CBS coverage of the Nissan Open

[tartanjack]

We all realize that televsion coverage of golf tournaments generally stinks. This kind of calculation has been done before, but final round coverage of the Nissan drove me to do it again. In the 30 minutes of coverage between 4 and 4:30 p.m. EST here's what we saw:

16 minutes of golfers playing golf (and blimp shots)
10 minutes of commercials
2.5 minutes of CBS promos
1.5 minutes of announcers talking on camera about drivel (fluff)

Honestly, the only way I can stand to watch anymore is to record it and fast forward through nearly half of it.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

That's what I did this weekend for both the Nissan and the SBS. For the most part, if I don't see the golf course & at least one golfer, I'm on fast forward. Probably I'm in the minority, but I don't care about the helicopter view of the last four holes, the topographical views of the fairways and greens, the "driver report" [I kid you not; this was on the SBS], interviews with CEOs, shots of blimps, two or three talking heads -- Hey, I can listen to Faldo or whoever is talking without actually seeing him! -- If there were no such thing as fast forward, I wouldn't waste my time. I DVR most of the regular TV shows I watch and most sporting events. While I'm on my soapbox, it might not be so bad watching the commercials if they didn't show them all 100,000 times. Say, the cell phone commercial where the guy gets the ball stuffed back into his face . . . that one was kind of cute. Three years ago, or whenever it was new. And I'm so sick & tired of geckos I could just spit. OK, I'm off my soap box. Have a nice day!

[BigAl5150]

CBS =

Also, am I the only one, or does it seem all the announcers almost trip over each other to get comments in? I wish some of these guys would shut their pie hole so I can appreciate the shot...


Ok, I'm better now.

[Ogg]

I would have taken any golf on Sunday afternoon as our coverage was bumped for the NC State basketball game. And people call golf boring.......

[pickapocket]

The tripping over each other was particularly bad at the weekend. I have mentioned before on this forum how highly I rank Faldo as a commentator but he seems to be completely frozen out by the CBS commentary team, Baker Finch et al. The only one who Faldo seems to bounce off is Feherty. The rest of the team seem to not want him to speak.

Faldo works so much better alongside Kelly T. He is allowed to go his own way and give them insightful comments. Is there a bit of a conspiracy against Faldo by the CBS team??

Intersted to hear the views from across the pond.

[tartanjack]

The tripping over each other was particularly bad at the weekend. I have mentioned before on this forum how highly I rank Faldo as a commentator but he seems to be completely frozen out by the CBS commentary team, Baker Finch et al. The only one who Faldo seems to bounce off is Feherty. The rest of the team seem to not want him to speak.

Part of the problem is the guy in the truck calling the shots. Whether they call him the executive producer or director or whatever, it's that idiot who cues announcers, tells them when to talk, and chooses the shots we see. Frank Chirkinian did it for years and was one of the best. For the last few years it's been Lance Barrow who, obviously, just doesn't get it.

[FAHooGolfs]

I would have taken any golf on Sunday afternoon as our coverage was bumped for the NC State basketball game. And people call golf boring.......

At least they beat the snot out of the Hokies. That had to be worth something.

[Ogg]

At least they beat the snot out of the Hokies. That had to be worth something.

To an NC State basketball fan, which I am not. I don't think I would ever be so bored as to watch NC State basketball.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

At least they beat the snot out of the Hokies. That had to be worth something.

Yes, there is that.

[J.P.]

I am not sure the CBS team knows how to take Faldo yet. CBS broadcasts golf almost with an air of reverence sometimes. (aside from David & McCord).

I mean, so far, Faldo is not anywhere near as serious as I think the staff is used to in that chair. Did you see the shot where he grabbed Nance's jacket and shook him a bit a few weeks back??? He is constantly making funny references and talking in feigned accents. At times, the golf seems incidental to him.

Over at NBC, the entire staff seems to understand that Johnny Miller is the "expert" / he is quite focused on golf - and they defer to him and generally provide comments/answers directly to him.

I suspect, over time, CBS & Faldo will all develop some chemistry and all will be well. Either that, or he will be let go after a dicey comment at the Masters . . .

[tartanjack]

J.P.,
I think you're on to something there. I find Miller entertaining to listen to (as I did watching the WGC finals this afternoon). Although, I know others do not. But Faldo does seem a bit lost in the CBS scheme of things. Hopefully, they'll work that out.

And you're right... the Masters will be a challenge for them all.

[Clubswinger21]

Honestly im happy as an f***ing clam to be watching golf on CBS/and or NBC. The camera work, and HD quality is outstanding and the announcing is a thousand times better than the golf channel, (id rather listen to announcers stumble every once and awhile than hear Nick Faldo flirt with Kelly and make unfunny jokes all the time. The camera men on the golf channel cant even follow a golf shot in the air. They just cut to the green.. its like watching the big three in 1959. Anyways, im happy to be watching golf period where its being broadcast doesnt matter because i will watch it regardless, CBS is just what I've gotten used to over the years.