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After
11 years on air C31's cult live motorsport tonight show In Pit Lane has
ended on a high becoming the stations most watched programme last
month. Ratings released Monday for the month of November showed In Pit
Lane had a peak viewing audience of over 83'500 people, making it the
Number One rated show on the station.
Programme
host Brett Ramsey was delighted at the results paying tribute to the
shows all volunteer crew who have worked together to create 39 first
run TV episodes in 2007, 24 live to air.
"It's
been so much fun, especially doing the live show which is unpredictable
to say the least" said Brett. "I'm very proud of our achievements,
we've been on air for 11 years now and in that time have done over 300
shows all for less than the weekly catering budget on shows like RPM or
Speedweek"
Despite
the great ratings result the future of the show looks highly doubtful
for 2008. The show has cost it's host and producer a lot of time and
money, and earlier in the year forced the sale of the family home in
order to pay off just some of the costs.
"We
have reached the stage now where it is simply not possible to go on
without some genuine financial support from a major sponsor." said
Brett. "Despite the support of Melbourne based Extreme experience
company "RallyDrive" the costs of doing the the show add up to to a lot
more than we can afford" he said.
Options
for the shows future include a possible move to pay TV but Brett says
that would mean the loss of tens of thousands of viewers. "we have been
made a very good offer on the pay TV platform but when you look at the
viewing numbers at the moment the figures don't add up." he said. By
way of comparison Foxsport's "Inside Speed" programme shown on the same
night as "In Pit Lane" has a national viewing audience of less than
12'000 viewers.
"If
we had the same viewing numbers on Fox as we currently get on C31 in
Melbourne alone, then we'd be far and away the highest rating
motorsport on pay TV." said Brett.
C31
management are keen to keep the show on the air, Tuesday night has
grown to become the stations highest rating night with not only "In Pit
Lane" but other Car and Bike related shows like "Gasolene" and Two
Wheel Torque" also getting regular high ratings.
"I'm
hoping we can find a way to come back" says Brett "Since our last show
I've been stopped on the street and in pubs and shopping centres by
people wanting to know what's happening and what they can do to help
us. Sadly it's beyond the point of having a whip around by viewers,
friends and family. We need to move on, to embrace digital production
and constantly improve. The shows main camera was damaged recently in
an accident while filming at Sandown raceway and we can not afford the
cost of repairs. It's now at the stage that without some serious
backing, we've run the final lap."
Although
the TV show that began in 1996 may be gone, the show will live on
on-line with a brand new website planned for 2008 as well as a
continuation of the shows Vodcast that last month received over 80'000
downloads from all over the world. But despite that it's the buzz of
live TV that Brett and the crew from "in Pit Lane" will miss most. The
adrenaline rush of going to air without a safety net and the challenge
to adapt at a moments notice.
"When
I was at School I always wanted to do live TV. C31 and RMITV gave me
that opportunity and I think I can speak on behalf of all our crews
over the year when I say thank you and may C31 continue to, thrive long
into the future, even if it's without us."
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