So, what can we do better next year -- Dakar Coverage?

[Brodovitch]

Originally Posted by Dread Pendragon

If you could persuade him to even do a few posts here, even one or two posts know and one or two right before next year's Dakar, it would go a long way in drumming up fervent support among the Rallye Tragic. Obviously we already like and support him, but for a tiny, tiny bit of effort he could dramatically magnify his U.S. support.

That would be awesome. I think Quinn (and the unfortunately AWOL in the future Jonah, and Bill) are all guys that were sadly missing from this year's race.
Sadly because -like Ned- I get the impression that they are fantastic ambassadors of the sport as people

Good points by Jaybo and Packmule, I would suggest waiting for Ted's book to come out as well, I
think it is going to open up a a can of worms (in every good sense of the phrase) as to what inmates
will want to be let in on during the race (The "Inside the Helmet" factor. Good term)

The US market really needs the exposure right now, seeing as the usual contenders (Spain, Portugal, France Italy)
are all heading for financial melt-down, and taking into consideration that 99% of the Dakar are the privateers (something
the money-grabbing ASO would have us forget), it would only be a good thing for North American riders.

just my 0.02€

[PackMule]

Folks interested in the logistics of coverage, DO NOT miss this interview with Ben Constanduros, voice and producer on the Official ASO dakar video feed...

===============================

(Editor's note: THANK YOU, Ben, for taking the time to speak with us. As an "amateur" journo, having the opportunity to speak with the professionals like yourself, Toby Moody, and others is as much a treat as speaking with the competitors. Cheers!)


(Photo credit: benconstanduros.com)

We get an insider's look "behind the curtain" where the ASO produces the video feed for the Dakar Rally with Ben Constanduros. If you've ever marveled at the stunning images from the rally, you'll be amazed by the logistics required to get them worldwide in a matter of hours from a race day that spans hundreds of kilometers. If you've ever been frustrated by what's been show (or hasn't been shown), insight, too, on that. Thanks, Ben! Hardcore Rallye Tragics, don't miss this one. Many of your coverage and media related questions, answered.

You can follow Ben on twitter @BenConsty, or check out his site and blog at http://benconstanduros.com/blog



Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/rallyraidio/12D26.mp3


Blog excerpt: http://benconstanduros.com/blog/dakar-review

"So to the programme and it was quite a change over the 2011 edition. You may or may not remember I was quite vocal about the way we worked, and I am pleased to say that the 2012 edition was a totally different, enjoyable experience. We knocked out some amazing shows with the editors working wonders and Alex and Seb doing the lions share of the hard work for the creative input of the show. I am really proud and excited how we can move the new format forward. For those who I guided with my voice for the last few weeks I hope you enjoyed it.
Being the Voice is big responsibility for a show like the Dakar. We put a huge amount of effort into the drama of it, the editor’s craft around my voice and Seb and I try to choose appropriate words to set the scene. Everytime you talk you should be going with the mood, not interrupting it, in fact words are rarely needed on some of the more epic features. In the resume’s you need to be clear and concise to tell the story and inform the viewer. We prepare a second by second, word by word script so its simple job to replicate how the bosses want it to be done….’Previously in the Bikes……Adventure Continues…..etc’ were not my choice of words but wanted by the director.
I was quite vocal on twitter about the UK voice of the Dakar….I am passionate about my job and motorsport and when you throw your heart and soul into something its hard to take that another person is ‘ruining’ it. Having communicated with Carlton over the final few days to help him with the script and give him a clearer idea of how we were working, I would say he was doing the job pretty well by the end….except for the obvious ‘Well, Yes’s’! after 3 hours sleep, my rant on twitter was totally uncalled for and pretty inappropriate, not to mention unprofessional toward Eurosport, Carlton and the UK team.

...

[ian408]

Originally Posted by PackMule

Folks interested in the logistics of coverage, DO NOT miss this interview with Ben Constanduros, voice and producer on the Official ASO dakar video feed...

Thank you for this. Brought back some memories for me (I worked for ACTV/ESPN for America's Cup)--so many of the same issues. Especially the feed part

Thank you again!

[cyborg]

Very nice podcast PM and Ben!! Great information!

[Mickldo]

Love the F5irehose and all that goes with it. What we had this year (and in years gone past) has been great.

I would like to see an English version of the http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/dakar/

Even though I can hardly understand a word they say I like the hour long shows with their studio panel with guests and their in the field reporting as well as the official ASO feed.

Either a TV show or a web show or a panel of experts radio show would be good. It is a matter of organising it all making it commercially viable though. But then again the rtve guys seem to do it OK.

The Rally Radio call ins are great. If there was a way of getting all the Go-Pro footage off the riders and edited and uploaded quicker........

We also need a few more French speaking and Spanish speaking inmates to translate for us.

[Flood]

Thanks for the input!

Yep, RTVE has great coverage, shame that my Spanish sucks. And they're the state-owned TV station, so they have accordingly deep pockets and get the official video feed (actually Ben told us in his interview above that they have to be ready by afternoon so that RTVE can go live at 8 PM).

A big +1 on the French inmates. We got tons of great info way earlier than any English speaking media this year by getting breaking news translated from Spanish, Portuguese, Norwegian and Dutch members. There's a big hole when it comes to French coverage on ADV, though. It's obviously mostly a language thing

[ArthDuro]

Originally Posted by PackMule

Folks interested in the logistics of coverage, DO NOT miss this interview with Ben Constanduros, voice and producer on the Official ASO dakar video feed...

===============================

(Editor's note: THANK YOU, Ben, for taking the time to speak with us. As an "amateur" journo, having the opportunity to speak with the professionals like yourself, Toby Moody, and others is as much a treat as speaking with the competitors. Cheers!)


(Photo credit: benconstanduros.com)

We get an insider's look "behind the curtain" where the ASO produces the video feed for the Dakar Rally with Ben Constanduros. If you've ever marveled at the stunning images from the rally, you'll be amazed by the logistics required to get them worldwide in a matter of hours from a race day that spans hundreds of kilometers. If you've ever been frustrated by what's been show (or hasn't been shown), insight, too, on that. Thanks, Ben! Hardcore Rallye Tragics, don't miss this one. Many of your coverage and media related questions, answered.

You can follow Ben on twitter @BenConsty, or check out his site and blog at http://benconstanduros.com/blog



Direct download: http://traffic.libsyn.com/rallyraidio/12D26.mp3


Blog excerpt: http://benconstanduros.com/blog/dakar-review

This stuff is amazing, real nice to have this perspective and really helps wrap your head around what it takes for us to get the footage we do.
Hopefully some folk that constantly complain about the coverage will read and listen to this.

But someone please tweet him that Dakar is in fact a city not a country
oooh and that that bike on the dune is #187

[Flood]

Originally Posted by arthduro

but someone please tweet him that dakar is in fact a city not a country
oooh and that that bike on the dune is #187

.

@benconsty

@rallyraidreview @rallyraidio well well well, turns out i was wrong, it was @tobiasyounger on that dune. Great screen grab!

It took master doyle only minutes to prove the case.

[ArthDuro]

Originally Posted by Flood

.




It took master doyle only minutes to prove the case.

haha

[paulk46]

Originally Posted by Mickldo

Love the F5irehose and all that goes with it. What we had this year (and in years gone past) has been great.

I would like to see an English version of the http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/dakar/

Even though I can hardly understand a word they say I like the hour long shows with their studio panel with guests and their in the field reporting as well as the official ASO feed.

Either a TV show or a web show or a panel of experts radio show would be good. It is a matter of organising it all making it commercially viable though. But then again the rtve guys seem to do it OK.

The Rally Radio call ins are great. If there was a way of getting all the Go-Pro footage off the riders and edited and uploaded quicker........

We also need a few more French speaking and Spanish speaking inmates to translate for us.

what about it Carlton, Toby,yourself,an ex-Dakar rider ( please not Charlie Boreperson) in the studio with an 1hr long daily show, oh yes alright you can cover the cars n trucks for 10 mins. who do we write to,

[PackMule]

Originally Posted by paulk46

what about it Carlton, Toby,yourself,an ex-Dakar rider ( please not Charlie Boreperson) in the studio with an 1hr long daily show, oh yes alright you can cover the cars n trucks for 10 mins. who do we write to,

Did anyone (Dread?) get Carlton his F5 shirt yet?

Originally Posted by Mickldo

Love the F5irehose and all that goes with it. What we had this year (and in years gone past) has been great.

I would like to see an English version of the http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/dakar/

Even though I can hardly understand a word they say I like the hour long shows with their studio panel with guests and their in the field reporting as well as the official ASO feed.

Either a TV show or a web show or a panel of experts radio show would be good. It is a matter of organising it all making it commercially viable though. But then again the rtve guys seem to do it OK.

I very seriously thought about doing a live "radio maray" type panel radio show. I think the technology exists to do it in a reasonable fashion. What I couldn't solve, though, is how to do that without gutting the live coverage here. I just can't focus on having a conversation (let alone facilitating a multi-participant roundtable) while scouring the web for updates and posting to the threads. I've had some skype chats with various F5'ers while coverage was running and it was challenging, so say the least.

[Dread Pendragon]

Originally Posted by PackMule

Did anyone (Dread?) get Carlton his F5 shirt yet?

I think it was one of the first ones Hayduke shipped off. I don't know how long it takes to get to England, though, or if Carlton received it yet.

[Carlos M]

Originally Posted by PackMule

I just can't focus on having a conversation (let alone facilitating a multi-participant roundtable) while scouring the web for updates and posting to the threads.

I can tell you that's impossible I have pretended to have a conversation with my wife and I have pretended to facilitate multi-participant roundtables (receiving friends for dinner) while scouring the web for updates and posting to the threads and it didn't work. At all.

[Evil Invader]

Originally Posted by Carlos M

I can tell you that's impossible I have pretended to have a conversation with my wife and I have pretended to facilitate multi-participant roundtables (receiving friends for dinner) while scouring the web for updates and posting to the threads and it didn't work. At all.

+1

[PackMule]

Originally Posted by Dread Pendragon

I think it was one of the first ones Hayduke shipped off. I don't know how long it takes to get to England, though, or if Carlton received it yet.

Originally Posted by Carlos M

I can tell you that's impossible I have pretended to have a conversation with my wife and I have pretended to facilitate multi-participant roundtables (receiving friends for dinner) while scouring the web for updates and posting to the threads and it didn't work. At all.