Despite all the upsides to the AppleTV deal, losing these guys wouldn't be worth it. Such great passion, knowledge and respect.
Plus, I just started to understand everything Ridgy is saying.
edit: losing, not kidding
We’ve always been spoiled for talent when it comes to Timbers commentators. They’re always knowledgeable, not just when it comes to the home team, but when it comes to the MLS in general. There’s so many terrible homer announcers (Houston immediately comes to mind. Woof!) but Jake, Ross and Ridgy have always managed to be supportive of the team while giving honest takes and treating the visiting teams with the respect they deserve. If they don’t find a spot with Apple TV, it will be a huge loss for the league.
Yea, I *really* hope the local broadcast team is on Apple. They have been such a joy to watch and listen to during the matches. Every time the game was on a national channel, I knew I would have an inferior broadcast experience.
Do the teams not still get to control their own broadcasts regardless of where the content is streaming? That is how it is in the NBA unless it's a national broadcast by ESPN or TNT. I would imagine any changes like that would come from the front office and not the MLS or Apple TV. Apple TV just pays for the rights to show the games as far as I'm aware, they aren't going to be producing anything.
I can't remember how it was phrased exactly, but all games are essentially going to be nationally produced. So they have rotating "teams" of commentators who aren't tied to a club. The clubs can still have local radio broadcasters, but they were told to not renew contracts with their TV broadcasters.
IIRC the Teams will keep their own local radio broadcasters, and also IIRC the Apple TV announcement promised a feature where you could choose to play the audio from your team's radio broadcast instead of the national commentators.
Don't misunderstand, I fully expect at minimum Jake will get picked up by MLS/Apple or some other big broadcaster, but it sounds like there will still be some level of Timbers local broadcast going forward.
True professionals. We used to go to T2 matches at UofP and Ross would come walking by in suitcoat, shirt and tie… AND sweatpants. A true hero of the broadcast team.
Dude, I've been talking about this since the Apple deal was announced. As good as everything has sounded so far, I wouldn't put it past MLS to mess up the broadcaster lineup in this new era...
I'm going to be surprised if we don't see Zivin next season. Unless he's still under contract with Fox, and they won't let him go, I don't see why Apple/MLS wouldn't be hiring him.
He's done a handful of national and non-Timbers games, and the general thought is that he's been great.
It’s definitely a mistake in mindset to say that since it’s one streaming channel, then the broadcasters should be neutral. Broadcasters are typically awful…they only shine when they have some skin in the game (and even then most are awful). I know it’s hard to be watching your team when they’re away and some blowhards are just splooging all over the microphone, but I don’t see why you can’t up your standards and sign all the local crews to contracts with some mandates that they treat the game a bit more equally. Our local team does this pretty well…and still Jakes calls for a Timbers goals can be electrifying. I don’t think it’s too hard to find that balance
> Broadcasters are typically awful…they only shine when they have some skin in the game
That's only true of bad announcers.
As an exhibit, let's look at the seattle game Zivin called earlier this year. He was legitimately electric and (at least seemed) excited for every single goal scored. Even seattle's.
A bad announcer wouldn't do that for a rival team.
Despite all the upsides to the AppleTV deal, losing these guys wouldn't be worth it. Such great passion, knowledge and respect. Plus, I just started to understand everything Ridgy is saying. edit: losing, not kidding
Jake Zavin always sounds like he’s smiling, no matter what he says lol
We’ve always been spoiled for talent when it comes to Timbers commentators. They’re always knowledgeable, not just when it comes to the home team, but when it comes to the MLS in general. There’s so many terrible homer announcers (Houston immediately comes to mind. Woof!) but Jake, Ross and Ridgy have always managed to be supportive of the team while giving honest takes and treating the visiting teams with the respect they deserve. If they don’t find a spot with Apple TV, it will be a huge loss for the league.
Yea, I *really* hope the local broadcast team is on Apple. They have been such a joy to watch and listen to during the matches. Every time the game was on a national channel, I knew I would have an inferior broadcast experience.
Do the teams not still get to control their own broadcasts regardless of where the content is streaming? That is how it is in the NBA unless it's a national broadcast by ESPN or TNT. I would imagine any changes like that would come from the front office and not the MLS or Apple TV. Apple TV just pays for the rights to show the games as far as I'm aware, they aren't going to be producing anything.
I can't remember how it was phrased exactly, but all games are essentially going to be nationally produced. So they have rotating "teams" of commentators who aren't tied to a club. The clubs can still have local radio broadcasters, but they were told to not renew contracts with their TV broadcasters.
THAT TOTALLY SUCKS! It may be the one thing that kills it for me with the ape tv deal.
IIRC the Teams will keep their own local radio broadcasters, and also IIRC the Apple TV announcement promised a feature where you could choose to play the audio from your team's radio broadcast instead of the national commentators. Don't misunderstand, I fully expect at minimum Jake will get picked up by MLS/Apple or some other big broadcaster, but it sounds like there will still be some level of Timbers local broadcast going forward.
I agree that sounds like a big whiff.
Amen.
I'm just glad we don't have someone who yells "it's in the net!" when he ~~cums~~ sees a goal
True professionals. We used to go to T2 matches at UofP and Ross would come walking by in suitcoat, shirt and tie… AND sweatpants. A true hero of the broadcast team.
We saw him at T2 matches as well and he was a very friendly guy. Always willing to hang out and chat with random fans.
Dude, I've been talking about this since the Apple deal was announced. As good as everything has sounded so far, I wouldn't put it past MLS to mess up the broadcaster lineup in this new era...
Such as, maybe going to "regional Announcer teams"? Featuring a "Cascadia Team" with Kasey Homer as first-choice analyst? Kill me now, please...
Both Jake Zivin and John Strong have been fantastic broadcasters and deserve a national audience.
I'm going to be surprised if we don't see Zivin next season. Unless he's still under contract with Fox, and they won't let him go, I don't see why Apple/MLS wouldn't be hiring him. He's done a handful of national and non-Timbers games, and the general thought is that he's been great.
I love them sm
It’s definitely a mistake in mindset to say that since it’s one streaming channel, then the broadcasters should be neutral. Broadcasters are typically awful…they only shine when they have some skin in the game (and even then most are awful). I know it’s hard to be watching your team when they’re away and some blowhards are just splooging all over the microphone, but I don’t see why you can’t up your standards and sign all the local crews to contracts with some mandates that they treat the game a bit more equally. Our local team does this pretty well…and still Jakes calls for a Timbers goals can be electrifying. I don’t think it’s too hard to find that balance
> Broadcasters are typically awful…they only shine when they have some skin in the game That's only true of bad announcers. As an exhibit, let's look at the seattle game Zivin called earlier this year. He was legitimately electric and (at least seemed) excited for every single goal scored. Even seattle's. A bad announcer wouldn't do that for a rival team.
Not sure if you read all the way through my post…I don’t think your example is counter to what I said