I remember the 30 WRC cover on what was 'Speedvision', but for most of the 90's I didnt have cable as I was never at home and had other things going on then.

My post was really meant to address gaining a larger marketshare of a viewing audience in this day and age.  

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MemphisRacing.com

Hello Everyone!



I feel like this is almost a blog, after saying my bit during the Sweden coverage - except I'm not that important!!



Think you'll all agree Mexico was a big step forward. More variety, lot more action - to be fair I think the Rally itself helped because the on board in Sweden is really hard to tell one stage from another generally - - just a winter wonderland! - plus technically it's harder to make much use of the camera mounted on the front of the car outside cos of the weather...so was better footage which helped.



Plus the fight was more varied so by definition we were seeing more stuff from more crews....



We had some MAJOR technical problems on Friday....because my commentary like all of the 6 teams around Europe other than France is done 'remotely' - that is I commentate from my simple little studio in Kent - it's not possible to check and/or solve problems instantly like you can in the studio where it's being recorded/broadcast from.



So I felt pretty helpless but we did what we could and the re-recorded version was loads better...



Now as for me personally - the commentary I normally do for most of my other stuff for ITV Sport at BTCC, for Eurosport at Le Mans etc - I'm usually on site so can see  and feel what's going on - talk to the crews, PR people etc, other media guys and get the detail, the real insight into why people are fast or not, what really happened, tactical or technical changes....but when you're relying on info from websites, radio, press releases etc, it's a lot harder to give that real quality info.

Fred Viger  and the guys at Motors have worked SO hard to get this right - they are very limited on what's available regarding shots and graphics, but still with the time and resources available do a pretty mega job, and let's not forget are trying to keep hundreds of different countries and fans happy...the footage you're used to from people like Eurosport is very slickly packaged, edited and voiced by PK on site, very familiar and very formulated way.



Motors are a specialist channel - it's for fans like you and me - but don't have the facilities and resources that certain other channels have, so provide you and me as fans with some pretty mega stuff really - not just for WRC but for motorsport generally.



I'm far from perfect, I accept that, but I'm not commentating to pictures that I have prepared earlier and seen before - when you see it for the first time, so do I....



I have a list sent of shots, have no control over sound or vision, and am working to that....and because the team in Paris are translating the interviews that are in English, quite often my lead into them based on that so I may occassionally have a challenge with those timings and have been guilty of 'crashing' the vocal....believe me I'm as upset as you are about that. It WILL improve.



I have been a motorsport fan since I was 5 years-old....lived near Brands Hatch and watched racing there from then till now...I'm one of the Senior Instructors at Brands, an ARDS 'S' Grade Instructor (those who know what that means will know...) have race in the UK, USA and Europe since 1985, coached guys like  Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen....and both Hispania drivers Karun and Bruno around Brands...I've raced Formula Ford, Formula Renault, Renault Spiders, Lotus Sport Elise and GT cars....and still do....



My Rallying passion started when I would like many of you watch the two minute updates on BBC2 in the 80's and beyond from Tony Mason on the 'Lombard RAC Rally'....loved it, F1, Le Mans, BTCC ever since....



I was mates with Burnsy when he lived up the road from my good mate Jason Plato - we went drinking in town there lots....one of the funniest nites was when Jason, Richard and I were in the bar with three up and coming Brazilian racing drivers who were watching the World Cup with us - wearing their Brazil Shirts - and drinking Cokes....Burnsy offered them one of the shots we were on and they declined cos they were racing in two weeks or something....Burnsy asked em how much they were earning, told em what he was on, pissed them off with the amount and then bought em a shot anyway saying ' doesn't f***ing slow me down lads - I'm world f***ing champ!'



Had a ride with Martin Rowe in his Megane, with Ryan Champion, with Justin Dale....I speak to them - and Julian Porter - as much as I can to make sure that as a 'roundy roundy boy' I get it right.



I will get it right, it's a bit better already - I'm not on skunk to answer one - very funny - comment - I'm not Paul King, and cos I'm not on site I'm reliant on 'remote' info....but I want you guys to enjoy it and be on my side....we all want the SAME thing....a mega show, well put together and well commentated on.....it's only two Rallies in and already it's better....we've all been used to the Eurosport stuff which was great, slick, formulaic and easy to 'get'.



We're different - catering for SO many different markets and tastes - Dave is a purely UK show with a budget and contract in place that gives them access and footage we would LOVE to have - Neil Cole is there, we can't be, the commentary is done on site to the footage and it's really, really well funded.



Let's face it guys - WRC deserves to have the same level of funding for TV that F1 and Moto GP gets but it doesn't...listen to WRC Radio and you'll get the picture....at Motors we are all fans, all enthusiasts and all determined to make the best possible programme we can for you, and us....Mexico was better than Sweden, I'm confident that Jordan will be better than Mexico - and you'll all be more used to us - and my annoying voice (my mum loves me!) as the season progresses.



Thanks for the support - thanks for the comments both good and bad - cos without them how else can we go forward - please stick with it cos although we've had a few teething troubles, overall I think you'll all agree we're going forward.



It's coming up to 22.45 on a Saturday nite on my day off - it matters to me - it matters to Fred and the team - we DO hear you and we ARE getting there....



Thanks a million for your support and your comments.....it's a big deal to me to get this right....I really, really care.....



Your far from perfect commentator



Simon Hill



(I'm off now to watch Dave......or Babestation.....but no Skunk!)







 

Simon...



With the greatest of respect, there are some of us discussing your performance on here who have not only competed at national level in rallying, are also current instructors and ALSO know tom dick and harry from around the rally circuit and some of us have even commentated on the WRC 'live' on events... I think posting your idea of your credentials for the job above, was a poor choice, especially the comments about Richard.



Richard was never one to flash comments around about what he may or may not be earning and even if may of done on one drunken night, this is not the place to be sharing such stories. I had the very great pleasure to know Col, Richard and Beef and was on the event when Richard was first taken ill and was even stood on the finish line at Margam Park when Beef was taken from us, so not all the comments about your performances here are from armchair rally fans. 



Your performance has been bad....there is simply no better way to put it than that. 



Some of us who have actually commentated 'live' on rally events, have never needed recordings or crib sheets, or anything else...because we know the sport inside out and back to front. Whatever the reason for you getting this gig, there are many who have credentials to actually do the job, none of which will require 'on job training' and any of us could at least ride shot gun to you, so that you dont make quite so many 'howlers' shall we say, but Fred seems loathed to ever answer his email.



But you have the spot... understand the responsibility you have to bring high quality coverage and commentary to the sport, rather than this 'laissez faire' "bear with me while I sort this out" nonsense.... Get your homework done, get your facts straight, get the names right and start taking the role seriously or dont bother at all.... as so far, you have turned off more viewers than you have attracted. If you need help or wish to discuss...give me a shout...

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"A lot has to be improved. We must create a much bigger interest from the manufacturers, the privateers and the media. I am excited and I have the passion for this job." Jean Todt - Feb 2 2010

Rally Guru thanks for your post. Firstly can I apologise if I offended you or anyone else with any comments made  - it was meant a genuinely affectionate anecdote about I guy that was great fun and very welcoming - I never meant it as anything that would be seen as being disrespectful to Richard - I had the utmost respect for him.



Clearly you know your stuff inside out and upside down as you put it, and for you and anyone else that has the kind of background it must be frustrating for you listening in. I mentioned mates like Justin, Ryan and Martin just to illustrate that I am doing my damndest by gettting as much info and insight as poss from guys that - like you - have and in some cases still are involved competing etc.



The mention of my background was merely to highlight that I've been passionate about motorsport my whole life, know it very well from many different angles and therefore out of respect for the fans and sport - and my own self-respect believe it or not -  I want to get it spot on.

I had a very short amount of notice that I'd be doing WRC and therefore have had my work cut out to get sharp - plus a few technical dramas have made it a bit more challenging!



Yes there have been some mistakes, but I am taking this VERY seriously and feel that Mexico was a bit better and it will continue to improve - but I agree with you - when I do Racing commentary I'm like you, I need very little back up or facts to hand cos I'm very familiar with it - but I feel that when you've got several stages, shakedown, pr info, new drivers or whatever - that info plus the stage times including splits are the most important things - the news and insight  wouldn't you agree?



Hope this maybe explains - thanks for your thoughts - I do appreciate your points and actually agree with a lot of them - but I will be here for a while - so it will get better I can assure you of that.



Cheers



Simon



 

I don't think that your commentary is bad. It's clearly difficult to comment a show cut like this. And to be in a studio instead of in the field where everything happens is much more difficult.



If there would only be less boring in car footage everything would be ok.

Simon; First of all I am  impressed that you have the guts to answer us using this channel !



I think all of us will find it useful if you write a piece to describe the whole process of making the show. What you get and dont from North One, how much you (MTV) can influence what raw material you get to work with, and so on. This might help us better to understand your situation, and by that not attack something you can not change !



I understand that commenting, as it is a live show represent a challenge - and why cant you (MTV) get the footage beforehand, to plan your comments better, and get more info into it ?



Are there different deals with North One from different companies showing WRC, or are they alle the same ?



I think a lot of the criticism here, is because we do not know - so please tell us !

Simon, well done for getting on here and responding to the fans, and also for taking it so humbly and respectfully. You expose yourself in the public eye and of course anonymity on the Internet can make people say some nasty things.



I understand what it is like to try to get the most out of limited resources. It would be great to get an insight into how you guys put together the show.



At the end of the day, though, the sport deserves more funding and better, slicker coverage. Hopefully North One and all other players will do their part.



Us fans will go and watch all the in-car YouTube videos, and spend hours reading about rallying, but the more mainstream market probably aren't that hard core. They need the slick presentation.



I do hope the coverage improves. I'm certainly not going to stop watching, but I do miss the slick presentation that EuroSport dished up (sorry to bring it up again). I'm guessing that was North One's cut that they just aired on TV?

It's taken me this long to look at the forums cos I know there's been a lot of comments that have stung a bit! And rightly so - I'm far from perfect, but I think that most people who take the time to comment do so cos they're passionate about the sport - and expect the best coverage for this truly wonderful spectacle called WRC. As a team Motors are committed to delivering the best production they can - we want YOU as viewers to be happy and satisfied. We have done all we can to deliver this - it's VERY different to what you'll have seen before, and it gives you a very differerent view of the sport we all love. Personally I have tried so, so, so hard to do my very best in terms of info, insight and detail. We give you lots of onboard, which is great, so I'm trying to give u some info, a bit of insight to stages etc, but then shut up and let u watch - Like Me! - the action unfold....and let's be honest, unless you're lucky enogh to have actually driven the stage we're watching recently, what's the chance of you knowing enough about it to commentate accurately corner by corner...so maybe awed silence is more appropriate than a guestimate?! I wish I could be at the events - to talk to the crews and everyone involved - and get the real insight - instead I have to spend hours and hours researching and digging for info....someone said I should give more 'history'.....accepted...however isn't the reason you tune in more for the 'stories' - the 'today' info....I try my hardest to give that. I even got criticised for my 'Cockney' accent...can't do much about that I'm afraid...born like it - wherever YOU are from I'm sure you're proud of it like I am for being a Londoner! Anyway, point is, I'm really proud to be be doing this job - I'm trying SO hard to get it right - sorry if I make a few mistakes - will try not to - I think you'll agree the content is improving and I can only work with what I'm given....but I'm sorry if it's not quite there...I hope it's at least a BIT better. Thanks for caring. Yours, Simon

 Simon, I like that You actually take the time to answer us here !



But I think it is one or two of the quick wins you could implement.



I  understand that you cant be there, but Motors TV could send a journalist there, to do intervjues, and to report from the field.



You are in my and many others in need of an "Expert" - a driver/Codriver that know the details and can give more insight of the driving of the different teams.

Hi Gordini,



For so many reasons beyond our control it's not possible to send a reporter to events - we hope to have someone at either Rally France or GB or possibly both - it would be great to have an 'expert' - like a driver or co-driver with me, but again there are many reasons why this isn't practical - believe me it would make my job easier - it would half my work load! - I know enough guys that are both brilliant drivers/co-drivers and would give great insight....for the immediate future we can just work with what we have - as I said for a number of reasons beyond my control.



However, I am focussing on what I CAN do something about - trying to get more and more detailed info, concentrating on the facts of what's been happening each day, and balancing the 'chat' with the 'silence'....too much of either doesn't really work...so I'm trying to get it as even as possible!



Thanks for the comments though, I can only guess that because by nature most people like to complain not complement that the lower volume of comments mean that either it's gradually improving, or people can't be bothered to complain anymore!



Thanks for your comments, really are appreciated - please don't be offended if I don't respond that often - I tend to avoid the forums not cos I don't care, but cos my job really matters to me and all the negative comments tend to sting a bit!



Take Care



Simon