Count me in with the group that enjoys the F1 DTS and Movistar shows (minus the subtitles), but echoing what others have said, it would have to be a very different show. Sadly, long course triathlon races in 95% of cases are extremely boring, even for triathletes, let alone laypeople. There aren’t many premier races, yadda yadda.
If I were to make a show, it would be a year following e.g. 5 pro triathletes that agree to do a bunch of races together. You’d have the old veterans, the champion, and the up and comer youth. Maybe some age groupers too. The show would focus on the athletes, the training, the coaching relationships, the testing, the equipment, and gin up some TV storylines. Throw in some sweet aerial drone and FPV shots on bikes, it could be entertaining. Basically try to 180 from typical triathlon coverage. Some mix of: Movistar, That Triathlon Life, Icarus, Lance Armstrong flicks
i guess i’m just struck by what triathlon “has to do” to “survive.” because, i did ironman at the age of 23. i’m now 64. i’ve heard about what triathlon needs to do to survive for about the last 30 years. it seems to me that triathlon has survived.
you know what’s boring to me? watching a surf competition on the TV. that’s probably why you almost never see it on the TV. does surfing need to do something different in order to survive?
I think you’re conflating the name of the F1 show with what the OP meant about a triathlon show. The F1 show is named “Drive to Survive” (DTS) because a key part of the show is that the competition in F1 for drivers to keep their seats is so fierce, and the economics for some teams so fragile, that everyone is in a “drive to survive.” I don’t think OP was implying that triathlon needs such a show to survive, anymore than F1 needs DTS to survive. That said, DTS definitely brought a lot of new fans to F1 so, perhaps, such a show would bring new fans to triathlon. Honestly, I’m not sure such a show could really be done about Ironman for reasons others have already mentioned. WTS though…