis running web 2.0 sites like yourself are interested in my ramblings ;-)

Im not at all surprised that TV3 have had complaints. I have honestly heard better commentary on Toyota Grass Roots Rugby on Sky.

Catch up soon.

PS. Keep up the good work on throng!

[KD]

I may be wrong, but the only light on in the commentary team was Merts. The arrogant comments by the others maybe reflects their jafa state of origin.
Oh, and by the way Mr McKay - it was pointless to be repeatedly referring back to the tournament opener and making comparisons. Different opposition, less differential between the teams and the Argies with a superior record for/against France than Italy will ever have against the ABs
And - we know we receiving this Live and free from TV3. We F!@#%ng tuned in didn't we?

[margarete]

james, you and the other posters clearly don't know much about television. TV3, like the other rights holders at the World Cup get supplied the pictures and sound by the host broadcaster, which I think is TF1, the state broadcaster in France. TV3 supply only the commentary, which I thought was good. McKay didn't miss a beat and I thought Fox was excellent.

[Ian]

who said the best things in life are free...but they are free. I personally think Merts interview at the end was priceless.