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#Post#: 108997--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: Lanyardhater
Date: July 12, 2026, 5:03 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I’ve not seen enough of this World Cup to know if the tv
coverage has been good, bad or indifferent, but past experience
suggests it is usually rather better in these big tournaments
than what we routinely get at home. Commentators’ yak I can
usually filter out, but woeful match direction in England was
the main reason I had decided not to replace the telly when it
packed up. It was giving me high blood pressure!
1. Match directors in England just cannot be bothered to create
a caption with ALL the officials’ names (seemingly standard
throughout the rest of the world) - and sometimes they don’t
even do so for the referee. Not helped by often not showing the
coin toss, ITV with its adverts and BBC with its weird obsession
with showing huddles instead.
2. Showing replays while play is still going on. This drove me
mad. One day a goal will be missed (if it hasn’t already
happened).
3. Even worse, showing close-ups of managers while play is going
on. (The BBC, in particular, seems to have a somewhat unhealthy
obsession with the cult of the football manager, something they
themselves perpetuate at every opportunity).
4. So many yellow cards missed, or poorly shown with
unnecessarily close-up shots, so we see the player but not the
referee or the referee but not the player.
5. An obvious lack of interest in, and knowledge of, the
refereeing side of the game. And don’t get me started on the
annual display of disrespect where they fail to show the
officials being presented with their medals after the FA Cup
Final.
I have often wondered if match directors should be required to
take a referees course before being let loose on big matches.
#Post#: 108999--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: bmb
Date: July 12, 2026, 5:12 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Pearce's lack of knowledge of the LOTG really bugs me,
shame because other knowledge is good but he often stirs up
controversy where there is none purely because he doesn't know
the LOTG and happily peddles out misinformation with no thought
to the consequences of doing so.
Sam Matterface I used to dislike but having worked with him a
few times, in terms of his match research, I have a new found
respect for him. We've spoken many times when he has been
commentating on a Hungary NT game or one of the club games,
never just 1 call either. 1st call is a fact check and
pronunciation guide, then another call practicing pronunciation
and generally a 3rd call as well just to be sure! In between
calls texts to check and clarify and random voice notes of him
practicing pronunciation. He's always so polite, respectful,
enjoys a joke or 3 and is genuinely thankful for any help/advice
so I can forgive him for sounding like a kid on Christmas eve at
times, he does get a bit over excited but he simply loves
football and enjoys what he does.
My favourite English commentator is a guy called Kris Temple.
Started out on radio solent as afcb commentator in the days we
weren't fashionable & is now off commentating or doing stadium
announcements at all manner of huge tournaments, all over the
world, in a variety of sports. His knowledge and research is
second to none and he has a lovely very listenable to voice.
Knows the LOTG as well, unlike most! I also like Chris Wise from
the BBC, Jordan Clarke from BBC radio Solent and Mark McAdam
from sky sports. Hajdú István B. though is the absolute best,
love him on M4 sports for NT games - he's scathing, sarcastic
and utterly hilarious! None of which is remotely relevant to the
WC commentary but as I've not been listening to any of it or
watching games..!
#Post#: 109000--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: bmb
Date: July 12, 2026, 5:22 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Lanyardhater link ---
>
> I have often wondered if match directors should be required to
take a referees course before being let loose on big matches.
>
--- End Quote ---
This is a requirement in Hungary. All sports commentators,
whatever the sport, attend LOTG/rules of the sport courses over
the season break with the official refereeing body of the
relevant sport. They have to take and pass tests at the end of
the course and the relevant refereeing body will then clear them
with M4 as being available to commentate on their chosen
sport(s). If they don't pass then they don't get the gigs, it's
that simple. They will also be pulled off air if they give out
misinformation. It works well as are all knowledgeable, often
explain relevant LOTG/rules - correctly, give praise for good
calls, call out player bad behaviour, very balanced commentary
and it's such a beautiful contrast to what we get here in the
UK. I don't know if it is a requirement but they are all fluent
in at least 1 other language and several of them speak 3/4
languages. Completely different world!
#Post#: 109002--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: Lanyardhater
Date: July 12, 2026, 5:51 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Wow! I love that, bmb. But does it just apply to commentators
or to match directors as well? My main beef is with the latter.
#Post#: 109013--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: bmb
Date: July 13, 2026, 2:35 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Lanyardhater link ---
>
> Wow! I love that, bmb. But does it just apply to commentators
or to match directors as well? My main beef is with the latter.
>
--- End Quote ---
No idea but we always get to see coin toss, there’s proper
graphics naming team ref, including VAR. Replays shown during
stoppages, no adverts mid game. We have less cameras so less
distorting views of incidents. Not saying what we get is perfect
because it’s not but the strict rules for commentary and respect
shown for referees is vastly superior.
#Post#: 109015--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: Lanyardhater
Date: July 13, 2026, 3:08 am
---------------------------------------------------------
One can only dream of that here - I’ll have to move to Hungary!
The “less cameras” is key. I have always felt the rot set in
here when both the BBC and ITV felt they had to slavishly follow
Sky in tripling the number of cameras they had. Because they
have them, they feel they have to keep using them, and the
result is match directors nowadays with the attention span of a
gnat, flicking constantly from one picture to another. It
creates the paradox whereby the more cameras there are, the more
likely the viewer is to miss something. The best directed
matches are the simplest technology-wise such as the very early
FA Cup rounds on the BBC, where we are actually allowed to see
everything that happens, as it happens.
#Post#: 109039--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: July 13, 2026, 10:35 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: bmb link ---
>
> Jonathan Pearce's lack of knowledge of the LOTG really bugs
me, shame because other knowledge is good but he often stirs up
controversy where there is none purely because he doesn't know
the LOTG and happily peddles out misinformation with no thought
to the consequences of doing so.
>
> Sam Matterface I used to dislike but having worked with him a
few times, in terms of his match research, I have a new found
respect for him. We've spoken many times when he has been
commentating on a Hungary NT game or one of the club games,
never just 1 call either. 1st call is a fact check and
pronunciation guide, then another call practicing pronunciation
and generally a 3rd call as well just to be sure! In between
calls texts to check and clarify and random voice notes of him
practicing pronunciation. He's always so polite, respectful,
enjoys a joke or 3 and is genuinely thankful for any help/advice
so I can forgive him for sounding like a kid on Christmas eve at
times, he does get a bit over excited but he simply loves
football and enjoys what he does.
>
> My favourite English commentator is a guy called Kris Temple.
Started out on radio solent as afcb commentator in the days we
weren't fashionable & is now off commentating or doing stadium
announcements at all manner of huge tournaments, all over the
world, in a variety of sports. His knowledge and research is
second to none and he has a lovely very listenable to voice.
Knows the LOTG as well, unlike most! I also like Chris Wise from
the BBC, Jordan Clarke from BBC radio Solent and Mark McAdam
from sky sports. Hajdú István B. though is the absolute best,
love him on M4 sports for NT games - he's scathing, sarcastic
and utterly hilarious! None of which is remotely relevant to the
WC commentary but as I've not been listening to any of it or
watching games..!
>
--- End Quote ---
Jonathan Pearce should have stuck with Robot Wars. He is by far
the worst commentator there is.
Following closely behind is Robbie Savage.
#Post#: 109041--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: bmb
Date: July 13, 2026, 10:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
They both sound great when muted...
#Post#: 109045--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: PhiltheRef
Date: July 13, 2026, 1:25 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I actually know a couple of BBC production guys currently in the
States
They're most assuredly NOT in 5* accommodation, nor having a
cushy time
#Post#: 109052--------------------------------------------------
Re: ITV coverage
DIR By: rustyref
Date: July 13, 2026, 3:06 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: PhiltheRef link ---
>
> I actually know a couple of BBC production guys currently in
the States
>
> They're most assuredly NOT in 5* accommodation, nor having a
cushy time
>
--- End Quote ---
The production team rarely are, but the pundits and presenters
will be, the likes of Shearer and Rooney won't be staying in the
US equivalent of a Premier Inn. No different to if I say away
with work as a lowly IT geek, I am very unlikely to be staying
in the same hotel as the CEO even if we are in the same city at
the same time.
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