I didn't mind the old set at all. The quality of the feed itself was bad, but the set wasn't bad. With the new fake backdrop, it's glaringly obvious it's greenscreen (or whatever color) with the fake backdrop on the closeups. I guess the backdrop itself isn't awful (though I'd prefer a simpler one - less animation and brightness), but the greenscreening is pretty poor.
New set but the same anti-climatic habit of letting you know the result of the match BEFORE showing the highlights.
Ha, yeah. That's always struck me as bizarre. And they're still covering the bottom half of the highlights footage with the graphics box, aren't they? Nothing like being unable to see somebody's great shot into goal because a big orange-brown bar with the score is blocking the view. I feel kinda bad ragging on these guys, because the on-air folks seem like really good dudes, are good at their jobs, and obviously care about the game. Unfortunately they're packaged in a really ugly wrapping.
I used to be a FSR addict but I don't watch it anymore. The set is an eyesore, the audio is godawful, the graphics...always too big and cover the action, the limits to the footage they can show due to contract restrictions, etc... it's just not that good anymore. I like JStL and Bobby the most, but the personalities and analysis are only 50% of what I tune into the show for. Just for the record I've replaced it with downloading MOTD & MOTD2 and Football Focus from the BBC, and adding Football Matters and the Friday Football Show on Setanta. Add to that the Football Weekly Podcast via Itunes from The Guardian and I'm not missing FSR at all.
Saabrian - ever watched Sky Sports News? They ALWAYS reveal the result before showing the hilites - and since most on here complain FSR is not as good as Sky Sports News, perhaps they took a cue from Sky in this regard? And really, when you think of it - with all the technology and information out there today is there REALLY that many people tuning in that don't already know the result? Most games end 5-6 hours before the show even has it's first airing. I don't mind it because as a TRUE footie fan, I know the result already anyways - just get me to the hilites.
Yeah most sports highlight shows reveal the result before the end of the highlight package. Personally I watch the show to see the scores and highlights, not to be in suspense during a highlight package. If I wanted suspense I would watch the 90 minute game, not the 90 second condensed version. FSR serves a great purpose. Keeps me informed of the goings on in the soccer world, and puts me to sleep. I just wish they'd fix the damn set, it's the only problem with the show. Also those "rights" issues very rarely come up. Champions league (sometimes) and the Euros. I haven't seen any other issues come up.
Agreed. FSR airs a pretty big spectrum of hi-lites considering their limited resources - they are showing action from every continent these days. Sky has more of a problem with rights, as they can't/won't air stuff televised by their UK competitors BBC/ITV/Setanta. So many nights on SSN you get: "Former(insert team) legend Joe Bloggs thinks that blah blah blah......"
Bittorrent and direct download via Rapidshare. If you want to get it via Bittorrent you can either search a public site like Mininova or sign up for the Maxxed Football Forums (http://www.********.com/forum/) and then look under the "Shows and Programs" thread for the torrent files. These days I get it from there, or via Rapidshare. The way to find the Rapidshare links is that you sign up for a forum like www.warez-bb.org that has a couple of posters who archive every episode and post links as soon as they have the show uploaded to their Rapidshare accounts. From there you can either download from their Rapidshare account as a free user, or pay money for a premium account and get it faster. (Once you see what's available via Rapidshare you might want to spend some coin and get an Prem. acct.) Either way you'll get to see the latest broadcast usually 2-4 hours after it airs in the UK.
It's usually available on the newsgroups at the same time it shows up on the torrent sites with lightning fast downloads too, if you are so inclined.
I just got done watching her and she does a legit job in terms of her craft. However IMHO, she needs to have a baby or something to get some more meat on that youth body.
I both love and hate the Report. I know that most of us tune in for the highlights, but instead of showing us the same EPL and champions league packages twice in the same hour, throw in some interviews with MLS players/coaches/execs, on location pieces (I know that would cost money), etc. That said, I think they have the best on air talent in North America. I know it is a big difference between reading a teleprompter and calling a live match, but could we at least get Jeremey St Louis to host the MLS pregame/post game show. The interplay and chemistry between the guys (and yes Terri is coming along as well) is just so natural and good to watch. Speaking of Terri, she has been doing much better in recent weeks. When she first started, she got very tongue-tied and you could see the guys expressions scream "spit it out!" Now she is much more relaxed and natural.
With Canwest Global in such DIRE financial straits - don't expect FSR to make many changes anytime soon. The company that owns them owes Goldman Sachs 2.9b dollars. They actually have to meet a 100m payment coming up March 11th or file for bankruptcy protection here in Canada!! Not good! Still - I agree with the comments 100% Bluesfan. They are the most talented bunch on TV doing footy in North America - and with such limited resources they do a fantastic job when you factor that in. And Terri Leigh is coming along great - and damn does she look good!! WOW! I have been saying for years that JSL should be picked up by someone else already. He did an MLS Saturday hosting gig a couple seasons back from NY and it was great. he was a little shaky at first but once he got going - he and Christopher Sullivan were excellent (all those years working with Bobby??). But him being Canadian and FSC being US - they'd never bring him in as more than a fill-in guy. They use wrestling host Todd Grisham for that - good lord. With their vast footie knowledge - it'd be nice to see FSC use the FSR guys more. JSL would be excellent on Saturday Match Ticket or Soccer Sunday....But instead we get Christian Miles....Someone needs to start a petition.
the new "set" is great. They just changed the keyed background, to a simpler look. It's perfect for the show. Didn't notice the format tweak, but the new "set" is a welcomed change.
I think the format tweak was having Jeremy stand at that little podium and present something. Maybe they thought 3 at the desk was too crowded. I noticed that on monday night's show, but I must agree, the new set is much better. Not flashy, and it gets the point across that it is a soccer news show and looks decent.
the little desk was meant to report the news while the guys at the desk would banter about opinion. I guess to make that line of demarcation physical as well
Caught it tonight with Terri at that position. Damn, she is cute. You finally get to see it up close now. So did management change at FSR? The reason I ask is that this new look, from the "set" to the positions and camera work, are a pretty radical change from 6 mos ago let alone 5 years ago when I started watching. It's all looks as if they finally got some new blood in. Not sure if anyone else caught this tonight, but the FSR folks decided to show off their new set by doing a trucking move from left to right on air on the camera left side of the desk while Bobby was on cam. That's a first for that show, the fact that they even used that angle was mindblowing. I bet their director(s) is very happy to finally have some variation when he's blocking out the script each night.
yup - breaking down the CL - was there for half a show. Terri went from the annex back to the desk after he left.