How do we feel about remote announcers?
Constable Echelon
(Quickly I just want to big up Hotdog again for his first rate Euro previews here at H&F. It’s some of the best content we’ve ever had in my estimation. They make the tournament more fun to follow, and that’s what this whole thing is supposed to be about.)
Deadspin’s soccer writer David Hirshey announced last week that he is leaving the worldwide blogging leader for ESPN. On that post one of the commenters expressed their displeasure with the WWL’s practice of “announcing” Euro games via remote from Bristol. That seemed a little disingenuous to me, so I’d like to gauge public opinion.
Let me explain. Bob Costas trotted out this quote from Deadspin writer Big Daddy Drew (nee Magary) on the infamous Costas Now sports media summit regarding Rick Reilly:
He gets to go golfing with Bill Clinton. He gets to ride in an Indy 500 race car. He gets to walk up to Sammy Sosa’s locker and dare him to pee in a cup for him. He gets to do all that.
And that’s why he sucks.
Costas attacked that line of argument by comparing Reilly’s privileged access with Woodward and Bernstein’s access to the Nixon White House. Because obviously playing Augusta as a reporter is likely to yield an equivalent societal benefit to exposing federal corruption, but that’s neither here nor there.
The point is that bloggers by definition do not care about “being there”. The internet and television do that for us. I can get all the information I need about any sporting event without leaving mom’s proverbial basement.
The question I have is does this disinterest in attendance apply solely to commentary or columnist type pieces, and I would in fact like my announcers present at games - or is ESPN’s remote announcing policy a natural extension of globalized sports media that we shouldn’t have a problem with?
June 9th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I have no problem as long as it is in English, and Tommy Smyth’s English doesn’t count either. That guy’s voice sounds like a leprechaun farting through an accordian.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I think for ESPN it’s a budget question–and if the choice is between Euro games with announcers watching via TV, and no Euro games, I pick the former.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I’m not sure, but I think the television feed is managed by UEFA. It’s not like here, where baseball announcers can communicate with the producer in the truck and ask for replays, closeups on players, etc.
I think UEFA did this because the event is too popular and they couldn’t accommodate everyone who wants to televise the match. So I think remote announcing is becoming the standard, not just here but around the world.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Interesting. Not at all like the little league world series. ESPN basically moves to Omaha (or wherever it is) for the 8 months that tournament is going on (is it longer than 8 months? Feels like it).
June 10th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Formula 1 racing is done the same way. There is one feed controlled by the FIA, and the editing and shots most closely reflect what the home announcers are saying at the time. The US announcers sit in a studio and broadcast what they see. I’m sure it’s much more difficult for them, and therefore I appreciate what they do even more. I would assume that the decision to broadcast remotely is based on ESPN getting a feed that they can’t control and having to broadcast accordingly, rather than trying to save some insignificant $$.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
It’s lame but I understand it. It happens in the states more than you think, often with Spanish language simulcasts of games (specifically basketball).
June 14th, 2008 at 1:21 am
I am OK with remote announcers for the Euro Cup., but only as long as hotdog is one of those announcers. And only if he can somehow ignore his unhealthy love of all things Holland and remain an unbiased commentator. Unfortunately, I fear the allure of enormous women riding bicycles and orange-clad dudes in short shorts and knee highs is too strong for the dog.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Confirmation of previous assertion - UEFA does provide the feed. More info via link:
http://en.euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=719605.html#uefa+denies+censorship+allegations