Multicam feed discussion - Discovery+

[hayneplane]

So today at the Giro we got a premiere of a new stream with 4 different cameras on screen at once with the standard commentary overlaid.

Positive was being able to see break and peloton at the same time and focus on what your preference was.

It was particularly helpful in a stage like today’s where the key action is a team trying to shed the heavier sprinters so there is more interest in seeing when and who is dropping as there is just a strong pace up front not attacks.

Biggest negative was no onscreen graphics with time gaps and distance to go (insert own joke about RCS GPS being so worthless that you won’t miss it) and the sprint then being only viewable on a quarter screen. Did get to see it live with the overhead camera angle which was good.

With some tweaks it could be very helpful in the mountain stages, especially with a breakaway 10-15 minutes ahead contesting the finish while the GC group are tackling the final climb simultaneously.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I don‘t know if I‘ll use it frequently but it‘s a nice addition. Looks like the footage is an idea of RCS. I think it‘s a great idea, but you‘d still want a Second screen to look on the startlist for the dropped riders and for kilometers to go graphics. It‘s very tempting to get myself locked up in a psych ward thanks to this.

 

[red_flanders]

I watched it for about 5 minutes. At the time of watching, it provided...zero additional benefit to me. I think it'll be at great tracking split groups on a mountain or echelon stage. I'll give it another try, but first impression was...meh.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Watched for a while, a screen with much more race info might be helpful.
Perhaps not the best stage to watch using this format, when the race splits up could be good.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I don‘t know if I‘ll use it frequently but it‘s a nice addition. Looks like the footage is an idea of RCS. I think it‘s a great idea, but you‘d still want a Second screen to look on the startlist for the dropped riders and for kilometers to go graphics. It‘s very tempting to get myself locked up in a psych ward thanks to this.

For sure this! I mean four screens and not a one said how many kms to go for each group, I found it very unnerving. Plus I got lost during the final sprint because I didn't know which screen to watch...

I think with some tweaking the multi-screen could be nice, but right now I'll be switching to single screen during the finale just because I don't want to miss out on who crossed the finish line first again live.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Useful to have as a tool for a knowledgeable producer to switch to, when there is something useful to be gleaned from it and the commentators know what images we are seeing, but I can't see it ever being my default viewing option.

 

[Netserk]

I like it a lot. I used it to watch Hayter's ITT uninterrupted to get a better feel for the route. It's just a second screen to switch to once in a while or to rewind and see what I missed.

 

[Davesta]

I’m quite enjoying it…in today’s TT it seemed like they’d changed it so the top left screen was the live ‘director’s cut’ version that the commentators were seeing. So we got replays & on screen graphics (km to go, rider name etc)…perhaps they’ve learned from yesterday’s pilot, and will make that a permanent change from now on?

 

[Netserk]

I used it for most of the stage today, it's really good for ITTs.

 

[kingjr]

I'll be using it exclusively, I can get all the additional information I want from PCS. Have been waiting for something like this for years.

 

[Netserk]

I’m quite enjoying it…in today’s TT it seemed like they’d changed it so the top left screen was the live ‘director’s cut’ version that the commentators were seeing. So we got replays & on screen graphics (km to go, rider name etc)…perhaps they’ve learned from yesterday’s pilot, and will make that a permanent change from now on?

It's repeated for stage 3, but the regular feed is in the lower right rather than upper left as yesterday.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Useful to have as a tool for a knowledgeable producer to switch to, when there is something useful to be gleaned from it and the commentators know what images we are seeing, but I can't see it ever being my default viewing option.

I've switched back to single screen because I'm an old fart with long established habits... you have commentators shouting excitedly when something is going on and I don't know which screen they are referring to, I just find it a bit much first thing in the morning. (Like, 4am in the morning.)

I think it's fantastic there is this option now for those who enjoy it, but personally it's a feature I will probably rarely use. Maybe for TTs, I can see it being useful then.

 

[Potomac]

Too often I think the commentators are watching the split screen and make remarks about things not on the actual broadcast.

 

[Potomac]

Today I'm going multi-screen only