FSC's 'Ticket to Germany' is not good

[SportBoy333]

They arent allowed to show highlights of the days matches. They have Max Bretos, Cobi Jones, and Bobby McMahon on there talking about the matches while looking at graphs and still photos and showing the lineups AGAIN like they did on the PASSPORT TO GERMANY shows.. I stopped watching after 10 minutes and will not watch another one. I suspect most here wont wanna watch either since they cant show highlights. I was really wanting to hear Bobby's analysis of all the key plays but you cant even see what plays he's commenting on. Terrible.

[nyrmetros]

They arent allowed to show highlights of the days matches. They have Max Bretos, Cobi Jones, and Bobby McMahon on there talking about the matches while looking at graphs and still photos and showing the lineups AGAIN like they did on the PASSPORT TO GERMANY shows.. I stopped watching after 10 minutes and will not watch another one. I suspect most here wont wanna watch either since they cant show highlights. I was really wanting to hear Bobby's analysis of all the key plays but you cant even see what plays he's commenting on. Terrible.

Did you watch Ticket to Asia in 2002 ??

[Spartak]

It doesn't make sense if they aren't allowed to show highlights. Sky Sports News showed all the highlights three hours earlier and it is on the same channel. I don't get it.

[bigtw64]

I have a question that perhaps our resident media-watchers can answer - does FIFA (or Disney/ESPN) limit the amount of Game highlights that can be shown by non-rightsholders? I recall NBC did this during the Olympics. Even on ESPN networks we only seem to see the bare minimum of action in the highlight packages, unlike the extended "breakdowns" we normally get for major sports.

[geordienation]

It doesn't make sense if they aren't allowed to show highlights. Sky Sports News showed all the highlights three hours earlier and it is on the same channel. I don't get it.


It's a rights issue. Sky paid for them. FSC didn't. Even though they broadcast SSN, they can't run them originally themselves.

[barrett90]

they showed the highlights on FSW report last night

[Bianco Celeste]

I have a question that perhaps our resident media-watchers can answer - does FIFA (or Disney/ESPN) limit the amount of Game highlights that can be shown by non-rightsholders? I recall NBC did this during the Olympics. Even on ESPN networks we only seem to see the bare minimum of action in the highlight packages, unlike the extended "breakdowns" we normally get for major sports.

Yes - this is a rights issue. FSC is following the Univision agreement (ESPN/ABC) which will not allow for more than three minutes of hilites PER SHOW of FSWR. That includes all intro video, video to breaks, etc.

On Friday's show, you will have noticed Jeremy's hilites were shorter than Mitch's hilites (6goals in one game, 2goals in another - makes sense) - and they ran them twice. Look for more 'splitting' of the hilites.

I'm not sure what the agreement is with 'Ticket'.

I want to know why FSWR is taking the hilites of ESPN and not TSN/Sportsnet here in Canada. They are 'clean' hilites up here and not filled with tickers and other crap like ESPN.

[Nicodemus145]

The FSC logo covers up the score they show on 'Ticket'. All you see is

England - FSC
Paraguay - 0

or
Argentina - FSC
Ivory Coast - 1

I know it's little and it's nitpick but...i mean...c'mon...

[OttawaBear]

I want to know why FSWR is taking the hilites of ESPN and not TSN/Sportsnet here in Canada. They are 'clean' hilites up here and not filled with tickers and other crap like ESPN.


Quite simple really.......TSN/Sportsnet actually 'gets into' the World Cup and the excitement it generates amongst viewers. ESPN couldn't give a rat's @ss.

Sort of like having the choice of two hookers. If you gotta pay, you gotta pay. FSWR just jumped into bed with the wrong one.

Story. End of.


OttawaBear

[jammybastard]

I caught the latest episode last night.
This show shouldn't exist.
It should be a segment in the FSWR and that's it.

The good: I was struck at how good Cobi Jones is!
Holy shite! He's very intelligent, and doesn't oversell his copy like Bretos.
He should be in German working for ABC/ESPN and not going down the standings with the Galaxy.

The bad: the name of the show, Bretos, and Webster.
Webster's phone in segements are a complete waste of time, especially after we've already heard the same content on the FSWR and from Bretos and McMahon. Someone at FSC has to realise that Webster is not that interesting, and that placating his ego makes for bad tv.
Plus there's nothing LESS compelling on tv than a still of his face, a map of Germany, and the words "Rambling Nick Webster".

For everything FSC does right they do something equally wrong.
When is this going to stop? Who's the exec in charge of all this and why does she/he keep green lighting things like this?

[Bobethy]

I feel for them, and root for them. I am sure they have a tiny budget compared to ESPN, but they try to fill as much airwaves as possible. Their heart is pure, they just need more money. So, keep watching and boost their ratings so they can up their advertising dollars!

[DSM1]

Agree that the name of the show and the Webster segments are not good. Actually, I think Bretos is OK as a host and I liked Cobi and McMahon's analysis.

[nyrmetros]

Everyone seemed to love FSW's Ticket to Asia 4 years ago......

[PaulV]

Everyone seemed to love FSW's Ticket to Asia 4 years ago......

I didn't see it (not sure if it was available up here in Canada)...was it exactly the same in format to 'Ticket to Germany'?

[ChicagoTom]

While the show itself may not be the best, it is watchable. It would help if they were able to show highlights, but with a limited budget, that has been unable to happen.

For all the bickering and complaining I read on these boards regarding FCS, cut them some slack for at least trying. Remember that this channel does not have the kind of money ESPN has to buy rights to the matches and have solid production of the show. I give them kudos for trying to put a show on TV. It is better than some rerun of FC Fox. If you want to talk about rubbish shows, you can start there.

All in all, FSC has done a nice job leading up to and now during the World Cup. If you do not like the job they are doing cancel the channel or simply do not watch. If you want to see them get better, support their sponsors and help them continue to bring in money so the production and overall way the channel works can get better and better. Remember, ESPN was crap for a long time, but people stuck with it in the dark days. As loyal soccer fans, we should do the same. It is better than nothing.

[jammybastard]

As loyal soccer fans, we should do the same. It is better than nothing.

That's not saying much!

I'm a big, big fan of FSC, both the LA and Winnipeg contingents.
I always want them to do better and that's why I try to post constructive criticism as opposed to mindless bitching.

For example, it kills me when I see the lovely and talented Michelle Lissel doing a stand up in Germany and half her face is in shadow.

That's unacceptable, even on a limited budget.
Even though she's probably over there with her shooter and no producer due to budget, someone should be smart enough to see that tape and tell her camera guy that once he sets the shot he needs to grab a reflector and get some light on her face to eliminate that shadow. That's basic run and gun ENG 101. You don't need a fancy Chimera kit. Hell, I've used the top of a white styrofoam cooler.
The point is that if you are going to send your top female talent halfway across the world, you need to make sure that she always looks like she belongs there. She has to look good and she has to have someone with her who looks out for things like that.

BTW - So now FSWR is cut to 30min so TTG can be air without being re-redundant? Interesting. Considering how Carlos and Jeremy did Tuesday night, cutting it down to a half hour might be a good thing!
:D

[ChicagoTom]

I agree that constructive criticism is a good thing. In fact, it drove me mad hearing after a match was over "The following match has been brought to you by....." That does not take money to fix.

What I do think needs to be done is to hire people in both the LA and Winnipeg branches that have a desire and passion for the game that truly want the channel to succeed and do well. That is much easier said than done.

I just think at times people on here bitch just to bitch about FSC. There is a difference between constructive criticism and mindless complaining without offering any kind of solutions.

[United1]

Cobi's jaw covered up half the set.

[nyrmetros]

I didn't see it (not sure if it was available up here in Canada)...was it exactly the same in format to 'Ticket to Germany'?

pretty much the same format.