As is the Sport itself following the same Downwards
trajectory as the Terrestrial Television Broadcasting has here in America? Oh
Wait a My-nute', that's right, I forgot Indy Cars Broadcasts are on the Rise.
As they may even have Shattered the 1.0 Rating's barrier...
Although this No Fenders story's been on my
mind Ah-while, ever since Tacoma Bureau Chief Mary Ellen said how come I Don't
know the history of Formula One's TV Broadcasting?
Not to mention the Mickey Mouse treatment
we're subjugated to here Stateside, thus it came racing back upon my radar
screen when initially getting Wound Up over a recent Daily Mail article
insinuating that Yank' Formula 1 Fans are indifferent to thou Pinnacle 'O Motor
Sports; ACK!
As is It My Fault?
If the Powers to Be cannot even provide us information upon what Bloody TV
Channel the F1 Weekend's action is on? Is it le Duesh? (ESPN2) Or may be ESPN?
ABC? ESPNews? Oh Never Mind!
While I find it
Hilarious how the Media was All Ah-Tizzy over gifting Hamilton his fifth World
Championship prematurely...
Thirty-two Years Ago, I was introduced to the
World of Formula 1 by a Co-worker from Montana; NO Sheep Jokes Here; Hya!
Those were the Dazes when F1 was on ESPN with
the legendous' Bob Varsha and 'Ol Hobbo', nee HobbsCap', aka David Hobbs actually
calling the Grands Prix action live from the individual racetracks, with thee
Biz', nee John Bizziano as Pit Reporter.
This lineup stayed stable for several years,
albeit with the sport being shoved over to what I affectionately call le
Duesh', A.K.A. ESPN2! Along with ABC's Wide World of Sports with Keith "Whoa
Nellie!" Jackson and thou 'Wee Scot, nee JYS, aka Sir Jackie or formally
known as Jackie Stewart calling the Monaco Grand Prix in subdued Golf tones in
Thar Sports Blazers each May. Although I tend to recall 'Ol Hollywood, aka
Danny Sullivan doing these subdued; SHUSH, We're On the 18th Green! TV Broadcasts
later.
Then Walt Disney decided it's Dizzying
Networks 'O Shopping Channels could be better served broadcasting RASSCAR' and
Grid Iron Sports, which caused things to get sticky for Mwah, since my Po-Dunk
Cable TV Provider, some third string outfit from Santa Clara, CA first refused
to provide Fox Sports Net. Although I
still recall it being Fox Sports Northwest in my Warshintonion' Suburb. Where
Formula One had moved to in the late 1990's, before moving onto Speedvision.
Yep, Yuhs
guessed it! this same Cable TV outfit, whom although I did like you're supposed
too; Ceasessly Badgering 'em to Add The Speed Channel to their line-up, I've
long since forgotten who they were...
But they Flatly refused to Acquiesce to my
Demands, leaving me Devoid of Formula 1. For which my good friend Roberto, who
claimed I was the only Yank' he knew who liked Formula One - Would tape the F1
races for my benefit via them 'Ol School Memorex VHS tapes.
Which I think he did for over a year's time
before I finally bit the bullet and got Dish Satellite television instead!
After getting written permission from my then current Apartment Complex's management.
Apparently I did this early 2002? Prior to
that year's Open Wheel Racing season beginning - Since all I tend to recall is
how ecstatic I was over finally getting to watch every Blinkin' CART,
(Championship Auto Racing Teams) nee today's IndyCar Practice and Qualie'
session live. Along with the races TV Broadcasts with my Numero Uno all-time
Announcer Bob Varsha at the Helm!
Also vaguely remembering thee Brackster', nee
Kenny Brack emblazoned in red coveralls piloting the ubiquitous blazing red
Target Chip Ganassi Racing Lola B2/00 Toyota, which sadly the Swede underperformed
in...
Funny how I
remember more 'bout the Indy Cars vs. Formula 1. But I suspect that's because
previously I didn't have any access at All to them vs. my recorded F1 races...
And although I totally enjoyed having the
Dish Network, there was only one major Problema, as my dish's receiver mounted
on a Boom pole, to elevate it as high as then allowed. Naturally had to be
pointed directly overhead the one bloody tree next to my patio.
Yep, Yuhs guessed It! 18mos later, when the
tree's branches had sufficiently grown, my satellite suddenly quick receiving
it's signal; CRAP! As I had the offending tree trimmed once, but then by the
second time it "Bloomed." A further 18mos later, when the tree had
grown back again, I gave up on my Dish TV, which conveniently coincided with my
Apartment's reneging upon allowing satellite dishes on the property. As perhaps
they were losing too many Cable TV contracts to their proprietary provider?
Yet by '05 our LUV-lee' Apartment complex had
switched allegiances to the All Conquering comca$t, which
I faithfully subscribed to for 13 Bloody years, regardless of its lacking
access to SPEED2, FS-2 or ESPN News - before moving to Oregon this Fall.
As it's funny to Mwah how I've remained
faithful to Formula 1 thru four major TV Announcing line-ups, since I cannot
recall when my All-time favourite Pitlane Reporter Peter Windsor first appeared
on thy Telie', as he along with Varsha, Hobbs and newcomer Steve
"Professor" Matchett were Hands Down my Numero Uno announce Crew!
Then thou House 'O Windsor was replaced by
thee 'Wee Willie buxom', aka Will Buxton during the latter SPEED F1 Days, who I
think only rates above the aforementioned Bizziano. As I have to say I find
Theodore "Not Lenny" Kravitz a most entertaining Bloke, even if he's
constantly cut off mid-sentence by another In-car Radio message.
As the Speed Channel and then later Speed TV
Broadcasts with Leigh Diffey replacing Varsha were simply far superior to
today's stinted Sky Sports broadcasts. Which I'm still fairly Luke warm over them.
Albeit I found myself enjoying the most
recent Friday Free Practice 2 broadcast from Mexico City on Channel 412 with
Kroftie', (David Kroft) Johnny Herbert and Paul di Resta in the Commentary Box.
Along with Martin Billybob' Brundle Trackside. And the aforementioned Ted Kravitz
on Pitlane very enjoyable.
Although it's a Bit Annoying it's taken me until
round 19-of-21 to finally hear Kroftie' tell us who that other Commentator;
err, Uhm Presenter's voice is, after just saying Thanks Simon.
As Sky Sports has a pretty robust cast, with Simon
Lazenby and Craig Slater being interspersed with the others, not to mention occasionally
having Rachel Brookes chime in, Whale' at least I think it's her...
Meanwhile, going thru a fairly same rotisserie
'O television channels for Sports Cars racing, beginning with ESPN/ESPN2, then
Ditto SPEED and Fox Sports. I tend to recall I gave up trying to watch 'em
after the lame ARSE decision to return back to ESPN; Hmm? I'm sensing a theme
here. As why does ESPN tend to Not give
a Flying SHIT 'bout motor racing, Eh?
Becoming Uber Annoyed over the Sebring 12
Hours being shown on ESPN3's G-O app - which naturally I didn't have access to!
Thus I began simply listening to selected events via Zed Internetz' and the
superb Play-by-Play announcing of Der Heindenmeir', aka John Hindhaugh as lead
announcer via IMSA Radio and Radio le Mans instead.
Thus, I found it a Wee Bitamyte funny that
I'd missed another Memo - when listening to the final 3hrs of this year's Petit
Le Mans. Since it was totally a surprise to Mwah when Hindhaugh casually
mentioned how this year's race was the final TV Broadcast for Fox Sports, with
Sports Cars moving to NBC Sports next year.
As I say this was funny since I'd only
finally gained television access to (Fox Sports) FS2, where the majority of the
Endurance Race broadcasts end up on this Fall when moving, for which I haven't
bothered tuning into yet. Only to learn I won't need this channel any more.
Although my Spectrum/Charter Cable TV
Service, which is far Superior to my old one, also gives me access to the
Velocity Channel, for which I know Le Mans is on, and perhaps the entire World
Endurance Championship (WEC) series? For which I've yet to investigate, albeit
I have visited this channel briefly for a myriad 'O Car restoring shows.
As I've got ZERO Clue who'll be NBC Sports
Broadcast Crew for Sports Cars next year, although they couldn't go wrong with
the current cast of Greg Kramer, Calvin Fish, Justin Bell, Jamie Howe, etc.
As it's sad to think that NBC Sports IndyCar
TV Broadcasts are my current Numero Uno choice, even with Thar ceaseless
Commercials... But I just really enjoy the ease which Leigh Diffey leads the
way with Paul Tracy and Townsend Bell alongside him in the commentary booth.
While I can never get enough of
"Professor B," aka Jon Beekhuis. With 'Ol
R', nee Robin Miller, thee Curmudgeon 'O Indy Cars always having Somme-thun'
good to say. But just keep Kevin Lee patrolling the Pits, as he's definitely
NOT worthy "O being a lead announcer! Whilst Katie Hargitt slowly
grows upon me while continuing to improve.
Thus the point of this Diatribe? Is that ESPN
could learn a lot from NBC Sports production of its IndyCar races to make it's
Sky Sports presentations better Stateside, which I know won't Bloody Happen.
But Hey Messer's Chevy Chase and Brickity
Bratches. Don't say one G-DAMN' Thingy publicly 'bout your TV Ratings being
pathetic, because you deserve 'em after Watering Down our Formula 1 television
programming here Stateside, for which some of us still prefer simply watching
on our Telie's...
