CBC lockout an eye-opener for TV motormouths

Toronto Star ^ | August 26, 2005 | Chris Zelkovich

[Parmenio]

Let's not give the CBC any credit for its commentary-free football broadcasts, basically because they were born out of the kind of desperation that arises when you lock out your staff.

But the network might inadvertently help revolutionize sports broadcasting.

That doesn't mean other networks will air games without announcers, not even after they calculate the cost savings. But we can hope that somebody might learn from this; mainly that the public wants less talk.

One of the fascinating things that came out of last Saturday's announcer-free game was the number of viewers who praised the lack of verbiage. A lot preferred nothing more than game sounds.

This is perfectly understandable. When I polled readers a few years ago on their likes and dislikes, the top complaint by far was that announcers talked too much.

But commentary-free games really aren't preferable. As last weekend's broadcast proved, and no doubt tomorrow's will again, words are an integral part of sports broadcasts.

In addition to explaining the things viewers can't see, such as why receivers are getting open and why they're not, a voice was needed to comment on coaching decisions and the like. And it would have been nice to hear Chris Walby say something like, ``I can't believe my eyes," when Edmonton foolishly conceded a single late in the game.

Announcers enhance the broadcast and, in the case of baseball, give it life.

But in most cases, the basics are all we need. We shouldn't be subjected to hearing about Aunt Harriet's bunion surgery or, as was the case in a recent New York Mets telecast, which Beatle was the best.

I honestly think that many announcers believe the TV listings for an Argos game read, ``Listen to the announcers exchange witty comments and state the obvious as two CFL teams battle for first place."

The constant urge to fill the air with words leads to the kind of thing that happened in yesterday's Jays-Yankees game.

After Jays starter Gustavo Chacin gave up four runs in the first inning, analyst Pat Tabler told viewers, ``That's not the way he wanted to start the game." You think?

Tabler had plenty of valuable insights during the game, so why would he say something so obvious? The answer is that he's like most broadcasters: he thinks he has to fill air time.

Good announcers can add excitement to a game, but they can also suck the life out of it by chattering endlessly.

Let's hope they all take a look at the reaction to the CBC broadcasts and come to the conclusion that viewers want a little more peace and quiet.

Yeah, and there will be peace in the Middle East tomorrow, too.

But a fella can dream, can't he?

[Parmenio]

I almost always turn off the audio from televised sports events, especially football. If US network sportscasters talked less, their ratings would definitely go up.

[tom paine 2]

I agree with you. Sports casting has become a total distraction to the game. In fact I think that they are cutting away from the action to analyze golf swings, interview players, and show little vignettes of a players family etc, while plays are happening. It is total BS

[rod1]

Yep Al Michaels would seem to be the Chucky Schumer of sports broadcasting. He blathers incessantly filling anything and everything with his face and voice. It is almost impossible to keep him quite. Only John (BOOM) Madden can occasionly restrain Michael's blabbering neck much like handling a Tuphurkey on a Thanksgivng bus tour.

[PAR35]

While they are at it, can the halftime reports for college footballs. If I want scores from around the country, I'll look on my computer. Rund a ticker at the bottom of the screen for folks without online access. But show the cheerleaders and the twirlers.

[KarlInOhio]

The NFL did an announcerless game once to try it out. It didn't get a second try.

I would like a game where the talked about the game with less innane chatter. This preseason seems worse than ever. I think each of the half dozen games I've watched so far has missed a few plays so they could have a worthless sideline interview with a player or coach. You could see running around going on in the background, but the network thought the interview was more important. I hope that doesn't last into the regular season. Leave the interviews for half time or the post game show.

[KarlInOhio]

But show the cheerleaders and the twirlers.

and show the marching bands. I want to see Script Ohio every game. Even if I watch Michigan vs. Michigan State, I want to see Script Ohio!

[doc30]

I can't stand the Olymics Games coverage for that very reason. They will show the American atheletes, then switch to commentary about their lives, about their reactions, etc., and they won't show the other 20 or 30 competitors. I want to see the competition, not the biography of just a couple of athletes.