Perhaps I missed something but the internet seemed to be the only way to “watch” the race in Kona yesterday. After struggling to just get the results (never mind the blog or the live feed) via the very slow and crashy website, I must ask this question. There are countless sports where an 8 hour telecast is not a problem, especially in the era of multiple cable and network channels and world-wide audiences. How is it that IM Hawaii, the crown jewel in a sport where mass participation events the world over sell out within minutes, cannot be live to air somehow, somewhere? Seriously, the WTC CEO needs to take a fresh look at this. If you can’t get this sport live to air, you’re not trying.
Please post reasons ( real, imagined, historical, contractual or other) that Kona is not broadcast but I still defy anyone to prove that live to air is not where the Kona media coverage needs to go.
Because although it is a growing exercise that almost anybody can take advantage of it is not easy to watch on the tube. You try describing the same thing on the bike for hours then doing it again on the run. It just really is not made for TV. I think CGI racing put on a ultra sprint race which was like 200m swim, 5 mile bike and a one mile run. Now that is easy to watch if a pro is doing 1:10 -100’s , 30 mph biking and 4 minute miles. But to watch for 8 hrs. It is a push of the remote to see what is going on for 30 seconds and then a click to something else. Not where companies want to take a chance that maybe while you surf the channel someone will see their 20G or more commercial.
It’s actually very simple. The network has a contract to show the race, but they choose to do a prepackaged, glossy version with all the extra special interest stories. It is those types of stories that get them their ratings, and tug at the general publics heartstrings. If they show it live, it will ruin their mid winter show, which is also a big reason. The state of Hawaii does not want the show in the summer when it is off season, and it drags in a lot of extra dollars to show beautiful, warm Hawaii when most of the country is frozen in. People actually watch the show, and go wow!!, and then go get on a plane to thaw out. they have always wanted to create the illusion that the race is live, or at least just filmed recently.
I would love a TDF like live show, but I think that you and I would not be enough to justify the expense, or enough to ruin the illusion of their winter airings…Remember that they have to sell ads for these shows, and the spiffed out fall down Millie Brown show gets the best ratings…
But seriously there just isn’t enough “racing” to make it anywhere interesting enough for anyone who isn’t a triathlete.
It’s not like ITU or even pro tour cycling. I wouldn’t watch it if it were on TV. I like watching the highlights where they can cut out the monotony and just show the action.
I think it will be one day, the sport is still growing. It’s not that there isn’t the interest, but rather to put something on TV for 8 hours you probably need a whole lot of interest which must not be there.
Hopefully one day. The sport is definitely broadcastable, if you youtube Abu Dhabi Triathlon part 1, 2 etc… you can see they broadcast it really well
Because although it is a growing exercise that almost anybody can take advantage of it is not easy to watch on the tube. You try describing the same thing on the bike for hours then doing it again on the run. It just really is not made for TV. I think CGI racing put on a ultra sprint race which was like 200m swim, 5 mile bike and a one mile run. Now that is easy to watch if a pro is doing 1:10 -100’s , 30 mph biking and 4 minute miles. But to watch for 8 hrs. It is a push of the remote to see what is going on for 30 seconds and then a click to something else. Not where companies want to take a chance that maybe while you surf the channel someone will see their 20G or more commercial.
As far as the general public is concerned, it’s not much of a spectator sport.
Thanks for all the thoughts above and I appreciate that some of the reasons you’ve outlined (esp the TV network pressures) are very real but I still don’t buy it. There are so many stories, so many angles that could be used over and throughout a live coverage. Let me put it this way, I could have watched a live to air 12 hour endurance car race yesterday - and the coverage started the day before!. Moreover, I can watch live bullriding and lawn bowls, golf games that go all day and cricket which sometimes goes for 5 days… seriously the WTC needs to try harder. This is one of the worlds premier sporting events (written without irony) in an exotic location with a huge element of personal interest. If you can’t see that, you’re not looking closely.
You do realize the general public has about a 3.5 second attention span, dont you?
Combine that with the fact that their perception of triathlon might involve images of rich white people riding expensive bikes and patting themselves on the back after having the luxury of being able to train for a year to do what some would call a pointless race so they can put it on their resume. (You might not like it, but its the truth). I wouldnt pony up to advertize to that niche audience. It may have potential to be something big in the future, but right now, no one cares.
OK so it is boring. But people watch golf, it is boring and an entire round lasts the day. Baseball is less exciting than watching grass grow but at least the pain of watching it is over in a few hours and you get to eat & drink throughout.
How long is NASCAR where all then do is go round and round and round and spectators hope for a crash - BORING! So boring I have no idea how long it takes.
My point is, just because it is boring is not the answer.
Just not enough interest and therefore not enough viewers to justify networks carrying it. It was the same with cycling years ago, you would only get a 1/2 hour summary a day.
people can say what they want about the version of ironman that will eventually be televised (i agree that it is mostly fluff)…but, you never know what future star might become interested in the sport because of it.
speaking for myself (no star by any means), i remember watching the ironman on tv back in the mid and late 80’s…including the ironwar. It took me a long time, but eventually it was those memories that drew me into the sport.
i thought it was interesting in the post race interview with greg welch that crowie said it was watching that “bastard” win all those years ago that motivated him to become a triathlete (I’m paraphrasing).
Boring or not…99% of the people watching TV are NOT going to watch a triathlon. Done!!
Any channel showing that race will lose all kinds of money on that day during those hours. Period!!
They will televise ONLY those shows that will make them money and bring in advertisers…and that’s not triathlons. There just is not enough of the public either interested in the race or racing.
I still disagree. Every sport is boring until you learn the rules & the stories. My kids thought ice hockey was boring till they played a few games. I can watch darts on TV. Darts. Also billiards. And poker. How interesting is a poker game to watch? Of course, once you are into it then you follow a narrative; there are good guys & bad guys, triumphs and tribulations…Boring means two things: you’ve got the wrong audience segment + your communication is poor.
Just to be clear, I’m not advocating that it be on prime time on a major channel (although that would be great). I’m saying that on a dedicated sports channel, viewing live on saturday morning with a mid-late afternoon finish should not be outside the realms of possibility. FWIW, I work in sales & marketing so I’m all too aware about the gaps that exist between dreams & reality in business. Kona live to air should be a reality.
There was a time many years ago, when most of you were still in aero diapers (actually I am only 43 when Kona was televised live. It was tough to watch all day and the stories did get old. They even had a 300lb NFL linebacker doing the race as the special “interest” story. They also tried live cut in “updates” during the day, still didn’t work so well.
It went something like this: “Last hour we gave you results at the half way of the bike, they are now at mile 75 and nothing has changed, back to you Chet.”
Even the current national NBC production of the race has lost viewership the last few years. The new internet format is awesome. Thank you, well done Ironman.
You get to watch Ironman live! Want to watch it on TV? Plug your computer into the TV… Be happy. 'Nuf said.
The other threads with people bitching about how Kona did make the front page of X were annoying. Let’s face it, the attention the race got was indicative how popular the sport is. I was going to respond likewise to your thread, but when I thought about, I thought “actually, why couldn’t Universal air it?” Maybe not a live version, but perhaps a 3-4 hours condensed version a la Versus TdF coverage. Let’s face it, no one watches Universal anyway. They have days where they air previous races all day long so the argument that the network is worried that no one will pay attention doesn’t hold water. My only guess is that maybe it’s logistically/financially not possible to get the crew/equipment to Kona to do a live or same day broadcast.
when Kona was televised live. It was tough to watch all day and the stories did get old. They even had a 300lb NFL linebacker doing the race as the special “interest” story. They also tried live cut in “updates” during the day, still didn’t work so well.