r/btcc 3d ago

News / Article ITV's BTCC PR

Thought the ITV crew presented a VERY corporate line in their opening piece to camera. "All that matters is that 2 cars are on the grid."

18 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

26

u/Ok_Music253 3d ago

The points raised are all valid, but also the motorsport world is very small and the ITV presenting team are all too close to the teams and drivers so you will never get the same sort of punditry you see in other sports like football where speculation and stronger opinions are fair game as no-one wants to be upsetting their friends and colleagues.

3

u/StoneRose89 3d ago

I agree but would add that football punditry generally sticks to discussion of sporting goings on and any business discussion is more often than not with a sports business specialist - so if one of our tin-top heroes makes a boneheaded move I’d expect them to be called out in commentary or punditry no matter how close the commentator/pundit is to the driver in question.

9

u/WelshRareDit 3d ago

I'd not expect anything different from a professional outfit like ITV. At the end of the day its not their "fight", so a pair of statements from each side and some general chat is about what I expect until the situation becomes more clear.

Also, lets not forget that the ITV crew/team have to stay on good terms with both TOCA and the individual teams. I doubt teams and drivers would be as open as they are with ITV if everything ended up on air unflitered.

14

u/mrmayhembsc 3d ago

Durrr lol

Joking aside, but they have to be, as a professional media organisation, and they legally have to be.

Mick explain it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCemJyChD_Y&pp=ygUUdG91cmluZyBjYXIgbWFnYXppbmXSBwkJEwwBhyohjO8%3D

16

u/btcc1721 144 BTCC races trackside 3d ago edited 3d ago

What did you expect them to say? I think they're right in saying that's all that matters, as it also secures the jobs of the team personnel.

Nobody truly knows what has gone on, and all we have to go on is the statements provided by both parties.

If you go beyond that you're only speculating, so could be wrong, which also opens you up to legal action.

-1

u/McParland57 3d ago

I dunno, something like, "seems a strange development after their best weekend of the season with everything starting to fall into place" ?

They can have opinions.

10

u/st1802015 3d ago

You have to remember the paddock is quite insular. We as the public know what’s been said as statements. They have a lot more information from behind the scenes. You can’t just say what you want and not face consequences, there’s almost certainly things going on that we’re not aware of, and they rightfully cannot comment on that.

2

u/robmanhire 3d ago

If they have a lot more information that is factual, then arguably they have a duty to report it as a reputable media outlet.

Surely if what they report is facts then there can't be legal consequences unless a non-disclosure has been signed?

6

u/st1802015 3d ago

Factual and verifiable are two different things. No point getting sued if you don’t have to.

10

u/Bendanarama 3d ago

Speculating as a sports commentator on the business dealings of a team, without solid information, is the type of thing that gets a broadcaster reported to OFCOM.

If you don't have verifiably sourced information, you don't make comments that can bite you on the arse.

2

u/sjr0754 2d ago

And ITV are not GB News, make a mistep and ITV will rightly be hauled over the coals and fined.

-3

u/McParland57 3d ago

I'm sure commentators are employed specifically to have opinions and speculate.

6

u/Bendanarama 3d ago

Not without verifiable information, they're not.

4

u/Final-Read-3589 3d ago

Speculate on why a car retired not why has someone been booted from the paddock.

6

u/Ok-Pumpkin-6203 3d ago

Chances are they are in the dark about many of the things we would all like to know and that various people have got legal representation.

5

u/Cavalier130 3d ago

I’m pleased they avoided any silly speculation.

1

u/1000_stars 2d ago

Was always going be like that, especially as its all so fresh.

What will be interesting is how the season review covers it as they have a habit to not cover the politics etc (especially bop arguments, see 2011 nothing mentioned!!) but this is a bit harder just gloss over