Commentary on TNT and other WB brands

[awavey]

Just catching up on Tour of Slovenia... last year so often they had lead commentators on their own for minor races, but for stage 5 they paired up Declan Quigley and Jonathan Harris-Bass! A few months back they had Robbie McEwen on lead comms.

Yes i thought i was hearing things but it was Declan & JHB, maybe a warm up for TdF, no recipes were shared in the bit i caught though 😄

 

[awavey]

Romain Bardet joins TNT for the 2nd week of TdF as the motorbike reporter, bet Blythe is gutted

 

[Wyndbrook]

Romain , don't be too straight and serious.
Show us your irreverent side, a few naughty rider interviews, spill the beans, tell a few dodgy jokes.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Romain Bardet joins TNT for the 2nd week of TdF as the motorbike reporter, bet Blythe is gutted

At least he should be able to follow the strongest riders that way,

 

[argyllflyer]

New commentator popped up on the Andorra Classic called Jon/John Bevan. Anyone know much about him?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Little bit worried looking at the listings for the TNT/Discovery+ Tour offering.

Seems to have main coverage only on TNT Sports 1 (therefore with ads), and the multiscreen version (I know it has its fans, I'm not one of them) as the only variant on TNT Sports (without a following number: the Discovery+ subscription, ad-free version). Let's hope that is just an issue on the listings.

 

[Izzyeviel]

I just hope it isn't a blurry mess like it was for le mans

 

[HashRouge]

Little bit worried looking at the listings for the TNT/Discovery+ Tour offering.

Seems to have main coverage only on TNT Sports 1 (therefore with ads), and the multiscreen version (I know it has its fans, I'm not one of them) as the only variant on TNT Sports (without a following number: the Discovery+ subscription, ad-free version). Let's hope that is just an issue on the listings.

I really hope this is just the listings or I'm cancelling my subscription and I'll just watch on ITV (soon to be RIP).

 

[Potomac]

How bad would the adverts be on ITV? As in how intrusive.

 

[Pogacsa]

I have noticed in the past that in the "upcoming" section, they don't always put both adverts and non adverts as options. But on the day, there are always both.

I've just seen the Tour Presentation using the non-advert stream. I'd be astonished if they don't give us both options and would be a breach of contract if they don't.

 

[HashRouge]

How bad would the adverts be on ITV? As in how intrusive.

They're not so bad, but they're aimed at retired folks because they don't seem to think anyone else watches the Tour. So it's a string of charity ads (starving donkeys, starving children, children with cleft lip and palate, abused animals etc) and ads for life insurance, funeral plans and cruises. The bonus is that they never put ads into the exciting bits of stages. I like ITV tbh, I only have Discovery+ because I watch lots of other races too.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Little bit worried looking at the listings for the TNT/Discovery+ Tour offering.

Seems to have main coverage only on TNT Sports 1 (therefore with ads), and the multiscreen version (I know it has its fans, I'm not one of them) as the only variant on TNT Sports (without a following number: the Discovery+ subscription, ad-free version). Let's hope that is just an issue on the listings.

Well you appear to be right, all I'm seeing as available is multi screen or single screen with adverts.

 

[Savant12]

What the hell is this multi-screen madness?

Edit: Nevermind, finally connected to the single screen coverage.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Well you appear to be right, all I'm seeing as available is multi screen or single screen with adverts.

I've phoned them, and the poor guy I was trying not to get angry at (not his fault that the company he works for have so little respect for customers) says that there have been a number of calls about it today. Of course, all he can do is pass on feedback, but maybe they will find that they have so much ill feeling that they will rethink.

But if they do, I guess this'll be the last time they relent on it.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

no add free version then for the tour? made my decision even easier to watch on ITV this year considering its the last time. soak up some gary imlach goodness into my skin.

 

[Savant12]

no add free version then for the tour? made my decision even easier to watch on ITV this year considering its the last time. soak up some gary imlach goodness into my skin.

Seems no! Already on a long ad break.

 

[awavey]

They're not so bad, but they're aimed at retired folks because they don't seem to think anyone else watches the Tour. So it's a string of charity ads (starving donkeys, starving children, children with cleft lip and palate, abused animals etc) and ads for life insurance, funeral plans and cruises. The bonus is that they never put ads into the exciting bits of stages. I like ITV tbh, I only have Discovery+ because I watch lots of other races too.

its not that they think, they know, they have the data and the advertisers use the data and yep the predominant audience is retired folks, if you carry on watching till the darts later, youll see the clear shift in ad types happen

 

[awavey]

Seems no! Already on a long ad break.

presumably the multi grid view is taking up the stream space for the ad free version ? tbh Im not seeing the appeal of watching Darth Vader stand on a pavement as an option during the tour.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

presumably the multi grid view is taking up the stream space for the ad free version ? tbh Im not seeing the appeal of watching Darth Vader stand on a pavement as an option during the tour.

Nope, in the giro there was 3 streams. It's a deliberate decision

 

[Potomac]

So I have ITV going, which voice is the "Gary Imlach" I keep hearing about?

 

[hayneplane]

So I have ITV going, which voice is the "Gary Imlach" I keep hearing about?

He is the lead presenter not a commentator. Think Orla for TNT.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

He is the lead presenter not a commentator. Think Orla for TNT.

But smooth and classy...

I do like Orla by the way but Imlach is the Goat.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Sometimes they have kept commentary going through the ad breaks, sometimes it has just been ambient sound.

And once it was Robbie McEwan asking "So are we just staying quiet now?"


Every time they went for ad breaks in the past, right up to the Dauphiné, they have said "You can avoid adverts by subscribing to Discovery+." Surely that now amounts to false advertising.

 

[Izzyeviel]

whos commentating with Blythe & Carlton?

 

[CalMacD]

whos commentating with Blythe & Carlton?

Michael Matthews, they've drafted him in since he can't ride the tour this year due to a blood clot