Orienteering on TV – great potential

By Björn Persson

rienteering is rapidly developing into a sport for television. The last O Olav Lundanes was interviewed by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation after his first World 6 years have seen a number of high- Championship gold. quality TV productions. Photo: WOC2010

In 2008, the World Orienteering broadcasting in Czech Republic. and I am always thinking about the Championships productions were added value of the production. A made by National Czech Television “For us, the catalyst was the successful good relationship between TV, course with Karel Jonak as host broadcaster live TV production of the World planners and the organising committee director. Jonak is a very experienced Championships 2008. Thanks to the saves money and can prevent many sports producer with FIS Nordic cooperation between the head office problems. Then you need emotions, World Ski Championship, FIBA World of Czech TV, the organising committee, nice pictures and the story. To give you Championship for Women, World Cup course setters and others, we realised an example, the drama at the World events in skiing, cycling, gymnastics, our vision of creating a new model Orienteering Championships relay has volleyball and several Olympic Games for live TV production of orienteering. in the last three years been beyond to his credit. He is the recipient of two Since then, another two World price.” “We should not forget the internet prestigious awards from Fédération Championships have been successfully audience. The situation has changed Yle believes Internationale Cinéma Télévision televised, which has meant that TV A regular TV sport and live TV is not the only means of in orienteering Sportifs (FICTS) Sport Movies & TV stations have begun to recognise viewing TV programs. Each orienteering Challenge. that orienteering is attractive to a TV Nowadays the Czech Orienteering competition is viewed by between 20 Markku Jylhäsalo, Head of Sport at orienteering have significantly improved audience.” Championships are broadcast and 30 thousand people on the Czech Finland’s national public service and today’s course planners take TV well A new model for production regularly and the sprint is always live. TV website.” broadcasting company, Yle, agrees into account. No room for being average Both the sprint and middle distance with Karel Jonak about the potential of Karel Jonak has been producing from this year’s World Orienteering Jonak believes that orienteering has orienteering as a TV sport. “Orienteering has really developed into orienteering on TV since 2007 and Jonak had little experience of Championships featured in the great potential and a bright future as a a good sport for TV”, Jylhäsalo says. he is enthusiastic about recent orienteering when he began to plan broadcasting schedule. A couple sport for live TV. “Orienteering is an interesting sport developments in orienteering the World Orienteering Championships of months ago Czech TV started with great values. In Finland it attracts a In addition to the World Orienteering production for 2008. He had intended preparations for next year’s World Cup. “The fact that you simply cannot tell large audience: the World Orienteering Championships, Yle, this year, to take a look at earlier TV productions the story just by using TV cameras gives Championships 2010 had more than broadcast an all night live production of of orienteering and then decide what to “I am proud to tell you that orienteering you the possibility to vary the product 220 000 viewers. This is over 20% of the the Jukola relay and all three World Cup do. However, he quickly found out that has become a regular TV sport in the and utilise multi-media. Using GPS market share and that is a really good events of the Nordic Orienteering Tour. there were few examples of complex Czech Republic”, Karel Jonak says. tracking and other technologies in the result.” “We aim to show as much orienteering orienteering productions. Therefore, right way we can create a unique and in the future”, Jylhäsalo confirms. In he decided to basically create the A bright future attractive mixture for the TV audience. The World Orienteering Championships 2013, Yle will broadcast all finals of the production model from scratch. Of course, you have to educate the TV attracted a larger audience in Finland World Orienteering Championships in According to Jonak, there is nothing to spectators to watch orienteering: there than the traditionally very popular Finland. “What I try to avoid is being average. stop orienteering from becoming even should be an all year TV production Formula 1 and UEFA Champions League. I start planning as early as possible more visible on TV. The viewer ratings model to keep the sport at the forefront “The World Championships in of orienteering in the Czech Republic of people’s minds and to ensure On the right track Finland are a big challenge for both are already equal to basketball, continuity. All in all, I am very confident the organiser and Yle. We are going volleyball, and horse racing. And it that orienteering can be as attractive Markku Jylhäsalo compliments recent to utilise all available tools and Jonak believes that orienteering can compete is not only on TV that orienteering is for TV as, for example, biathlon or cross developments in orienteering that have expertise to reveal what is happening with established and attractive TV sports. popular, Karel Jonak points out. country skiing.” made the sport more spectator friendly. in the forest. We are eager to develop According to Jylhäsalo, TV broadcasts of orienteering broadcasting.”

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