TV Could have been better

Enjoying the coverage on the BBC - how often can we see this much live sailing. The presentation is strong and for the first time ever non sailing members of my family have become engaged in the coverage.
 The 49er race was just compelling, the best sailing I have watched. Looking forward to more early mornings and more medals.

The coverage may not be good...but at least its on.

Agree with most of this tread.

But IMHO the only way there will be better coverage in 2012 is if the broadcaster (I assume the BBC) actually does some preperation and shows the test events. Because sailing is so rarely on TV the companies have no knowledge of how to cover it. So they need to practice it and get some people with sailing knowledge behind the cameras and in the directors seat.

To be fair however they do seem to be using the tracking a bit more now.

How could it be done better?

- At the start - selectively mike up the RO so we know what is happening - or at least oblige them to talk to someone on the boat to explain what. Have a camera on the start boat(s) and looking down the line + aerial shot.
-  upwind  it is impossible to know where anyone is by looking at the boats and it is quire boring and it takes quite a long time. GPS is required and on the windward mark with distances to the mark with wind direction and strength. The GPS should make it easy to collate a top 10.
- focus on a boats from the side and behind with the expert describing what they are doing and why. Also look out for little races betwen two boats (a la F1).
- At the marks watch the boats approaching (they are good shots)  + GPS graphics to confirm who is where. Keep on the leading n boats as they go around + aerial shots. Have a rules expert (the TV jury) to indicate in simple terms who can do what. On board cameras + expert analysis of waht they are doing.
- If there are any incidents - action replay and analysis.
- down wind focus on boats from the side and behind and on board with expert analysis. GPS graphics and score boards again with distances to the next mark. Comments from the TV jury member. With GPS could we not have some guage of speed since last mark?
- At the finish - watch the boats come in with another camera across the line (as in vritually every other sport) to confirm who crossed when.
- In the medal races cut to the winners etc when there is no line action.

We have to accept that non-sailors won't watch whole races - so this is for those that do the sport. It should then be possible to put a non-sailor summary together with some sailing action shots - not just of some guy(s)/gals saing in waving a flag.

Have I missed something? If not can I have the job for Weymouth?

I think the directors are rubbish...take the finish to the 470 medal race, they cut away from a cut-throat finish to view the Aus reaction, who already knew they had gold medals..so it wasn't going to be that hot..

and then neraly missed the incredibly close finish to determine the silver, bronze


Oh and why no replays?  - Take the yngling medal race 1st windward mark..USA causing chaos and appeared to infringe AUS, never replayed..but more ('relatively dull') shots of boats going downhill


Edited by laser4000