Is it just me, or is Open coverage unbearable?

[DanoCanuck]

Azingers annoyance to me is he doesn't shut up. Some of his commentary is spot on but he talks too much. The video work was excellent though, especially the drone shots. It gives a great perspective on the course and you can see contours much better. As time goes on the drone operators will get better too. 

[4thand11]

On 6/19/2021 at 6:49 PM, fixurpitch said:

Between the blathering of the announcers over the action and the “play through” commercials, it a tough watch. These guys never stop talking. 

 

Yeah amazing how the British announcers are able to cover the same tournaments with 1/10th the words.

 

I can still remember watching the British coverage of the Open Championship a while back, and Rory sliced an iron on a Par 3 way right into the crowd.  Peter Aliss simply said, "Oh Rory... that was a stinker."  That was all he said.  No analysis of his hips or his grip or his feet or any other non-stop yapping.

 

 

[Showtime9]

Less is more (especially with the commercials)

[jimb6golf]

Way too many commercials in this weekends coverage.  It seemed like they would only show coverage for 3-4 shots then back to a commercial.  The twin screen commercial and coverage at least allowed some continuity of the coverage but overall the amount of breaks was annoying.  And although the drone coverage was very good, why can't any of the networks show more of the 'at ground level views' to really show the dramatic contours of the course?  It's such a flat view otherwise on TV.  Really would like to see ground level views around the green to show just how much contouring there is and how difficult the shots are.  Overall I enjoyed the coverage but improvements are suggested.

[bigeasy]

I really liked Fox, much better camera angles and commercials were clearly fewer.

[golfortennis]

Azinger and Hicks have been covered ad nauseum here, so I will refrain from them. 

 

Notah Begay has his job for one reason only.  "Hits a flighted wedge."  Maybe I missed that day in school but isn't every shot flighted?

 

I've said many times Bones has potential, and I think his coaching is holding him back.  

 

The technical work does seem to be improving.

 

One of my playing partners yesterday couldn't believe it when I told him the European Tour broadcasts only show a pic of the host at the beginning, and then you never see a face again(except for the on-course interviews, which personally I can do away with, although Tyrrell Hatton did them a solid once.)

[twentyfour]

Quote

Not to mention the drone shots really are beneficial - for example Sergio's shot today that ended up funneling about 30 yards short of one green (i forget which). Behind the green camera could not even see the player in the fairway, but the cut to the drone showed exactly how ridiculous the shot was, and gave an entirely new perspective.

Agree, the drone shots are great. The Golf Digest "every hole on every  course" drone footage is pretty phenomenal as well.

[Soloman1]

Memo to: NBC Management

From: Golf Production and Marketing Team

 

Online reviews and surveys indicate the 48% of views are "disappointed" with our coverage. 34% "absolutely hate it." The remaining 18% changed the channel to "Real Housewives of NY." 

 

What steps should we take?

 

------------------------------------------

 

Memo to: Golf Production and Marketing Team

From: The Suits

 

Tell 'em to eat cake and keep up the good work.

[Barfolomew]

On 6/18/2021 at 12:00 PM, masegolf1978 said:

I loathe “playing through.”

 

does Verizon really think I’m going to change my phone service because some idiot is talking while I’m trying to watch golf?

 

Mute is your friend...

[jdl]

 

[munichop]

For awhile now I record and ff at the first speed for most of the coverage.  I can follow every shot and putt.  Only watch regular speed if there is something I want to see again.  My wife wanted the sound on the last few holes.  That was more than enough.  The drones added a new dimension to the course vs previous viewings.  Commentary is predictable and adds little.  

I get more from the post game on GC where they summarize the stats.   The course setup allowed a bunched leader board of the front but once players had to hit into the wind on 11 and 12 the field started to separate.   Great to have it come down to the last hole again.  I was expecting a playoff for most of the day.

[Pepperturbo]

Everyone at my house Sunday, complained about the commercials.  I have a big screen on the patio and two in the house.  Doesn't matter how big the screen is, that little picture on the left is a pain to see and the commercial on the right larger picture distracts, so everyone said FF.  I won't go into how critical everyone (mostly CEO's) were of the poorly made commercials, but that's separate issue.

 

I know TV production can't make every viewer happy, but coverage is getting worse. 

Edited June 21, 2021 by Pepperturbo

[Weeze]

"Everyone's been slipping on this 13th tee, yeah Shane Bacon text messaged me and said watch out for the 13th tee, everybody's slipping."

 

Did Azinger make this bold announcement prior to Bryson losing his right foot's grip on the 13th tee shot?  Nah

 

Doubling down, did another single player following BCD slip on the 13th tee?  Nah

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Tuned in later Sunday (before limited commercial) and it was unbearable. 

 

Watched the last 4 holes and that's plenty for me. 

 

Seems to me they've jumped the shark with advertising time. Not sure how long that model is sustainable. 

[woodriff]

On 6/18/2021 at 1:37 PM, bladehunter said:

Agree. I’m making a list of the companies that advertise during playing through. I vow to never buy anything from them !  I’d rather have full commercials. I don’t watch playing through. Full commercials i can fast forward through. Now I have to wonder what I missed on playing through.  Hate it! 

You don’t miss anything on playing thru because nobody can see it! 

[bladehunter]

26 minutes ago, woodriff said:

You don’t miss anything on playing thru because nobody can see it! 

Lol. Amen.  Can barely  make out which player it is on a 60 inch tv.  

Edited June 21, 2021 by bladehunter

[caniac6]

Several times Azinger said that someone hit it “Straighter than train smoke”. I guess I’ve never noticed train smoke before.

[GolfTurkey]

35 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

Several times Azinger said that someone hit it “Straighter than train smoke”. I guess I’ve never noticed train smoke before.

 

You would hope that a professional golfer playing in the US Open could hit it straighter than this:

 

[dbleag]

On 6/21/2021 at 1:01 PM, Barfolomew said:

 

Mute is your friend...

So is the "Flip" button. 

 

I usually have 4-6 other channels lined up to flip to during commercials.