Pol Time Le Tour 2010 on SBS TV

[mickkk]

I am enjoying it more than ever thanks to the 50 inch HDTV.

In the SBS TV guide, every stage is slotted in for 10-2am est. No extended coverage listed for the mountains. I hope the schedule is subject to change. I hope the power of the people will see more coverage as le tour progresses.

Its so good to see Garbiel Gate back and with a new book and CD to flog.

Vote early and vote often! Multiple choice enabled!

 

[mowie133]

i'll think you'll find that the big stages will start at 9.30...taste le tour = pee break

 

[mickkk]

Christ that was quick!

 

[auscyclefan94]

I would not tick any of the options It is good and is getting better. Three suggestions.

-replace liggett with keenan as he is awesome
-Scrap Taste Le tour and replace it with more insights of history of the tour and some insight into the teams
- Get rid of Tomalaris. He makes absolutely outrageous comments and assumptions about things he does not have a clue about.

Overall though they do a good job! 7.5/10

 

[Hotbrakes]

I would not tick any of the options It is good and is getting better. Three suggestions.

-replace Keenan with Liggett as he is awesome
-Scrap Taste Le tour and replace it with more insights of history of the tour and some insight into the teams
- Get rid of Tomalaris. He makes absolutely outrageous comments and assumptions about things he does not have a clue about.

Overall though they do a good job! 7.5/10

Don't you mean replace Liggett with Keenan?

I think SBS are doing a great job, but would love to see Keenan do the whole stage. Landis and Keenan, that would be gold.

 

[RedZone]

Personally I loved the part last night where they were convinced that Geraint Thomas would be in yellow if Chavanel lost 3.5 minutes, despite the fact that Cancellara in 2nd place was in the fcking lead group.

 

[unsheath]

I go into a rage of fits whenever that sock puppet Tomalaris comes on screen. This is what happens when you throw a general news reader into specialised sport coverage. I would seriously knee cap that moron if I saw him on the street. Anyhow, at least they didn't bring that Hawaiian shirt wearing fat f*ck Rupie Guiness back this year.

As for Keenan, I like what he says just not how he says it. And the guy needs a wingman FFS. SBS you cheap skates, give him a buddy!!

On the bright side the addition of Scott Sunderland for the post race review is an improvement and McKenzie is at least insightful with his comments.

 

[hughmoore]

Personally I loved the part last night where they were convinced that Geraint Thomas would be in yellow if Chavanel lost 3.5 minutes, despite the fact that Cancellara in 2nd place was in the fcking lead group.

We were laughing about that today, also took them forever to workout Lance had a different wheel on the front although it was obvious.



Hugh

 

[hughmoore]

I go into a rage of fits whenever that sock puppet Tomalaris comes on screen. This is what happens when you throw a general news reader into specialised sport coverage. I would seriously knee cap that moron if I saw him on the street. Anyhow, at least they didn't bring that Hawaiian shirt wearing fat f*ck Rupie Guiness back this year.

As for Keenan, I like what he says just not how he says it. And the guy needs a wingman FFS. SBS you cheap skates, give him a buddy!!

On the bright side the addition of Scott Sunderland for the post race review is an improvement and McKenzie is at least insightful with his comments.

Im not fussed by Tomalaris, but agree, Keenan needs a sidekick, why not Mckenzie, I find him good. They should scrap Liggett etc and just go with those two.

Sutherland is good also.

Overall, Im quite happy, the HD on my 50 inch TV looks great.

Hugh
South Oz

 

[Wicked Witch]

Paul Sherwin is particularly hopeless. On stage 2 whilst the Peleton was going through the Ardennes there was a bit of image break up due to the wet conditions and Paul apologised for the 'climate' being at fault! Seems he doesn't know the difference between weather and climate.

Another gem that Paul said was that particular area was "famous for coal and steel mining"! I just couldn't believe what I heard, and to think that SBS are paying good money for a commentator who doesn't have a clue about basic knowledge.

I now refer to the commentary as 'Sherwin's Sideshow'.

Would love for Keenan to have a former GT rider as an assistant and then we might have some decent commentary.

Unfortunately the ads breaks always seem to be right when there's been a major incident too...

 

[movingtarget]

For someone who has been covering the race for so long, I find it hard to believe how silly some of Tomalaris' comments and questions can be. He will ask one good question and then three dumb one's.

 

[battery89]

tbh SBS is pretty amazing in its coverage. Although Tomalaris is a bit of a weirdo sometimes and often asks pretty terrible questions, McKenzie and Keenan are particularly good. PL/PS are themselves (LA, LA, slow on the uptake - pretty much there for a novice viewer).

That being said, most of the extra segments are interesting and their online coverage in particular is quite good - daily stream and daily highlights and interviews.

Thumbs up for me.

 

[El Imbatido]

I think Matt Keenan would go really well with Magnus Backstead as Keenan is more the Lead commentator whilst someone like Backstead would just add to the conversation and with him being fresh out of the peloton he knows the ins and outs.

I also believe that Keenan is a free lance commentator (no i don't doesn't speak about lance) i mean not tied to any one station. IIRC he commentated on the Vuelta last year, i'm not sure who for but in the online feeds we were watching here, he was definitely commentating

 

[badboyberty]

From what I understand Keenan actually works for ASO and not SBS.

Tomolaris is a bit of a basket case, and P&P have definitely seen their best days. Hopefully when Robbie McEwan retires he can headbutt Tomolaris out of the building and take over SBS's cycling department.

In my opinion the worst thing about SBS coverage of the Tour is it rubs in how half arsed their Classics coverage is. Eurosport audio streams or the mute button fix the P&P problem pretty well. I'm so glad to be South Australian, we miss "Taste le Tour" thanks to our half hour time gap.

 

[Ferminal]

On the bright side the addition of Scott Sunderland for the post race review is an improvement and McKenzie is at least insightful with his comments.

This is the highlight for me. It's great to see Scott staying in the game after his departure from Sky. I hope he continues to contribute to cycling in cameo media roles.

McKenzie is OK but tries too hard.

Tomolaris is a farce but there's not many people you could replace him with.

 

[mickkk]

Ah well Tomo really deserves a pat on the back IMO. Back in the early days of SBS, TDF was his baby, his passion. He now gets to go to the TDF and not sit in the studio like Keenan does. I reeally belive that if it wasnt for Tomo, we wouldnt have the coverage we do now. SBS was once broadcasting the TDF to to a few of thousand people with dodgy reception you know. Tomo and the rest are trying to give what is a radio commentary to a visual event. You and I might know the pattern of the race without audio, but 90% of watchers need the constant chatter.

One of the best TDF coverages was years ago when Keenan used to do the comms along with race radio. It was brilliant! We got to hear every word. keenan would shut up and let us listen. Given digital broadcasting, isnt it possible to have multiple audio tracks now?

At the end of the day, SBS pays for so many minutes of video, so many minutes of Phil Ligget. The rest is just fill to reduce costs. The first 15 minutes of coverage is just touchy feely stuff for the occasional viewer and archived footage that doesnt cost much compared to a live HD sat feed.

 

[Sydney Sider]

Mike Tomalaris tweeeted yesterday or the day before that French TV wont allow live pictures till 2230AEST , hopefully thats not for the whole tour

 

[auscyclefan94]

Im not fussed by Tomalaris, but agree, Keenan needs a sidekick, why not Mckenzie, I find him good. They should scrap Liggett etc and just go with those two.

Sutherland is good also.

Overall, Im quite happy, the HD on my 50 inch TV looks great.

Hugh
South Oz

Mckenszie is better at the after stage commentary. Why not Scott Sunderland now he has left Sky? OR, we could have commentary by Cadel while out on course!

This is the highlight for me. It's great to see Scott staying in the game after his departure from Sky. I hope he continues to contribute to cycling in cameo media roles.

McKenzie is OK but tries too hard.

Tomolaris is a farce but there's not many people you could replace him with.

Tomolaris is horrible. He was commenting on the first stage how everyone criticise PL and PS because of the biased commentary but says it is wrong to criticise because the guy is just so amazing. Also when he asks questions he is all over the place. I agree it is a hard gig but surely their is someone better!

 

[Notso Swift]

I also believe that Keenan is a free lance commentator (no i don't doesn't speak about lance) i mean not tied to any one station. IIRC he commentated on the Vuelta last year, i'm not sure who for but in the online feeds we were watching here, he was definitely commentating

He is freelance, and it is a measure of his quality that he is now a "professional" (as opposed to a part timer with a day job, that takes time off to fit in, which is how he started)

He is the Brother in law of my Best mate, (mind you I have only met him once) and he is even nicer and better informed in person
We will get him doing the worlds with Phil this year, I'm told (and I think a lot of other countries who do not know him will get the feed)

Edit

I did not vote
Because it is "Same old, but I am happy - not bored" which isn't an option

 

[Ferminal]

McKenzie was actually very good after yesterday's stage, said a lot of smart things about the sprinters.

 

[auscyclefan94]

McKenzie was actually very good after yesterday's stage, said a lot of smart things about the sprinters.

I agree especially about the top end speed part.

 

[Spare Tyre]

I haven't voted in the poll because none of the options are right for me.

I find Tomolaris very annoying and 'tune out' when he's on camera, however, I appreciate his passion for the sport and believe SBS (and Tomo and co) have been gems for developing an Australian pro cycling TV audience over the past couple of decades. It wouldn't have happened on a commercial network. Whenever he's annoying me I try to remind myself that SBS wouldn't have its current level of support for cycling if it wasn't for Tomo.

I don't tune in for the 30 mins intro these days, and I'm not interested in Taste le Tour (or whatever Gate's segment is called) but I'm oddly happy it's there. There is something daggy and kitschy about it that seems just right, in a quirky way.)

P&P drive me nuts when they rhapsodize about LA. It's sickening. I can tolerate their commentary most of the rest of the time, but prefer Matt Keenan, and after him, Magnus Backstedt (Eurosport UK), followed by Harmon & Kelly (Eurosport UK).

I have no issues with the length of the SBS broadcast. Some of that is beyond SBS's control, in any case.

Just wish they covered the Giro. (Pretty please with icing on top....)

 

[mickkk]

If you look at the graph of prize money for the TDF, it takes off around 1992, coinciding with the rise in TV coverage. I think its a chicken and egg situation. When the Giro has a few more Lira to ride for, SBS will pick it up like it has the TDF IMO.

 

[Sasquatch]

If it weren't for Tomma, we wouldn't be getting live coverage of the Tour in the extent we do. It's because of him we do get it.

In regards to his so called asking dumb questions or whatever some of you are saying, the guy is trying to hype up the Tour for people who don't follow cycling and only just follow the Tour. He's making it insightful for the casual follower and he's doing it good. For the regular followers, the questions may seem stupid, but for casual followers and there are a lot of them, it's good.

About Matt Keenan - the bloke is the best commentator around. He is better than Phil and Paul by miles. I agree he needs a sidekick and I do believe that Dave McKenzie will take that role in the coming years. They are grooming McKenzie to be a commentator.

 

[Greg Johnson]

He is freelance, and it is a measure of his quality that he is now a "professional" (as opposed to a part timer with a day job, that takes time off to fit in, which is how he started)

He is the Brother in law of my Best mate, (mind you I have only met him once) and he is even nicer and better informed in person
We will get him doing the worlds with Phil this year, I'm told (and I think a lot of other countries who do not know him will get the feed)

The incredible part about Matt is what the majority of people never see. I've watched him provide commentary on a D grade race in Melbourne earlier this year with no more notice than 'here's the mic, do it' and he did almost as informatively on those riders as he is on top level professionals. Obviously he's from around there and knows many in the scene, but even so, very impressive.

Cheers
Greg Johnson