# Australian Open TV Coverage

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-tv-coverage/482268>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [January 21, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-tv-coverage/482268 "2009-01-21T05:19:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-tv-coverage/482268/1 "2009-01-21T05:19:47Z")

</div>

Hey, idiot producers. I know there are some great, dramatic matches being played on the outer courts of the stadium. But guess what? It’s no good sending a single camera out there to show us what’s going on because it’s nigh impossible to follow a tennis match on TV _ **when the camera is a court level** _!!!

Either set up a proper camera angle or forget it. :mad:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GeromeK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@GeromeK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeromeK)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-tv-coverage/482268/2 "2009-01-21T06:01:20Z")

</div>

Where are you watching from? The Australian coverage has seemed to be mostly competent, if you can get past Channel Seven’s constant shilling of their new programming.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-tv-coverage/482268/3 "2009-01-21T06:07:45Z")

</div>

> [@GeromeK](#):
>
> Where are you watching from? The Australian coverage has seemed to be mostly competent, if you can get past Channel Seven’s constant shilling of their new programming.

I’m watching ESPN in the US. The coverage is OK, except for when they put 2 (or more) matches on the screen at the same time! And that outer court nonsense.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GeromeK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@GeromeK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeromeK)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-tv-coverage/482268/4 "2009-01-21T09:38:13Z")

</div>

I have trouble enough following the ball when one match takes up the entire screen, let alone splitting them up. Understandable that you’re frustrated then.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-open-tv-coverage/482268/5 "2009-01-21T09:58:26Z")

</div>

Um, it’s because the big name-cards are allocated to play on centre court whilst the unknowns and the dodgy wild-cards get shunted out to the boondocks of the outers…and funnily enough, most people want to watch the seeded players, not the anonymous hackers, no matter how terrific and dramatic their matches might be.

Sad state of affairs, but the media pander to what sells, and players ranked 586 in the world don’t stand a chance against the top-seeded superstuds and supermodels currently strutting the tennis stage.