I’m hoping that with the new broom will come a new approach to coverage which may have a similar impact to the way CH4’s innovative cricket coverage was received. The fact is the Highflyer coverage (partly due to outside cash contraints within CH4 itself) has become tired and stale over the last 10 years with too much focus on a "here’s another chance to lose your money" type presentation approach.
I’m hoping the new regime will strike the right balance between being accessible (and by that I don’t mean dumbing down – I mean having presenter explain the more "technical" aspects of the game, but retaining the "geek" aspect. I think sports like Football & F1 thrive on the "geek" aspect in their presentation. Good thing is that Clare Balding excels at this sort of thing.
As for the new time, I hope Nick Luck’s role is expanded into a back-up Lead Presenter (bearing in mind I expect la Balding to only cover the marquee meetings).
As mentioned on the Matt Chapman jewel thread, I would like to see Sean Boyce cover the betting markets, while Chappers could backfill for Thommo in the "All Rounder" role.
Paddock/Form coverage (can we have some paddock coverage please CH4 – the horses are the true stars) is tricky now that Francome has ruled himself out. Can’t see Jimbo (Timeform) McGrath staying on without his foil so CH4 should be sounding out some of the RUK pundits such as Neesom, Mellish and Cunningham. (I would have included Hislop but I believe there has been some bad blood previously between Hislop & Balding).
In the commentary box I would like to see Holt & Hoiles share the big days (like Raliegh Gilbert and John Penney did on ITV in the 70’s). Back-ups (if needed) to come from Fitzgerald, Johnson and Alan Howes (who deserves some bigger days).
I’ll stop wittering now…..!!!!