Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: CWC 2015: Contains graphic horror

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  • Ethan Tucker, in reply to Michael Cosgrove,

    the usual lineup of ultra partisan commentators

    Whose regular refrain, 'from New Zealand's point of view', reminds you that most everything they say is filtered through a one-eyed lens. Listening to skilled overseas commentators, such as some of the English crew, you're reminded that it's possible to appreciate and discuss good play from *both* teams. Not to mention the idea of analysing performance and precedents and making educated predictions, rather than just blokey utterances and pointless banter.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2008 • 119 posts Report

  • izogi, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    and why couldn’t on-screen players be replaced by CG animations on the fly – imagine the NZ team all replaced by Hobbit-related avatars – fun times

    I wouldn’t be too surprised if Cricinfo, or some third party app which feeds off it, manages to come up with something like this in future, given how much ball-by-ball info is already filtered through it. :)


    On Danny and friends, I normally find that a mute button combined with a radio works wonders on the few occasions I have any TV coverage. Even before Sky came along, though, I reckon NZ television’s had a history of picking dreadful commentators, but maybe that’s just me.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Or the viewer can choose to take on the role of their favourite player, put on an Oculus Rift, grasp their bat and face virtual deliveries in the comfort of their own TV room.

    I suspect they wouldn't stay in for very long. Maybe against some of the more obscure teams.like Ireland or Narnia.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Phil Wallington, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    NZ freelance technicians.. camera, sound, floor managers, technical producers and directors etcetera have been sidelined. Our crews are cheap as almost every freelancer is still working on decade old rates and sucking it up to stay in the industry. A decade or so ago we were undercutting other countries e.g. Australia and our crews were being referred to as talented "white Mexicans", willing to work long hours for meagre wages.
    It is a pity these is no strong union to speak out... and a greater pity that almost no one in Parliament gives a rat's arse.

    Waikawa Beach • Since Sep 2013 • 41 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ethan Tucker,

    We are generally very lucky in NZ (and probably Australia too) with the quality of our sports camerawork - they really know their jobs and make it so much easier to enjoy matches, whatever the sport.

    Not so with those Stadiums which we are told are a "Must Have".

    The "quick guide" to what you can bring to international cricket this summer is:

    You can take your own food into all venues as long as it is not commercially prepared (ie made by one of the hamburger chains, or pizza chains etc)
    You can definitely take water in unopened plastic bottles of up to 750mls to all venues
    You can take soft drinks in unopened plastic bottles of up to 750mls to all cricket venues EXCEPT Westpac Stadium*
    You CAN'T take glass, alcohol, drinks in opened plastic bottles, commercially prepared food and a number of other items into venues.

    According to Campell Live last night you are also not allowed a seat over 300mm in height or even a sun umbrella.
    You can, however, take a cricket bat, go figure.
    Better off at home with a big screen TV and yer Lion Red an' KFC eh?.

    * Westpac Stadium has restrictions that would make Kim Jong IL envious.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    bowling a googly…
    I note that Rayan Lee’s web site (http://www.2015-icccricketworldcup.com/) began on January 3 in Jaipur, (registered to one Jitendra Sharma, and the address seems to be an empty section on a cul de sac in Jhotwara, jaipur) and doesn’t seem to be officially linked to the ICC (insofar as I can ascertain) ..
    He seems awfully keen for us to follow the links
    - perhaps it is just a fan or perhaps it is a scam?

    I also note that the url seems to be live linking without doing the usual .. coding ???
    Has PA had an upgrade so just a web address suffices now?
    in which case it might be time to update the info for links below the response box....

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Has PA had an upgrade so just a web address suffices now?

    It has long been thus ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Hmmm.

    rayan lee is banned and I will clearly have to keep an eye out for similar live spammers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    The urly bird…

    It has long been thus …

    Where do I apply for a time refund on slavishly doing this: Link: [ [ url|link text] ] since Dec 2006?
    I coulda been a contender…
    but no, I’m ‘coding’ needlessly to add non address text (hiding the url)
    when many times I coulda just dropped the url link in…

    what will I do with all this free time ?
    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Daniel Sloan, in reply to Ethan Tucker,

    Yes, to a certain extent I think we forget how lucky we are. The end-of-year Northern Hemisphere All Black tours are always a mixed blessing because the quality of the rugby broadcasts and camera locations are appalling when compared to local coverage. I guess having live sport 24 hours a day means we get plenty of practice at filming it and producing a decent package.

    The Australians have got their V8 Supercar coverage down to a fine art and have rolled out new graphics for this year as well, but this now means the car number and colours are shown on screen, as well as a driver's position.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2014 • 2 posts Report

  • Brett Cochrane,

    Argh!

    Bollywood comes to cricket! Saw it last night and thought how ghastly.

    Let's all phone Sky complaints.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2015 • 1 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Daniel Sloan,

    Yes, to a certain extent I think we forget how lucky we are. The end-of-year Northern Hemisphere All Black tours are always a mixed blessing because the quality of the rugby broadcasts and camera locations are appalling when compared to local coverage. I guess having live sport 24 hours a day means we get plenty of practice at filming it and producing a decent package.

    Yes. We have production teams who understand rugby coverage and who are very skilled at what they do. I think it was last year that the All Blacks played in Argentina and the game was covered by a crew that clearly had no idea. It was quite a lesson in how much we rely on excellent replay coverage, for example.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    opining ceremony...

    We have production teams....

    ...and we have misproduction teams.

    is it just me?
    the bits that I saw of last night's Cricket World Cup opening ceremony were wordy and unwieldy and cringingly provincial in its preoccupations - an amateur drama society and business lobby committee must've been responsible, No singular vision showing - maybe I just missed the dynamic bits or the bits that related to cricket (aside from the clunky overscripted badly acted kids / caps cricket match)...
    but I only saw about half of it and it obviously wasn't fully live as the fireworks I saw on the horizon weren't on the telly simultaneously (unless I can see the future!)
    perhaps it's just me...

    oh it's Friday the 13th.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    is it just me?

    Definitely not just you. The 10-minute cricket skit that turned out to be a setup for John Key was just weird.

    Although many of us in the crowd on Twitter last night did take what might be described as a perverse pleasure in watching.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I hear the PM got booed again. Tide turning ... ?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sacha,

    the udders sway...

    I hear the PM got booed again...

    Surely not?
    That'll be 'mooed' - the sensitive stage microphones picking up the nearby intensive urban dairying, perhaps the burgeoning Merivale Herd - those cows can smell a salt lick and silage from miles away...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    the fireworks I saw on the horizon weren’t on the telly simultaneously

    C'mon Ian, you don't think what happens on the telly is real, do you? Next thing you'll be telling us the Gulf War actually happened?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    the Atrocity Exhibition...

    ...you’ll be telling us the Gulf War actually happened?

    It did! It did!
    Hill & Knowlton told me so...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Biobbs,

    Attachment

    Oops. Don't they proofread anything in ChChCh?

    The River Mouth, Denmark • Since Jan 2011 • 114 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Biobbs,

    sign of the times…

    The worlds greatest inaction!

    I suspect it’s not so much a proofreaders lapse
    as a Freudian Slip…
    We tell it like it is down here
    Inertia is the new paradigm,
    there’s even an Enervation Precinct!

    or was it just someone who doesn’t understand cricket!

    I for one miss the contemplative
    and meditative aspects of the game.
    Once upon a time at Lancaster Park
    one could feel the held breath
    and hear the bowler running in
    the slightly delayed sound
    of hard leather on willow
    a rising susurration of response
    sometimes roiling into applause
    respect and patience
    living in ’over ’time…

    nowadays – not so much,
    it’s all noise and stress
    and discordant elements
    it’s the modern way!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    M.I.A.
    whoops, I see I’m well behind the news cycle and comment on the ‘inaction’ sign was all over the twittersphere on the 12th!
    I'll have to go pell-mell to catch up with the peloton

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Daniel Sloan,

    Well the first game is on and it's like being in a time warp - 4:3 and graphics that don't go away when there's stuff happening in the background, with none of the glorious high/drone shots that we saw over summer, and constant close-ups on players just like the IPL to try and foster a contrived 'Gladiator' feel.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2014 • 2 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Daniel Sloan,

    Caught arise...

    Well the first game is on and...

    ...it looks like some lucky spectator in the orange 'nz music month t-shirt' has taken the requisite one-handed catch - hope they don't find some loophole to not pay out.

    <aside>
    catch in the wry....
    Speaking of not seeing what's in front of you (à la the inaction sign) - I just noticed the TAB's ad during the over break - obviously no txters or crossword fans on their new slogan's design team...
    'are you in' = R U IN!
    upping the ante christ?
    </aside>

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Apparently using a phone or computer while watching the cricket is considered courtsiding by NZ Police, courtsiding being letting people know what is happening in a match so they can place bets second earlier than those watching it on tv.
    Courtsiding is not illegal in NZ but it is against the terms and conditions of ticket sales.
    So, when have the Police been empowered to uphold terms and conditions in a private contract?.
    Just another example of corrupt practice by Police for the benefit of a private company.
    When will we make a stand against the erosion of our rights for the sake of business?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

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