Japanese GP -TV coverage

[Track Rod]

Was anyone else irritated with the Suzuka GP coverage? Specifically the lack of screen time given to the Merc's. LH had a great start and was side by side with NR going into turn one, and what does the director show us? A (Force India?) going into the gravel trap! I understand that the TV directors are usually local so the coverage is tailored to the local viewers, apparently the Japanese audience like to see crashes, but why can't they show that in replay? We had the two drivers who are battling for the WDC battling wheel to wheel and we don't get to see it? I realise that they aren't going to show LH (or anyone) driving alone up front with an 18 second lead, but when there is a bit of close racing, why can't I see it? Likewise with LH's second stop, the coverage only caught him going out.
Lauda and Wolff apparently we're also unhappy, this Guardian article (below) suggests that the Mercedes cars only got six minutes TV coverage in the whole race.

Really pee'd me off!

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/sep/27/lewis...

[TommoAE86]

Mentioned in the BBC F1 page too (right at the bottom after a big bit about Alonso/Button), it did seem odd. Also love that it's "revenge" for them not giving RB the chance to muck rake Merc's PU's when they lose.

Maybe they should put "Bernie sucks Helmut" or something down the side of their cars

[rubystone]

FOM run the coverage now, not local broadcasters...clearly Merc upset someone...or maybe someone split a can of Red Bull over some equipment?

[VolvoT5]

The coverage was bad, even by normal standards.....

Lately what I find really annoying is watching replays of routine pitstops while there is some close on track action.....

[JohnoVR6]

Gaz. said:

Watch the race at x30 speed and you'll quickly see what I mean.

To me, at least, it looked like the onboards were already running at x2 speed...

[ukaskew]

TommoAE86 said:

Also love that it's "revenge" for them not giving RB the chance to muck rake Merc's PU's when they lose.

I know it's hard to believe anything said in an F1 paddock, but Lauda is usually a straight talker and he was pretty open when he said the only contact they had from RB was a single letter asking to use the Merc engines next season, and he then implied that a whole load of stipulations were attached (from the RB end). There were never any discussions, it never went any further than that.

[vxr8mate]

Yes, the coverage was woeful by the usual standards and not just by the absence of leaders etc.

We saw pictures of empty corners (presumably after LH had gone by), boring pit lane activity and cut away's just when we wanted to see what happened.