The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup gets underway on Saturday with the first match from Christchurch between New Zealand and runners-up of the 2011 edition of the tournament Sri Lanka. Despite the tournament matches not starting until Saturday, there have already been some complaints made by viewers over the TV graphics packaged used by the host broadcaster (India’s Star Sports).
The New Zealand Herald is reporting that Sky TV has already received a handful of complaints from viewers over the host broadcast graphics package, which Sky Sports NZ (it is the broadcaster of the event in NZ) viewers have been able to see during coverage of the televised warm-up matches. The on-screen graphics for match broadcasts have yet to be seen by Australian audiences as neither Fox Sports nor Channel Nine broadcast the warm-up games (read more about that here).
On reviewing highlight videos on the Official World Cup website, the graphics are nice and bright and present all the key information you would expect during a cricket broadcast (the intro video is also great). The issue for viewers to date has been about the form of the status bar at the bottom of the screen (see screen shots below).
NZ media commentator Russell Brown on his Hard News Blog wrote that:
“Some version of this video game-like status bar, bobbleheads and all, takes up the bottom of the screen though most of the live action, including when deliveries are bowled…And when shots are played…”
The photos on the status bar do seem a little distracting seeing as viewers are already watching those players play and probably do not need to be reminded with an on-screen photo.
Lets hope the new graphics package does not cause too much consternation among viewers when the tournament gets underway on Saturday. Maybe if the host broadcaster drops the “bobbleheads” from the status bar for its tournament match coverage no more complaints to local broadcasters will be made.
Despite these complaints, cricket fans should be excited for the TV coverage over the next 49 days as Star Sports is promising “an unrivaled spectator experience on their viewing platforms”. The host broadcaster will:
- cover all matches in high definition (including 7 matches in 4K);
- have at least 29 cameras at each match covering all the action, including Ultramotion cameras, Spidercam at 13 matches and the drone camera at all the knock out matches; and
- use Real Time Snicko and LED stumps; and
- have more than 30 commentators featuring 20 World Cup winners and 26 World Cup semi-finalists.
The host broadcaster is also promising “other innovative features” for the latter stages of the event.
The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup begins this Saturday with New Zealand v Sri Lanka, followed by Australia v England.
References:
Annoying and ‘ugly’ coverage by ESPN just not cricket
CWC 2015: Contains graphic horror
New Broadcast Features all set to make ICC Cricket World Cup Cricket’s ‘Greatest’ Extravaganza
Is there anywhere or is it any use complaining about those infuriating graphic?
I agree. These graphics are hopeless. You can’t see the cricket. There has to be somewhere you can complain directly to those with some authority to change it. The normal coverage showed all the information necessary without taking your attention away from the action. I find it so distracting I am considering turning to the radio instead.