Question for Ed Robinson

[lefty]

Hi Ed, Ive always wondered, is there a reason why broadcasters dont give you the option of watching the boxing without the commentary? I mean you still have the background noise, the fans, the sound of the punches landing, etc but without the commentary over the top? As a boxing fan I wish that option was available as quite often you can get swayed by the commentary rather than watching it objectively. Anyway I was just curious and as you're a guy involved in that world I thought you'd be the best person to ask. Thanks

[Newport Daz]

That's actually a good idea. Here in Wales if you press the red button you can change between English and Welsh commentary for certain games. An option for no commentary on the red button would be good.

[lefty]

Ive mentioned it before in a thread on the CS but I thought id try and hear Ed's take on it.

[johnswan1]

Very good idea, but I'm not aware of any sports where you can choose to watch without commentary, but boxing is definitely one where the sound is actually important (in terms of hearing punches and whether they are landing or hitting gloves when it's sometimes difficult to hear).

[lefty]

Very good idea, but I'm not aware of any sports where you can choose to watch without commentary, but boxing is definitely one where the sound is actually important (in terms of hearing punches and whether they are landing or hitting gloves when it's sometimes difficult to hear).

I dont understand why in this day and age it isnt an option though! With all the red buttons, etc, you'd imagine it would be fairly easy to implement.

[lefty]

I dont understand why in this day and age it isnt an option though! With all the red buttons, etc, you'd imagine it would be fairly easy to implement.

Try and think about reasons why people who work in the broadcasting industry for a living may be reluctant to offer that option.

I understand point MM but not everyone is going to want to take up the option anyway! There'd be a lot of people who like listening to the commentary. Particularily casual fans.

[lefty]

But what if it caught on?

Then it's the economic laws of supply and demand. Nobody is entitled to a specific job in this world. It's all about whether there's a demand for it.

[lefty]

What about the Queen?

That's a bit of a different situation. You're being pedantic now.

[John1980]

Ed would it be possible to release the ringside podcast with just yourself hosting and mute out Spencer Fearon?

Would make for a far better 45 min listen.

[lefty]

Ed would it be possible to release the ringside podcast with just yourself hosting and mute out Spencer Fearon?

Would make for a far better 45 min listen.

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

Eurosport used to have that option back in the 1990's with the old digibox set up.

[johnswan1]

With team sports and things like horse racing part of the commentators job is to name the players/horses etc. as it's not always clear from afar. With boxing you've got two guys in a ring punching the head off each other so you don't really need to be constantly told who is who, so the option would be good.

Personally I enjoy the background stories and history that the commentators bring, in addition to some of the analysis. I'm happy to watch a fight and take on what the commentator is saying but still be able to make my own mind up as to what's happening. There's something satisfying about noticing things the commentators haven't, and then that becoming a significant factor in the fight.

[Final round]

It seriously annoys me too. When it's insightful and measured, commentary can be good but when it's these 'no dead air allowed' merchants I'd love to mute the feckers. What's wrong with a pause in the chatter while the viewer absorbs the action and atmosphere instead we constantly get bombarded by someone desperately juggling their words to verbally spell out to you what is going on right in front of your own eyes!

[expe]

I don't need a commentator to tell me that a fighter landed a left, or a right, I'd rather hear how the fighter landed the punches, the little things that go unnoticed to the untrained eye.

[Tom Ford]

I dont understand why in this day and age it isnt an option though! With all the red buttons, etc, you'd imagine it would be fairly easy to implement.

Try and think about reasons why people who work in the broadcasting industry for a living may be reluctant to offer that option.

[Tom Ford]

I don't need a commentator to tell me that a fighter landed a left, or a right, I'd rather hear how the fighter landed the punches, the little things that go unnoticed to the untrained eye.

Very good points. Barry Jones gives this kind of insight.

Sky should poach him.

[whiskey]

I don't mind so much when the bell rings having commentary as long as they don't just drown it for every second of the round. Let the action speak for itself.

But what gets me riled is when they chat sh*t all over the ring entrances and it stops you absorbing the atmosphere.

Rawlings is one the absolute worst for it. Hate it completely.

"Here's Hopkins... Coming to the ring.... The executioner... Making his way to the ring... His trainer Naz Richardson.... They arrive at the ring"

FFS Jesus it kills me.

Let the music blast out and the crowd sing and cheer.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Just watch it in mute and make up your own noises! It's much more fun

[squared circle]

Football definitely had this a few years ago on BBC. U could choose TV commentary, radio five live commentary or no commentary at all from red button.

Rugby has had similar. You could choose to have ref link and no commentary.

So the technology definitely exists

[winkveron]

They used to have "fan zone" on the football which bypassed the professional commentators, to question one of the above posts about reluctance, so I see no reason why this couldn't be possible.

[mfc_se15]

I don't mind so much when the bell rings having commentary as long as they don't just drown it for every second of the round. Let the action speak for itself.

But what gets me riled is when they chat sh*t all over the ring entrances and it stops you absorbing the atmosphere.

Rawlings is one the absolute worst for it. Hate it completely.

"Here's Hopkins... Coming to the ring.... The executioner... Making his way to the ring... His trainer Naz Richardson.... They arrive at the ring"

FFS Jesus it kills me.

Let the music blast out and the crowd sing and cheer.

Completely agree that is the most annoying bit they talk through for me. But I would also like the no commentary button for during the fight. Especially when you know there is a cracking atmosphere going on, it gets so annoying hearing "atmosphere here is electric" well alright mate, shut up and I might be able to tell that for myself!!

[slapbangwhallop]

I am pretty sure that they have this option for the football on SKY. Can’t see any reason why they wouldn’t or shouldn’t for boxing other than it would be another additional cost to the broadcaster – although something like this wouldn’t cost too much I wouldn’t think.

[tallsdav]

next fight i'm at i will record the atmosphere. it will be available on download from itunes for £1.99, you can mute the tv and play this in the background. with such a demand i'll be ringside for the mayweather vs khan fight.

[lefty]

next fight i'm at i will record the atmosphere. it will be available on download from itunes for £1.99, you can mute the tv and play this in the background. with such a demand i'll be ringside for the mayweather vs khan fight.

... make sure it's of a decent quality!

[junior pepa seed]

I had a Protek receiver and they had options on sound, on German Chs could have coms in German, English or mute..this would be just crowd.

It also worked on other sats like the Greek etc all depended on the brand like canal plus, sky Germany and Nova sports so I m sure sky could do it easy as the Comms are looped in audio mix separate .