Professional Cycling For the Fans - Versus TV's version of the Heidi Bowl

So who else thinks Versus dropped the ball when, with 1.6 miles left of Stage 3 of the TOC, the biggest bike race in the USA and one of the biggest bike races in the world, they stop so they can go to a hockey pregame show? I went to the Amgen TOC site to watch the finish, like VS said to do, and either the million hits slowed down their computer or it just wouldn't come up, so missed the end of stage 3.

Yes, and the hockey pre-game chatter and commercials was just wonderful........NOT!

I really despise versus. I just started getting universal sports coverage this month, watching thier coverage of the Giro really makes me realize how aweful versus is. If they are not going to do a decent job, I wish they would just drop thier cycling coverage so they can concentrate on the BS of pro rodeo coverage they seem to be more familiar with, let universal take over coverage of all the big races.

I launched the site with about 10 minutes to go after I heard Phil mention the change due to Hockey...I actually did not notice the crawl accross the screen I was so focused on the break and small gap to the pier by last years podium boys. Sorry you missed it...it was Ok on laptop...but like finding sites during the Olympics that NBC was not patrolling as quickly, you had to act early before the rush.

I launched the site with about 10 minutes to go after I heard Phil mention the change due to Hockey...I actually did not notice the crawl accross the screen I was so focused on the break and small gap to the pier by last years podium boys. Sorry you missed it...it was Ok on laptop...but like finding sites during the Olympics that NBC was not patrolling as quickly, you had to act early before the rush.

Yeah, I tried to find a site but everything was bogged down. Missed it. Lame. Very lame.

Versus bombed then the TOC site bombed, then I shot Versus a nasty gram, I doubt it will help but it felt good to vent.

Vs. is the only provider I get that even shows bicycle racing, and I've sent them an e-mail in the past that I appreciated it, but I sent them one this time equating this to the Heidi-Bowl incident. I congratulated them for showing the bike races, but said it was pretty stupid to switch to the opening chatter of the beginning of one of the hockey playoff games when the end of bike race, which I understand was a photo-finish, was just a few minutes away.

If it's got two wheels, we are not important in the world of sports it seems!

Vs. is the only provider I get that even shows bicycle racing, and I've sent them an e-mail in the past that I appreciated it, but I sent them one this time equating this to the Heidi-Bowl incident. I congratulated them for showing the bike races, but said it was pretty stupid to switch to the opening chatter of the beginning of one of the hockey playoff games when the end of bike race, which I understand was a photo-finish, was just a few minutes away.

If it's got two wheels, we are not important in the world of sports it seems!

I understand that they have contractual obligations. And I understand the NHL conference finals would take precedence. But the race was a couple of minutes from the end. And the start of the game was a good 5-10 minutes away. They could have even done a split screen for the end of the race. Jeez, Versus are the ones hyping it up. They don't stand behind they're own hype.

What's going to happen tomorrow, the race coverage gets cut off to show pro bull riding that was recorded last weekend?

via Lance Armstrong's twitter:

"Who's the dumbass @versustv that cut off @AmgenTourofCali coverage w/ a mile to go for pregame hockey?? #pathetic"

I understand that they have contractual obligations. And I understand the NHL conference finals would take precedence. But the race was a couple of minutes from the end. And the start of the game was a good 5-10 minutes away. They could have even done a split screen for the end of the race. Jeez, Versus are the ones hyping it up. They don't stand behind they're own hype.

What's going to happen tomorrow, the race coverage gets cut off to show pro bull riding that was recorded last weekend?

I had Vs. still on while trying to find the on-line finish. The actual hockey game started at 11 minutes after (so 4:11 PM local time). They wouldn't have missed anything if they'd just let it run over a couple of minutes!!

Maybe Lance will send Vs a little e-mail telling them how silly they are, or they monitor his twitter page!!

Sent to Vs. and AToC:
Versus Management:

Wow. Bush league.

I’m really reluctant to bite the only hand that feeds me over-the-air cycling coverage (we don’t get Universal Sports yet, sigh) but once again your coverage of the Tour of California has turned into a train wreck.

For some reason I seem to recall sending an almost identical e-mail last year.

Today’s decision to cut coverage short is inexcusable -- contractual obligations to the NHL or not. There wasn’t much time left in the race and all that would have been lost was pre-game coverage (and there‘s no recap show tonight… but I can watch WEC Wreckage instead. Whoopie). But I’m sure the NHL contract pays more than your contract with the AToC. I’m sure you guys will sleep well regardless.

In terms of Tuesday’s coverage (and subsequent “recap” show at 10 p.m. CST) why is it the French can show me images in the rain and fog in some of the highest mountains in the world and you guys can’t show me a race in my own country because it's raining?

The ultimate irony of all this is you are a network that LOVES to hype the American teams, events and riders and on a day where you actually get an American team and American rider winning an American race…. YOU DON’T EVEN SHOW IT LIVE! Nice work.

So, time for the kiddies to take their hands off the controls and leave it to the pros (Europeans) to get the coverage right. Or at least take a page from their book.

Here’s to wishing you better luck the rest of this week.

They were probably contractually obligated and sadly, I bet the hockey game gets better ratings than ToC.

It shows where TV execs think Cycling is in the USA by pulling the plug with a few minutes to go..

They were probably contractually obligated and sadly, I bet the hockey game gets better ratings than ToC.

Probably true on both accounts. But I still think they could have done a split screen for a few minutes.

I wonder what the execs at Amgen think about the TV coverage so far?

The media buy goes to 4pm. The race went long. It's a gamble to try to time a 113-mile road race to end prior to 4pm when you have no control over the pace of the race.

It's the roll of the dice. Sometimes you win, sometimes you Heidi.

Looks like Versus is taking some, and rightfully so, on their own discussion boards. I'm normally not one to promote piling on, but if we don't do it then nobody will speak up for the cycling fans out there.

http://www.versus.com/community/forums/

Yeah, that fully sucked. ANyone have a link where I can watch the last 2km?

OTOH, compared to the Universal Sports coverage of the Giro, the Versus announcers are way better. Seriously, it took those bozos like 45 minutes to mention that they didn't know if Basso was in the crash with the rest of Liquigas. Sheesh.

The stupid thing about all of this is that I was watching both the net feed and the TV feed and the stage literally ended 2 minutes after they cut it off. They were showing those dumb intro videos when Zabriskie passed the finish line. The NHL coverage had not even begun. This was an absolute fail on behalf of Vs. From this point on I am just going to log on to the netcast to watch the rest of the tour.

There is a re-air on Versus every night for the Amgen Tour of California. Today's stage airs again tonight at 12:30am EST/9:30pm PST

Set your TiVO

I e-mailed Versus right away after the debacle. Couldn't log onto the ATOC website so I missed the end. Yes, it was a Heidi moment, Yes, sportscasters learned years ago (Heidi game) that they need flexibility in their broadcasts. And to cut away to a pre-game!! Can't believe it.



There is a re-air on Versus every night for the Amgen Tour of California. Today's stage airs again tonight at 12:30am EST/9:30pm PST

Set your TiVO


So why do you think that the rebroadcast will have the missing minutes???

That was so sweet, watching on DVR, exciting ending, almost there...... Amazing point to cut off for hocky pre game bs. So I went to amgenTOC.com and there was nothing to watch, since I missed it a few hours ago. At lest there was a still photo of them crossing the line.

Not to mention the excellent coverage of stage 2 yesterday. Amazing to see them ride across the line. That was epic! A 2 hour spectacle of amazement. ;)

Yeah, that fully sucked. ANyone have a link where I can watch the last 2km?

OTOH, compared to the Universal Sports coverage of the Giro, the Versus announcers are way better. Seriously, it took those bozos like 45 minutes to mention that they didn't know if Basso was in the crash with the rest of Liquigas. Sheesh.

I think people are just used to hearing Paul and Phil on Versus. The Universal guys are fine. I'll take the Universal coverage of the Giro any day over this crap from Versus. Paul and Phil lost a lot of luster with me last year. I know they're company guys and all, but they've lost a lot of their objectivity in their announcing. Especially any race that involves Lance.

IMO, Universal's cycling coverage is a lot better than Versus. Sure they're basically taking the world feed and announcing over it. But you don't get all of the BS sponsor segments, promotions, and interviews. (I am sick and tired of that frickin' road ID commercial with Levi and Bob Roll chatting about it, from cripes sake) Universal has a few re-airs throughout the day. Plus, a lot of races during the season. Races like the Giro and Vuelta, the world championships, Tour of Basque, Tirreno-Adriatico, etc. And they'll rerun races later on in the year. Its not even close, in my opinion. Sometimes less is more.

I think people are just used to hearing Paul and Phil on Versus. The Universal guys are fine. I'll take the Universal coverage of the Giro any day over this crap from Versus. Paul and Phil lost a lot of luster with me last year. I know they're company guys and all, but they've lost a lot of their objectivity in their announcing. Especially any race that involves Lance.

Agree. US is gaining ground...and hopefully the vid feed quality will follow suit. Competition and issues like we're witnessing will all sort out ultimately making our cycling viewing and choices where to do so better for the lot of us.

And with all the video equipment out on the tour, you can't tell me one person doesn't have a standard DVD video camera for back-up, especially when they had a pretty good idea that it was going to rain? I mean wouldn't you learn that in "Film Making 101"? Heck, every news agency in the world goes to videotape even when it's doing a live feed too!

There are some pretty entertaining rants over on Versus' message boards...

http://www.versus.com/community/forums/?plckForumPage=Forum&plckForumId=Cat%3a0e00b3b9-4c8b-4c94-af15-a0148cc9669eForum%3aeafa88cd-3ce2-4d2d-9164-a4593b3fe24e

How's this for hypocrisy? Versus advertised the abbreviated recap of TOC stage 3 on the Versus channel tonight from 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM. So I turn on Vs. at 9:30 PM and guess what's on? The end of the hockey game and the recap, of course there were some commercials thrown in, one even for hockey. Finally, they start the recap of stage 3 of the TOC, almost 8 minutes late. I guess they couldn't interrupt hockey because interrupting a sport in the middle of the game would be STUPID!!!

Amazingly they just showed the finish on the rebroadcast. They really screwed the pooch on this one though. What's the point of even tuning in if stage 2 is... nothing and stage 3 eliminated the photo finish?!

Glad someone started this as I was shocked when it stopped airing... I missed the crawler, but figured that it was obvious that the NHL paid more money and they got the priority. Sucks Versus!!!

How's this for hypocrisy? Versus advertised the abbreviated recap of TOC stage 3 on the Versus channel tonight from 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM. So I turn on Vs. at 9:30 PM and guess what's on? The end of the hockey game and the recap, of course there were some commercials thrown in, one even for hockey. Finally, they start the recap of stage 3 of the TOC, almost 8 minutes late. I guess they couldn't interrupt hockey because interrupting a sport in the middle of the game would be STUPID!!!

I saw that too. I figured Versus just said screw it, don't even bother to show it. I just happened to flip back over from Universal Sports re-air of the Giro stage and caught the end.

Yes I'm seriously pissed off at Versus.... the race schedule listed 4:03pm as the late arrival time so this wasn't a gamble it was complete disregard for cycling fans.

But I'm also kinda pissed at the peloton for not riding a little faster. They were 45 minutes slower than the early arrival time.

I went to the Versus forum and told them the same things I said here. Strange, there's 5 pages on their forum complaining about the same thing! Think they'll get the hint? It's called programming, you have to figure that things might run short or long, and since the ride started at 11:00 AM and the show started at 2:00 PM, I think they could have cut out the pretty scenery shots and showed the end of the race. Maybe they are run by a bunch of first semester film production students, and not even the "A" students. Maybe the ones looking for extra credit to bring their grades up from a "D" to a "C"!

don't forget to email here:
feedback@versus.com, ATOCGeneralInfo@amgentourofcalifornia.com

I think this is the worst debacle I've seen and shouldn't be simply ranted on random forums. Each person that takes the time to complain tot hem represents 100 or 1000 people who didn't bother writing. They know this. Hit them up with a simple complaint about stage 2 and stage 3

I expect that they treat this like a Live broadcast as they really don't have editing time between the finish of the race and the start of the 5:00p broadcast. However, since they clearly had the ability to know they were going to run over and add the crawl and inform the broadcasters you would think they could have cut a couple of fluff spots to get the end in. Stage 2 was weather so I don't blame them since the technology requires helicopters and planes and with low visibility and crowded air space this was out of Versus control

I expect that they treat this like a Live broadcast as they really don't have editing time between the finish of the race and the start of the 5:00p broadcast. However, since they clearly had the ability to know they were going to run over and add the crawl and inform the broadcasters you would think they could have cut a couple of fluff spots to get the end in. Stage 2 was weather so I don't blame them since the technology requires helicopters and planes and with low visibility and crowded air space this was out of Versus control

-1

If the Italians and French can manage to get helicopters up to cover every single stage why can't the Americans?

The NL stages of the Giro were interrupted because some nob in Amsterdam didn't get approval for helo flights - MID BROADCAST they managed to get copters up ... probably because the NL government knew it was the last Grand Tour they'd ever see otherwise.

Mind you ... in bad weather the feeds from the copters might be spotty - but they are there. Leave it to the US to botch TV coverage of an event many "were" hoping could become an international event. Guess the ToC as the next grand tour concept died the day the helos stayed on the ground ...

I expect that they treat this like a Live broadcast as they really don't have editing time between the finish of the race and the start of the 5:00p broadcast. However, since they clearly had the ability to know they were going to run over and add the crawl and inform the broadcasters you would think they could have cut a couple of fluff spots to get the end in.

It was live. We're on Pacific Time out here.

I went to the Versus forum and told them the same things I said here. Strange, there's 5 pages on their forum complaining about the same thing! Think they'll get the hint? It's called programming, you have to figure that things might run short or long, and since the ride started at 11:00 AM and the show started at 2:00 PM, I think they could have cut out the pretty scenery shots and showed the end of the race. Maybe they are run by a bunch of first semester film production students, and not even the "A" students. Maybe the ones looking for extra credit to bring their grades up from a "D" to a "C"!

The only thing that will make a difference is the bottom line. I have already contacted several sponsors with my displeasure and informed them I would not be buying any of their products this year. It's not their fault of course, but if enough people do it then Versus just might make some adjustments.

Versus coverage has been brutal thus far- first the rainout on day 2 which really bugged me. Couldn't they have strapped a camera on a car and still shown us at least some of the race? I was anxious to see this as the Napa area is my favorite part of the country and I've actually ridden the Oakville grade. Then yesterday the wife and I are settled down watching the race and they cut off with a mile and a half left. You're kidding me right- they couldn't preempt the stupid hockey game for 5 minutes so we could at least finish watching the most exciting part of the race. What genius made this decision. Not to mention the inane comments by the broadcasters.

It was live. We're on Pacific Time out here.

Yeah my thinking was that the race finished prior to 7:00pm EDT but it appears that while the beginning is recorded the end is live so othing they could do in the editing. I guess best bet is to record the 11:00pm rebroadcast

The media buy goes to 4pm. The race went long. It's a gamble to try to time a 113-mile road race to end prior to 4pm when you have no control over the pace of the race.

It's the roll of the dice. Sometimes you win, sometimes you Heidi.
I'd like to believe that but the reshowing had a few minutes of the hockey game. It seems to me that the hockey game was simply more important.

Yes......VS did botch the coverage with last nights cutoff and also somewhat with the rain during stage 2.......but.......

I really do appreciate the High Def stuff and also the quantity of what we get to see nowadays. Those of you who followed Lemond back in the day know what I am talking about. We would get a 1hour recap show on Sundays of the past weeks stages. The Tour only! No classics, no Giro, no Vuelta, no Cyclocross....just 3, 60 minute long shows during the tour.

FWIW, things have come a long way and I am not complaining!

do any of you work in TV? It's a serious question, I am not being a smart-ass.

I've written about Stage 2 already: the FAA grounded light aircraft including helicopters. The video/audio signal is sent from the moto to the finish line production truck using digital microwave transmissions and a relay mounted on the belly of the helicopter. No helicopter, no live video from the course. Period.

Stage 3 was a debacle... Apparently the organizers or officials stopped the race for 5 minutes just after it started. I haven't heard why yet. That 5 minutes cost VS dearly. Event Services may be able to explain better than I. But... The program timing is questionable. 7pm is cutting too close. ToC coverage should be going to 7:30 EDT anyway, if not 8pm to get all the post race stuff in. If the NBA can start at 9 EDT hockey can start at 8...

Let's put this in perspective. Versus threw a huge chunk of change to wrest the NHL away from ESPN. They will override pretty much anything to get it on, ESPECIALLY the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

That said, I'm with many of you in that Versus pulling off coverage of the last minute or so of stage 3 for pregame NHL was totally bush league.

do any of you work in TV? It's a serious question, I am not being a smart-ass.

I've written about Stage 2 already: the FAA grounded light aircraft including helicopters. The video/audio signal is sent from the moto to the finish line production truck using digital microwave transmissions and a relay mounted on the belly of the helicopter. No helicopter, no live video from the course. Period.

Stage 3 was a debacle... Apparently the organizers or officials stopped the race for 5 minutes just after it started. I haven't heard why yet. That 5 minutes cost VS dearly. Event Services may be able to explain better than I. But... The program timing is questionable. 7pm is cutting too close. ToC coverage should be going to 7:30 EDT anyway, if not 8pm to get all the post race stuff in. If the NBA can start at 9 EDT hockey can start at 8...

Not I. But I do have some inside information regarding the Heidi game, A classmates father was there and part of the crew for the game. Everyone onsite could sense somethnig was going to happen and they were trying frantically to contact a network VP (the level needed to authorize not switching to scheduled programming). One would think both that people had learned and that things would be easier these days, no cell phones back in the Heidi days.

It is possible contractual obligations required the change. If that was the case they would have had to get permission from the NHL to not switch. That could be difficult since it is less clear who can authorize things outside of yuor own organization.

Here's the reply I received from Versus. While it still is a huge blunder, it appears Versus was damned if they did and damned if they didn't. I still think they could have had a provision in the contract with the NHL:

Thank you for your email and we appreciate you taking the time to voice your concerns.

VERSUS, now in its fourth year of Amgen Tour of California coverage, always strives to offer the most in-depth and complete coverage for the premier U.S.-based cycling event. With any live sports telecast there is the possibility of an event running over its allotted on-air time, which was the case yesterday during Stage 3 of the race. Due to contractual agreements with the NHL, we were obligated to begin coverage of the Philadelphia Flyers/Montreal Canadiens Eastern Conference Final telecast.

In case of these circumstances, VERSUS followed the in-place contingency plan to show the conclusion of the stage online. For viewers who were not able to watch online, VERSUS aired a one-hour recap of Stage 3, including the race's finish, following the conclusion of the Chicago Blackhawks/San Jose Sharks Western Conference Final telecast. VERSUS will re-air the one-hour Stage 3 recap show today at 4 p.m. ET.

We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to continuing to bring our top notch cycling coverage to the rest of this event and all the other races we telecast.

Again, thank you for your time and hope that you continue to watch VERSUS' coverage of the Amgen Tour of California as Stage 4 gets underway today.

Sincerely,

VERSUS

Versus is owned by Comcast. Comcast also owns the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers just happened to be the team playing hockey yesterday.

do any of you work in TV? It's a serious question, I am not being a smart-ass.

I've written about Stage 2 already: the FAA grounded light aircraft including helicopters. The video/audio signal is sent from the moto to the finish line production truck using digital microwave transmissions and a relay mounted on the belly of the helicopter. No helicopter, no live video from the course. Period.


While the above is true, it is also true that video tape is still used daily (as are recordable DVDs. Pretty much standard for every local/national news agency in the world) that could have been used to tape the race on-scene, and this video could have been used at a later time to show at least a re-cap of the race. I can't believe that in this day and age nobody had a hard video back-up for this stage, especially since rain was forecasted and they had a good heads-up.

All Versus had to do was show a split screen for 5 minutes. Run a ticker at the bottom explaining to the just tuning in NHL fans what was happening. Other networks have done it. Hell, their back up plan of telling people to watch live online failed because they system couldn't handle the immediate jump in people logging into it.

With the scheduling so tight of live sporting events, this was hardly an unpredictable situation. Versus seriously botched it. Now they're falling back on the "our hands were tied, contractual obligations" card. That's just BS and they know it.

Someone should post a link to that parody animation on the Vs site. :lol:

I think people are just used to hearing Paul and Phil on Versus. The Universal guys are fine. I'll take the Universal coverage of the Giro any day over this crap from Versus. Paul and Phil lost a lot of luster with me last year. I know they're company guys and all, but they've lost a lot of their objectivity in their announcing. Especially any race that involves Lance.

IMO, Universal's cycling coverage is a lot better than Versus. Sure they're basically taking the world feed and announcing over it. But you don't get all of the BS sponsor segments, promotions, and interviews. (I am sick and tired of that frickin' road ID commercial with Levi and Bob Roll chatting about it, from cripes sake) Universal has a few re-airs throughout the day. Plus, a lot of races during the season. Races like the Giro and Vuelta, the world championships, Tour of Basque, Tirreno-Adriatico, etc. And they'll rerun races later on in the year. Its not even close, in my opinion. Sometimes less is more.

Now if those two on Universal could just manage to pronounce the names of people/teams/places/things correctly. You'd think that they'd have that all figured out and drilled befor the Giro even started.

While the above is true, it is also true that video tape is still used daily (as are recordable DVDs. Pretty much standard for every local/national news agency in the world) that could have been used to tape the race on-scene, and this video could have been used at a later time to show at least a re-cap of the race. I can't believe that in this day and age nobody had a hard video back-up for this stage, especially since rain was forecasted and they had a good heads-up.

They did show recap coverage from stage 2 at the beginning of stage 3. So they were recording it, just couldn't air it live as others have said. That wasn't Vs's fault, that was the FAA.

As for stage 3, yeah they messed up. But they couldn't have edited out the scenery shots to make it fit as you said before, because it was LIVE.

Now if those two on Universal could just manage to pronounce the names of people/teams/places/things correctly. You'd think that they'd have that all figured out and drilled befor the Giro even started.

I've wondered about the pronunciation thing myself too. I came to realize to only reason I thought the Universal guys were saying wrong was because I had heard Phil and Paul said a name a certain way. But how do I know they're right? Heck, Bob Roll pronounces names differently. He's on the same announcing team. He was rider. Chats up the guys on occasion. Maybe he knows. I think most of it depends on accent, where the speaker is from, etc. All who speak English don't sound the same. So unless I hear a rider say his name, I don't worry about it. I've given up on trying to figure out the right one for riders.