Discovery Invests in Enduro World Series, Aims to Begin Live Broadcasts
Discovery Inc, the owners of the Eurosport TV channels and the Play Sports Network YouTube network, has announced an investment in the Enduro World Series that will help the race series, "begin the journey towards live production."
Up until now, EWS fans have relied on recaps and highlights to get their fix of the racing action but now that Dicovery Inc holds equity in Enduro Sports Organisation Ltd, the company that owns and operates EWS and EWS-E, it is hoping to allow them enjoy the races in real-time instead.
 | I’m incredibly proud to announce this new step for the Enduro World Series and our company and staff team. The integrity of sport and staying true to the culture of mountain biking and mountain bike racing have always been central to our mission. From the very first meeting I had with our new partners at Play Sports Group, it was clear that we had a deep and shared passion for the sport and a vision for developing cutting edge and worldwide broadcast technologies. Together, and with the full backing of Discovery, Inc and Eurosport, we will build a platform to bring the athletes, teams, destinations, technology and drama to fans around the world using the very latest of innovations in broadcast. It’s been an incredible journey to this point and I thank the riders, fans, teams and partners for the support to this day - but this is just the beginning. |
| Discovery and its leading sports media brands have long been the Home of Cycling. Our investment in EWS fits nicely with that positioning and adds to our growing events business. EWS will be able to tap into Discovery’s global network and 360° offer that can help grow a sport both commercially and in terms of audience. We’re looking forward to bringing our commercial expertise, technology and distribution networks to scale the EWS product further.” |
More info, here.
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Now, how would that be? A series of camera spots like in DH skiing + drones?
Onboard cameras?
I think there's room for some really nice footage and coverage. Some venues will definitely benefit from the exposure and angle shots.
looking fwd!!
All the specials packed with interviews and sum them up prior to the last stage in real live.. Then you would have packed this 1h or so of pure emotion visualizing how the head of the race goes...
There was an Enduro in France, which something similar was delivered into the last stage and the images were impressive...
Seriously looking forward to it though if it happens
+1 @conoat
As the early starters will be on to stage 2, 3 etc before some riders start, I wonder how they will break up the fotage, will we follow the top riders all day?
It's used in alot of Motorsports racing and on places where camera cable runs are silly and unachievable.
Relatively cheap and works with 5g. Barely any delay at all.
What the article hasn't mentioned (possibly because they are rivals to PB) is that Discovery also own GMBN & GCN - so I'd imagine they'll continue to surface a certain amount of free content via GMBN.
But Eurosport's road racing coverage is paid subscription either direct or via GCN, so they're likely to follow the same model IMO.
Discovery are a more traditional media operation, but they must realise there's less appetite to pay for coverage among MTBers than road biking fans (and there's sooooo much road racing that nobody watches it all anyway).
But I'm wary of putting two and two together and making five, it might be naive to expect anything like as sophisticated as their road racing or WRC coverage.
Personally I find the EWS's own coverage quite difficult to engage with, as I'm irritated by Ric's bombastic presenting style and the formulaic and limited nature of the video coverage (though the latter will obviously change with more investment).
Example: XC races have changed to many short loops (instead of 2-3 big loops) to provide camera coverage and a single spectator location (and beer garden). What used to be a race up the biggest climb in the area is now a cyclocross race writ large and has little to do with how most MTBers ride.
So, instead of the off-into-the-wild rides that the current EWS courses go on, with the rawest and most rugged trails included as the race course, we will see race tracks selected for ease of access for a camera crew (race track along or crossing a road, basically) and the absolute best trail will not necessarily be considered.
I do not envision a video production crew taking risks on NOT PRODUCING a video by utilizing new tech. They will do the tried-and-true fixed cameras to provide some coverage, and count on some coverage being better than no coverage (the current situation).
And when the choice is made between keeping the races as we know them and making the videographers jump through hoops OR changing the courses to make the video possible, the race course is going to be the one to give.
Hopefully the races aren’t altered enough that the essential appeal of the racing is lost!
I expect EWS will go on the same format as the road tours on GCN + race pass if its linked to the play sports network. A new GMBN+ app?
Hope so..
Just a quick question- are you a Daily Mail subscriber????
(Users outside of the UK : Daily Mail is a newspaper that basically fills its pages with negativity and fear mongering. Pretty much like Fox News).