Racing on TV: Why the pan shot doesn’t work
The standard, typical pan-shot we have become accustomed to in horse racing is stale and drab to the eyes of a non-racing fan. It’s like watching a football game from start-to-finish with one camera angle, or showing every pitch in a baseball game from the press box camera above home plate. Imagine watching the Daytona or Indy 500’s with just one camera shot. Heck, even professional bowling utilizes multiple views.
For some reason, however, horse racing fans seems to complain – a lot – when networks take away their precious pan shot. Remember the 2007 Kentucky Derby? NBC went to the blimp for the run around the far turn, just as Street Sense was working his way through the pack. The outcry from horseplayers was loud and clear, but off base.
What is the goal of broadcasting a horse race, particularly one like the Kentucky Derby, to a national audience? Is it to reproduce the racetrack’s in-house signal for hardcore gamblers and bettors? No, those individuals are watching the race on YouBet or TwinSpires or at a wagering facility. Instead the goal is to generate interest, spawn excitement and lure new fans. Above that, it’s to provide entertainment.
Sorry, but to the people racing needs to reach, a camera angle a half-mile away from the greatest two minutes in sports is not entertaining.
As a visual example, consider the following screen shots (pardon the quality, I ripped them from YouTube):
If you had to sell these two photos to any random sports fan, which would be the easier sell?
This past weekend during the Dubai World Cup we saw a variety of camera angles utilized, putting us up-close and right in the heat of the battle. I could see the ears of Well Armed standing at attention as he galloped along. I could see the physical reactions of jockeys. I saw, up-close, Arson Squad almost fall going down the backstretch.
This perspective is very similar to what a track announcer sees with high-powered binoculars. Once you get used to watching a race up-close, it’s hard to revert back. Why are the on-car cameras so popular with auto racing? Because it puts us into the race ourselves, right there with the drivers. And last time I checked, NASCAR was pretty popular.
Racing has an inherent advantage. It’s fast-paced, quick and over in less than two minutes. These funky camera angles, though irritating to the hardcore racing fan, is exciting to those outside our circle. Excitement breeds interest. And ultimately, those are the people we need to reach.
03/31/09 12:38 am
I’m waiting for this camera to hit the works.
http://handride.blogspot.com/2009/03/ntra-do-you-have-200.html
04/04/09 6:58 am
It depends on what the purpose is. For every day racing where you want to watch the race for reasons other than just seeing the winner, then yes, I agree with you. The Triple Crown, Breeders Cup would be fine days to do what you are saying Travis. just dont make 20 different cuts in the 2 minutes during the race. That is what gives me a headache and makes the race hard to follow. The perfect time to go to the blimp shot is during both turns. The long run on the back stretch show the rail camera but on the home stretch dont mess witht he camera and start switching that is when we want to really be seeing what is going on with the leaders.
For everday racing, I think the pan shot is fine.