SUPERCARS RETHINKS TV UPHEAVAL

By Bruce Williams

Date posted: 31 December 2020

Supercars rethinks TV upheaval – Images: InSyde Media

Larko back, Crompo stays, Skaifey secure, Lowndesy set, Murph on the fringe.

By MARK FOGARTY

That’s the evolving outlook for the main Supercars commentary team as controversy continues over plans to give the TV coverage a new look – and sound – next year.

Supercars bosses are back-tracking over their ill-judged decision to sack popular pit lane pundit Mark Larkham and reviewing other proposed changes.

Behind the scenes, returning free-to-air TV partner Seven is reacting to the Larko uproar.

Larkham will get an offer of reinstatement – if he returns V8 supremo Sean Seamer’s calls, which he hasn’t.

He is reluctant, justifiably feeling slighted by Supercars’ off-handed dismissal.

AUTO ACTION understands Larko will not even consider entertaining renewal discussions until after well into next month.

Neil Crompton’s continued position as ‘The Voice Of V8s’ is set to be resolved early in the New Year.

Broadcast industry sources confirm that the Larko outcry has ‘spooked’ Supercars senior management about making big changes to the on-air line-up.

Crompo’s status has been up in the air due to Supercars senior management’s determination to ‘de-technify’ the race commentary in the new five-year Fox Sports/Seven broadcast rights deal.

It is now understood he will be re-signed alongside Mark Skaife, whose analyst/commentator role is protected by main rights holder Fox Sports.

Fan favourite Craig Lowndes will return – but only as a desk analyst. He has no interest in reporting from the pit lane, where he was clearly uncomfortable during this year’s disrupted season.

Kiwi Bathurst 1000 legend Greg Murphy has admitted he is not returning to the pit lane on a regular basis due to travel restrictions – and, unsaid, cost reasons – but will make limited appearances, most likely at Mount Panorama in October.

Fox Sports’ Jess Yates will continue as the main host of the broadcasts, which will be simulcast on Seven.

It looks like Seven Sport personality Mark Beretta will appear on the desk at some events and be in the pit lane at others.

AA understands there is no chance a dedicated race-caller will be installed to moderate between Skaife and Crompton.

While fans hope Larko will return with his quirky tech tutorials, there is no guarantee he will respond to Seamer’s post-fan outrage entreaties.

Make no mistake, Larko is aggrieved and disenchanted. It will take a lot to get him back.

A potential moderator in the commentary uproar is Channel 7, which is remaining neutral on Larko while professing to want to cater to dedicated fans, who support Larkham and Crompton.

Seven is promising to treat Supercars seriously and doesn’t want to alienate core followers.

In an exclusive interview with AUTO ACTION, Seven Sport boss Lewis Martin revealed he wanted to retain the essence of the established expert commentary.

Asked if Crompton was a foundation of the broadcasts, Martin said: “Yes, definitely”.

He added: “We’re not coming in to dismantle the heritage or the pillars of V8 Supercars. Quite the opposite. We don’t want huge amounts of change by any means.”

Amid speculation Supercars Media, which produces the coverage, will employ a rotation of hosts and pit lane reporters, Martin hinted that there would be movement around a core of presenters.

“You’re definitely going to see some changes and that will all be revealed in the New Year,” Martin told AA. “But you won’t see dramatic change. Our Sport philosophy is to keep things moving, keep it at a fast pace.

“The sport itself is king, so you don’t necessarily want the entire day dominated by who’s commentating. The great commentators simply make the sport itself compelling viewing. We’re looking to extract those stories. But don’t anticipate a dramatic shift by any means.

“But we’re definitely looking to refresh. It’s about getting to really understand the spirit and soul of racing, and then working out how we share that. I don’t like saying sell it because it’s not a difficult sell. We need to be able to share it and be consistent.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work in the background, but for all intents and purposes, we’ve been doing a lot of talking. Come February 26 (first day of Supercars season-opener at Bathurst), we’ll start to do our walking.

“But we’re really confident about what we’re going to bring to motor sport. From where motor sport’s been to where we intend and where we believe it can go, we’re very confident.”

Seven is not able to dictate commentators, hosts and reporters – much less the overall telecast format – because Fox Sports is the actual broadcast rights holder, effectively on-selling the FTA deal, which is worth only a fraction of the $40 million a year agreement from 2021-25.

Fox Sports mostly leaves it up to Supercars Media, headed by Nathan Prendergast, to decide the on-air talent apart from the main host. Foxtel’s sports network can also demand the inclusion of high-profile experts like Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes.

But while Seven technically has little say in the presentation of the simulcast coverage, Supercars is allowing it more influence because of the importance of the extra viewers the free TV network can attract.

Seven vies with Nine for FTA TV ratings supremacy.

For more of the latest Supercars news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.

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SUPERCARS RETHINKS TV UPHEAVAL

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