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Originally Posted by Balletto
You guys dont understand.... they're trying to make the BC and horse racing in general more popular with sports fans. Racing is lacking in the single most important demographic... the 15-35 yo bracket.
To get some of those viewers, they put their two most liked on-air personalities to cover the BC. Kenny Mayne is well liked across the board and Chris Fowler is probably the one personality with the biggest fanbase, especially with viewers in their 20's. For those who dont know, he hosts College Game Day and is beloved by most.
To hook the fans, its going to take more than showing the horses prancing on the track. Its going to take these familiar personalities hooking the new viewers by making the sport seem "cool" and not a has-been event.
To the regular sports fans who turned to the BC with no prior knowledge, the only thing of familiarity are Kenny and Chris. Its important you take the complications of the sport out of the equation, and appeal to the broadest audience possible. The post parade is not exciting for the average viewer... but we know, as seasoned fans, how important it can be. Dont sell the coverage short for trying to help our sport grow.
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I find myself agreeing with Balleto alot today haha...
I have a friend who is working at ESPN and they are very serious about expanding the fan base of the sport. Balleto is right, they put Mayne and Fowler on the coverage because of their mainstream connection. Especially Fowler. They took him AWAY from College Gameday, which is one of the network's premier productions to exclusively work this today. That is a telling sign right there. NBC used to have Bob Costas, but not for blanket coverage...that went to the lesser names like Tom Hammond and Bob Neumirer.
Fowler is a star at the network. The popularity he has with Kirk Herbstreet, and Lee Corso is amazing, and it's primarily with the younger crowds that follow college football. Thats what they are looking to do here in making in roads to the younger audience.
Balleto made most of the good points, and kudos for that
Just wanted to add my two cents!