AC37 Broadcast Requests

[Varan]

Disclaimer.. I am dyslexic, drunk, yet passionate and honest, oh.. and pecking on my phone. So here we go...

1. Filter out normal boat noises. You have hours of recordings for each boat. The obnoxious noises when sheets are eased or tightened. It is not rocket surgery, it's annoying,  distracting and easy to fix. Let's hear the conversations between crew, and any abnormal boat noises when things are, well, like not nornal.

2. Kenny and y'all, can you please just STFU. We love ya, but maybe please consider no commentary during racing, or at least have a mute button, so we can hear what the crew are saying. We don't need to hear if port versus starboard entry is favored, over and over and over again, or if one boat covered another, over and over again, duh.

Maybe no comments until the race is over. That way you have 30 minutes to think about what you really want to say. Make it meaningful. Y'all know bunches, and I love your opinions. PLEASE, just don't blabber and please let us hear the racers. Reserve you opinions for later when we can focus on them. Even NOOBs would appreciate that.

3. I forgot.. later.

 

[dogwatch]

Have you considered just clicking mute?

 

[dg_sailingfan]

Dump STEPHEN MCIVOR! He should stick to Cricket & Rugby. That is where he belongs IMO. The Guy is clueless when it comes to Sailing Commentary!

 

[fish7yu]

2. Kenny and y'all, can you please just STFU. We love ya, but maybe please consider no commentary during racing, or at least have a mute button, so we can hear what the crew are saying. We don't need to hear if port versus starboard entry is favored, over and over and over again, or if one boat covered another, over and over again, duh.

If you are watching YouTube, you may have the main coverage with the sound on mute, open a 2nd window to watch/listen the port/starboard entry cam feeds (no commentary only crew communications).

 

[timz3818]

I think it's important to recognize how difficult it is to make a good AC broadcast. The broadcast team is dealing with a lot of technical complexity. (2 helis, 6+ onboard cameras per boat, geographically separated commentary teams, a complicated graphics system, etc.) Sailing is a really tough sport to broadcast, and putting this together has been a ton of work. Kudos to the folks that pulled it off.

A few suggestions that will hopefully find their way to the people putting together the next AC broadcast:

Regarding the audio:

1. It would be nice if the broadcast had us listening to the sailors more in key moments.  Sailing is unique in that there is this constant onboard communication that paints a picture of what is about to happen. That does a large part of the job of a play-by-play commentator. There were moments in the broadcast where the commentators let us listen to the sailors and then expanded on what they were saying. That was good; especially on the moments where Nathan came in to help explain more technical aspects. Save the color commentary for when the boats are splitting.
   
2. The mixing needs work.
   
   
   It's pretty common to have the commentators + helms and trimmers/tacticians from both boats mixed together at similar levels. I can barely follow it listening on my PC through reference headphones. On my TV it sounds a lot like a bunch of sailors talking over each other in a bar.
   
3. In most sports the arena's sound is more of a white noise but in sailing we have language coming from the boats. I think because of this the levels to be a lot lower when commentators are talking over the sailors. Consider mixing out the onboard coms and leaving the ambient audio in situations where the boats are splitting and the commentators can fill in.
   
4. I understand having audio from both boats in a wide shot but when you're onboard one boat you should only hear that specific boat's audio + commentators.  Hearing the audio from the other boat is really confusing.
   
5.  In the wide shots pan the audio to match what is onscreen so that it is more clear who is saying what. (e.g. the boat on the right of the screen has the onboard audio panned right 80-90%)
   

[*]In general I thought the commentary team was good. Kenny, Nathan, Shirley, and the other sailors on the commentary team gave insight that was a useful addition to the broadcast. I actually liked it better early in the series when they seemed more shy and let the sailors talk more. The rugby guy was less terrible than the NASCAR guy from the last two cups but I still would have rather heard less of him.



Regarding the visuals:

1. AC 36's graphics looked very much like a first attempt and while they did get better as the series went on they weren't nearly as good as the Liveline ones from the last two ACs. The Liveline solution kept the visuals a lot lower impact by muting the colors (eg. gray instead of white for course lines), feathering the edges of the lines, and using more transparency.  This made the graphics feel less like a video game and more like lines painted on the course. They moved smoothly and seemed more locked in in general. Hire some of the guys that put that system together.
   
2. Aside from the graphics I thought the visuals were great. Top notch work from the heli, drone, and camera cat folks, as well as the people operating the remote cameras. 
   

 

[alphafb552]

I found the sound balance spot on, half listening to the commentators for when they expand on conditions further up the course (particularly the sailors in the heli) and half checking in with the crews, listening for the 'board down' to see uf they're covering etc.

The ambient sound of the boats added the drama and indicate the power of these machines as they race round the course 

 

[KiwiJoker]

Disclaimer.. I am dyslexic, drunk, yet passionate and honest, oh.. and pecking on my phone. So here we go...

1. Filter out normal boat noises. You have hours of recordings for each boat. The obnoxious noises when sheets are eased or tightened. It is not rocket surgery, it's annoying,  distracting and easy to fix. Let's hear the conversations between crew, and any abnormal boat noises when things are, well, like not nornal.

2. Kenny and y'all, can you please just STFU. We love ya, but maybe please consider no commentary during racing, or at least have a mute button, so we can hear what the crew are saying. We don't need to hear if port versus starboard entry is favored, over and over and over again, or if one boat covered another, over and over again, duh.

Maybe no comments until the race is over. That way you have 30 minutes to think about what you really want to say. Make it meaningful. Y'all know bunches, and I love your opinions. PLEASE, just don't blabber and please let us hear the racers. Reserve you opinions for later when we can focus on them. Even NOOBs would appreciate that.

3. I forgot.. later.

Right on!  Lets hear it for "dyslexic, drunk, yet passionate and honest,"

We, very regrettably, don't enjoy the studio quality headphone enjoyed  by the producers.

1.  Subject them to about 34 hours of ratshit distorted sound output,  ie, the stuff we are forced to suffer through in our search for understanding.

2. Add toggle switches or volume controls to let us make our own listening choices.  This ain't rocket science.

 

[Ex-yachtie]

It is not rocket surgery

^Awesome

 

[KiwiJoker]

I think it's important to recognize how difficult it is to make a good AC broadcast. The broadcast team is dealing with a lot of technical complexity. (2 helis, 6+ onboard cameras per boat, geographically separated commentary teams, a complicated graphics system, etc.) Sailing is a really tough sport to broadcast, and putting this together has been a ton of work. Kudos to the folks that pulled it off.

A few suggestions that will hopefully find their way to the people putting together the next AC broadcast:

Regarding the audio:

1. It would be nice if the broadcast had us listening to the sailors more in key moments.  Sailing is unique in that there is this constant onboard communication that paints a picture of what is about to happen. That does a large part of the job of a play-by-play commentator. There were moments in the broadcast where the commentators let us listen to the sailors and then expanded on what they were saying. That was good; especially on the moments where Nathan came in to help explain more technical aspects. Save the color commentary for when the boats are splitting.
   
2. The mixing needs work.
   
   
   It's pretty common to have the commentators + helms and trimmers/tacticians from both boats mixed together at similar levels. I can barely follow it listening on my PC through reference headphones. On my TV it sounds a lot like a bunch of sailors talking over each other in a bar.
   
3. In most sports the arena's sound is more of a white noise but in sailing we have language coming from the boats. I think because of this the levels to be a lot lower when commentators are talking over the sailors. Consider mixing out the onboard coms and leaving the ambient audio in situations where the boats are splitting and the commentators can fill in.
   
4. I understand having audio from both boats in a wide shot but when you're onboard one boat you should only hear that specific boat's audio + commentators.  Hearing the audio from the other boat is really confusing.
   
5.  In the wide shots pan the audio to match what is onscreen so that it is more clear who is saying what. (e.g. the boat on the right of the screen has the onboard audio panned right 80-90%)
   

[*]In general I thought the commentary team was good. Kenny, Nathan, Shirley, and the other sailors on the commentary team gave insight that was a useful addition to the broadcast. I actually liked it better early in the series when they seemed more shy and let the sailors talk more. The rugby guy was less terrible than the NASCAR guy from the last two cups but I still would have rather heard less of him.



Regarding the visuals:

1. AC 36's graphics looked very much like a first attempt and while they did get better as the series went on they weren't nearly as good as the Liveline ones from the last two ACs. The Liveline solution kept the visuals a lot lower impact by muting the colors (eg. gray instead of white for course lines), feathering the edges of the lines, and using more transparency.  This made the graphics feel less like a video game and more like lines painted on the course. They moved smoothly and seemed more locked in in general. Hire some of the guys that put that system together.
   
2. Aside from the graphics I thought the visuals were great. Top notch work from the heli, drone, and camera cat folks, as well as the people operating the remote cameras. 
   

TMZ - Wonderful.  You deserve  a major prize for the most comprehensive, all-encompassing, insightful commentary  we've seen here. You have addressed all of my concerns.

Too late for this time but terrific guidance for updates for future events.

it is simply not good enough to generate a quality signal leaving the broadcast centre;

It must, as much as humanly possible, survive the distortions and many depredations of world-wide distribution.

 

[The Advocate]

Audio selection panel with an option of choosing some to be closed captions.

 

[richiec]

This was without doubt, the BEST AC for media coverage I have experienced. The sheer mix of available options to watch, the various pundits all chucking in their two cents worth. 

Kenny, Shirley and Nathan did an excellent job throughout. The 'host' of those three was a tad annoying but made it relevant to non sailors with his hype. The comments from the chopper throughout, were really insightful as well. Nathan for me was an absolute standout, as he is so fresh from Artemis/Bermuda and the deep insight of an AC campaign. Plus his natural ability to explain foiling and foiling tactics to the masses - brilliant. A natural infront of and behind the camera. But I hope you get back out there and are part of  future campaign. Top work to all on the official broadcast team. 

I would have LOVED to have seen more live drone footage from about mast height or just above or below. The tech exists - it should have happened. Zipping along close to the boats would surely not have disrupted airflow - but would have taken coverage 'next level'. 

Live. Sail. Die - absolutely brilliant coverage and deep insight for all fellow sailors. The pre race interviews, the post race interviews - absolutely excellent and really added to this coverage of the cup in Auckland. You are clearly mostly Kiwi's, with the exception of Gator(?) - but you never once let that cloud what was really balanced coverage of both teams and their key players. I felt watching interviews with the various team members, they afforded you a load of respect - as fellow sailors who appreciated what was going on and you guys as well considered media. TOP JOB LSD. 

The guy who came out of nowhere to provide 'next dimension' insights, was Mozzy - over on Youtube. Brilliant mate and if you read this - you added immensely to the understanding and comprehension of these boats, and this series. Keep the bad sweaters/jumpers coming. Fascinating stuff and hugely enjoyable. I hope the next broadcaster brings you on to be the 'tech and insight guy'. 

There are bunch of others, ie. Planet Sail - excellent and added much diversity.

Like many, miffed that the thing has come to an end, and we've got to wait how long for more AC sailing. Well done to ETNZ. Well done the Luna Rosa - grazi mille! 



 

 

[alphafb552]

...

The guy who came out of nowhere to provide 'next dimension' insights, was Mozzy - over on Youtube. Brilliant mate and if you read this - you added immensely to the understanding and comprehension of these boats, and this series. Keep the bad sweaters/jumpers coming. Fascinating stuff and hugely enjoyable. I hope the next broadcaster brings you on to be the 'tech and insight guy'. 
 

Second that

 

[phill_nz]

  sadly the home ( tvnz ) broadcast was expertly geared towards the 2 foot body with 3 foot arms brigade

it was a cringe-fest from start to finish  .. with a lot of viewers using only the live video with the sound off and watching youtube with a 30 second delay as far more preferable to listen to

the very rare comments by barker were worth listening to but the rest of the base team negated any chance of allowing that to unmute the coverage

embarrassing and forth rate tf for youtube

 

[Nutta]

  sadly the home ( tvnz ) broadcast was expertly geared towards the 2 foot body with 3 foot arms brigade

it was a cringe-fest from start to finish  .. with a lot of viewers using only the live video with the sound off and watching youtube with a 30 second delay as far more preferable to listen to

the very rare comments by barker were worth listening to but the rest of the base team negated any chance of allowing that to unmute the coverage

embarrassing and forth rate tf for youtube

Knuckle dragging imbeciles with a penchant for yacht racing are humiliated and horrified by your suggestion that the TVNZ coverage was geared towards them...

The Toyota ambassador, Jack Lame, and the other talking heads were pathetic, aside from Barker and Lester maybe...

 

[Sailbydate]

^Awesome

For a pissed guy who gets his merds wixed, I though he did pretty well. ;-)

 

[C. Spackler]

The broadcast team really needs a cup historian who can tie the present day racing to the patterns and stories of past cup matches. It's relevant and part of why a cup match is more than just another sailboat race or sporting event. 

Kenny has become a top notch commentator. Shirley needs a bigger role with her valuable insights. I get why Stephen is there doing color commentary, but he's constantly degrading the sport and isn't the right person for the role.  

 

[A3A]

At least the NBCSN broadcast had no commercials during the races this time. Unlike Bermuda where they would cut to a commercial right at critical parts of the race and you missed key moments. 

 

[G-Shack]

They need to get the Mozzy Sails team involved. Best AC chat I've seen. 

Not sure why but I have a huge urge to buy loads of North Sails. 

 

[Kaihoe]

I would have LOVED to have seen more live drone footage from about mast height or just above or below. The tech exists - it should have happened. Zipping along close to the boats would surely not have disrupted airflow - but would have taken coverage 'next level'. 

They tried the Drone in the Pre Xmas regatta but Boats were moving too fast for the Operator/Boat to keep up and move safely through the course.