I was hugely impressed by last night's live coverage on The Adventure Show. Well done to everyone who made this happen. The chasing sprint format is probably the most TV-friendly type of O, which no doubt will draw criticism from purists, but for grabbing the attention of a wider audience this is great.
I think there's a lot that could be done to make the coverage even more exciting and accessible for non-orienteers (e.g. it was obvious the commentators had access to far more live race data than was broadcast, and I would like to have seen the explainer segments showing the map in ways similar to the recent SLOW training videos), but this was an excellent first(?) for British television, and hopefully a solid base from which to build.
Orienteering on the tele
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
I agree. The commentary team was very knowledgeable and there was none of the "thermos flasks and walking boots" stuff which we sometimes hear. It was really nice to see some non-elite regulars getting a mention and the sport presented very well. Congratulations to all concerned.
- Blithe Spartan
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
No criticism from me - I love this format. Racing head-to-head adds to the mental and physical challenge and is a lot of fun. Great race and a real treat to be a part of!
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Little Hoddy - green
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
I missed it with illness but as a result got to watch it live instead. Really good watch. Thought the competitors all came across really well when interviewed as did Graeme and JonX. Lauren the new presenter was really really nervous which didn't help the juniors.
Kath Betts also impressed in her interview and commentary.
Loved the format. Compressing the leads for the chasing start is a great idea.
Would have been nice to see some of the GPS stuff but I dont think the average viewer would have missed it. Could have done without Dougie struggling in the mud again though (Who put a control on a horrible muddy extraction lane for the WOC preview piece they repeated??)
Moving the second last control was a nice idea (if a bit mean) and very nearly caused an upset in the womens open, but probably a good idea to let the commentary team in on the trick next time
Kath Betts also impressed in her interview and commentary.
Loved the format. Compressing the leads for the chasing start is a great idea.
Would have been nice to see some of the GPS stuff but I dont think the average viewer would have missed it. Could have done without Dougie struggling in the mud again though (Who put a control on a horrible muddy extraction lane for the WOC preview piece they repeated??)
Moving the second last control was a nice idea (if a bit mean) and very nearly caused an upset in the womens open, but probably a good idea to let the commentary team in on the trick next time
Orienteering - its no walk in the park
- andypat
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
My storming run winning the Ultravet Prologue wasn't broadcast before the 9 p.m. watershed unfortunately. I am trying to find out what happened about GPS tracking - email has been sent out but I know one of the folks involved might answer here on Nopesport.
I thought some of the footage they took earlier (Prologue) would have made better viewing than the repeats. Comment from older viewer (my dad) was he thought it went on a bit too long. My uncle chanced on the orienteering flicking through channels from the football so orienteering is getting a good reach from this show.
Lauren was not in her element at all and it was all a bit awkward standing in the way of people she was interviewing, forgetting names etc.
It was however a good show overall and the tight finishes on races made great viewing. The forest was every bit as grotty as described but somehow I seem in my element running in areas like this.
I thought some of the footage they took earlier (Prologue) would have made better viewing than the repeats. Comment from older viewer (my dad) was he thought it went on a bit too long. My uncle chanced on the orienteering flicking through channels from the football so orienteering is getting a good reach from this show.
Lauren was not in her element at all and it was all a bit awkward standing in the way of people she was interviewing, forgetting names etc.
It was however a good show overall and the tight finishes on races made great viewing. The forest was every bit as grotty as described but somehow I seem in my element running in areas like this.
Fac et Spera. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Scottish 6 Days Assistant Coordinator
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Freefall - addict
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
Freefall wrote:I am trying to find out what happened about GPS tracking - email has been sent out but I know one of the folks involved might answer here on Nopesport.
We will be publishing the links to the GPS tracking on the JOK website along with the results, probably tomorrow.
The GPS was available to the commentators and they had the feed in the OB truck for use on the broadcast if desired, but the director didn’t choose to go to it at any point (quite tricky to do so for all sorts of reasons). As you would expect we have some useful learning about it for any next time.
This was the first occasion for an Adventure Show broadcast live, thanks for the constructive feedback so far and I will make sure we pass on as appropriate.
Why did I do that...
- Jon X
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
Jon X wrote: I will make sure we pass on as appropriate.
but don't let that stop you passing feedback direct to BBC Scotland or the Adventure Show on their various social media. If you'd like to see more O-on-TV, it needs the BBC to recommission the Adventure Show, and the Adventure Show to recommission orienteering. Ultimately, that comes down to (their measure of) viewing figures.
According to the Mail (so it must be true), the bar is currently not high.
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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graeme - god
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
Watch the future of coaching...
If you want to see some high quality tracking in top quality (tough) terrain from top class juniors check out the following:
https://events.loggator.com/dugToQ
ScotJOS has taken possession of the SOA GPS trackers and shall be using these at all training weekends in future.
If you want to see some high quality tracking in top quality (tough) terrain from top class juniors check out the following:
https://events.loggator.com/dugToQ
ScotJOS has taken possession of the SOA GPS trackers and shall be using these at all training weekends in future.
- Big Jon
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
Great news about the GPS tracking and also use of Strathfarrar (the area I discovered).
Fac et Spera. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Scottish 6 Days Assistant Coordinator
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Freefall - addict
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
I thought it was really good too, and the commentators did a sterling job of "bigging it up" to make it sound exciting.
I just thought it was (way) too long, even as an orienteer I got bored after an hour or so. For the average punter who really doesn't care whether "Molloy" or "Bridle" wins it must have been even harder to stay interested - would be worth to get the average time of how long people were watching, if that's possible.
I guess the objective here isn't really to show who wins, but rather to portray orienteering as (i) attractive to take part in; and (ii) a proper sport; and it succeeded in both.
I just thought it was (way) too long, even as an orienteer I got bored after an hour or so. For the average punter who really doesn't care whether "Molloy" or "Bridle" wins it must have been even harder to stay interested - would be worth to get the average time of how long people were watching, if that's possible.
I guess the objective here isn't really to show who wins, but rather to portray orienteering as (i) attractive to take part in; and (ii) a proper sport; and it succeeded in both.
- Arnold
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
Arnold wrote: I just thought it was (way) too long, even as an orienteer I got bored after an hour or so.
Personally I didn't find it too long. Live sport always suffers from not just having the edited highlights, but actually I think covering the 20-minute races meant that each was short enough. I thought that putting the recorded segments in the middle of races broke it up nicely. But we're all different.
It was disappointing that the GPS data wasn't broadcast, as I think this would have shown the effects of route choice (in a way that made sense to non-orienteers), and it seems as though this was critical in the MO. I thought it was a shame that we saw the runners disappear into the woods, then reappear later in the course, with no real idea of what went on in the middle. Perhaps a director unfamiliar with orienteering was concerned that the GPS data without pictures of the runners would lack visual impact; or perhaps there was a technical stumbling block. Either way, this was perhaps an opportunity missed to sustain the mid-race interest.
I also would have liked to have seen more coverage of the Vet classes- not whole races, but perhaps excerpts from the Prologue. I think that one of orienteering's strengths is its diversity, but this is often reduced to 'look at the little kids'. Most of my non-orienteer friends think of orienteering as something they did at scout camp or on a school trip. Pictures of young juniors orienteering reinforces this view. I think there's a big market for vet recruitment- and messages of 'it's hard to get into if you haven't done it as a kid' are not helpful.
These may be points to consider in the future, but shouldn't detract from the main point, which is:
Arnold wrote: I guess the objective here isn't really to show who wins, but rather to portray orienteering as (i) attractive to take part in; and (ii) a proper sport; and it succeeded in both.
- spitalfields
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
Given the [apparent] lack of GPS data, I think the coverage showed the race as best it could, but I agree it would have been far better for us (as well as non-orienteers") what was going on.
As to whether it should have re-enforced (what I consider is one of the biggest pulls of O) that there are classes for all age groups or concentrated (as it did) on the Elite races, well first of all ... ANY coverage is good coverage for British O, and it is the production company that will need to decide how to present O in a way that appeals to their audience.
As to whether it should have re-enforced (what I consider is one of the biggest pulls of O) that there are classes for all age groups or concentrated (as it did) on the Elite races, well first of all ... ANY coverage is good coverage for British O, and it is the production company that will need to decide how to present O in a way that appeals to their audience.
JK
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
JK wrote:As to whether it should have re-enforced (what I consider is one of the biggest pulls of O) that there are classes for all age groups or concentrated (as it did) on the Elite races
I think you must have been watching a different program to me! I'd say the elite races had about a third of the airtime showing that its serious sport with skillful fit athletes, the junior races given equal billing with another third, the vets were seen finishing in the background and got a few mentions, and the fill in time was spent explaining how accessible the sport is to everyone with clips of trail-o and the presenters having a go. What more do you expect?
To oblivion and beyond....
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buzz - addict
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
buzz wrote:JK wrote:As to whether it should have re-enforced (what I consider is one of the biggest pulls of O) that there are classes for all age groups or concentrated (as it did) on the Elite races
I think you must have been watching a different program to me! I'd say the elite races had about a third of the airtime showing that its serious sport with skillful fit athletes, the junior races given equal billing with another third, the vets were seen finishing in the background and got a few mentions, and the fill in time was spent explaining how accessible the sport is to everyone with clips of trail-o and the presenters having a go. What more do you expect?
You seemed to have quoted only the first 1/2 of what I said which was paraphrasing a complaint made higher up the thread, my thoughts about what it did achieve you've edited out.
As for the TrailO coverage then I'd preferred if the comments about planners trying to trick competitors was too old school and that isn't the way TrailO should be planned these days, not at the Elite level. I'm assuming that was taken out of context though.
JK
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Re: Orienteering on the tele
JK wrote:As for the TrailO coverage then I'd preferred if the comments about planners trying to trick competitors was too old school and that isn't the way TrailO should be planned these days, not at the Elite level. I'm assuming that was taken out of context though.
For me the Trail O bit was the least relevant of the insert clips used and I wouldnt have gone down that road. Trail O is a different sport and trying to include this in a programme which was trying to present a sport already unfamiliar to the general public I think was a step too far. I guess one problem was the limited amount of filler clips of orienteering that are in existence.
Orienteering - its no walk in the park
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