How dumb are the folks at Versus/NBC?

[The Gnome]

So I sat down to watch Tour De Suisse coverage on Versus...now mind you, they don't broadcast it live...but a delayed broadcast...so within the first ten minutes of their own coverage...the little info feed at the bottom actually tells you who won the very stage you just started watching and gives you all the results...absolutely incredible...

 

[Jancouver]

Giro, Dauphine was available live online so I watched the live Eurosport coverage. Less commercials and no Phil Ligget.

The Swiss tour is also live online but only on RTL in some funky Luxembourgish language that I cant understand but still better than Versus.

 

[Parrulo]

pretty dumb i would say

maybe you could download the eurosport live coverage from cyclingtorrents.nl?

eurosport guys aren't the best either but still they are better then versus

i was assuming you can't watch live. if you can watch live just show up on the forum and there will be plenty of links for live streams on the race thread.

there is a british eurosport stream btw jancouver. for some reason it wasn't working today but usually it does (i hope it works tomorrow )

 

[Skrufxtrastark]

Phil isn't that bad...I mean...he messes up fairly often now...but he's probably just drinking wine the whole time with Bob

 

[UpTheRoad]

Phil isn't that bad...I mean...he messes up fairly often now...but he's probably just drinking wine the whole time with Bob

Amazingly, Bob Roll has improved his commentating so much that I think any further discussion of the job he is doing on air should be in The Clinic. He is still horrible, but a huge improvement over previous years.

To me, more and more Paul is coming across as very arrogant and even condescending.

On a positive note, they are getting a bit more fair in their coverage (just a bit) as we get further and further away from the Lance Armstrong era.

 

[ManInFull]

Phil isn't that bad...I mean...he messes up fairly often now...but he's probably just drinking wine the whole time with Bob

A prime example--In yesterday's Tour de Suisse stage, Phil had no clue that Thor was about to win the stage until Thor was about to cross the line. I mean, come on, Thor is the only guy out there with a jersey that is largely white with rainbow colors!

 

[Granville57]

How dumb are the folks at Versus?

Don't. Get me. Started.

Seriously, it's almost 1:30 am right now. I'll have to pick this up tomorrow.

Pretty dumb though.

 

[El Pistolero]

I find these guys funny especially when talking about non anglophone cyclists. And most of all if it's about Contador.

 

[rickshaw]

Versus

Half a loaf is better than none.

PS. the reason "Bob" sounds smarter is that he is keeping his mouth shut more.

 

[mulletCobra]

I hate the nasally sound of Bob Roll's voice. I'd be happy if he was talking out of his a**.
I really really dislike him and I get angered when he's on my television. I didn't watch the ToC this year as much because of the "Bike Tech" segments they were doing. Oooooh Bob! I never knew about drag and how that funny shaped hat can help cyclist reduce it! His wikipedia page makes me laugh too.

I really hate how Versus dumbs down everything as if the only people who are watching just stopped for a moment while channel surfing. How many times are they going to try to explain what a break is? I'm also sick of hearing Jens Voigt being quoted about why breakaways happen.

Also, I don't like hockey or fishing.. Versus is useless.

 

[CatsNK]

Tee hee hee - this thread is cracking me up. Makes me glad we don't get Vs at home - I see it only at the gym during TdF time. I wish US would take over ALL the cycling coverage from Vs.

One thing I don't get about Vs is all the odd "extras" they have. Um, I want to watch the race, OK? Not watch Roll take some ride up a mountain without a helmet, TYVM. They interrupt the race for that stuff. Very strange.

 

[fatandfast]

I hate the nasally sound of Bob Roll's voice. I'd be happy if he was talking out of his a**.
I really really dislike him and I get angered when he's on my television. I didn't watch the ToC this year as much because of the "Bike Tech" segments they were doing. Oooooh Bob! I never knew about drag and how that funny shaped hat can help cyclist reduce it! His wikipedia page makes me laugh too.

I really hate how Versus dumbs down everything as if the only people who are watching just stopped for a moment while channel surfing. How many times are they going to try to explain what a break is? I'm also sick of hearing Jens Voigt being quoted about why breakaways happen.

Also, I don't like hockey or fishing.. Versus is useless.

there are market research companies out there that sample viewers to find out they love Roll. He is a big draw for US cycling fans. Phil,Paul and Bobke are all Lance's tea party pals. Without any data I would say that Voigt is also super popular w US cycling viewers.

I hate the VS coverage but I also remember the CBS, John Tesch years were there was crap synth music and stories about Napoleon. They ruined the Paris Roubaix and the TDF every time they covered it.

I was given a magazine subscription and my email address was included and also I tried to win a bicycle by entering the daily drawing on VS. It haunts me still when I get emails asking if I have 5 minutes to fill out a survey

 

[pleyser]

CBS was good, ABC killed it

Different opinions will abound....I loved the CBS coverage with the John Tesh music. It was the only TV outlet giving any coverage of the races this side of the Atlantic, so I was grateful for it.

ABC did a horrible job with their vignettes, music and less than enigmatic on air staff. (1989-1990?) Remember Al Trautwig and Pierre Salinger, anyone? They took the closest race in history (1989) and made it almost unwatchable.

Given a choice, I'd still take the CBS type weekend recap coverage over the Versus crap. I love cycling, but I can't watch it live for hours on end.

 

[perico]

The CBS coverage was interesting for a 3 hour highlight package, but in no shape way or form would I trade Vs. daily coverage for the return of Tesh and 1-2 hour a week coverage. It would be bad for the sport, considering that CBS still does the weekend highlights now anyway. The best cycling coverage we ever had in the states was right before Lance's comeback when Vs. was still OLN and in it's earliest days as a cable channel. They didn't carry the Tour, but their live Giro broadcasts in 98-99 with Phil, Paul, with Davis Phinney in Bob Rolle's position were excellent.

 

[ManInFull]

there are market research companies out there that sample viewers to find out they love Roll. He is a big draw for US cycling fans. Phil,Paul and Bobke are all Lance's tea party pals. Without any data I would say that Voigt is also super popular w US cycling viewers.

Since Lance is no longer riding, they now will be pumping up the Schlecks and will be taking swipes at AC every chance they get.

 

[porkchop_sideburns]

Wow - is it really that bad to have televised coverage of races? For all those that are *****ing about it - either turn down the sound or switch to "American Idol." Problem solved. I, for one, am grateful to be able to watch the races I am not able to attend in person.

 

[titan_90]

I learned years ago that Versus coverage is worthless. To many commercials and commercials at the wrong time ie. 5km to go on a MTF and they go to commercial. Plus, amateurish and dumbed down commentary that insults the viewers intelligence. This is the age of the Internet just find a nice online stream, problem solved.

 

[nowhereman]

Giro, Dauphine was available live online so I watched the live Eurosport coverage. Less commercials and no Phil Ligget.

The Swiss tour is also live online but only on RTL in some funky Luxembourgish language that I cant understand but still better than Versus.

Right there with you! I've stopped complaining about those Baa-sturds, I just look for it online. True, the language on RTL is incomprehensible to us non- luxembourgians, but I like the site. the other day prior to the race, there was a beautiful babe showing music videos, I was mesmerized Then the race came on. Meanwhile, back on Versus, it's the same old carnival. Roll is a total buffoon, while Phil is losing it, and Sherwen is just plain undigestible. I will be watching the TdF any way I can, and I'm hoping that it will be on Eurosport.

 

[peacefultribe]

Versus went full idiot with LAs comeback, and war on his own teammate. There is no possible way that they can get the American audience to like AC*. They will obviously push for AS and the rest of the Trek team while making AC out to be the dark bad guy.

As for the actual race coverage, it has been terrible. I remember the good old days of Phil and Paul. Long gone. Versus is entertainment, not sporting coverage.

*Americans who follow cycling, and know the sport, know what is happening. The non cycling fans will need a good guy bad guy theme in order to be interested in watching the race. So sad.

 

[theswordsman]

Giro, Dauphine was available live online so I watched the live Eurosport coverage. Less commercials and no Phil Ligget.

The Swiss tour is also live online but only on RTL in some funky Luxembourgish language that I cant understand but still better than Versus.

Eurosport UK has had Tour de Suisse live every day starting Monday. I've also seen French and Spanish feeds. I usually have a Eurosport feed going for the play by play & the best available video on mute. http://www.fromsport.com usually has one feed listed early as a place keeper, and they swarm in when the race goes live (9:00 Central Time)

Note: I use Firefox with NoScripts & ad blockers and things, so there might be annoyances at some feeds that I never see.

 

[Anonymous]

Extremely.

 

[Granville57]

The horribly predictable banter is only the half of it.

Every other commercial is either Lance playing golf, Lance drinking "beer" , Radio Shack Lance, Nissan Lance, FRS Lance, Nike Lance, or Road I.D. w/Levi & Bob Roll.

They reached an all-time high a couple of seasons ago when they hired some bimbo "comedian" to interview someone about the TT bikes. Asking insightful question like "Is this where the espresso comes out?" followed by grins of approval from Sherwin & Liggett back in the booth.

Way to grow the sport, guys!

Pop Quiz:
What happens if you tap your brakes during the run-in for a sprint?

 

[max_powers]

The horribly predictable banter is only the half of it.

Every other commercial is either Lance playing golf, Lance drinking "beer" , Radio Shack Lance, Nissan Lance, FRS Lance, Nike Lance, or Road I.D. w/Levi & Bob Roll.

Lance and many of his sponsors have been noticably missing from the Vs. broadcast commercial breaks, this year in USA. The Michelob Ultra Life scenarios have been replaced.

I noted the FRS product at the .99 store recently.

Stocks fall even in the Ultra Life

 

[The Gnome]

Well, an update...and I guess I didn't give full disclosure...I had tivo'd the thing so it was stage three...worked so much I didnt get to watch it til a few nights later...but still, I was watching the recording of their coverage...and yes, they did actually put an info feed at bottom to tell you the results of the very stage they are showing for first time...but anyhow, I wrote an angry letter...as I would imagine many did...the next nights coverage had no info feed running at all... they must have gotten so many angry letters they did something about it...certainly wasn't my letter as I was writing well after the fact...still, Versus is horrible...personally, I think Phil has a brain tumor or something...he gets things wrong constantly...teams, riders, dates, even the weather ect...and for most things, it is all I have access to as am at work during live stuff...do use cyclingtorrents.nl sometimes and they are very good to get eurosport coverage...donate money there to keep the good stuff going...I will take Sean Kelly anyday...and Brian Smith is great I think...

 

[The Gnome]

"I hate the VS coverage but I also remember the CBS, John Tesch years were there was crap synth music and stories about Napoleon. They ruined the Paris Roubaix and the TDF every time they covered it"...as an old school guy this really made me laugh...

via versus...I too wish US would just take all cycling they cover over, but the funny thing is that they now own versus I believe...I was astounded to hear Bob pronounce France half right the other night instead of making an a## out of himself...tho he seems to be on a similar kick pronouncing Bosen-ha-a- hagen...the guy is a total idiot and always boring...as for Paul, he should just go run his diamond and gold mines and keep his "workers" in line and stay away from the commentary booth entirely...