[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[bella]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It is a shame, because onboard cameras really helped the BTCC grow in popularity. It does feel there is something missing as a result and also it doesn't give another angle, if the outside camera missed a certain incident, for us to see

more of a shame that they can’t improve the tv product for when the majority of folk are sat at home rather than watching it trackside. instead we get an inferior product due to regulations that are both sensible and wtf at the same time.

[Greem]

I'll be honest; I hadn't noticed the onboard shots were missing at all.

The commentary, camera positioning and direction all seems to be much of a muchness with previous seasons to me - largely very good, but stuff still occasionally gets missed and there are those annoying, but understandable, moments where the broadcast coverage switches to watch a car taking the flag when there's a 95-way battle going on through the last two or three corners!

I'm completely accepting of that though, as broadcast telly still only has the one screen and the winner of the race is at that point the most important shot of all.

What I'm definitely not missing is the cut-to-angry-faces-in-garage-with-stressed-and-upset-family-in-the-background shots. Give me racing!

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by S griffin

It is a shame, because onboard cameras really helped the BTCC grow in popularity. It does feel there is something missing as a result and also it doesn't give another angle, if the outside camera missed a certain incident, for us to see

But to be fair, this could only be captured by one of the four cars carrying cameras that weekend...

[S griffin]

There seemed to be more than four cars with cameras in the past, although I never kept a track on which cars had cameras

[Sodemo]

I have always preferred cameras facing forwards, where you can see the driver, the steering wheel and the front windscreen. All too often now the cameras have such a limiting view, you tend to either get a reverse full shot of the driver in his seat or just a full front windscreen shot. I really miss seeing shots of the road ahead and seeing the drivers actually working away at the wheel, shots like this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul8SyAu8jEU

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Greem

I'll be honest; I hadn't noticed the onboard shots were missing at all.

The commentary, camera positioning and direction all seems to be much of a muchness with previous seasons to me - largely very good, but stuff still occasionally gets missed and there are those annoying, but understandable, moments where the broadcast coverage switches to watch a car taking the flag when there's a 95-way battle going on through the last two or three corners!

I'm completely accepting of that though, as broadcast telly still only has the one screen and the winner of the race is at that point the most important shot of all.

What I'm definitely not missing is the cut-to-angry-faces-in-garage-with-stressed-and-upset-family-in-the-background shots. Give me racing!

Except Harvey's comms seem to be riddled with mistakes - for example "Jackson will be OK its a left hand drive car"... still at least I wasn't the Dan Cammish show

[Pdh]

I agree that it’s great not getting views of people in the garages when there action on track being missed.

There certainly has been a few more mistakes coming from Tim and David in commentary this year

[S griffin]

The standard of ITV4’s coverage has always been great and it’s credit to them they are able to continue to deliver in different circumstances

[antnee]

I also miss the onboards - it adds another level to the excitement of the races, you get a better feel for how close these guys are to each other. It would show off how much work Sutton is putting in trying to keep that car on the black stuff

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Pdh

I agree that it’s great not getting views of people in the garages when there action on track being missed.

There certainly has been a few more mistakes coming from Tim and David in commentary this year

David's brilliant. Tim seems to struggle at points.

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by Greem

What I'm definitely not missing is the cut-to-angry-faces-in-garage-with-stressed-and-upset-family-in-the-background shots. Give me racing!

Yes, agreed!

[S griffin]

I am glad they don’t have the constant swaps to faces in the garages anymore, although I don’t think they’ve done it much in recent seasons.

[Jiiiiiiim]

Interesting to see Bushell might do Thruxton with PMR as well now (TCT). Hope he is able to, he show pace in both his outings so far!

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

There is more than enough frequency available to broadcast from more than four cars - as seen with the typical 24-camera setup at a football fixture.

When Cloudbass moved to HD coverage for the BTCC, their supplier Videosys opted for Cobham Broadcast’s Solo 4 HD TX transmitter and PRORXB eight-way receiver/decoder unit. Videosys devised new onboard camera transmission systems for four BTCC cars, two support cars, four pit lane cameras and one pit lane return vision monitor

A typical 24 camera football match will have 22 of those cameras cabled, and you'd only be using RF frequencies for the two running the sideline.

The lack of available frequencies means even the nine RF devices that are used on BTCC are split across two different bands.

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Jiiiiiiim

Interesting to see Bushell might do Thruxton with PMR as well now (TCT). Hope he is able to, he show pace in both his outings so far!

Also interesting that they had an exciting driver line up to be revealed as the season goes on, but all of a sudden Bushell could be back in the car 🤔 I wonder if anyone else is actually committed to the drive?

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by Evantra

David's brilliant. Tim seems to struggle at points.

David is brilliant until your realise that half of his commentary is him asking himself a question, and then answering it.

Turkington is on the inside of Cammish, can he get through? Yes he can.

Neal is behind Jelly, can he pass without contact? No he cannot.

Oliphant is in the lead, has the gap increased? Yes it has.


Now that I have noticed it, can I un-notice it? No I can't.

[S griffin]

Quite a few commentators have done that. I don’t see much wrong with it

[bella]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Also interesting that they had an exciting driver line up to be revealed as the season goes on, but all of a sudden Bushell could be back in the car 🤔 I wonder if anyone else is actually committed to the drive?

if they were, you’d not say someone else was going to have the drive unless you were maybe trying to pressure the unknown party into commiting rather than flirting with another team...

[BillWiskins]

Originally Posted by steve_r

David is brilliant until your realise that half of his commentary is him asking himself a question, and then answering it.

You're not wrong, but have you ever tried talking for a solid 30 minutes about one thing, without repeating yourself? Especially when there may be periods when nothing interesting is going on. It's no mean feat and all commentators have their own little book of backup phrases. Drink every time David says 'timing line' or 'to the good'...

Tough job, and I know Tim gets a lot of stick on here, but it's not easy being entertaining and descriptive and informative all at the same time!

[Peter Mallett]

I enjoy the commentary team. Tim is knowledgeable and no mean driver so I value his insights even if sometimes he is off base.

[steve_r]

Originally Posted by BillWiskins

You're not wrong, but have you ever tried talking for a solid 30 minutes about one thing, without repeating yourself? Especially when there may be periods when nothing interesting is going on. It's no mean feat and all commentators have their own little book of backup phrases. Drink every time David says 'timing line' or 'to the good'...

Tough job, and I know Tim gets a lot of stick on here, but it's not easy being entertaining and descriptive and informative all at the same time!

I think they are both good, and I certainly don't want to come across like I am being critical. But can I listen to the commentary without noticing the questions? No, I can't.

It is a modern phenomenon that commentators feel that they cannot leave even a small gap in the dialogue. Go back and watch old TV football commentary from back in the 60s or 70s, and you will notice that the commentator does not feel the need to speak all of the time, and was it worse as a result? We can see what is happening on screen after all.

[S griffin]

I do hope Bushell is able to be back for Thruxton. It would be a massive shame after the pace he showed at Knockhill to not get another chance, especially is he is now the only person not to score

[Alfisti]

He must have a shiny new money tree sprouted if he is back, another meeting fee on top of the big bottle of T-Cut. The previous money tree was a bit #HARD up.

Be good if he is, nice lad and decent racer.

[850Estate]

Originally Posted by steve_r

David is brilliant until your realise that half of his commentary is him asking himself a question, and then answering it.

Turkington is on the inside of Cammish, can he get through? Yes he can.

Neal is behind Jelly, can he pass without contact? No he cannot.

Oliphant is in the lead, has the gap increased? Yes it has.


Now that I have noticed it, can I un-notice it? No I can't.

I read that in David's voice and I will now feel the urge to point it out every single time I'm watching races to whoever is unfortunate enough to be with me at the time.

Thanks a lot Steve !

[Evantra]

Originally Posted by steve_r

David is brilliant until your realise that half of his commentary is him asking himself a question, and then answering it.

Turkington is on the inside of Cammish, can he get through? Yes he can.

Neal is behind Jelly, can he pass without contact? No he cannot.

Oliphant is in the lead, has the gap increased? Yes it has.


Now that I have noticed it, can I un-notice it? No I can't.

Haha very true!