by docmartin » Sun Dec 06, 2015 8:34 am
1. Like with all sports it is by no means just about skiing and certainly not all about the technique. This is competition. The drama is in the storyline and the context of the athletes backgrounds, injuries, challenges, standings, the history of the venue... There are no heroes and no villains without commentary, no one to root for. Not to mention that even dumb commentary can have entertainment value, spark discussion, reflection and create insight.
The technique is actually a minor aspect. If I want to watch technique there are better things than World Cup races on TV. I'll put in a Harb DVD or watch one of countless youtube videos (including tons of races). That is far more useful than watching a world cup race unfold in real time.
2. Without commentary the chances to watch any of these races live on a TV at my house - and I suspect many others - are zero. There is no way the wife and kids will subject themselves to watching 50 guys that they know little about going down the same track for 1 1/2 hours with only the wind whistling through the speakers. See above - commentary creates viewer engagement through a storyline and context.
3. Assuming the survival of ski broadcasting and streaming in the U.S. depends on viewership I can guarantee you that those numbers will be much lower without commentary. The Super Bowl without commentary would be a niche affair at best.
4. Without viewership ski racing is obviously doomed. It's already a pathetic sport in the U.S. I can watch the world series of poker on TV but not the World Cup? I was on a flight not long ago with Lindsey Vonn sitting right behind me. No one recognized her. No heroes, no interest, no money. The annual top 10 earners in ski racing bring tears to my eyes considering the price they pay in effort and injuries. Like it or not, TV makes heroes but not if it is a silent movie.