New ITV racing line up

Happy New Year everyone. Hoping 2017 is a peaceful and healthy year for you all.

Oh AA I have to agree. I didn't know his name so came here to ask who the shouty hyper man was. Saw your comment so Googled and yep, that's the same guy. Just put the TV on mute as can't bear to listen to him.
 
Thanks fr the tip Coldagh, as soona s they mention betting or results I hit the mute button with perfect timing.

Rookie question alert - are the curved bits some of the horses have in chifneys?
 
I'm liking it so far but don't they all look cold! Also think it's good they are trying to attract new audiences with lots of explanations, "a mare, that's a female horse".
 
Happy New Year HHO'ers!
Anyone else not liking the font(s) they're using? Maybe it's my eyes but I'm struggling to read the jockey/trainer names and getting a bit OCD about the higgledy piggledy numbers... :( Guess I don't like change either! Oh, and wtf with the "hair or no hair?" thing...play on "Deal or no deal"????
 
Not a lot of support for the graphics in this household- not very clear!

And can't see much of the horses either through all the rain on the cameras. Feel like it wasn't this bad before.

Anyone else think it's a bit slow?

But otherwise they seem to be doing a good job- go ITV!
 
Happy New Year all.

Liking it so far ( although never a massive fan of Matt Chapman....too 'in your face' for me..) - it's clear they're trying to attract a bigger audience. The actual racing part is fine!
 
suffolkmare said:
Happy New Year HHO'ers!
Anyone else not liking the font(s) they're using? Maybe it's my eyes but I'm struggling to read the jockey/trainer names and getting a bit OCD about the higgledy piggledy numbers... :( Guess I don't like change either! Oh, and wtf with the "hair or no hair?" thing...play on "Deal or no deal"????
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Re the fonts, that's exactly what my OH said!!! Sorry peeps but I think the whole things awful!!!! :-(
 
I can't read any of the graphics either, rather disappointed so far, I wish they would do more paddock shots I used to like seeing the horses before the race.
 
Thanks AA! As an aside I think a dsicguised Ted is in this race on now!

The fonts are very poor and also the subtitles. I'm pretty sure Alice said she was talking to Fingal Bay's girl - subtitles said trainer. Even with poor hearing I think it was wrong.
 
I will sit on the fence a bit. I may well get used to it, yes I hate the graphics but Ed C, who I have never heard of before, seems good.
I really hope they go to more horses and less talking heads.
 
millhouse said:
ITV - I thought, overall, they were good!
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Same here for first show I think they did well.Dont forget part of their remit is to bring in a larger audience of those not so educated in the ways of racing and that is going to be their challenge as lets face it most of the serious racing folk are watching other services. I will watch again having given up on C4 a while back . I saw no issue with the graphics at all and if anything thought the actual racing was better covered.
 
Positives: Good commentary better than C4.
Much better camera work and lenses, some of the previous C4 coverage wasn't in HD and they didn't have enough cameras, Cheltenham is hard to photograph well due to the track layout and this was a big improvement. Time will tell if this continues on the ITV4 broadcasts and many people will be unable to see it in HD either.( I am really surprised racing pros manage to watch ATR and will actually pay a considerable sum for poor images from RUK as well).
Ollie Bell good.
Explanations good I thought and not patronising for informed viewers, thought the map of the different courses at Cheltenham and their attributes was good, laughed at "mare, a female horse".
Negatives:
Matt Chapman, agree he's marmite and some people will love him.
Matey blokey humour, like 1970s football magazine programme.
Chilly uncomfortable presenters, McCoy looked especially uncomfortable and not clad for the day. My guess is they will have a cabin son.
Oh and big negative for me, not enough of the horses pre-race.

Not a bad start, the next few weeks are crucial.
 
It's clearly aimed at those who's only interest is gambling. I suspect that the set-up instructions, which were handed down, were from those with no interest or knowledge of racing. Why the previous protocol followed by Ch4 wasn't used, at least as an opening template, must remain a mystery.

In short, it was hopeless and unless there is at least an effort to engage with those who follow Horse Racing and their interest would include the horses themselves, I for one will find a better way of spending my Saturday afternoons.

Why were the pundits standing out in the pouring rain? Who were the two giggling clowns who stood either side of AP? Who TF was that idiot Chapman trying to mimic, other than that other idiot McCririck? What on earth did a former Olympic cyclist offer by way of knowledge or experience?

I felt sorry for Mick Fitzgerald, he must have felt as though he was trying to shag a hedgehog, one prick working against hundreds.

I understand that we all resist change, to a greater or lesser degree, but the opening programme was insipid and it had no appeal to at least this racing fan.

Alec.

ETS, and having just read Honeylight's post, I agree in that the standard of filming was a vast improvement. One grudgingly given plus, I suppose! :)
 
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FFS stop moaning. We are lucky to have racing on terrestrial TV. And if you are all so good at graphics and presenting get out there and do it yourself. Some people will never be satisfied.
 
I thought it was quite fresh as it happens. The camera work was great, I don't like Matt Chapman personally but that's my problem �� I expect the presenters all have hypothermia this evening, they need to look after them or the likes of AP will give up.
 
Alec Swan said:
It's clearly aimed at those who's only interest is gambling. I suspect that the set-up instructions, which were handed down, were from those with no interest or knowledge of racing. Why the previous protocol followed by Ch4 wasn't used, at least as an opening template, must remain a mystery.

In short, it was hopeless and unless there is at least an effort to engage with those who follow Horse Racing and their interest would include the horses themselves, I for one will find a better way of spending my Saturday afternoons.

Why were the pundits standing out in the pouring rain? Who were the two giggling clowns who stood either side of AP? Who TF was that idiot Chapman trying to mimic, other than that other idiot McCririck? What on earth did a former Olympic cyclist offer by way of knowledge or experience?

I felt sorry for Mick Fitzgerald, he must have felt as though he was trying to shag a hedgehog, one prick working against hundreds.

I understand that we all resist change, to a greater or lesser degree, but the opening programme was insipid and it had no appeal to at least this racing fan.

Alec.

ETS, and having just read Honeylight's post, I agree in that the standard of filming was a vast improvement. One grudgingly given plus, I suppose! :)
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It is sponsored by William Hill so inevitable gambling will be a massive part.

I turned the sound down and just enjoyed the racing.
 
I have just re read some of the NY 2014 thread when C4 changed the format; the complaints are pretty much word for word same as here but in 2014 it was the girls who were left in the rain!
 
millikins said:
I have just re read some of the NY 2014 thread when C4 changed the format; the complaints are pretty much word for word same as here but in 2014 it was the girls who were left in the rain!
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You're right, and it's to be expected. That said though, Ch4 listened to their critics and their presentations evolved and became acceptable.

I wonder why there's no coverage now until the Cheltenham Festival, unless of course we want to subscribe and pay for it. I wonder what those who are being courted and to advertise on the programme think of it all. It's all a bit shambolic, I think, and if others don't care for those who moan, tough luck! :D

Alec.
 
KS we are allowed to say what we think! Here are my thoughts!.....

Liked Ed Chamberlin, never come across him before, thought he tried hard.
Quite like Luke Harvey, he is knowledgeable and does put some passion and intonation into his voice. McCoys observations are always interesting. I thought it quite funny when Ed tried to make out that Shuthefrontdoor must be a favourite of AP and he just said he wasn't the horse he used to be, which proved correct!
I felt sorry for them standing under umbrellas.
I also felt sorry for Mick having to ask Victoria questions that he could have answered much more knowledgeably himself.
Nice to see Alice.
Liked seeing Richard Hoiles in his commentary box, just like we used to see Peter O'Sullivan and that the commentator went through the runners and riders. Much better than Rishi Persad gabbling through them.
Worse thing for me was Matt Chapman, not my sort at all but I am not that interested in the betting. Thought his voice over for the trophy presentation was cringeworthy!
Hope we get to see plenty of the horses pre race. It wasn't too bad today.
 
millikins said:
FB says it's on ITV 4 weekly
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It indeed is just not on the flagship channel! They now say 40 days on the main one the rest on ITV along with their new saturday morning show. It is more actual racing than CH4 ever covered.
 
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Alec Swan said:
You're right, and it's to be expected. That said though, Ch4 listened to their critics and their presentations evolved and became acceptable.

I wonder why there's no coverage now until the Cheltenham Festival, unless of course we want to subscribe and pay for it. I wonder what those who are being courted and to advertise on the programme think of it all. It's all a bit shambolic, I think, and if others don't care for those who moan, tough luck! :D

Alec.
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Alec they really have not yet had the chance to react as ch4 did to be fair.

Ed chamberlain to be fair to him has come from fronting the Sky football coverage which was no mean feat . He has spent all his time since taking on the role getting to know trainers,jockeys and the trivial behind the scenes things so he can give the best coverage possible ,he was already friends with several jockeys.
 
Hubby and I both agree that the graphics don't make easy reading but that will be something I am sure will change. Didn't take much notice of the presenters but did remark I'm not sure what VP will offer the more experienced viewer.
 
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