Commentary on TNT and other WB brands

[williamp78]

Just watching the highlights of romandie on sky sports.

Two points:

1) Good to see a northern irish guy presenting the coverage

2) Good to see ian stannard as the guest pundit in the studio; however why is he wearing a sky sports shirt!?

 

[Cycle Chic]

Stannard

Ian Stannard showed he is the Drip of the Peloton - talk about zero personality.

Rob Hatch doing a stellar commentary job.

 

[argyllflyer]

2) Good to see ian stannard as the guest pundit in the studio; however why is he wearing a sky sports shirt!?

They made Roger Hammond wear one too.

 

[argyllflyer]

Bringing it back on topic, DH and MB were on the verge of self combustion as Mustafa Sayar raced up that last climb, DH letting his true feeling almost slip when he said that Sayar was going to win, "unfortunately" then corrected himself to "for the rest of the peloton".

 

[williamp78]

Bringing it back on topic, DH and MB were on the verge of self combustion as Mustafa Sayar raced up that last climb, DH letting his true feeling almost slip when he said that Sayar was going to win, "unfortunately" then corrected himself to "for the rest of the peloton".

That was pretty funny. I only got to see the highlights so had read about the controversy.

 

[williamp78]

Ian Stannard showed he is the Drip of the Peloton - talk about zero personality.

Rob Hatch doing a stellar commentary job.

I've seen a few pros do punditry and the lack of media training really shines through! I saw Ben Swift once (BBC coverage of a track event i think) and he looked like a rabbit in the headlights; painful yet brilliant viewing because of it.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Finally

Finally - we have superb commentary from Declan Quigley and Sean Kelly for the Giro.

Kelly actually has someone to talk to and converse with. At last we dont have to listen to the innane drivel from Harmon or Kirby.

Happy happy happy.

 

[hayzer114]

Kelly's commentary is brilliant. He has some knowledge of the game. You could sit there and listen to him for hours. Realy enjoy his sense of humour at times also.

 

[staubsauger]

We Germans really have great luck with German Eurosport commentators Karsten Migels & Ulli Jansch in the past and Migels & Jean-Claude Leclerq now it seems.

 

[spalco]

^^
I really don't like them, no enthusiasm. I much prefer the British commentators, especially Kelly (who of course also is never excited, but he has a different charme ).

 

[woodenswan]

Finally - we have superb commentary from Declan Quigley

so thats his name.. squeaking and squealing.. the most annoying voice ive hear in a long time. how on earth he got this job is beyond me. also, he had trouble recognizing Uran yesterday.. Uran.. amazingly ****ty commentator. Kelly is good of course, but Eurosport "has to make the calculation".

 

[Big_Blue_Dave]

Oh what a joyful day !! Thank you God

David Harmon is leaving Eurosport....until the Tour anyway. Wow lets hope they get someone decent on to commentate. Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!

Now Kirby needs to get lost.

Looks like nobody has mentioned it since your post, however David Harmon is working on his own project for a couple of months and this is pretty much the perfect time for it to be completed.

 

[Big_Blue_Dave]

Whoever is the main commentator has to have the skills in order to do that though. Live cycling coverage involves potentially hours of not a lot happening.

You're over-estimating the knowledge of the people back home if you think a main man describing the action is not required.

Yes, Brian Smith and Magnus Backstedt could have a conversation about cycling for a few hours, but could they dumb down their knowledge to communicate and engage with the viewers at home?

So often there are no graphics showing who riders are. So often there are picture break-ups that leave dead air time. So often there are no time gaps. Harmon and Kirby etc are there to fill that time and stop viewers turning off. They do that by being entertaining, trying to engage people on Twitter, saying things that might be controversial, and of most importance, by engaging the expert in conversation about why things are panning out as they are.

The ideal I agree would be a main commentator who has competed in the sport in question, such as Peter Aliss in the golf or in F1 Martin Brundle. Even Hugh Porter at his peak, and Liggett turned down a career as a Pro to go down the commentating route. However, in most sports, it's a professional broadcaster who is in the main position. If a former sportsman can become the professional broadcaster, then so be it. As it stands, the only person in cycling that I can see doing that from the current generation is Dan Lloyd. He's doing the interviews for RCS events, co-commentating with Carlton for RCS and occasionally Eurosport, and presenting the online Global Cycling Network show.

It's a different world sitting in the co-pilot seat, not having to listen to producers in one ear and respond only when spoken to.

Dan Lloyd works with Ant McCrossan at Cyclevox, Cyclevox having a contract with RCS to provide English language support at their races. With Ant working on the ground at the events calling commentary for fans at the roadside it's pretty much been necessary to bring in someone to do the commentary for the TV. On this occasion it's Carlton Kirby, though whoever it is will be a contractor (self-employed) as that's how most commentators work.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Harmon

Harmon's doing 'his own project' ?? ha !! maybe its learning about cycling and doing some research on the subject.

 

[HiCadence]

Isn't Harmon taking a break because he's in the middle of moving house?

 

[movingtarget]

Harmon's doing 'his own project' ?? ha !! maybe its learning about cycling and doing some research on the subject.

House renovating I think.

 

[rhubroma]

Kelly is brilliant. He's the only one of british eurosport I can tolerate.

I usually watch swedish Eurosport though. Roberto Vacchi is an excellent commentator, one of the best around.

I have on occassion heard Kelly, who naturally knows what he's talking about, even if he lacks verve in his delivery, though that's his style which is fine. I don't think Hammon knows as much as he thinks he does and his commentating style leaves much to be desired in my opinion. He gets too excited, for example, about mundane stuff.

Although I'm probably jaded because I get to watch RAI and listen to Davide Casani, who may not have been the best pro in his day, but as far as astute commentary is concerned he's got to be the best in the business. Italian cognoscenti in general, when it comes to cycling, know their business. In fact how many pros point out that one of the good things about riding the Giro is how the fans really know cycling? In other words they're not just tifosi screaming roadside not knowing what the hell's going on and I myself can attest to how articulate many of them are. For this reason the level of commentary needs to be "scholastic" and very professional on RAI. Casani ensures that.

 

[RedheadDane]

Danish Guys

As I've mentioned before I quite like the Danish guys.

The 'main guys' (at least back when I started watching on Eurosport) are Leif Mortensen and Thomas Bay. Then there's René Wenzel - who's also a bit of a "USA Expert", Per Kaae - who apparently is a bit of a "backup" (think he's mostly a tennis commentator), and Brian Holm - when he's not otherwise occupied.

Sure they all make some rather silly mistakes (some funny, other plainly embarrasing) but I can't recall ever thinking Just shut UP during a broadcast.

 

[argyllflyer]

Really missing Harmon on the Giro. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but he, understandably, has far more in depth knowledge about the sport at World Tour level than DQ. Then again, it's allowing Sean to shine as he's got far more opportunity to expand and correct, and I've not heard Sean as upbeat and jovial as he's been thus far in ages, if ever...?

But during the descent today, neither were quick to spot the BMCs join the Hesjedal group. DQ thought it was Euskaltel and didn't clock the numbers when the helicopter zoomed in a few minutes later (65, 61). I don't think Morabito got a mention the entire last 25km. Rob Hatch is brilliant at number recognition from the same TV monitors. Does he use a magnifying glass? He's often quicker than the caption guys.

I've enjoyed Declan's commentary of British racing (Tour series, Tour of Britain) where he does know more than me about the Continental teams and riders, but I feel here, the commentary is not adding as much as it should.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Really missing Harmon on the Giro. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but he, understandably, has far more in depth knowledge about the sport at World Tour level than DQ. Then again, it's allowing Sean to shine as he's got far more opportunity to expand and correct, and I've not heard Sean as upbeat and jovial as he's been thus far in ages, if ever...?

But during the descent today, neither were quick to spot the BMCs join the Hesjedal group. DQ thought it was Euskaltel and didn't clock the numbers when the helicopter zoomed in a few minutes later (65, 61). I don't think Morabito got a mention the entire last 25km. Rob Hatch is brilliant at number recognition from the same TV monitors. Does he use a magnifying glass? He's often quicker than the caption guys.

I've enjoyed Declan's commentary of British racing (Tour series, Tour of Britain) where he does know more than me about the Continental teams and riders, but I feel here, the commentary is not adding as much as it should.

I agree, I would rather have Harmon than DQ and im glad he will be back for the tour.

 

[The Hitch]

Dont know if it happened live but watching the highlights now some new commentator starts talking when it comes to the podium.

Sounds kinda like kirby but kinda different.

Either that or quigly is taking the ****.

Either way, very strange.

 

[ozerulz]

Bein sports here in America has Kirby and Lloyd doing the Giro. They suck ***. If you took a drink every time Kirby said ah, uh, um or ah yes you'd be dead in less than five minutes

 

[Carlo Algatrensig]

Bein sports here in America has Kirby and Lloyd doing the Giro. They suck ***. If you took a drink every time Kirby said ah, uh, um or ah yes you'd be dead in less than five minutes

I think its those 2 doing the highlights on SKY Sports in the UK. Do you also find it really annoying how often he tells you how far there is left in a stage even though its telling you that in the top left hand corner of the screen.

 

[gooner]

Really missing Harmon on the Giro. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea but he, understandably, has far more in depth knowledge about the sport at World Tour level than DQ. Then again, it's allowing Sean to shine as he's got far more opportunity to expand and correct, and I've not heard Sean as upbeat and jovial as he's been thus far in ages, if ever...?

But during the descent today, neither were quick to spot the BMCs join the Hesjedal group. DQ thought it was Euskaltel and didn't clock the numbers when the helicopter zoomed in a few minutes later (65, 61). I don't think Morabito got a mention the entire last 25km. Rob Hatch is brilliant at number recognition from the same TV monitors. Does he use a magnifying glass? He's often quicker than the caption guys.

I've enjoyed Declan's commentary of British racing (Tour series, Tour of Britain) where he does know more than me about the Continental teams and riders, but I feel here, the commentary is not adding as much as it should.

I agree, I would rather have Harmon than DQ and im glad he will be back for the tour.

I agree with this, I have been a bit disappointed with Declan so far. An example yesterday was when he said Paolini won G-W this year and only 10 mins later to say he actually won OHN after surely been corrected by someone. That should be basic knowledge for a commentator in his position and it's surprising to see him lack here in this regards. Another thing I remember as well which was pointed out up thread was when Uran was out the back on Stage 1 where it was so easy to recognise him and he never mentioned who it was as he wasn't sure of the rider's identity.

Declan covered the Tour as a journalist before and while he has a interest in cycling, I think his main interest is in motorsport where he was a commentator on Formula 1 over here on RTE and Setanta Ireland.

 

[Cyivel]

Yeah, I thought Quigley was good when he did MSR but he does seem to be struggling a bit so far, still prefer him to Harmon though and hopefully he will get better over the next couple of weeks.