[LM24] Radio Le Mans

[GT6]

Murphy has just posted an update suggesting that RLM will be scaling back thier coverage for the 2009 seasons but was scetchy with details, does anyone else hacve any news?

[The Badger]

I think its just for the ALMS ?

Jesus .... I would seriously be ****ed off if this extends to Le Mans !!!

The ACO should step in here and guarantee their coverage of the 24 hours , considering how many English speaking people attend their race . I hope that doesnt sound arrogant ? Its not intended to be .

[deggis]

Going to be a blow for the americanlemans.com/speedtv.com official streaming too... since RLM was used as a commentary track. If that (qualifications like last year) was planned for this season anyway.

[Mal]

I am hoping this is a vicious rumour - they way the deal with Motors was announced and the way it reads on RLM website I took it as a done deal. Surely it is commercial suicide to do away with the biggest link it has to many fans.

[FIRE]

I hope it's not true.

BTW Why is this in the Le Mans forum?

[isynge]

I can think of a lot of things that are worth cutting in the current economic climate, but one of the primary mechanisms by which they communicate with their fan base doesn't strike me as a logical one at all.

If they're still flying Hindy out every few weeks for the trackside coverage I also question how much they're realistically saving?

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I hope it's not true.

BTW Why is this in the Le Mans forum?

Because it is relavant to Le Mans .

Just found this on another forum .

Statement from Radio Show Limited - 4th February 2009 - for immediate
release:

It seems there is some spectulation regarding the future of Radio Show
Limited and the broadcasts that it undertakes. The directors of RSL feel
that this kind of speculation is unhelpful and would like to clarify the
current situation by making a statement.

The broadcast from Le Mans is planned to go ahead - we are the rightsholders
as appointed by the ACO and IMG Media. We have already re-signed Audi UK as
one of our sponsors and although we are aware of the difficult financial
situation, we feel confident that Radio Le Mans, with the huge global
audience, (over 1.92 million visitors in 2008), will continue to attract
sponsors who are looking for value and exposure to a very important,
influential and affluent audience.

Our LMS broadcasts last year were done very much on a 'proving the concept'
basis. Sadly the beginning of the economic downturn claimed Embassy Racing,
our principal sponsor of the Le Mans Series coverage. That was last year and
we have been working hard to replace that investment. As there is unlikely
to be full live TV coverage of LMS this year, RSL believes that the live,
trackside coverage that it produces will attract even larger audiences than
2008 and that it provides an attractive proposition for sponsors both in and
outside of the Le Mans Series. We are hopeful that we will be able to make a
positive announcement soon.

The ALMS is somewhat different to our other broadcasts in that the Series
has, almost since its inception at the first Petit Le Mans in1998, always
been responsible for the logistics of what we now know as the ALMS Radio
Network. The situation is slightly confused by RSL's John Hindhaugh being
the lead presenter and commentator for the service, as he has been since the
very start. This is a situation that pre-dates radio Show Limited being
involved, as it was only in 2007 that RSL were contracted to provide some
technical and streaming services for the ALMS. Given the above, it would not
be right or proper for Radio Show Limited to comment on the status of ALMS
Radio for 2009 and any such questions should be directed to the Series.

Since 2006, when Radio Show Limited was formed to ensure the continuation of
Radio Le Mans, RSL has expanded the number, quality and accessibility of
it's broadcasts. Through the portal of http://www.radiolemans.com over 250,000
fans per month access the latest sportscar news, the biggest sportscar audio
archive on the Internet and of course live programming from major events. We
acknowledge that all business and especially the automotive and motorsport
sectors are examining spending, but at RSL we are certain that "share of
voice" is crucial to companies who want to be in the best position to hold
and increase their share of market. In that regard RSL ,and the broadcasts
it undertakes, represent an excellent way of underlining to customers and
prospects, that your business is healthy. RSL are working to expand our
portfolio of events to ensure that we can provide the widest range of
opportunties for our sponsors.

The efficient, no waste solutions that Radio Show Limited provides is even
more relevant in the current climate. The RSL mantra remains "we don't
broadcast, we narrowcast".

Radio Show Limited - we talk to the world

[rdjones]

edit The Badger beat me too it...

[Graham Goodwin]

Gentlemen - Anybody putting two and two together and getting an answer anywhere close to no Radio Le Mans is VERY far off beam as the statement above makes clear.

It is a huge shame that John and co have found themselves put in a position where they felt the need to have to make this clear in this manner.

Entirely unamused

[The Badger]

This is good news indeed . This is the 2nd time today that this has happened to me . We just got told that the local news reported that they will close the airline which I work for . While the situation isnt very clear , its also not that bad .

Sometimes I wish that folk who put out rumours like that would just shut the .... up . Cuz they dont realise how much panic and concern that they cause while they sleep in their nice warm beds .

Theres words for people like that , but I would only get another warning !!! ..... Might be worth it though , if that person was reading this forum .

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

..... have found themselves put in a position where they felt the need to have to make this clear in this manner.

Entirely unamused

seconded

....not the first time rumours and idle gossip have caused problems

[Mal]

The RLS statement certainly leaves questions over the coverage of ALMS which was what Murphy comments referred to and doesnt in any way confirm that that is still safe.

it would not be right or proper for Radio Show Limited to comment on the status of ALMS Radio for 2009 and any such questions should be directed to the Series

It also leaves a serious question over LMS TV coverage in its statement

As there is unlikely to be full live TV coverage of LMS this year

[courageous]

Veering off topic, but

no comment on ALMS

sounds like

we don't have a (concrete) deal

which is at odds with last years

Motors TV will use RLM for their audio

announcement.

As far as

unlikely to be full live TV coverage of LMS

it sounds bad at first, but when has there ever been FULL LIVE coverage of LMS? (they always have to go away for DTM or BMX bandits during at least 1 race).

[TheNewBob]

As there is unlikely to be full live TV coverage of LMS this year

That to me would suggest partial live coverage, or delayed and/or edited footage. Not exactly ideal for us enthusiasts but hardly the end of the world. I think broadcasters are being careful with their spending, too. We'll all be putting up with some miserable compromises this year.

[Mal]

Well it still says this on the RLM website regarding 2009 ALMS season:

Since the very first Petit Le Mans, over a decade ago, the American Le Mans Radio Network, from the team behind Radio Le Mans, has provided live commentary of every race.

That's a service which continues this season, and it gets better all the time, as we provide more programming and a full listen on demand service.

So I will optimistically beleive this until something more concrete is said.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by courageous

As far as it sounds bad at first, but when has there ever been FULL LIVE coverage of LMS? (they always have to go away for DTM or BMX bandits during at least 1 race).

I hadnt thought of it like that - lets hope your right.

It seems ironic that people are crying foul for the interpretation of the Murphy blog and yet the statement to counteract it is worded in such a way as it kicks off a new bout of rumour and gossip on a totally different subject.

[GT6]

I did not wish to cause panic or start romours but surely that is what this forum is all about, you get some information from one source and then if it seems unclear you post an entry asking questions and hopefully starting discussions.

Like everyone else I listen to RLM not just at Le Mans but for any other races that I will not be attending, the replies have been in the most part have been exactly what I expected and if support for RLM is helped I have no regret in starting this all off.

[Aysedasi]

We all need to remember that several leading members of the RLM team are members here and read what is put up - and if they don't, there are other members who are in contact with them. Such is life - rumour and counter-rumour with occasionally a bit of truth just to balance things up a bit. I can entirely understand that hearing that something might not be as one expects would generate a post here and I can see no reason for anyone to be unhappy about it being posted as you did. If nothing else, it highlights just how vital to us all RLM is...... Let's just be a bit careful though before we start jumping to conclusions that an uncorroborated rumour might actually be fact and demanding that the ACO do something about it after two posts in the thread......

[Graham Goodwin]

I think it's fair to say that nobody should be contacting the ACO about anything whatsoever to do with this - There is NO problem with RLM and their Le Mans plans whatsoever.

[Nordic]

Pleased to hear that. I clearly remember the dark days before RLM and then when it looked a bit shaky in the early 90's and the thought of returning to hourly updates over the tannoy!

I along with many others dipped into my own pocket and brought raffle tickets etc, (and won a pair of tickets to the Donnington Grp C Race) to keep the service going then and would do so again if needed.

It does read however that they are still looking for sponsors, at least for the LMS and I would guess Le Mans as well to join Audi. Not easy given the current climate.

[johntt]

I can't help but think that this kind of confusion would be avoided if Murphy the Bear wrote in plain English rather than riddles all the time.

[Aysedasi]

OK, humour me.

Who is Murphy the Bear?

[Dani Filth]

TWK ???

[Le Vieux]

OK, humour me

Who's TWK?

[Aysedasi]

Sounds like a twonk to me...... (courtesy - Timothy Spall......)


This thread is losing me fast......