Future Rally Media Coverage

**whereschris** · 21st Dec 11, 15:13

Originally Posted by MrMetro

To be fair though, on a national level, the WRC is not as popular as say F1, and even that, despite being very popular on the BBC is being reduced. Why? Cost. Many public sector divisions are getting less funding, and need to spend much more carefully. And what is effectively a niche sport, is not going to be on the priority list for the BBC.

Was the problem with F1 the exorbitant fees involved? If so there is no way that WRC could command comparable figures. Maybe the BBC could get a bargain in comparison.

I think a smart move on North Ones or whoever's part would be to give the rights to a any terrestrial channel for a nominal fee. Maybe that would help raise the awareness and interest for te WRC.

**Dave B** · 21st Dec 11, 15:19

Originally Posted by ilsit

Are you all not forgetting who pay for the bbc we the tax payer. If enough people say they want something they have to proved or else they would not be providing a service the public want.

Ignoring the many obvious flaws with this post, let's for a moment be hopelessly unrealistic and assume that in your wildest dreams 100,000 people respond to your e-petition - the threshold at which it may (or may not) be considered for debate in Parliament. That's out of a population of 70 million or so. By your logic why should the BBC be at the whim of such a tiny minority of people?

I admire your aim, but you're deluded if you think a petition is the way to go about achieving it.

**ilsit** · 21st Dec 11, 17:43

Well if the bbc annouced that they were doing away with eastenders their would be a petition in seconds its worth a go it doesnt cost a thing your all being defeatist.

It is not 'the taxpayer' that pays for the BBC, but the licence fee payer. There is a difference. And in no way is it 'the fans' that need to make the first move. The likes of the BBC will only ever want to take up WRC coverage again if there is something worth covering, which, at the moment, there isn't. In short, your sentiments are well-meaning but misguided

If it doesnt get broadcasted to a wider tv audience sponsors wont be forth coming dont forget the likes of Ford and Citreon use it as advertisement also (How many DS3 are a round now?). Why would other manufactures consider it if there is a small tv audience.

BDunnell your stuck in the past looking back at the rallies form the 1980s and 1990s (in another post about tv coverage) how are you going to get anything anywhere near those crowds without getting it on to a main tv channel theres no harm in trying.

**ilsit** · 21st Dec 11, 17:52

Ignoring the many obvious flaws with this post, let's for a moment be hopelessly unrealistic and assume that in your wildest dreams 100,000 people respond to your e-petition - the threshold at which it may (or may not) be considered for debate in Parliament. That's out of a population of 70 million or so. By your logic why should the BBC be at the whim of such a tiny minority of people?

I admire your aim, but you're deluded if you think a petition is the way to go about achieving it.

so what are these flaws you talk about? Also what way would you go about it since im deluded? As i have said before their are to many people who just moan and will not try anything.

**BDunnell** · 21st Dec 11, 17:52

Originally Posted by ilsit

If it doesnt get broadcasted to a wider tv audience sponsors wont be forth coming dont forget the likes of Ford and Citreon use it as advertisement also (How many DS3 are a round now?). Why would other manufactures consider it if there is a small tv audience.

It is a vicious circle, you're right, but not one that will be broken by a petition to the BBC.

Originally Posted by ilsit

BDunnell your stuck in the past looking back at the rallies form the 1980s and 1990s (in another post about tv coverage) how are you going to get anything anywhere near those crowds without getting it on to a main tv channel theres no harm in trying.

A past in which people wanted to watch rallying. Maybe if the powers-that-be had also got stuck there, the sport wouldn't be in this mess, and lacking decent British TV coverage. All these issues go much deeper than a lack of enthusiasts sending e-mails to the Director-General of the BBC.

**ilsit** · 21st Dec 11, 17:57

A past in which people wanted to watch rallying. Maybe if the powers-that-be had also got stuck there, the sport wouldn't be in this mess, and lacking decent British TV coverage. All these issues go much deeper than a lack of enthusiasts sending e-mails to the Director-General of the BBC.

So in your opinion what are these issues?

**BDunnell** · 21st Dec 11, 17:59

Originally Posted by ilsit

So in your opinion what are these issues?

The issues of low manufacturer interest, lack of TV coverage, weak national championships, etc, etc, etc.

**olschl** · 21st Dec 11, 18:41

It seems to me that the core issue is getting a larger fan base for the WRC and I don't think additional TV coverage will necessarily guarantee that. There has to be investment on all sides for the WRC to grow and the only thing I can do as a fan is to bring as many people to the sport as possible. I have gotten at least a dozen friends involved in watching WRC over the past 2 years, which may not seem like a lot, but if they each brought 12 people to the WRC, etc., that is how grass-movements grow. it would be hard for me to imagine that any fan of motorsports wouldn't enjoy rallying if they were exposed to it by a person who could explain the rules, scoring, tactics, driving techniques, etc. As a passionate WRC fan, I would love more/better footage but that is mostly because I am WRC crazy. I think the footage that is available is acceptable for bringing new people to the sport, it just needs to be made more widely available. I would like to see all broadcasts aired, in full, on WRC.com as soon as they are available. I have other means to get them myself but it needs to be made simple for the average viewer.

**janvanvurpa** · 21st Dec 11, 19:29

Occupy WRC!

**Sulland** · 21st Dec 11, 21:14

What is happening to TV and internet coverage - what are this years promises?

**N.O.T** · 21st Dec 11, 22:07

today on eurosport i saw that they are going to cover the event...it was part of their January motorsport coverage schedule. No details though...

**tolis** · 21st Dec 11, 22:46

You mean MC Rally NOT?

**N.O.T** · 22nd Dec 11, 01:35

yes MC

**OldF** · 23rd Dec 11, 22:33

I haven’t been so interested how the commercial part works between FIA, the promoter of WRC, sponsors and teams but the recent news about NOS and the coverage of WRC have changed my mind.

In the Tuesday issue of “Helsingin Sanomat” (biggest daily newspaper in Finland) there was in the sports section an article called news analysis. There the writer says that: “the most important source of income for the WRC has been the TV rights”. He also says that: “Antonov’s other business are in bad shape and FIA haven’t seen a cent of the millions promised by CSI”.

Things that are clear is:
- The sponsor of a team pays the team to get media coverage via the promoter.
- The promoter pays FIA to have the TV rights.

What is unclear for me is:
- Sponsors as Abu Dhabi, Nokia etc. pays FIA or the promoter (which one?) to get media coverage.
- FIA gets the money for the TV rights.
- If the TV rights is the most important income for WRC, does the teams benefit anything from this or does it all go to FIA?

**Kielder** · 3rd Jan 12, 00:32

In this case, I'm not sure that no news are good news...

**wrc1600** · 5th Jan 12, 20:49

Looks like shot in the feet for FIA, they banefited from tv rights killing WRC at the same time (in long run). Just want to share my remarks, Mini has greater pubicity from Rally Dakar than will have from the whole series of WRC this year. Lets make one step back and start from beginig - bring back Eurosport to WRC to get publicity.

**Kielder** · 6th Jan 12, 01:53

WRC's site says that next season Eurosport is going to broadcast highlights. Does anyone knows something more about this?
World Rally Championship - Fanzone - WRC TV Guide

**mm1** · 6th Jan 12, 07:09

Originally Posted by wrc1600

Looks like shot in the feet for FIA, they banefited from tv rights killing WRC at the same time (in long run). Just want to share my remarks, Mini has greater pubicity from Rally Dakar than will have from the whole series of WRC this year. Lets make one step back and start from beginig - bring back Eurosport to WRC to get publicity.

Looking form todays POV yes, but in two; three months time Dakar will be gone and forgotten.

**Sulland** · 6th Jan 12, 08:49

Originally Posted by wrc_flipper

UK perspective only!......

Lots to do, but It wont happen overnight - lots of people on this formum think that each wrc went they will got corner by corner action 24/7 on the internet and free to view TV. Its simply not going to happen (unless you get the guys who just won £100+million quid on sponsoring it)
Live stages / hellicopters etc all cost big money and with pressuire from the FIA, events and teams to cut costs revenues have been cut. But saying that new sponcers have some into the WRC.

TV
Lets face it - we will never get to see rallying on mainstream primetime tv.
The likes of BBC and ITV like high viewing numbers and rallying wont give them that. Also the 3-4 day format of rallying does not suit mainstream tv, where as f1 in a couple of hours slot does.
What does suit rallying is the old channel4 program of a roundup show, offering the days highlights plus extras.
Those who think the golden days of BBC coverage are coming back are living in a dream world!
The likes of MotorsTV (sorry not seen the coverage so cant comment on the quality) are the way forward offering a roundup show at the end of each day.
The Dave show has improved - noticed the lack of z-list celebs, but I would like to see the following week with extra coverage of lower the field.

Printed Press
With the internet give near-live coverage of WRC and IRC events, to me when Motorsports News drops though the door on Wednesday/Thursday it seems very outdated. Some more in-depth items would not go amiss - especially amount of people they send to each event! Noticed Jerry from MN ranted in one of his items about a proposal to have regular indepth release from wrc during the events - which he snubbed, suppose it would cut his jolly's down each year

Radio
World Rally Radio is a great idea and to me does a good job. More stage coverage is needed, but again back to the mighty £.
5Live / Talksport - do offer some brief update, but the round up program or hourly catchup would be good.
Nice ideal is Totalrally.com - would be good to have this on mainstream radio once a week.

Internet
Well where do you start. Well anything connected to a computer costs money. Developing iphone apps and internet costs time and money. wrc.com is doing more soon so the investment is coming in along with ideas on gps tracking, slpit times, webcams etc etc

Media at WRC events
The top guys offer press releases thought the day, but smaller teams media is not on the top of the list - it would be good if someone could cover these at events and report back on them and not just the big boys.

Well thats my rant over - board at work (not rally related work!)

Would like to bring back this one, a lot of good points here.

Not much has happened in a year, and no plan to develop either has been presented.
Everyone from the top down i FIA says that Rally is a sport where the Internet should play a vital role, in addition to TV.

There are a lot of smart people on the forum, what could be done to improve the Internet part of the media show?

**EightGear** · 6th Jan 12, 12:01

Originally Posted by Kielder

WRC's site says that next season Eurosport is going to broadcast highlights. Does anyone knows something more about this?
World Rally Championship - Fanzone - WRC TV Guide

If this is true that would be great! I hope there will be an announcement regarding this very soon.