Australia’s only biathlon competitor Alexei Almoukov heads from the shooting range. AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Andrew Vaughan
As the Seven Network managed with impressive regularity, it is now the Nine Network doing a tremendous job destroying an Olympic Games coverage.
For a nation of proverbial fire and flood, where most Aussies watching have never even seen snow, it is hardly surprising that Australia have very few commentators with any genuine winter sports knowledge.
And this has fatally harmed the coverage.
If I never hear a misplaced James Brayshaw ‘ooh’ or ‘wow’ again, as he bumbles his way through the snowboard halfpipe, it will still be too soon.
Alisa Camplin, Steve Bradbury and Belinda Noonan are the only commentators who appear to have any ability to offer insight into technique or the competitor’s mindset.
Dwayne Russell has attempted to turn long track speed skating into an AFL broadcast, completely drowning out the very knowledgable and entertaining Carla Zijlstra, a three time Olympian whom one would imagine knows a bit more than Russell.
Phil Liggett has done an admirable job calling downhill skiing for the first time in his career, but even Giann Rooney and Grant Hackett appear to have absolutely no idea what it is they have been employed to do in Vancouver.
Ken Sutcliffe is about ready to be carted off to the old folks home. I’m convinced its a Weekend At Bernie’s situation unfolding every time he appears.
The lack of sports broadcasting talent in Australia is a direct result of TV and radio employing former players to commentate after retirement.
They are not natural callers (even of their own former sport), let alone possessing the ability to transfer calling skills from event to event, as former great broadcasters managed.
But if I can be forgiven for displaying my obvious state prejudice, the biggest issue is the blatantly false claim for those here in West Australia that we are watching Vancouver LIVE.
Absolute rot.
West Australia is on three hour delay, so when Dale Begg Smith and Torah Bright won medals, it was announced on radio, TV newsbreaks and countless internet sites while West Australia waited three hours to see Channel Nine then pretend we were watching it live.
Roger Federer had crushed Andy Murray, collected the cash, completed his media committments and was back in the hotel with the trophy before the Australian Open final even began in West Australia.
In their infinite wisdom, Channel Seven refuse to show Wallabies matches, even Beldisloe Cup battles, before 1am.
Poor one day international cricket ratings in West Australia have little to do with the lop-sided nature of this summer’s matches. Far more likely is the almost four hour delay in coverage: radio, the internet and other TV stations spoiling with score updates make watching it pointless.
AFL games starting at 4.10pm WST don’t finish on TV until 11.30pm on Fridays. While watching Richmond play can sometimes feel like forever, no match I have ever seen lasts seven hours.
And on it goes. I know its my own fault. I foolishly expected more given it is the Olympics. Not the hype of a 300 strong Aussie contingent at a Summer Games I concede but an Olympic Games all the same.
The state of sports broadcasting in Australia is at an all time low and West Australia bares the full brunt time and time again.
Republican
Guest
Well, I have to say this trend and calibre of presentation is NOT peculiar to Australian Broadcasting of sport. I have certainly been exposed to worse cultural cringe from other countries around the globe - without wishing to defame any country in particular. Cheers
BigAl
Guest
I beg to differ on Bruce Macaveney ! Part of his style is to gain encyclopaedic knowledge of what he is commenting on. He has been a great Summer Olympics commentator and is widely respected for his knowledge amongst world athletics competitors and commentators. At least he would try to get an understanding of what he was commenating on, rather than trying to be a comedian. It wouldn't surprise me if Ch9 didn't make a deliberate decision to take an approach to these games similar to the one that was hugely successful for Roy & H G during the Sydney games, given that it was expected that Aus. medals would be few and far between - and Molloy has made his name ( & millions) solely as a comedian.
Chris K
Guest
Just be thankful that Bruce Macaveney, Joanna Griggs and Sandy Roberts aren't anywhere near the coverage
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
oh no, but its very possible (looks dead straight into the camera for suspense)
BigAl
Guest
At the end of the day, the whole problem is there are not enough people in Australia who know enough about Olympic Winter Sports, let alone be able to comment intelligently - not really surprising. I'm not sure why they didn't take Candian feed, but then again Molloy/Maguire humor may rate more highly with Aus audiences than an ocassional fleeting glimpse of some unknown Australian finishing 16th in some obscure event that most have never heard of - which would be the standard international fare.
Rabbitz
Guest
So far she has merely done trite crap promoting Canada with Michael Buble (or Bubble or however it is spelt) Thankfully she hasn't been near an athlete....
Bam Bam
Roar Guru
Mate, Channel 9 ruins everything for Sport lovers. Rugby League followers have whinged and whined about them for a long time now. You may say Channel 7 are just as bad with the Winter Olympics but they at least provide sport coverage for most sports is decent. Channel 9 don't even advertise Rugby League well in the heartlands, most league lovers want Channel 10 or 7 as the broadcasters. I only saw one advertisement for the All-Stars Rugby League game on Channel 9. I found out the TV times thanks to the Courier Mail- that is just disgusting. There is a facebook group for Melbourne to get better RL coverage from Channel 9, may be WA should start one up for overall sports coverage. Also, Channel 9 advertises Cricket well, but disgust me with every other sport. They only have 2 sports that I know of and they only advertise one of them. Disgusting. Get rid of Channel 9, and give their TV license to someone else, like an American Broadcaster.
Chris K
Guest
RF please tell me this isn't true
Matthew Maguire
Roar Pro
lol...WA has an awful lot to offer but if your a sport nut, forget it. As an NRL fan, rugby league deprivation will set in within a few weeks unless you enjoy the Friday night double header starting at 2am. Gotta love commercial tv.
Matthew Maguire
Roar Pro
With great respect to the Roar moderator who edited the piece, I am in complete agreement Whiteline. As a sandgroper, I can promise you all those West Australia's in the article were changed from my original Western Australia. I've seen it done elsewhere and, as you point out, it makes no sense and I would never write it in that way. Not to worry though...
Hansie
Guest
James Brayshaw shouldn't be allowed near the mountains. He has no idea. He's a former first class cricketer, so he has credibility on cricket, but knows nothing about Winter Olympic sports.
James
Guest
I didn't pay for the Fox coverage, but can someone tell me what role Ruby Rose has? She seems to feature prominently in the adverts for Fox's coverage. Why? Who is she? Why is she famous? Why is she leading the campaign for the coverage? I can't stand comments from her like: "It'll be the biggest party of the year." It's the Olympics, not Saturday night at Ivy. Get off it!
Rabbitz
Guest
We decided to fork out the extra bucks for the Foxtel coverage. Although some of the sports leave me cold (excuse the pun) the actual broadcasts have been good - at least they are showing the entire contests. Exactly who is James Brayshaw and what did he do or who did he sleep with to become a commentator? He is also babbling incessantly on the sliding events on Fox - clearly he has no idea. I reckon I could do a better job and I have never seen snow. Phil Leggit calling the Biathlon has been a revelation, I have really enjoyed watching the events. One great thing is that there have been no inane interviews straight after the athlete crosses the finish line. This has improved the coverage immensely. (Could this be that the winter athletes seem to leave nothing in the tank and can hardly stand up, where the summer athletes have enough left to run or swim an extra lap and do an interview?) I have not seen any of Nines coverage as each time I have seen one their promo's I've already seen the event on Fox. Geez, me praising Fox for their sport coverage, I can't believe it....
Hoy
Roar Guru
The problem here is dickhead TV execs putting foolish personalities in front of the camera instead of those that know the sports and can offer insight into those sports. James Brayshaw seem to be the new flavour of the month in sport. I have seen him on the AFL footy show, but why in the hell is he now commentating on the radio on a Cricket Show, as well as the winter olympics? Will he have a go at the Rugby and League as well? Will he commentate the bowls on ABC soon? What the F is Grant Hackett going to offer commentating at the winter olympics? Do viewers really want stupid personalities instead of insightful commentators? I sure as hell don't. And that is just the commentating side of things. Delayed broadcast etc, is another kick in the guts to viewers. And free to air is campaigning for us to help them keep sports on their channels. PICK UP YOUR ACT and we may support you.
Mick
Guest
These Olympics have shown there are stuff all decent multi sport commentators in Australia and if you are a boofhead you can commentate on more than 1 sport. They would of been better off taking the British or Canadian coverage
NRL Fan Club
Roar Rookie
That settles it. I had been offered a job in WA. I will be staying in QLD. I love my sport to much. Thanks Matt
Whiteline
Guest
Matthew, I couldn't agree more with you on your comments but there is one other thing that frustrates me (it will seem minor but when it happens over and over again) is when people refer to Western Australians as West Australians. I don't get it, it is incorrect. Ever heard South Australians call themselves Southern Australians?
Whiteline
Guest
Matthew, I couldn't agree more with you on your comments but there is one other thing that frustrates me (it will seem minor but when iy happens over and over again) is when people refer to Western Australians as West Australians. I don't get it, it is incorrect. Ever heard South Australians call themselves Southern Australians?
cookie
Guest
It just confirms why rugby is not on free to air... TV is run by morons with absolutely no idea. The ratings i suspect are more often than not pulled out of their asshole. We are still being bombarded with cricket that even cricket fans don't won't to know about, afl trials that only scant few outside vic are interested in but bugger all on rugby. This is from C7 which is confusing seeing they have the rights to rugby but are promoting sports that are C9 interest ie. league and cricket. A bit of knowledgeable commentary would be good so people can get an idea just how hard some the skiing is.... Only nutcases compete in full fledged Downhill events I just watch it all on fox it's generally uninterupted and not cut up into confusing segments.... but then I'm a ski nut whom watches all the world cups we can see on fox.... more please!
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
well, Rugby World Cup sounds like its gonna be a bit of fun with channel nines "epertise" in broadcasting Rugby Union, sounds like they'll shove all there league commentators there for a cheap gig...