FSC staffed by idiots?

[Cannon]

What is wrong with FSC? I'm trying to watch the Arsenal-ManCity game and they have both the English and Spanish announcers playing at the same time. I've asked this before but I'll ask it again. Does anyone at FSC monitor their broadcasts? They have these kind of problems all the time. Somehow other channels manage to not have these problems on a weekly basis. :rolleyes:

[The_Sandman]

I was agitated by that too and was about to post during the match. You beat me to it. Fortunately though, the problem was fixed after about 20 minutes of match play. It was so relieving that I said to myself, "Good job, FSC." I'm glad that they at least fixed the problem, even though it infuriated me at the time. I actually called FSC when I witnessed the foul-up, but their business hours are only M-F.

This has happened before, too. I remember distinctly because it was during FSC's first MLS match of this season. That night it was never fixed and I changed the channel. Kudos to them for resolving the issue this time.

[kebzach]

I'm glad I didn't stick with the game long enough to notice this crap.

[nancyb]

The college game on Friday was a clear case of nobody watching the store. Sean Wheelock had an interview with someone that went on about 10 minutes with Wheelock asking a question followed by two minutes of silence, then another question, etc. It was kind of surreal.

[MasterShake29]

Remember the ticker follies earlier this year? They would inevitably have a game or two each day where they wouldn't have the score of a game that had ended 8 hours ago.

It's amazing they have no one paying attention, or so it seems.

[BocaFan]

The FSWR on Sunday night was bizarre too. For some reason they opened the show with Sunday's EPL action, followed by - get this - Saturday's EPL action. And then Serie "A". :eek:

Now, as we all know, the biggest story of the day was Real Madrid v. Valencia. So big that even Sky Sports News opened with that game ahead of the EPL news (which almost never happens). It wasn't until about 20 minutes into the FSWR that they finally got to the Real Madrid v. Valencia match. :p

[DAGSports]

The FSWR on Sunday night was bizarre too. For some reason they opened the show with Sunday's EPL action, followed by - get this - Saturday's EPL action. And then Serie "A". :eek:

Now, as we all know, the biggest story of the day was Real Madrid v. Valencia. So big that even Sky Sports News opened with that game ahead of the EPL news (which almost never happens). It wasn't until about 20 minutes into the FSWR that they finally got to the Real Madrid v. Valencia match. :p
Perhaps, but is La Liga really a bigger story in the American soccer community than the EPL? I doubt it. Sky probably led with it because you-know-who got sent off.

[Cannon]

I missed last nights FSWR but could it be because they didn't have footage? I know they've just ignored stories in the past when they didn't have the pictures to go with the story. Then later in the week they'll go back and cover the story when the video is available.

[jstlouis]

The FSWR on Sunday night was bizarre too. For some reason they opened the show with Sunday's EPL action, followed by - get this - Saturday's EPL action. And then Serie "A". :eek:

Now, as we all know, the biggest story of the day was Real Madrid v. Valencia. So big that even Sky Sports News opened with that game ahead of the EPL news (which almost never happens). It wasn't until about 20 minutes into the FSWR that they finally got to the Real Madrid v. Valencia match. :p

Come on...Real Madrid/Valencia the MOST important match of the day? Chelsea ~ arguably the best team in Europe, if not the world ~ get held to a draw by the last placed team in the EPL to end their perfect start and THAT is NOT top story material?

And when producing, you group like things with like things so putting Saturday EPL after Sunday EPL makes sense.

The next best story of the day would be Juve tying their best-ever start and then Spain.

There are a ton of armchair producers on these boards but this one takes the cake. I know many of you people won't believe this but *gulp* even Sky got that one wrong by leading with Spain....But it was simply because the England captain got sent off - not because Real Madrid are Real Madrid.

There's NO WAY their loss to Valencia trumps Chelsea being held by Everton or Juve continuing their torrid start - no way.

J1

[MjrGrubert]

EPL always trumps the others leagues over here. Especially when Chelsea is playing!
Welcome back JSL1.

[BocaFan]

Come on...Real Madrid/Valencia the MOST important match of the day? Chelsea ~ arguably the best team in Europe, if not the world ~ get held to a draw by the last placed team in the EPL to end their perfect start and THAT is NOT top story material?

Well, technically RM v Valencia is more important since La Liga title race actually still has some intrigue in it and both those teams are in the race. But that's not really my point. I'm arguing that the Beckham sending-off is the biggest news story of the day (which was fairly clearly implied in my original post).

We all know Beckham is the most popular footy player in this country.

I think Madrid losing in the Bernabeu easily trumps Juve beating a serie "A" minnow 3-nil. One piece of evidence: look at the game-threads on BigSoccer: RM v. Valencia ~ 400 posts. Lecce v. Juve ~ 25 posts. :p

I agree maybe Sky got it wrong. And that's becuz I'm not really sure if Beckham is still by far the most popular player in England anymore. But he is in America, I know that. :cool:

[BocaFan]

I missed last nights FSWR but could it be because they didn't have footage? I know they've just ignored stories in the past when they didn't have the pictures to go with the story. Then later in the week they'll go back and cover the story when the video is available.

That's not the case here. They did have the Madrid story and highlight footage..

[jstlouis]

Well, technically RM v Valencia is more important since La Liga title race actually still has some intrigue in it and both those teams are in the race. But that's not really my point. I'm arguing that the Beckham sending-off is the biggest news story of the day (which was fairly clearly implied in my original post).

We all know Beckham is the most popular footy player in this country.

I think Madrid losing in the Bernabeu easily trumps Juve beating a serie "A" minnow 3-nil. One piece of evidence: look at the game-threads on BigSoccer: RM v. Valencia ~ 400 posts. Lecce v. Juve ~ 25 posts. :p

I agree maybe Sky got it wrong. And that's becuz I'm not really sure if Beckham is still by far the most popular player in England anymore. But he is in America, I know that. :cool:

Weak argument ~ very weak....A title race? In October? I agree, Chelsea will be runaway winners but to say there is a 'title race' in October is ridiculous. There has to be AT LEAST ten games gone for any league to have a 'title race'.

Basing a game's importance on simple BS posts is also quite weak.

You mention Beckham is the most popular footie player in USA ~ but realistically, he's the one most Americans are most exposed to. Those of us close to the game that follow it intimately know that if 'laymen' were as exposed to say the Van Nistelroy's/Nedveds/Ronaldhino's of the world, it might dent Beck's popularity. (How many times has he been Footballer of the year?...oh ya, none)

Becks is the most popular player in America and the EPL is the most popular European league in America (and among our viewers) so leading with it is only natural.

J1

[nancyb]

I gotta say, if I were FSC, showing all those Premiereship games, I'd definitely treat the EPL like my biggest story day in and day out.

[BocaFan]

I gotta say, if I were FSC, showing all those Premiereship games, I'd definitely treat the EPL like my biggest story day in and day out.

Right. Annnnd... that's the reason FSWR leads-off with EPL followed by Serie "A" (another league that they show). Not because more people are interested in Juve's best ever start. That wasn't even the biggest story in Serie "A" on Sunday -- the Roma v. Lazio match was.

Anyway, this got blown-out of proportion. I only said that it was "bizarre". And it was because the top 3 stories on Sunday were: RM v Valencia; Newcastle v Sunderland; Roma v Lazio. Maybe Chelsea comes a close 4th, but Lecce v. Juve is not even on the radar. Its somewhere below PSV v Ajax. :p

PS... I brought-up the BigSoccer post-count to illustrate the greater interest in the RM v. Valencia game because that's the only piece of evidence in front of us here. Plus I don't think its such a weak argument. BigSoccer posters are FSC's target audience to a large extent.

[jammybastard]

There are a ton of armchair producers on these boards ...

J1


...and that's why you should ignore them.
:D

On the other hand this is the only place they *might* get an education on why FSWR does what it does.

[BocaFan]

Becks is the most popular player in America and the EPL is the most popular European league in America (and among our viewers) so leading with it is only natural.

J1

:confused: I don't follow that argument because Becks plays in La Liga. So why does his popularity make it "only natural" to lead with EPL??

[Cannon]

On the other hand this is the only place they *might* get an education on why FSWR does what it does.
I look forward to getting educated about the reasons for FSC constant broadcast problems. jstlouis, any insight on that? I'll be holding my breath waiting for your answer. ;)

[jammybastard]

I look forward to getting educated about the reasons for FSC constant broadcast problems. jstlouis, any insight on that? I'll be holding my breath waiting for your answer. ;)

Actually, I can answer some of that, seeing that's what I do for a living.

The issue of feeds *should* be straight forward.
Your either get them via satellite or fiber.
Every week the FOX master control folks in LA or NYC dial up the sat. coordinates/fiber router info they've been emailed or faxed to recieve the feeds.

Here's where the first problem may occur.
If the wrong info is distributed, the FOX folks look for the feed where they've been told it will be, and either it's not there or it's there but with the wrong audio. Even in this modern age this does still happen, but not very often.

This isn't likely though, as I'm sure the feed specs for the EPL doesn't change from week to week and because the broadcaster/uplink facility (TWI) usually sends broadcast bars or a slate and A440 tone down the line at least a half hour before the game airs. They usually re-test game audio with announcers 15 min before air, if not earlier, because you can never be too sure when there is money on the line.

All of this is to make sure that when the show is supposed to start everything is ready and working correctly.

As we know the EPL games there is a video feed and 2 audio feeds, english y espanol. Since Fox is providing both to air, they have to make sure that the signals are routed to their respective channels at their master control.
Assuming they are getting all the signals, this is where the second problem may occur.

The master control operator who's in charge of getting the feed to the satellite/cable provider (Dish/Direct/Comcast) may make a mistake with the audio feed, either out of ignorance or lack of experience.
You have to understand that at alot of broadcast facilites the MCO position is entry level job. It's usually low paying, and under trained despite it's importance.

With FOX PPV feeds they always have problems with the audio which tells me that they have a lot of turnover or inexperience at that position in their facility or they just have trouble sorting out the feed from week to week.

You want it fixed? Especially those of us paying $300 for the PPV feed?
Call or write Fox in LA and complain. Don't hit them with some irrational rant, just tell them that you are disappointed with the quality of the product they are providing and that it needs to improve or you won't buy it anymore.
Short and to the point.

They should do better, and I'm sure they know it.
FSC is a low budget operation in the FOX/Murdoch universe, but if they know ppl care enouh to write or call they *might* just start paying attention and correct the problems.

[Cannon]

The master control operator who's in charge of getting the feed to the satellite/cable provider (Dish/Direct/Comcast) may make a mistake with the audio feed, either out of ignorance or lack of experience.
You have to understand that at alot of broadcast facilites the MCO position is entry level job. It's usually low paying, and under trained despite it's importance.Thanks for the response. I kinda figured out that they had scrubs filling that position when they left on the announcers microphone for 45 minutes during a WCQ. "Testing, testing...hey, I think that's on...No...testing...testing...Is it on?..." :rolleyes: It took them an entire season to realize that their logo was sitting on top of the scoreboard during German matches. So what do they do? Goltv simply slides its logo to the open corner when this happens. FSC pushes their logo down below the scoreboard and over a bit of the pitch. Then they leave it there for EPL games even though the scoreboard is back on the other top corner. Call me crazy but it might be time to hire and pay somebody with at least some higher cortical functions intact.

You want it fixed? Especially those of us paying $300 for the PPV feed?
Call or write Fox in LA and complain. Don't hit them with some irrational rant, just tell them that you are disappointed with the quality of the product they are providing and that it needs to improve or you won't buy it anymore.
Short and to the point. They should do better, and I'm sure they know it. FSC is a low budget operation in the FOX/Murdoch universe, but if they know ppl care enouh to write or call they *might* just start paying attention and correct the problems.Nice idea but it doesn't seem to work. I've been writing them off and on over the past few years. They never reply. They rarely fix the problems in a timely fashion. Of course, Goltv generally replies and fixes problems right away. It is almost like they care about the quality of their broadcasts. :eek: ;) In general, it seems like FSC is just a very unprofessional outfit. That was ok when they were first starting up and had no competition but you have to wonder how many years we've got to wait for them to get their act together. When can we hold them to standards that we hold other channels?