We had two wonderful evenings of top-class badminton telecast live from Birmingham. They are the AE Semi-Finals on Sat and the Finals, last evening ending at about 1.30 am this morning.

As most posters will know, we want to give the IBF some feedback on the state of badminton as we see it and the TV coverage at the AE is something that we can comment on.

What do you think of this latest coverage by the Baofe? My personal opinion is that it is generally good, much better than many other TV telecasts that we have seen before. Baofe had set a very high standard, including the electronic LIVE results on its website and I hope this is the benchmark for other countries to emulate. I can think of the following highlights:

1. Technically good pictures, including zooming in on players and their equipment as in service.

2. Close-ups of players and line-calls/disputes. Lin Dan dyed his hair brown, so did Ra Kyung-min! Lin again proved rather dramatic with his theatrics.

3. Brief write-up on players' "Route to the Finals" and some commentary on their background whenever posssible.

4. Audio was good, we can hear loud and spontaneous cheering in the stands, whistles, horns, etc.

5. Also, the cameras zoomed-in on the spectators and the cheer groups and their noise-making apparatuses.

6. During breaks, the cameras took close-ups and telecast the conversations between the coaches and the players.

Can you think of more. What else do you like to see?

Interviews of players before and after the matches, with interpreters if necessary?

A brief write-up on players' past accomplishments along with their "Route to the Final"?

Interviews of the coaches too? What else?

Players' clothings, names on shirts, hairstyles, accessories.

What about the officials, especially the umpire?

The music, the interior decor, the lighting?

The cheerleaders and their equipment. Are these too subdued?

What further improvements can be made?

Would like to see that sort of TV angles extended to other tournaments.

The S'pore Open is one very poor because of being so high up. There is no perspective of the speed of the shuttle.

However, if one of the cameras was at near player height, the perspective of speed becomes much more apparent...

Those are really nice improvement. I concur with cheung comments, lets get those standards onto other tournaments. Don't just stop with these improvement, make it a objective to continuously seeking more improvement, aiming standard of high level competition of other sport events.

As an audio person, i like to see better microphones and maybe have a professional consultant advising mic placement. This way, i can play back on dvd with sound quality like movies. Imagine hearing those smashes/drives/clear shots, squeaking sounds of shoes, sharp and clear, like me being there. I'm sure IBF can sell more dvds too.

Fantastic Coverage, Although Not sure I like seeing the crowd though-You could see me, making notes on the matches on Friday!

Not a pretty sight.

When did umpires go casual? I was surprised to see the umpire for a final match in a shirt and knitted sweater, no tie or jacket. He looked like he was out for an afternoon stroll in the park. Line judges wearing comfortable clothes I can understand, but I thought it looked a bit odd for the umpire, especially in the finals, to be dressed down. At Wimbledon, even the line judges wear jackets (except when it's really hot, then they're allowed to take them off, but only if the umpire does so too).

I think that fairly common now, in some of videos i got from i think malaysian/indonesian open the umpires wear polo shirts.

Originally posted by cooler
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As an audio person, i like to see better microphones and maybe have a professional consultant advising mic placement. This way, i can play back on dvd with sound quality like movies. Imagine hearing those smashes/drives/clear shots, squeaking sounds of shoes, sharp and clear, like me being there. I'm sure IBF can sell more dvds too.
Thanks Cooler. I think this is a good suggestion.

Originally posted by jamesd20
Fantastic Coverage, Although Not sure I like seeing the crowd though-You could see me, making notes on the matches on Friday!

Not a pretty sight.
So you're one of the unseen coaches? You've got Lin Dan's towel in exchange for your tips? But, pls don't leave your gf alone for too long.;)

Glad you concurred.

Originally posted by Loh
Thanks Cooler. I think this is a good suggestion.

No problem;)
To add, the setup don't have to be super professional like THX, DTS, AC-3, DD, or 5.1, just better mics and put some at or near court level would do the trick.

Unlike most other sports, there are many sound types generated by badminton; net spin, drive, clear, smash, slice, oval vs isometric racquets, string type, string tension, shoe type, maybe brand of shuttles used too. We can hear the players panting and know who's tired or not, umpire calls, players talking with partner, etc...

For me the best thing was the lack of coverage of the ladies events.

I wonder who decided what would be televised. BAofE or SKY Sports?

Most annoying thing was when the coverage restarted after the break between games. We got commercials, and then Gill Clark often said, "what a wonderful insight we had there listening in on the coach talking to the players", but didn't tell us what had been said.

It is a decision of IBF that umpires should wear casual.

It should make them look :confused: more friendly

regards,
dzgdz

For me the best thing was the lack of coverage of the ladies events.

;) You said it, not me!!!

On the Saturday the womens events were run on the outside courts while the mens events and best mixed were on the centre court, I assume this policy ment there was always a mens match on offer, sidelining the womens events.

There were some good womens matches, Mia in the singles semi was ok.

and from the scorelines and durations, Zhou Mi's matches against Xie Xinfang and Zhang Ning look like they would have been good to watch.