OLN Coverage Sucked

B. Lafferty

The coverage reminded me CBS on an off year. Too much of Frankie talking
and talking and.........Better to show racing. It seems as though they're
trying to explain it to the OLN fishing and bull riding fans, and maybe Tom
Kuinch. ;-)

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <mikej1@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:Bilec.21594$nd1.591@newssvr27.news.prodigy.com...
> > You must understand, the US is not a cycling country. France is. We
got
> > the coverage one would expect here in the US. I am surprised it was
> covered
> > at all.
>
> Agreed, great that we did have coverage. But it wasn't very good... the
> first half-hour seemed useless, so, out of a 5+ hour race, you get
one-half
> hour of decent race coverage? No, if it was decent race coverage, there
> wouldn't have been so much question during the final part of the race as
to
> where George Hincapie disappeared to.
>
> Seemed like they could have done a better job of cherry-picking the better
> parts of the race to show, since it's put together hours before it's
shown.
> And they could have edited it better so we knew in semi-real-time what was
> going on with George. It's not like they didn't play up George a lot
before
> and during the race!
>
> Maybe it will make more sense when I watch it again.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>
>

Howie Zolla

I agree that it was better than nothing but they really could have
done a better job editing it. It was hard to follow what was going
on. Perhaps OLN needs to receive some feeback from cycling fans. The
URL is http://www.olntv.com/feedback.asp.

C. Zoh <shelmerdudley@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:<2004041116012016807%shelmerdudley@earthlinknet>...
> I thought it was completely disjointed, but I guess it's better than nothing.
>
> How about that Leif Hoste and that flag? I am in utter amazement that
> he kept his bike up. Wow.

Marlene Blanshay

"Clovis Lark" <clark@steel.ucs.indiana.edu> wrote in message
news:c5ejnq$1qb$1@hood.uits.indiana.edu...
> C. Zoh <shelmerdudley@earthlink.net> wrote:
> > I thought it was completely disjointed, but I guess it's better than
nothing.
>
> In the good old days of CBS, maybe. But P-R was the opening salvo of an
> agenda promising to bringing live coverage of the TdF to the unwashed
> masses of US biking folks. That agenda was accomplished. Clearly, they
> are scaling back. As a result, the P-R highlights was a hastily thrown
> together montage of Arenberg, Cysoing and few other spots. Utterly
> missing were the creation of the 5 man break that failed, the move that
> brought Museeux to the front, the dropping of Hincapie, etc. In the last
> year, a troubling trend has been progressing at OLN.
>
> 1. ESPN's morning weekend fare has been moved to OLN and given prime time
> slots (hunting and bass fishing, Running of the Bulls in Trample-ona).
>
> 2. Indoor pro bull riding has taken over prime time
>
> 3. Imitation FOX Sports "You Gotta See This" amateur videos of fools
> getting their just desserts doing things that simply shouldn't be aired
> are on prime time.
>
> 4. Gone are the climbing.
>
> 5. Gone are mountain bike racing.
>
> 6. Gone are hiking and camping.
>
> 7. Gone are kayaking and river sports.
>
> 8. Gone are biking equipment reviews.
>
> In short, OLN has decided to ignore their mission and name and become
> ESPN3, taking the fringe programs from ESPN, and removing their
> own signature programs. Now, having succeeded in getting their commitment
> to the live TdF, they are scaling back the other biking. P-R is a
> casualty. I hope viewers are savvy enough to figure what will happen when
> Armstrong retires...

It sounds like OLN is becoming like OLN canada. All we get is the TDF, and
the rest of the time it's dog shows, strong man contests, idiotic travel
shows featuring emaciated hostesses, and nature shows. LIke we can't see
half of that shit anywhere else. TSN shows strong man contests and dog
shows, and nature shows are on nearly every channel in canada!

Tom Kunich

"Marlene Blanshay" <blanshay@total.net> wrote in message
news:WDEec.26336$kc2.371427@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
>
> nature shows are on nearly every channel in canada!

That's because Canadians have such poor memories. It comes from shivering
all the time.

curt

Well you see the crowds they get when a race is going on in France. In the
US, the crowds suck. We are too busy watching NASCAR or interested in huge
powerful SUV's and whatever else is big and powerful. We don't care about
cycling unfortunately. Here in Pittsburgh we had a race called the Thrift
Drug Classic. It was a great race, but no one came to it. I mean no one.
I could just drive down and park anywhere I wanted and watch where ever I
pleased. There were more policeman at the race than fans or supporters. By
the way, Lance was here racing in it and that didn't even make a difference.
It was part of a series of races to win a million dollars.

Look at the races in France. The streets are filled with cheering educated
fans. Lets face it, they have it going on over there and we don't. Most
everyone in the US just look at bicycles as an annoyance. We have a guy
that already tied the record for the TdF and no one over here cares. If he
wins 6 and becomes the all-time tour winner, maybe a few dozen people will
notice over here.

I will say one thing for Lance, he is focused and it doesn't seem to bother
him he has very little support in his home country. He is amazingly strong
mentally to say the least.

Curt


"Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:CBnec.6354$A_4.340@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "curt" <nospam@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:yBkec.9716$d8.2487@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> > You must understand, the US is not a cycling country. France is. We
got
> > the coverage one would expect here in the US. I am surprised it was
> covered
> > at all.
>
> So tell me why I was in that cycling country for two weeks and until the
> Tour stage in Paris I never saw a single Frenchman on a racing bike?
>
>

Randy Walton

I think it's getting better. In Georgia you can always see a great crowd
(30,000+) show up for the Twilight Criterium in Athens. Mind you the party
is a big part of the draw. Last years Roswell Criterium brought in a pretty
nice crowd of around 10-15,000. Tour de Georgia is expected to bring in
some pretty hefty numbers. I think as more folks get familiar it's
changing. Usually takes getting to a race here or there to start to
appreciate the tactics, et al. I particularly think the crits help in that
regard. Sure, it's not Europe but you gotta start somewhere.

I know everyone I have ever taken to one always comes away excited and
motivated to follow the sport.

Hard to believe but growing up in Daytona Beach 30 years ago no one was at
NASCAR but a small, shall we say eccentric, fan base. Now it's a main
stream sport and the largest in the US. It could happen. May not be
probable but it's possible.

"curt" <nospam@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:YzIec.13497$d8.12333@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> Well you see the crowds they get when a race is going on in France. In
the
> US, the crowds suck. We are too busy watching NASCAR or interested in
huge
> powerful SUV's and whatever else is big and powerful. We don't care about
> cycling unfortunately. Here in Pittsburgh we had a race called the Thrift
> Drug Classic. It was a great race, but no one came to it. I mean no one.
> I could just drive down and park anywhere I wanted and watch where ever I
> pleased. There were more policeman at the race than fans or supporters.
By
> the way, Lance was here racing in it and that didn't even make a
difference.
> It was part of a series of races to win a million dollars.
>
> Look at the races in France. The streets are filled with cheering
educated
> fans. Lets face it, they have it going on over there and we don't. Most
> everyone in the US just look at bicycles as an annoyance. We have a guy
> that already tied the record for the TdF and no one over here cares. If
he
> wins 6 and becomes the all-time tour winner, maybe a few dozen people will
> notice over here.
>
> I will say one thing for Lance, he is focused and it doesn't seem to
bother
> him he has very little support in his home country. He is amazingly
strong
> mentally to say the least.
>
> Curt
>
>
> "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:CBnec.6354$A_4.340@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> > "curt" <nospam@verizon.net> wrote in message
> > news:yBkec.9716$d8.2487@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
> > > You must understand, the US is not a cycling country. France is. We
> got
> > > the coverage one would expect here in the US. I am surprised it was
> > covered
> > > at all.
> >
> > So tell me why I was in that cycling country for two weeks and until the
> > Tour stage in Paris I never saw a single Frenchman on a racing bike?
> >
> >
>
>

Jiyang Chen

"Charles Hizark" <hizark21@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:86c248b3.0404120944.666e300e@posting.google.com...
> C. Zoh <shelmerdudley@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:<2004041116012016807%shelmerdudley@earthlinknet>...
> > I thought it was completely disjointed, but I guess it's better than
nothing.
> >
> > How about that Leif Hoste and that flag? I am in utter amazement
that
> > he kept his bike up. Wow.
>
> I hate the way OLN starts their coverage in the middle of the race.
> The cut out a lot of the good early climbs in the TDF. It might be
> nice if they had a post broadcast version that had clips from the
> early parts of the race. I would like to see more behind the scenes
> clips from the races.

They do show clips from the earlier climbs, and they list the results of
who got the mountain top points.

Richard Adams

Just need more baseball fans to wake up and see there are sports that
can't be compared unfavorably to watching paint dry (in slow motion.)

Randy Walton wrote:
> I think it's getting better. In Georgia you can always see a great crowd
> (30,000+) show up for the Twilight Criterium in Athens. Mind you the party
> is a big part of the draw. Last years Roswell Criterium brought in a pretty
> nice crowd of around 10-15,000. Tour de Georgia is expected to bring in
> some pretty hefty numbers. I think as more folks get familiar it's
> changing. Usually takes getting to a race here or there to start to
> appreciate the tactics, et al. I particularly think the crits help in that
> regard. Sure, it's not Europe but you gotta start somewhere.
>
> I know everyone I have ever taken to one always comes away excited and
> motivated to follow the sport.
>
> Hard to believe but growing up in Daytona Beach 30 years ago no one was at
> NASCAR but a small, shall we say eccentric, fan base. Now it's a main
> stream sport and the largest in the US. It could happen. May not be
> probable but it's possible.
>
> "curt" <nospam@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:YzIec.13497$d8.12333@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
>
>>Well you see the crowds they get when a race is going on in France. In
>
> the
>
>>US, the crowds suck. We are too busy watching NASCAR or interested in
>
> huge
>
>>powerful SUV's and whatever else is big and powerful. We don't care about
>>cycling unfortunately. Here in Pittsburgh we had a race called the Thrift
>>Drug Classic. It was a great race, but no one came to it. I mean no one.
>>I could just drive down and park anywhere I wanted and watch where ever I
>>pleased. There were more policeman at the race than fans or supporters.
>
> By
>
>>the way, Lance was here racing in it and that didn't even make a
>
> difference.
>
>>It was part of a series of races to win a million dollars.
>>
>>Look at the races in France. The streets are filled with cheering
>
> educated
>
>>fans. Lets face it, they have it going on over there and we don't. Most
>>everyone in the US just look at bicycles as an annoyance. We have a guy
>>that already tied the record for the TdF and no one over here cares. If
>
> he
>
>>wins 6 and becomes the all-time tour winner, maybe a few dozen people will
>>notice over here.
>>
>>I will say one thing for Lance, he is focused and it doesn't seem to
>
> bother
>
>>him he has very little support in his home country. He is amazingly
>
> strong
>
>>mentally to say the least.
>>
>>Curt
>>
>>
>>"Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:CBnec.6354$A_4.340@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>>
>>>"curt" <nospam@verizon.net> wrote in message
>>>news:yBkec.9716$d8.2487@nwrdny01.gnilink.net...
>>>
>>>>You must understand, the US is not a cycling country. France is. We
>>
>>got
>>
>>>>the coverage one would expect here in the US. I am surprised it was
>>>
>>>covered
>>>
>>>>at all.
>>>
>>>So tell me why I was in that cycling country for two weeks and until the
>>>Tour stage in Paris I never saw a single Frenchman on a racing bike?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Tim Mullin

Clovis Lark <clark@steel.ucs.indiana.edu> wrote in
news:c5ejnq$1qb$1@hood.uits.indiana.edu:

> OLNTV does have an Email comments spot on their web page. I'd
> strongly urge readers to give them their feelings.

Unless you're going to send money, don't bother. It's a business....your
best interest stops where theirs begins. You're seeing less cycling because
you're seeing none of those annoying Mercury commercials. That's a big
chunk of money to loose without another big sponsor to step up to the
plate. Cycling is much like golf in this respect. Except for a few of the
majors, golf sponsors pay way out of proportion for the number of eyeballs
watching. They're paying for image among what they consider a prime
demographic. When you consider that cycling's ratings are paltry in
relationship to golf....well, you can imagine the difficulty in attracting
sponsors. Sure, you'll see a whole bunch of Subaru and Nike around the
Tour, but they're trading on thier relationship with Lance and that whole
cult of personality. When he leaves cycling, so will their $$$. Without a
big sponsor willing to throw their money at a small fan base that is viewed
as being neither homogenous or brand-loyal, don't expect to see more
cycling coverage any time soon.

Charles Hizark

"Jiyang Chen" <no@no.no> wrote in message news:<c5fot4$d7h@dispatch.concentric.net>...
> "Charles Hizark" <hizark21@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:86c248b3.0404120944.666e300e@posting.google.com...
> > C. Zoh <shelmerdudley@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:<2004041116012016807%shelmerdudley@earthlinknet>...
> > > I thought it was completely disjointed, but I guess it's better than
> nothing.
> > >
> > > How about that Leif Hoste and that flag? I am in utter amazement
> that
> > > he kept his bike up. Wow.
> >
> > I hate the way OLN starts their coverage in the middle of the race.
> > The cut out a lot of the good early climbs in the TDF. It might be
> > nice if they had a post broadcast version that had clips from the
> > early parts of the race. I would like to see more behind the scenes
> > clips from the races.
>
> They do show clips from the earlier climbs, and they list the results of
> who got the mountain top points.

True they do show some, I just wish they would show more. The coverage
is 1 1/2 to 2 hours, which is plenty of time.

Tom Kunich

"Tim Mullin" <tvphotog@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Xns94CA6BA5357CEtvphotogearthlinknet@207.69.154.206...
> Except for a few of the
> majors, golf sponsors pay way out of proportion for the number of eyeballs
> watching. They're paying for image among what they consider a prime
> demographic.

The greens fees at many upscale golf links are more for a single day than
you or I pay for a bicycle.

James Calivar

"Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
newswXec.8336$A_4.1999@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "Tim Mullin" <tvphotog@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns94CA6BA5357CEtvphotogearthlinknet@207.69.154.206...
> > Except for a few of the
> > majors, golf sponsors pay way out of proportion for the number of
eyeballs
> > watching. They're paying for image among what they consider a prime
> > demographic.
>
> The greens fees at many upscale golf links are more for a single day than
> you or I pay for a bicycle.
>

Your bike only cost $100.00?

Tom Kunich

"James Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message
news:c5jm4f$9er$1@home.itg.ti.com...
> "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> newswXec.8336$A_4.1999@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> > "Tim Mullin" <tvphotog@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > news:Xns94CA6BA5357CEtvphotogearthlinknet@207.69.154.206...
> > > Except for a few of the
> > > majors, golf sponsors pay way out of proportion for the number of
> eyeballs
> > > watching. They're paying for image among what they consider a prime
> > > demographic.
> >
> > The greens fees at many upscale golf links are more for a single day
than
> > you or I pay for a bicycle.
> >
>
> Your bike only cost $100.00?

My Colnago Super cost $175 and the greens fees at a golf course in Hawaii is
$270 a round PER PERSON and they want foursomes.

Steven L. Sheffield

On 04/14/2004 09:42 AM, in article c5jm4f$9er$1@home.itg.ti.com, "James
Calivar" <amheiserbush@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

> "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> newswXec.8336$A_4.1999@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>> "Tim Mullin" <tvphotog@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>> news:Xns94CA6BA5357CEtvphotogearthlinknet@207.69.154.206...
>>> Except for a few of the
>>> majors, golf sponsors pay way out of proportion for the number of
> eyeballs
>>> watching. They're paying for image among what they consider a prime
>>> demographic.
>>
>> The greens fees at many upscale golf links are more for a single day than
>> you or I pay for a bicycle.
>>
>
> Your bike only cost $100.00?



Greens fees at Pebble Beach are pushing $400.00 last I checked ... And I
know a lot of people who balk at paying more than that for a bike.



--
Steven L. Sheffield
stevens at veloworks dot com
veloworks at worldnet dot ay tea tee dot net
bellum pax est libertas servitus est ignoratio vis est
ess ay ell tea ell ay kay ee sea aye tee why you ti ay aitch
aitch tee tea pea colon [for word] slash [four ward] slash double-you
double-yew double-ewe dot veloworks dot com [four word] slash