But paying to watch the raw World Feed pictures with no commentary on the internet is ridiculous. On-screen graphics can only tell you so much. You need to have a human explaining what is going on to add to the experience.
Really? To me, the most amazing feature of the Finnish YLE internet broadcast is the source stream with no commentary. In my opinion, commentary more often than not just completely distracts from the experience unless it's extremely well done(the JGP handles it the best by a mile as he actually shuts up completely during the performances). If there was an option to watch all figure skating competitions with no commentary and if there was a reliable way to find youtube streams of the performances with the source stream and no commentary, I'd take it 1000000 times out of 1000000.
If there WAS commentary, it should be analytical and actually insightful instead of some people who barely know anything giving their opinions and trying to make themselves seem smart. Technical panelists giving commentary is wonderful especially when they go into detail for requirements for levels and GOE. YLE has had commentary by Leena Laaksonen and that's what all commentary should be like as far as I'm concerned.
How can we put pressure on Eurosport regarding their figure skating coverage?
You can write a mail....they won't ever read, reply or acknowledge in any way. Or contact them on facebook, twitter, whatever. Fact is figure skating is a niche sport, that the (european) masses aren't invested/interested in. That's not Eurosport's fault though, as they show more than most other stations. If you read the newspaper in Germany, the sports section is 85% football (soccer), 5% motorsport and 10% other (depending if it's Summer/Winter).
You can write a mail....they won't ever read, reply or acknowledge in any way. Or contact them on facebook, twitter, whatever. Fact is figure skating is a niche sport, that the (european) masses aren't invested/interested in. That's not Eurosport's fault though, as they show more than most other stations. If you read the newspaper in Germany, the sports section is 85% football (soccer), 5% motorsport and 10% other (depending if it's Summer/Winter).
I respectfully disagree they undertook to provide us with the coverage if they are not bothered why to get the rights in the first place. I wonder if we should complain to ISU instead questioning the geoblock
I respectfully disagree they undertook to provide us with the coverage if they are not bothered why to get the rights in the first place. I wonder if we should complain to ISU instead questioning the geoblock
But I don’t think they air much if any football at all on Eurosport 1 and 2 in the UK where they air figure skating?
The important words in your post are "in the UK".
On the continent, Eurosport shows quite a lot of MLS (which is shown on Sky Sports in the British Isles) and Bundesliga (which is shown on BT Sport in the British Isles).
The MLS is an integral part of the Eurosport International schedule. In those countries in which Eurosport shows Bundesliga, it is given priority and space is cleared for it. Because as far as sports channels are concerned, everybody loves football!
Let's be blunt, figure skating is not a very popular sport in the British Isles. So, when British Eurosport has to fill in gaps where things they don't have the British rights for have been taken out, why would they show LIVE or delayed coverage of something that only has a small audience when they can instead show repeats of things that are popular?
It's harsh, and unfair on us fans of the smaller sports. But, that's the way these executives think.
And that is why Eurosport needs more linear channels! So, that the executives don't have to make these unfair decisions.
CaroLiza_fan
Best solution though we'd never get it, it'd look a bit odd, would a dedicated cycling channel to go alongside E1 and E2. Would take pressure off other channels, they'd easily fill it, plus wouldn't mean loads of extra channels they might not fill anyway. Perhaps we should all write to Eurosport, say we're huge cycling fans and can we have a dedicated channel bit like Sky Sports Premier League etc...
p.s. no more Ladies Free highlights on Sunday morning on E1 UK...
Oh, I got a reply the other day. It was a standard message but it said that my complaint would be forwarded, that's what I asked for. Not that I think that something is actually going to happen. I just had the time and I felt the need to let them know why I won't buy a monthly pass. I think they should know that they lose potential customers with their mediocre figure skating coverage.You can write a mail....they won't ever read, reply or acknowledge in any way. Or contact them on facebook, twitter, whatever. Fact is figure skating is a niche sport, that the (european) masses aren't invested/interested in. That's not Eurosport's fault though, as they show more than most other stations. If you read the newspaper in Germany, the sports section is 85% football (soccer), 5% motorsport and 10% other (depending if it's Summer/Winter).