I’m glad you mentioned Dbo. I had a similar observation that crystallized when the second set of commentators came on for the overnight shift.
They had so many fresh perspectives it really highlighted how there’s an almost infinite number of potential storylines. Whoever has the mike doesn’t just tell us what’s happening in the race, they pick the storylines that get followed and told.
My big takeaway was how much richer the experience was as a viewer when there were more narrators and storylines.
I love Dbo and think he does an amazing job all the way round but in an event as rich and dynamic as Western States there’s no way one person can do justice to all the roles he plays.
A simple leaderboard on the screen at all times would be nice to have....you know, like every other sport. I also think the finish line interviews need to be changed (location and timing), it is a cluster every single year.
Thank you for that! Some critical thoughts I had about the broadcast. My take is that they often missed narrating when something was actually happening on screen like when passes where made or distance between runners changed.
The lack of talking points during such a long broadcast means they talk about times so much that it seems to become more important than winning and since it is the only thing they can consistently talk about makes it the center point of the broadcast and therefor makes trailrunning about the time the course is run - which I hard disagree on. Next week the same people agree in discussions again that course records in trail are silly until the next broadcast they find nothing else to talk about.
Drone footage from high up is acceptable as a short filler, giving an overview of the landscape and so on but it should never be the norm either fly lower or find tech with better zoom - looking at ants jogging and guessing who wears what cap is not the way.
Insights and the stories of the athletes during the broadcast is almost all recycled from the coverage before the race it rarely goes deeper or is new/ different.
It is insane what they achieved with the limited access and the remoteness of the course and they have my absolute respect how much better they get every year and I watched almost all of it and I’m lready excited for next year ☺️
Super exciting reflections! thanks for this.
I’m glad you mentioned Dbo. I had a similar observation that crystallized when the second set of commentators came on for the overnight shift.
They had so many fresh perspectives it really highlighted how there’s an almost infinite number of potential storylines. Whoever has the mike doesn’t just tell us what’s happening in the race, they pick the storylines that get followed and told.
My big takeaway was how much richer the experience was as a viewer when there were more narrators and storylines.
I love Dbo and think he does an amazing job all the way round but in an event as rich and dynamic as Western States there’s no way one person can do justice to all the roles he plays.
A simple leaderboard on the screen at all times would be nice to have....you know, like every other sport. I also think the finish line interviews need to be changed (location and timing), it is a cluster every single year.
Thank you for that! Some critical thoughts I had about the broadcast. My take is that they often missed narrating when something was actually happening on screen like when passes where made or distance between runners changed.
The lack of talking points during such a long broadcast means they talk about times so much that it seems to become more important than winning and since it is the only thing they can consistently talk about makes it the center point of the broadcast and therefor makes trailrunning about the time the course is run - which I hard disagree on. Next week the same people agree in discussions again that course records in trail are silly until the next broadcast they find nothing else to talk about.
Drone footage from high up is acceptable as a short filler, giving an overview of the landscape and so on but it should never be the norm either fly lower or find tech with better zoom - looking at ants jogging and guessing who wears what cap is not the way.
Insights and the stories of the athletes during the broadcast is almost all recycled from the coverage before the race it rarely goes deeper or is new/ different.
It is insane what they achieved with the limited access and the remoteness of the course and they have my absolute respect how much better they get every year and I watched almost all of it and I’m lready excited for next year ☺️
lots of good stuff in here!