The Senior moving away from Friday?

[steve-e]

http://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-m ... iday-slot/

Organiser: fundamental change needed

Are plans in place to move the Senior TT out of its traditional bank holiday Friday slot?

Motorcycle News has run a story claiming live television coverage of the racing in future will mean sweeping changes to the event schedule.

It quotes a member of the government’s TT organising team, who says racing would take place over two weekends to fit in with broadcasters.

He says discussions will need to take place with a number of people before any decision can be made.

The MCN piece quotes Paul Phillips, who says when rather than if live broadcasting comes to the TT, schedules will need a rethink.

He told the paper “Which other major sporting events climax on a working day?”

“Racing on a Friday afternoon is not good for live television so I think the big thing that will have be worked through with the ferry company, the airlines, the teams, the riders, the government and Vision 9 is a fundamental schedule change.”

Manx Radio has contacted Mr Phillips for comment.

[Welsh Daph]

Would the Marshall's be happy with that? At the end of the day they need them, how many times do we hear them appealing for people to come forward to Marshall otherwise racing won't be able to continue. There will have to be a lot more thought put into this surely.

[steve-e]

I can't see it myself but hey, it would take years to happen

[petercaughlin]

He Quotes" What other live sporting events finish on a working day" try bluddy Wimbledon

[petercaughlin]

Probably have to correct myself I basically meant that most of Wimbledon is total coverage on working days I realise the main one is Saturday,but anyway I`m sure the people who run the TT will find a way to make it more inconvenient for the participants and spectators, just for the sake of TV coverage

[Phil Davies]

This sort of thing was always going to happen once the IOM Gov handed organisation of the TT to an outside company - especially so when the company has to find all the money to promote the event (so the IOM Gov can 'save' the promoting costs from its budgets).

Thin end of the wedge if you ask me, because 'just' TV rights fees will not cover all the expenses, a next logical step is to charge for viewing in 'controlled' areas - using the need to 'control' on the basis of fans 'health and safety'.
The company will move things around to suit themselves and only when the Marshalls spark up in protest will the penny drop that those ('free') people are actually needed for the event.
I hope I am proved wrong.......

[Welsh Daph]

It's been corrected now,so panic over!!