Professional view of NBC coverage

Triathlon Forum
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At the time of this posting, there were 9 pages on the initial thread. I did not take the time to read more than a few pages.

My favorite component of the program is the battling of the top pros. They are the ones that are at the top of the sport and going for blood out there in lava fields. Do I wish they showed more of this and less of the special interest stories? Absolutely not!!!

How in the hell is our sport getting a 2 hour segment on NBC in the first place? This is more than any of us would ever expect. I don’t have a clear memory, but I bet we have not been given 2 hours for many years. 2 hours of viewing of triathlon is pretty awesome in my mind. If NBC only included the professional coverage, we would have had only a 1 hour show. What is better 1 hour of the pros or 2 hours of pros and special interest stories? I will take the 2 hour version.

We have to remember, the reason why the show exists is because of the average American. I guess that 90% of the viewers did not know who Normann Stadler, David Rozelle, Michillie Jones were before the showing. In the eye’s of the Americans that watched this program yesterday, they did not view any Lebron James’ or LT Tomlinson during the 2 hour piece.

Fact of the matter is that triathlon is not a mainstream sport with superstar status heroes for the average American. My guess it is the stories David Rozell and John Blais of the program that captured America during the 2 hour segment. In the end, the names Rozelle and Blais are not even remembered, but only their stories.

A Slowtwitcher is the polar opposite of a Saturaday afternooon NBCer. Slowtwitch is for the hard core triathletes that want to know about the fast dudes (along with their post race fights!) We want to know detailed facts about the lives, training, and racing of the top pros. NBCers may find the special interest stories a bit motivational, maybe getting out the door to burn a few calories. If we relied upon the pros for the same result, it would not happen, as it would be intimidating.

At the end of the day, we had millions of people watching our sport- some not knowing what IM was before flipping through the channels before they stopped on NBC. While we would like the pros to have filled the full 2 hours, we should all be happy with that we were given. It is always good to want more. What would happen if NBC and WTC turned it into a 4 hour show next year and gave only 2 hours of the big boys? Would we be bitching again? I hope not.

Can’t wait for next year’s showing.

Happy Holidays!

Paul

PS…Kuota has received several emails since yesterday, inquiring on the custom paint job. While the Kalibur speaks for its self, the custom paint (done by the same dude who does the NHL goalie masks) is really selling the brand well…

PSS. The custom bike that is generating the calls is not Stadler’s, but Davis Rozelle’s American Flagged Kalibur!

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Uh, Paul, about being a “proffesional” …

:wink:

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Uh, Paul, about being a “proffesional” …

:wink:

damn, beat me to it…

4

what do you mean??

5

Spelling I think.

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If NBC only included the professional coverage,

“Now, I can see it!”

Oracle Jones
.

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what do you mean??

I think you mean ‘professional’. It is the ironic spelling error.

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I was so excited from the NBC coverage last night I could not sleep. Therfore, my grammar/spelling is poor this morning!!!

9

umm, nudge, cough… (two s’s) lol

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“At the end of the day, we had millions of people watching our sport- some not knowing what IM was before flipping through the channels before they stopped on NBC.”

and as my mom asked, “Are they going to show the whole thing?”

“No Mom, it’s at least 8 hours long for the top finisher.”

“Oh, yeah, well I guess that wouldn’t make sense.”

I think it’s cool that friends and family can see some of the racing - even if it isn’t the best coverage. At least they get some understanding of the sport. However, I don’t think the NBC coverage really highlights just how hard it is to get to Kona. They make it look like anyone can show up and race at Kona.

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It was an oustanding 2 hour broadcast. It will bring in a new “flock” of people who want to experience the Ironman thrill. I loved the entire thing. Can’t wait to go there next year and see what I can do over there! Yeee-Hawww!

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I think everyone who is discussing this would be very interested to see some demographic info from NBC/WTC as to who does watch the IM broadcast.

I doubt if very many average Joe couch potatoes happened upon the broadcast and decided to stick with it for more than a couple of minutes, especially on a Saturday afternoon during the height of the holiday season.

I believe most of the viewers are triathletes or active in other outdoor sports or are “couch potatoes” who know people who have competed in triathlon. It’s word of mouth from those of us who really care about the race to our co-workers, friends and family, who decide (or are persuaded) to watch the show and check out what it’s about.

I think about my average Joe co-workers and I can see them sticking with the IM for a while if they happen to come upon it mainly because they know that I, or someone else they know, has done the race. If they don’t know anyone who has done it, they likely change the channel after a minute or so, courageous story or not.

The most comments I have got about the Hawaii IM from non-triathletes in recent years resulted from the Chris Legh Gatorade commercial. That was an elite athlete taking it to the limit.

I think for the great majority of the TV viewers, anyone who competes in the Hawaii IM is a human interest story. We’re all a freak show for them without having to focus on someone with a disease or a prosthetic.

I watch the show every year. I enjoy it and I am inspired by it, but I agree with many of the criticisms I’ve read. The event deserves to be more accurately represented in a national television broadcast!!!

I would hope that someday the producers choose to please their true, devoted audience, people who truly love the Hawaii Ironman and the sport of triathlon, instead of the Emmy voters.

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I believe most of the viewers are triathletes

LOL… I think you believe there are more triathletes out there than there actually are :wink:
Even so, a brief survey among my triathlete friends revealed that less than 25% of them watched it. Of the ones who didn’t watch it, the reasons were mostly not knowing it was on, and not caring about IronMan distance.

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Not all triathletes watch the show, but triathletes are most likely to watch the show. I don’t think you can argue with that, followed by friends, family, co-workers of triathletes.

Couch potato remote controllers randomly going through the channels who have no involvement with the sport of triathlon or don’t know someone who has done triathlons seem to me to be the least likely to have watched the show for more than a couple of minutes.

Again, I would love to see any data that confirms or denies those assumptions.

Poll your co-workers, those who don’t know you’re an IronDad, and see how many watched more than a couple minutes of the coverage yesterday.

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Poll your co-workers, those who don’t know you’re an IronDad, and see how many watched more than a couple minutes of the coverage yesterday.

I will, and I doubt there are any… however during the Tour de France the most unlikely people (e.g. fat cowboy, welder, grocery store cashier, shoe salesman) will engage me in conversation about the latest stage.

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You nailed it Paul, great comments. As one who has the unique and honorable position to witness close hand each and every finisher the broadcast brings it to life. If all the naysayers could stand in my shoes those 17 hours and encounter the passion on the course and finish line you would agree we are lucky to have NBC do what they do. Your words (as mine) when trying to account and relay what goes on in Kona to ones not there has no appeal and influence like the TV show. And I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me over the years saying the reason they are now in the sport of triathlon is becasue they saw Ironman on TV. I guarantee you that more than a handful of inactive people are now doing something physical today because of what they witnessed yesterday. It’s a credit to our sport and it’s a credit to how we cover it and show it to the world.
Mike Reilly

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I agree the true couch potatoes are not going to watch…better to watch an NFL re-run that a triathlon.

I believe the people who watch are the recreational runners, the weekend bike riders, and maybe a few other weekend warrior types. And there are big numbers in those sports. What draws them to the broadcast is precisely the same thing that turns triathletes off. Watching the story of how some Joe or Jane got their butt out of bed every morning and did their run or swim. They watch that and think “I could do that…I’ll keep watching because I want to learn more.” We watch that and think “Yeah yeah yeah, big fat hairy deal…I work just as hard as they do and nobody put me on television. Show me something impressive, like a close-up of the SRM readout of a 150lb guy who can ride 330W for 4.5 hours at 150bmp…THAT’s television.” (Or maybe Normann throwing his bike).

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While I did enjoy the coverage…I have enjoyed prior years (esp 2004) more.

A few thoughts on yesterday:

  1. No final standings or even standings after each stage. Urghh…
  2. I love the Blazeman, but didn’t get the connection with the other guy racing. Does he have ALS?
  3. I’d buy Rozelle a beer anyday.
  4. The Marlins guy is a funny dude…I feel for that gal next to him. Hilarious! (although perhaps not the proper message)
  5. The Victor (?) guy’s thoughts on the swim were very funny (once again, not sure if this is the proper message)

But…by far my biggest “this is weird” thought is that for all the folks “struggling” to break 17 hours, all the footage was of them running. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great they finished, but let’s show some puking, gore, walking, bent over, stretching, self doubt, pitty, tears and agony. It’s about over coming all that and crossing the finish line. I don’t think the coverage showed how tough it is…minus how terrible Macca looked while chasing Normann. All that foam coming out of his mouth was awesome…another reason for Ironman HD!

I still like the coverage of Natasha running, stop, puking…running again a few years back. 5 stars!!!

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I talked to a couple of non-triathletes last night and the impression they got from the show was Natasha finishing in 3rd place. Is it too much to ask NBC to show at least the top 5 finishers, men and women and their names? I know I’ll buy the DVD, but I wonder if the disc will be like any other movie released, meaning, 2 extra hours of coverage… I guess not. Still, Paul is right, the fact that IRONMAN is even on TV and for 2 hours, has to be a good thing.

Ben

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  1. I love the Blazeman, but didn’t get the connection with the other guy racing. Does he have ALS?

Don’t get me started on that one…