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That was classic! I can just imagine June raiding his grandmother's kitchen to get that doily...
ISU video commentator?
- Thread starter itsallok
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That was classic! I can just imagine June raiding his grandmother's kitchen to get that doily...
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- Aug 1, 2011
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- Jan 5, 2019
I do not like either of Alster or Howarth very much, the only talks too much with 'upper class' the other with too much 'lower class' infliction.
But we'll have to make do, and there are commentators much worse on the various national streams and broadcasters.
Send a letter of complaint to ISU and see what they'll do when the complaints heap up ...
But we'll have to make do, and there are commentators much worse on the various national streams and broadcasters.
Send a letter of complaint to ISU and see what they'll do when the complaints heap up ...
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2019
The one thing I don't like about this commentator is he swaps the clauses in sentence structure, a bit like Yoda.
"landed the jump well , did yuma."
"Executed that perfectly, did hanyu."
"Skated almost perfectly, Keegan did"
"landed the jump well , did yuma."
"Executed that perfectly, did hanyu."
"Skated almost perfectly, Keegan did"
I would like to hear ISU commentary from PJ Kwong. I thought she did a great job for the winter universiade last year.
I quite like Robin Cousins too who did some events for the BBC in the past, but they usually pair him with someone else who is clueless about figure skating.
I quite like Robin Cousins too who did some events for the BBC in the past, but they usually pair him with someone else who is clueless about figure skating.
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- Jan 5, 2019
BBC usually has expert and sidekick commentary situations.
Their gymnastics team was awesome though, Mitch Fenner, Christine Still and Barry Davis.
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- Mar 30, 2016
I quite like Catherine Whitaker. She understands figure skating on a reasonably technical level - she skated at an amateur level herself, but is also an experienced multi-sport broadcaster.
Other than her, many of the commentators I've heard are one thing or the other: either a skating specialist, who doesn't have the broadcast experience or on-air charisma to be comfortable to listen to on their own, or a multi-sport commentator without the technical knowledge to point out useful details, though in some cases, those have learnt a fair amount. Often, partnering a skating specialist with a non-specialist works well.
SBSman has a pleasant, relaxed delivery, but seems to have virtually no technical knowledge, so when he commentates alone, it descends into stream-of-consciousness wibbling.
I think the European and 4C champs are a tough gig for a solo commentator commentating all the way through. Euros, especially, with the large fields. I thought he sounded quite tired by the end, and had exhausted all he had to say.
Other than her, many of the commentators I've heard are one thing or the other: either a skating specialist, who doesn't have the broadcast experience or on-air charisma to be comfortable to listen to on their own, or a multi-sport commentator without the technical knowledge to point out useful details, though in some cases, those have learnt a fair amount. Often, partnering a skating specialist with a non-specialist works well.
SBSman has a pleasant, relaxed delivery, but seems to have virtually no technical knowledge, so when he commentates alone, it descends into stream-of-consciousness wibbling.
I think the European and 4C champs are a tough gig for a solo commentator commentating all the way through. Euros, especially, with the large fields. I thought he sounded quite tired by the end, and had exhausted all he had to say.
Me too I was very surprised and pleased. “So, he knows something, after all”, I thought.
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Yes! I love PJ as a commentator, and feel she is wasted doing rink-side announcing.
You know the way that I prefer having 2 people doing commentary, so that they can bounce off each other and we get to hear different views. Well, earlier this season, I suggested that we could have a Canadian partnership of Ted and PJ doing the Juniors, and a British partnership of Chris and either Simon or Nicky doing the Seniors.
Simon is often not available because of the tennis (for example, he always misses Europeans because of the Australian Open). But, that's where Nicky could step in. Although he's living in Canada now, I'm sure he wouldn't mind doing it now and again.
The problem is my suggestion for the Juniors, because the Olympic Channel uses PJ for all sorts of other things as well as figure skating.
Personally, I never took to Robin's commentary.
I did like Sue Barker when she was doing the BBC commentary with him. For a tennis player, she sure knew what she was talking about. But, then they replaced her with newsreader Kat Downes, who is completely clueless.
But, this whole streaming experiment is becoming a mess. The sooner they do the deal with Eurosport again, or else bring in Red Brick (who do the Junior GP's) to produce the coverage, the better.
CaroLiza_fan
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- Feb 16, 2014
He makes me not want to watch with his creepy comments about the ladies' looks and figures. And worst of all, he's just boring. I can't take any more of his droning on about absolutely nothing. There is no such thing as a perfect commentator that everyone loves all of the time - I've seen people bash TAT and Ted Barton and Chris, all of whom I quite like. But the biggest difference between them and this bore is that they all clearly, genuinely love the sport. Their excitement is real and palpable. To have someone on the official ISU stream that just doesn't get it and is going to drive people away makes no sense to me. I can forgive some name mispronunciations and some bio mistakes now and then, but I can't tolerate listening to someone who seems so disengaged and out of touch. Also...joking about the corona virus, really???
Uuh ... I rather listen to overly biased commentators than to this ISU commentator ... I guess he has been told to be absolutely non-offensive and I wouldn't hold that against him but can't he just say "only double salchows" instead of "just a double salchow a few moments ago instead of ..." blabla half a minute after it happend? This is no sports commentator!
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2014
I wish it hadn't come to this but I am gratified to see that so many people agree with me that this commentator is atrocious. I've been trying to tune him out without success.
That Russian tv link someone posted earlier will not work in my country
(the one without commentary).
He was mentioning about all the masks the audience were wearing and joked that he hoped viewers wouldn't want him to wear one. I said aloud 'No - you need gagging, mate!'
I am so mad that I have emailed the ISU about him. :dev2:
I was spared his awfulness during the Europeans because I actually went. But if he is going to commentate at Worlds I think I will shoot myself. :gaah:
That Russian tv link someone posted earlier will not work in my country
(the one without commentary).He was mentioning about all the masks the audience were wearing and joked that he hoped viewers wouldn't want him to wear one. I said aloud 'No - you need gagging, mate!'
I am so mad that I have emailed the ISU about him. :dev2:
I was spared his awfulness during the Europeans because I actually went. But if he is going to commentate at Worlds I think I will shoot myself. :gaah:
- Joined
- May 19, 2018
I haven't heard this commentator, but some of these comments are really harsh....
Oh, I'm sure all those gender-swapping name mix-ups are honest mistakes. They wouldn't be funny if they were intentional!
At least it seems to be an honest mistake on his part, maybe he was influenced by the name Satoko
Oh, I'm sure all those gender-swapping name mix-ups are honest mistakes. They wouldn't be funny if they were intentional!
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2018
He reminds me of how commentators act in a figure skating movie, where they exist only to narrate how well (or poorly) the protagonist is doing. They don't say anything of substance because that's not the point, and the target audience wouldn't understand, anyway.
I did like when he mentioned how a Pooh bear struck a judge in the head after Yuzuru's SP, and when one landed next to him and he narrated himself seeing it and throwing it onto the ice.
His comments about the lady's dresses has been only semi-creepy to me, since he seems at a loss to describe them: "She looks very nice in her, uh, dress..." Like maybe he's holding a car with potential talking points, and one says, "the ladies' attire." Reminds me of my dad struggling to compliment me on some outfit or hairstyle. "Oh, what a nice, sparkly, dress...thing."
Anyway, I find this guy somewhat irritating but a lot endearing, because he so doggedly focuses on the positive. As long as they don't bring him back for Worlds... (Tanith and Charlie, please!)
I did like when he mentioned how a Pooh bear struck a judge in the head after Yuzuru's SP, and when one landed next to him and he narrated himself seeing it and throwing it onto the ice.
His comments about the lady's dresses has been only semi-creepy to me, since he seems at a loss to describe them: "She looks very nice in her, uh, dress..." Like maybe he's holding a car with potential talking points, and one says, "the ladies' attire." Reminds me of my dad struggling to compliment me on some outfit or hairstyle. "Oh, what a nice, sparkly, dress...thing."
Anyway, I find this guy somewhat irritating but a lot endearing, because he so doggedly focuses on the positive. As long as they don't bring him back for Worlds... (Tanith and Charlie, please!)
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2014
I am British, and he makes me feel ashamed. :shame: He is extremely embarrassing. Get rid of him!
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- Jun 22, 2015
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I actually wondered that too, because so much of what he says is so obvious. "Now our skaters are taking the ice. They're getting into their starting positions." "Now they've finished their program. They're taking their bows." It wouldn't be so bad if the rest of what he said had some substance, but it feels more like a narration than a commentary. Or, "Bradie's heading into her jump here; she has to be absolutely perfect if she wants a medal." 20 seconds later, "Here comes another jump. She's looking for a medal, so she can't afford any mistakes." :dev2:
I hesitate to say all this since I know visual description is really important and is obviously necessary by many people. However, I think it's also realistic that most figure skating viewers are not going to need the service, and it's pretty frustrating to listen to as "commentary." I think it's great if the ISU/NBC wants to offer it, but if they're going to, it needs to 1) be real visual description (which would be way more involved and comprehensive), and 2) not serve as commentary. I kept finding myself screaming, "Yes, I know, I can see them taking their bows!!!" after a while.
Really, people paying for Sports Gold or who are on the ISU stream are already knowledgeable fans, so commentators should be picked with that in mind. But this stuff isn't even appropriate for new fans. I remember watching the 2014 Olympics as a newbie and being so happy that the commentating trio was so good. I learned a ton from them! This is just pratter.
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I usually don't criticize commentators and usually also belong to the group of people who prefer commetnary over non-commentary streams... But this commentator offers exactly zero useful information and I really don't need to be reminded of the name and nationality of the skaters three times in the thirty seconds before they start skating... BUT it has undeniable positive effect, time-saving effect to be precise As I'm not watching 4 continents live I watch just and only the programs, I skip the repeats, the waiting for the scores, the warm-up because I know I won't miss any info (I wanted to save time with Russian nationals too but was too interested in Ted Barton's comments during the repeats 
)
As I'm not watching 4 continents live I watch just and only the programs, I skip the repeats, the waiting for the scores, the warm-up because I know I won't miss any info (I wanted to save time with Russian nationals too but was too interested in Ted Barton's comments during the repeats )- Joined
- Jun 6, 2019
I usually don't criticize commentators and usually also belong to the group of people who prefer commetnary over non-commentary streams... But this commentator offers exactly zero useful information and I really don't need to be reminded of the name and nationality of the skaters three times in the thirty seconds before they start skating... BUT it has undeniable positive effect, time-saving effect to be precise
I like how ted stays mostly silence during the actual performance. It allows me to enjoy it more. A lot of commentators have a lot of unnecessary filler as they have nothing useful to say.
Ted barton was also more critical with he seniors, and I think hed be a perfect fit at senior competitions (among other names mentioned).
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