ESPN TV Coverage - Unacceptable

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

First off, I want to say I'm very happy that ESPN covers the event, and provides links to watch every single match online. Their online coverage is mostly great, other than an error that many users were getting that appeared to be a bug related to DirecTV subscribers.

However, the TV Coverage is unacceptably bad. For the placement matches this last session, they would routinely go to a commerical break in between weight classes. This is perfectly fine, but when they would return to the wrestling coverage, they would show a brief overlay of the St. Louis Arch or arena outside and then show an interview with a coach, or show just the commentators' faces talking. When they finally returned the camera to the matches, they would already be midway through the second period, or even into the third period.

I missed Brooks' entire 3rd place match on TV, because they were showing commericals and then a close up of the commentators talking about NCAA storylines instead of the action itself.

This is so incredibly unacceptable. If ESPN is going to have exclusive broadcasting rights to the tournament, then they need to do it right.

Missing 50-100% of 3rd and 4th place matches at every single weight, because they're milking commericals or showing camera shots of St. Louis, or showing an interview with a coach instead of the match itself is just absurd.

Really just shows that wrestling is still a complete after thought. They would never choose to show a coaches interview or commentators faces while they discuss storylines, instead of showing the action itself for a sport such as football or basketball. Someone needs to get in contact with the producers and let them know how insane this is. I'll be sending an email, and encourage others to do so as well.

Show the god damn match and not a 3 min interview with Cael, while there are 3rd place matches going on. Or at least do a split camera.

Shocking how incompetent ESPN is in this regard.

 

[Stanley75]

Be glad they cover it at all. Could be watching women's softball instead.

 

[tigerguy_]

That's why there is the app to catch all the action. They don't pause the matches like they do for semifinals and finals for commercials, and they have to pay the bills.

There is a huge Hawk fan that reads this board, that works for ESPN on the wrestling broadcast and every time I see him I make sure to thank him for what ESPN has done for the sport. Thank you ESPN

 

[woodsiding]

I couldn't disagree more with the op. The last three days sat at the computer, 4 mats up, TV on across the room. Only little issue I had was that track was a minute before the stream.

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

Be glad they cover it at all. Could be watching women's softball instead.

No, just because they cover it, doesn't mean we should forgive or excuse terrible coverage. If they didn't cover it, someone else would such as flo.

I know flo has many deserving criticisms but at least they understand and are passionate about the sport of wrestling, and If they had the broadcasting technology that ESPN had, I'm sure they'd at least not miss half of the placement matches because they're showing interviews.

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

That's why there is the app to catch all the action. They don't pause the matches like they do for semifinals and finals for commercials, and they have to pay the bills.

There is a huge Hawk fan that reads this board, that works for ESPN on the wrestling broadcast and every time I see him I make sure to thank him for what ESPN has done for the sport. Thank you ESPN

I already said they do a great job of keeping coverage online. However, they had a bug with DirecTV users which made it so DirecTV subscribers were unable to watch some of the coverage online.

Again, just because they are covering it, doesn't mean we can just excuse massive flaws in their coverage coverage. It's completely unacceptable to be showing coaches interviews instead of the 3rd and 4th place matches themselves.

Just because watching it on the internet is an option, doesn't mean we can't criticize the TV Coverage which is the only option to some people.

Also, what's the excuse for the DirecTV bug that prevented many paying customers from being able to watch it online?

 

[woodsiding]

No, just because they cover it, doesn't mean we should forgive or excuse terrible coverage. If they didn't cover it, someone else would such as flo.

I know flo has many deserving criticisms but at least they understand and are passionate about the sport of wrestling, and If they had the broadcasting technology that ESPN had, I'm sure they'd at least not miss half of the placement matches because they're showing interviews.

What are you talking about? Go to track, find the match you want to see, click the camera and watch it. It was seamless!

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

That's why there is the app to catch all the action. They don't pause the matches like they do for semifinals and finals for commercials, and they have to pay the bills.

There is a huge Hawk fan that reads this board, that works for ESPN on the wrestling broadcast and every time I see him I make sure to thank him for what ESPN has done for the sport. Thank you ESPN

Who is the hawk fan that reads this who works for ESPN? I'd love to get in contact with them and discuss this issue. I'm sure if they're a wrestling fan and not just an ESPN executive they're probably very sympathetic to this complaint.

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

What are you talking about? Go to track, find the match you want to see, click the camera and watch it. It was seamless!

Please read the posts above. I said there was an error or bug for numerous DirecTV subscribers that prevented them from being able to watch it online. It happened to me for part of the tournament and worked fine for other parts. Many DirecTV subscribers had this same issue and ESPN acknowledged it was an error they were working to fix.

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

What are you talking about? Go to track, find the match you want to see, click the camera and watch it. It was seamless!

The title of this thread is that the TV Coverage is unacceptable. If you haven't seen the TV Coverage, please don't comment.

I already acknowledged and credited ESPN for doing a fantastic job on the internet coverage besides the bug with DirecTV.

 

[CaliforniaGoldd]

I have to disagree with the OP. I have been in "wrestling heaven" watching tons of wrestling matches online with 4 screens going and not many freeze ups like what happens with FLO. Never missed any action due to commercials. All the matches go to replay, so you can watch matches that you may have missed or want to rewatch . I also watched the semifinals on TV and coverage was great.

All this for FREE!! I wish ESPN covered more wrestling events.

 

[el dub]

The only problem I've had in the three days of watching online was an inability to watch last night's action on my computer. Kept getting an error message that didn't happen in any other session, including this mornings. That said, I just turned on 800kxic upstairs and ESPN on the flatscreen downstairs and went back and forth to keep up with non televised Hawk matches.

 

[GoHawks2009]

I already said they do a great job of keeping coverage online. However, they had a bug with DirecTV users which made it so DirecTV subscribers were unable to watch some of the coverage online.

Again, just because they are covering it, doesn't mean we can just excuse massive flaws in their coverage coverage. It's completely unacceptable to be showing coaches interviews instead of the 3rd and 4th place matches themselves.

Just because watching it on the internet is an option, doesn't mean we can't criticize the TV Coverage which is the only option to some people.

Also, what's the excuse for the DirecTV bug that prevented many paying customers from being able to watch it online?

That was Mediacom users getting back at DirectTV users for being able to watch State wrestling because of the State's absolutely f***ing ridiculous deal with Comcast Sports.

Yeah?

 

[tigerguy_]

If they had the broadcasting technology that ESPN had

But they obviously don't, and won't be able to match the multi million dollar production capabilities of ESPN...........ever.

And when there are multiple matches going on at the same time, ESPN on the main channel chooses to do a general overview of what is taking place, and allows people the option of seeing the individual matches they want with the app.

They have to pay the bills, that's how broadcast TV works, and they are trying to appeal to the casual fan who is sick of watching basketball, and not us hardcore loyalists.

That decision isn't made willy-nilly, they research the hell out of it and stuff like Billy Baldwin brings in a demographic and coaches interviews plays to a certain crowd and they try to tell story lines throughout the tournament.

It's not just about showing entire matches during this round, they are trying to build up for tonight and the seasons to follow.

Trust me, I have had these exact same conversations/questions with the people in the know. I understand where they are coming from now.

Again, thank you ESPN for what you do to the sport we love

 

[SPOONER]

No, just because they cover it, doesn't mean we should forgive or excuse terrible coverage. If they didn't cover it, someone else would such as flo.

I know flo has many deserving criticisms but at least they understand and are passionate about the sport of wrestling, and If they had the broadcasting technology that ESPN had, I'm sure they'd at least not miss half of the placement matches because they're showing interviews.

The TV coverage sucked but the internet was good, so they should go to internet only with Flo?

Huh?

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

The people defending ESPN in this thread clearly didn't watch the last session on TV. I already said numerous times that their internet coverage has been great.

The purpose of this thread was to criticize an unacceptable flaw related to their television coverage. I'm in agreement with you guys that it's a good thing that ESPN covers the sport, but it doesn't mean we can't criticize them if there are very real and obvious flaws.

They will never improve the coverage if everyone sits back and defends their current television coverage and forgives it just because the internet coverage is good.

If you're posting in this thread and saying OP is completely wrong and the internet coverage is great, then you're missing the point entirely. I'm criticising the television coverage, so If you're using the internet coverage as a defense, you're not reading or following the discussion properly.

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

The TV coverage sucked but the internet was good, so they should go to internet only with Flo?

Huh?

Yeah, I maybe worded that badly, but the point I was making is that at least Flo understands and is passionate about the sport, whereas I assume the ESPN executives are not.

 

[Stanley75]

No, just because they cover it, doesn't mean we should forgive or excuse terrible coverage. If they didn't cover it, someone else would such as flo.

I know flo has many deserving criticisms but at least they understand and are passionate about the sport of wrestling, and If they had the broadcasting technology that ESPN had, I'm sure they'd at least not miss half of the placement matches because they're showing interviews.

In past years we got to see the finals only. Now we get to see the Big tens and the NCAAs. Just saying, be thankful for what we have, This isn't like basketball where we get to see every game. Yes there are some things we don't like about the coverage. But let's not bitch about the privilege we have been given.

 

[bawlmerhawk]

I'm glad I was able to see every match on ESPN3, but today's announcers were incredibly bad, disrespectful to the sport of wrestling. One guy was going on about being the ambassador to PA or some such nonsense. I would have preferred simply hearing crowd noise.

They would not have gotten away with that in any other sport.

 

[PapaBearSLIM]

No, just because they cover it, doesn't mean we should forgive or excuse terrible coverage. If they didn't cover it, someone else would such as flo.

I know flo has many deserving criticisms but at least they understand and are passionate about the sport of wrestling, and If they had the broadcasting technology that ESPN had, I'm sure they'd at least not miss half of the placement matches because they're showing interviews.

ESPN provides an online stream with superior technology. C'mon man if it was given to Flo it wouldn't be on TV. Cut your tv off, watch it online and pretend Flo streamed it for you at no additional costs while upgrading their technology.

 

[FrontHeadlock2]

The mat coverage online is great.

The produced broadcast is typical ESPN trash.

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

Again, this thread is filled with people who are saying I can't criticize the TV coverage, just because the internet coverage is great. That's a logical fallacy and has nothing at all to do with this thread.

It's fascinating to me that so many people are defending the fact that literally every 3rd place match, they missed the entire first period. And they missed Brooks' entire match. That's fcking terrible and inexcusable.

And to use the defense that "oh showing interviews with Billy Baldwin or Cael instead of the 3rd place matches because it helps build the sport" is fcking ridiculous.

I've said numerous times the internet coverage is fantastic, but the TV coverage has many valid criticisms that are worth addressing and shouldn't be excused or ignored simply because "we should be happy they cover the sport at all". If they're going to have the exclusive broadcasting rights, there's no excuse for missing 50-100% of matches for 3rd and 4th place.

 

[woodsiding]

Espn's overall coverage was amazing. The TV was there for a casual viewer, and good to have in the background. They drummed up a few stories, interviewed top seeds after each match, hyped up Dean and his story of losing to a girl. Today they missed Brooks' third place match, but I'm also pretty sure that had Brooks not been pinned so quickly that they would have showed it. I'm simply saying don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[jammenz]

I'm glad I was able to see every match on ESPN3, but today's announcers were incredibly bad, disrespectful to the sport of wrestling. One guy was going on about being the ambassador to PA or some such nonsense. I would have preferred simply hearing crowd noise.

They would not have gotten away with that in any other sport.

The mat 2 (3rd/4th place) announcers were unlistenable.

Country hick Iowa ref: "A buck 10 cents left on the clock, that's 2 nickels or 10 pennies as they go into the boundary waters and red gets a citation". WTF

PA homer: "Northhampton, Easton, Bethleham Catholic, District 11, blah, blah, blah."

 

[Creek Side]

I see what the OP is saying, but tigerguy basically explained to why it is the way it is. I'm not a fan of ESPN, but they are doing wrestling better than anyone has ever done it before! Imagine if Flo was running it.. we wouldn't have seen a match live. Every year they've been getting better. Remember when you only got the finals on TV. Now almost every session is being broadcast. Their streaming service has improved tremendously.
I think if someone with a wrestling background is behind the scenes, thy know that virtually no one is sitting at home not streaming multiple screens to catch the matches they want to see along with the broadcast.
I could have done without them cutting to Gibbons every half hour. Even my 9 year old kid asked my why they're showing him instead of the matches. I can deal with that if that is what it takes for them to get ratings so that they can afford to pump money into the event.

 

[Creek Side]

The mat 2 (3rd/4th place) announcers were unlistenable.

Country hick Iowa ref: "A buck 10 cents left on the clock, that's 2 nickels or 10 pennies as they go into the boundary waters and red gets a citation". WTF

PA homer: "Northhampton, Easton, Bethleham Catholic, District 11, blah, blah, blah."

PA Homer... you mean PA Homer like where all your good wrestlers are going to be from
... that kind of PA Homer?

 

[jvclark]

First off, I want to say I'm very happy that ESPN covers the event, and provides links to watch every single match online. Their online coverage is mostly great, other than an error that many users were getting that appeared to be a bug related to DirecTV subscribers.

However, the TV Coverage is unacceptably bad. For the placement matches this last session, they would routinely go to a commerical break in between weight classes. This is perfectly fine, but when they would return to the wrestling coverage, they would show a brief overlay of the St. Louis Arch or arena outside and then show an interview with a coach, or show just the commentators' faces talking. When they finally returned the camera to the matches, they would already be midway through the second period, or even into the third period.

I missed Brooks' entire 3rd place match on TV, because they were showing commericals and then a close up of the commentators talking about NCAA storylines instead of the action itself.

This is so incredibly unacceptable. If ESPN is going to have exclusive broadcasting rights to the tournament, then they need to do it right.

Missing 50-100% of 3rd and 4th place matches at every single weight, because they're milking commericals or showing camera shots of St. Louis, or showing an interview with a coach instead of the match itself is just absurd.

Really just shows that wrestling is still a complete after thought. They would never choose to show a coaches interview or commentators faces while they discuss storylines, instead of showing the action itself for a sport such as football or basketball. Someone needs to get in contact with the producers and let them know how insane this is. I'll be sending an email, and encourage others to do so as well.

Show the god damn match and not a 3 min interview with Cael, while there are 3rd place matches going on. Or at least do a split camera.

Shocking how incompetent ESPN is in this regard.

Happy they are broadcasting it all but can't disagree with you on many areas of your post. Unfortunately Sammys match didn't last very long so a commercial or two and you would have missed it all

 

[tigerguy_]

Again, this thread is filled with people who are saying I can't criticize the TV coverage, just because the internet coverage is great. That's a logical fallacy and has nothing at all to do with this thread.

It's fascinating to me that so many people are defending the fact that literally every 3rd place match, they missed the entire first period. And they missed Brooks' entire match. That's fcking terrible and inexcusable.

And to use the defense that "oh showing interviews with Billy Baldwin or Cael instead of the 3rd place matches because it helps build the sport" is fcking ridiculous.

I've said numerous times the internet coverage is fantastic, but the TV coverage has many valid criticisms that are worth addressing and shouldn't be excused or ignored simply because "we should be happy they cover the sport at all". If they're going to have the exclusive broadcasting rights, there's no excuse for missing 50-100% of matches for 3rd and 4th place.

And you continue to criticize the TV coverage and refuse to accept why it is done that way on Saturday morning.

You certainly can accept that on live TV, when the matches aren't being paused for TV timeouts like they are for the semifinals and finals, part of the matches are going to be missed for commercials. That's how it works and that's why the internet feed is there. It just so happened Brooks got stuck in 2 minutes, that's the hazard of live TV. The risk you take.

Never said Billy Baldwin was there to build the sport, what I said was, "That decision isn't made willy-nilly, they research the hell out of it and stuff like Billy Baldwin brings in a demographic and coaches interviews plays to a certain crowd and they try to tell story lines throughout the tournament." It's ratings plain and simple. You read into it what you wanted to fit your narrative.

It's about ratings and stories, ESPN is trying for ratings whether it's pimping Robles and his story, Dake/Taylor whatever. And whether you like it or not, Billy Baldwin was trying to bring in casual fans for ratings.

And PSU clinches the team championship after the 149 match, so of course they are going to interview Cael because PA is on fire for wrestling right now and that is eyeballs for tonight. Once again, ratings.

If you don't think the people putting this on for ESPN haven't thought about all of this, you are flat out wrong. But I would offer once again, and you have repeatedly demonstrated, that you have no interest in understanding that people who have experience and expertise in this industry, are working their butts off on incredibly long days to try to satisfy both the viewers and the bean counters.

Again, I think ESPN does a great job with this and I thank them for all their options given to me as a fan.

And tonight's coverage all in glorious HD with different viewing options will be the best yet. Hopefully you will enjoy it. I know I will, because I still remember the tape-delayed by 2 weeks coverage of days gone by

 

[Pantherclone]

Love that I have been able to watch as much as I have on live TV. Wrestling is a little different, imo, in that the "casual fan" isn't going to understand the nuances of handfighting and positioning while watching a 1st period end 0-0, as happens way too often. That being said, as a diehard I get why espn may do more "fluff stuff" during the tv broadcast

 

[FrontHeadlock2]

It's about ratings and stories, ESPN is trying for ratings whether it's pimping Robles and his story, Dake/Taylor whatever. And whether you like it or not, Billy Baldwin was trying to bring in casual fans for ratings.

And PSU clinches the team championship after the 149 match, so of course they are going to interview Cael because PA is on fire for wrestling right now and that is eyeballs for tonight. Once again, ratings.

If you don't think the people putting this on for ESPN haven't thought about all of this, you are flat out wrong. But I would offer once again, and you have repeatedly demonstrated, that you have no interest in understanding that people who have experience and expertise in this industry, are working their butts off on incredibly long days to try to satisfy both the viewers and the bean counters.

Pretty sure we all understand this. It's precisely why A LOT of ESPN's coverage (in all sports, not just wrestling) is mediocre.

ESPN is not looking to present sporting events in the best way possible, rather they are looking for eyeballs and $$$, which of course is a bit of a conflict. If showing 90% interviews and other garbage and 10% actual sports in any broadcast doubled their ratings, that's precisely what they'd do, much to the chagrin of actual sports fans.

If you view ESPN as an entertainment channel that uses sports as a vehicle (much in the same way that E! channel uses Hollywood and movies/TV as its vehicle), then it makes sense.

 

[ih8iast8]

Everytime it comes on TV, I get excited for a few minutes, then I resort back to listening on the radio. Thank god for 800AM.

 

[Stanley75]

You can piss and moan all you like, I'm looking forward to watching the finals on ESPN.

 

[AFHawk86]

You can piss and moan all you like, I'm looking forward to watching the finals on ESPN.

The finals will be the best coverage of the tournament because we'll get to see close to 100% of ALL the matches.

 

[anon_0pi0cv8t1ggvb]

And you continue to criticize the TV coverage and refuse to accept why it is done that way on Saturday morning.

You certainly can accept that on live TV, when the matches aren't being paused for TV timeouts like they are for the semifinals and finals, part of the matches are going to be missed for commercials. That's how it works and that's why the internet feed is there. It just so happened Brooks got stuck in 2 minutes, that's the hazard of live TV. The risk you take.

Never said Billy Baldwin was there to build the sport, what I said was, "That decision isn't made willy-nilly, they research the hell out of it and stuff like Billy Baldwin brings in a demographic and coaches interviews plays to a certain crowd and they try to tell story lines throughout the tournament." It's ratings plain and simple. You read into it what you wanted to fit your narrative.

It's about ratings and stories, ESPN is trying for ratings whether it's pimping Robles and his story, Dake/Taylor whatever. And whether you like it or not, Billy Baldwin was trying to bring in casual fans for ratings.

And PSU clinches the team championship after the 149 match, so of course they are going to interview Cael because PA is on fire for wrestling right now and that is eyeballs for tonight. Once again, ratings.

If you don't think the people putting this on for ESPN haven't thought about all of this, you are flat out wrong. But I would offer once again, and you have repeatedly demonstrated, that you have no interest in understanding that people who have experience and expertise in this industry, are working their butts off on incredibly long days to try to satisfy both the viewers and the bean counters.

Again, I think ESPN does a great job with this and I thank them for all their options given to me as a fan.

And tonight's coverage all in glorious HD with different viewing options will be the best yet. Hopefully you will enjoy it. I know I will, because I still remember the tape-delayed by 2 weeks coverage of days gone by

Look I get the argument you're making man. But when they miss literally half or the entirety of every single 3rd place match, that's indefensible regardless of the marketing/ratings argument. Only one or two of those matches had the Billy Baldwin/Cael interview. For many of the others, they missed the matches because they were showing shots of the Arch or just the faces of the commentators talking.

That's really inexcusable and indefensible imo. I really wonder if people defending them, watched last session on TV. I'm not exaggerating or speaking with hyperbole, with how much of the actual matches they missed.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

My complaint is with the Quinn Kessnick(?) interviews. They go on WAY too long. Anytime I listen, I always think he's got a good wrap in it and asks 4 or 5 more stupid questions. The Barry Davis interview for a whole period was ridiculous. Let the man coach. Yeesh!

 

[Spens]

You need a shot of Hawkeye Vodka? I am thrilled with the amount of coverage, even if it isn't perfect!

 

[ISUChip]

My complaint is with the Quinn Kessnick(?) interviews. They go on WAY too long. Anytime I listen, I always think he's got a good wrap in it and asks 4 or 5 more stupid questions. The Barry Davis interview for a whole period was ridiculous. Let the man coach. Yeesh!

Barry wasn't in the corner for Medbery's match. He was back by the tunnel.

 

[86_90]

Be glad they cover it at all. Could be watching women's softball instead.

They.do.cover.softball.and.women's.rowing.cross-country,ect.The.coverage.will.be.there.by.someone.That.is.guaranteed.Too.easy.to.stream.whatever.The.quality.will.be.whatever.is.accepted.by.the.audience.that.views.the.product.

Heck,if.ESPN.and.or.BTN.didn't.cover.the.events.it.would.still.be.streamed.by.someone,probably.the.schools.in.the.case.of.wrestling.and.the.access.would.be.better.and.more.focused.Maybe,not.as.much.shiny.production.value,but,much.easier.to.follow.a.specific.team.

 

[hawkssox1]

First off, I want to say I'm very happy that ESPN covers the event, and provides links to watch every single match online. Their online coverage is mostly great, other than an error that many users were getting that appeared to be a bug related to DirecTV subscribers.

However, the TV Coverage is unacceptably bad. For the placement matches this last session, they would routinely go to a commerical break in between weight classes. This is perfectly fine, but when they would return to the wrestling coverage, they would show a brief overlay of the St. Louis Arch or arena outside and then show an interview with a coach, or show just the commentators' faces talking. When they finally returned the camera to the matches, they would already be midway through the second period, or even into the third period.

I missed Brooks' entire 3rd place match on TV, because they were showing commericals and then a close up of the commentators talking about NCAA storylines instead of the action itself.

This is so incredibly unacceptable. If ESPN is going to have exclusive broadcasting rights to the tournament, then they need to do it right.

Missing 50-100% of 3rd and 4th place matches at every single weight, because they're milking commericals or showing camera shots of St. Louis, or showing an interview with a coach instead of the match itself is just absurd.

Really just shows that wrestling is still a complete after thought. They would never choose to show a coaches interview or commentators faces while they discuss storylines, instead of showing the action itself for a sport such as football or basketball. Someone needs to get in contact with the producers and let them know how insane this is. I'll be sending an email, and encourage others to do so as well.

Show the god damn match and not a 3 min interview with Cael, while there are 3rd place matches going on. Or at least do a split camera.

Shocking how incompetent ESPN is in this regard.

Then suck it up like many of us do and ACTUALLY GO TO THE EVENT.

 

[hawkssox1]

Barry wasn't in the corner for Medbery's match. He was back by the tunnel.

Earth to Chip he has been doing that for years.Nice showing by the Clones btw.