Comments on: NBC + Bravo + Women + Sports = FAIL

By: Thomas Watts

Thomas Watts — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:28:08 +0000

Really good article. I could not agree with you more. I particular like your “win-fail” Nike comparison. But maybe the playboy model is a target for the mens market for what she is wearing … sadly next to nothing. Anyway nice read will pass onto my two daughter who love their sport.

Thanks

By: christopherlally

christopherlally — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:46:58 +0000

I was loping along, sliding from the ‘Backstretch through the poetics’ until I arrived at the Beerdrinker of the ear thing….now, I am impressed. I do not care how girly girl you are or are not, you are my kinda woman. Can I please be your kind of Neanderthal???

By: Jessica Chapel / Railbird v2 - Media Notes

Jessica Chapel / Railbird v2 - Media Notes — Wed, 05 May 2010 18:44:31 +0000

[...] the last year the Derby was broadcast on ABC. Year-round fans might find the show unwatchable (and the repellent Bravo Oaks coverage even more so), but the network must be doing something right — mixing horses with human interest stories, [...]

By: ladycapper

ladycapper — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:13:58 +0000

The coverage was downright insulting at times. What a waste. I think that Gary Stevens is improving every broadcast, and I like Donna, but how is the sport going to bring in more fans if NBC doesn’t let the beauty of the sport shine through?

This female horseracing fan wasn’t impressed, either: http://tinyurl.com/29627kz

Oh, and don’t get me started on NBC’s Olympics coverage. If I saw those beach volleyball players or Lindsey Vonn one more time, I was going to scream. It was sickening.

By: Dee

Dee — Tue, 04 May 2010 01:32:03 +0000

I’d like the focus to be on the horses, their accomplishments, and their people. And to make up for the girly kerpuffle, interviews with female handicappers would be righteous.

By: kyle

kyle — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:16:50 +0000

Absolutely! I could not believe how sexist and condescending that Neumeier piece was. And I am just the opposite of pc. And then they couldn’t even get the will pay on that exacta box right. It could have paid a couple grand not a couple hundred.

By: Rackon

Rackon — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:17:06 +0000

I think TV can do human interest stories – and yes, even fashion – without stopping to the frivolity and trivialoty of the Bravo Oaks coverage. Women who aren’t race fans watch the TC events because they like ANIMALS, so why not give them touchy feely stories about – Alexis Barba, only woman trainer in the Derby field; the horses; the msacots; other women pros connected with CD and the TC (vets, assistants, grooms, media people) and let them tell us what horses and racing means to them personally? It doesn’t have to be all about betting and handicapping, but I HATE that broadcasters assume appealing to women means airing fourth rate drivel fronted by unappealing and inept presenters about nothing much. Shallow NBC, very shallow.

By: Paige

Paige — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:12:33 +0000

I’ve been a horse racing fan for more than 50 years now. As a woman, I am indeed attracted to shiny pretty things at the races- the horses!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:31:24 +0000

I agree, devil’s advocate = at the end of the day ratings have been boosted. However, long term (which no one thinks about) it’s not a good precedent to set. They aren’t making any new customers or fans.