While Classic Day will go down as an undoubted success on the track, the Racing 240 television broadcast came in for some serious criticism, with technical issues making it something of a nightmare day for the new brand.
With South African’s racing television honeymoon still very much in its wine and roses stage, Racing 240 Chief Stephen Watson reassured the Sporting Post on Saturday that he would be dealing with the countless audio and video issues that plagued the broadcast of the weather interrupted major day at Turffontein.
Racing 240 Chief Stephen Watson – not happy with what happened on Saturday
“A temporary studio was set up in the top hospitality suite at Turffontein and they have been plagued with coms breaks with the Outside Broadcast trucks. Regardless of the reason, it is totally unacceptable that we find ourselves in this position. I can’t interrupt the team to deal with it now as they are live. They are trying to sort out the coms breaks,” he confirmed.
The day started with microphones not working, phantom voices over the air, breaks in picture and sound, staggered cut-aways to other screens and what seemed like a generally poorly co-ordinated production. Julie Alexander was talking at times, and unless one is a lip reader, we had to enjoy the theme music rather than hear the words.
Early on Saturday evening, reader Selwyn Elk raised the programming issue of 240 showing American racing, ‘while all the interest is in the UK’.
“On Saturday they showed nothing of the UK without saying a word. The PA pool in Aqueduct is R3733 versus the UK PA of R22 725. Very disappointing!” said Selwyn
Stephen Watson responded to Mr Elk and confirmed that they did show some UK.
“Our GR1 Channel has the whole of Southwell. We looked at all race times, plus the need to show / cover whole meetings to cover exotics. Also ensuring we feature all key elements – parade ring, canter past, loading etc as far as possible. So full UK meeting is on GR1, and two full USA meetings on R240 this evening, after Turffontein and Dubai,” said Watson
He said that time clashes and half meeting versus full meeting coverage after the big local meeting and Dubai were factored into the final broadcast schedules.
“It appears we are getting positive and negative commentary on this strategy. We are measuring audience levels, data and turnover and will continue to review this.”
Mr Elk was pleased after Stephen Watson responded to him directly and explained the rationale.
The Gr2 Senor Santa heads another big day of racing at Turffontein on Saturday.
