On The Box - Looking for a bit of rough.Broadcast Magazine - 03 October Trawling the outer reaches of the EPG, Stuart Burrage found the innuendoes flying on The Golf Channel while The Wrestling Channel failed to deliver the right sort of moves. Niche is the future of broadcasting, and most of us understand the reasons why. So I decided to explore two of the most narrow digital sports offerings around. Would The Wrestling Channel (TWC) at 427 on the Sky EPG and The Golf Channel at 423 on the Sky EPG deliver what they said on the tin? Dipping into TWC I was hoping for a mixed schedule of Big Daddy-esque pantomime-style wrestling and, for a bit of balance, some proper, ferocious "all-in" wrestling. But what I found was something called Irish Whip Wrestling set in a school hall with bright daylight beaming through unblanked windows. Squinting hard to see the action was tricky, because the camera technology used to capture this prestigious event seemed to have been acquired from Tandys circa 1985. Ring of Honour is another TWC serving. At least this American hall benefited from perimeter curtains, and the referee had an official looking striped shirt, but still, no legitimate "all-in" wrestling - why not? If TWC is to succeed in positioning its brand as the home of wrestling, it needs to offer both formats to its customers. Conversely, The Golf Channel is home to tranquil scenery and the plus-four brigade talking, teaching and playing. Both tunnel vision and remortgaging at least seven times is required to purchase every miracle gizmo and training aid. The tone of the channel is very American, aimed at the high-waisted trouser bunch. As a UK channel, I feel it would benefit from adopting some of the attitude reflected in the British magazine Golf Punk. Despite this oversight, The Golf Channel offered me something called a Big Easy Iron that promised an enlarged sweet spot, combo shaft and a firm head. Just who had they been speaking to? My paranoia dissolved when the programme Golf Talk began. Yes, you've guessed it, a panel of experts sit on bar stools in the middle of a golf course. I was already laughing when the anchor, who may or may not have been called Chuck, commented: "A game of golf reminds me of the presidential elections." What? The best piece of golfing advice I've heard comes from affable golf instructor Forrest Lynx, whose immortal tip is: "Playing golf is simple. It's just a matter of travelling smoothly up the leg of the fairway, through the bush and straight to the hole." Splendid - looks like I'll need that Big Easy Iron after all. Stuart Burrage is co-founder and executive producer at Airborne TV. |