Side-by-side (graphic)

Side-by-side is a type of split-screen presentation format used on television broadcasts, particularly as a means of continuing to show a view of ongoing live content, whilst simultaneously airing commercials alongside them. Typically, only the audio of the advertising is played.

The practice was initially synonymous with sporting events, with ESPN first having used the name for split-screen commercials during telecasts of auto racing (particularly IndyCar Series and NASCAR events, though the latter referred to these breaks as "NASCAR Nonstop").[1] Auto racing is one of several sports that do not have natural television timeouts; as races are only typically halted for reasons such as accident cleanup and inclement weather), there are no natural locations for commercial breaks besides caution periods — which vary based on race conditions (although under current NASCAR formats, all races are guaranteed to contain two competition cautions due to their new stage system).

The concept has since been adopted, at times, in other sports such as golf, as well as football and other non-sports events: although there are natural breaks in football, the content displayed in the live view may consist of behind-the-scenes content.

By network

ESPN and ABC

The technology uses a split-screen to show the feed of the live sports event on one side with no audio, while the traditional commercial is placed on the other side, with full audio. Typically, the square used for the commercial is larger and more prominent than that of the event. Sometimes, a small graphic showing the lap count and leaders' names accompanies the square, or the normal ticker is still shown in the layout. side-by-side is used during all national commercial breaks during the race but Side-by-Side is also used during local breaks.[2] Side-By-Side can also be used during the pre-race and the post-race segments. During red flag stoppage conditions, Side-by-Side has been used, but during lengthy delays, such as rain delay, commercials revert to traditional full-screen format.

ESPN first used Side-By-Side for an IndyCar event on March 19, 2005 during the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.[2][3] It was adopted for the entire season outside of Indianapolis. The format was first used for the Indianapolis 500 in 2006. Starting during the playoffs of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, ESPN began to use a similar feature during the second half of the race.[1]

When Formula One returned to ESPN in 2018, ESPN used Sky Sports's UK coverage, and again used the format for its first broadcast. However, following heavy criticism from fans (at times cutting off the commentators when they were in the middle of sentences), ESPN televised the remaining races of the season with no commercial breaks starting from the Bahrain Grand Prix.

TNT

NASCAR on TNT used a modified split-screen format for their broadcast of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona branded as "Wide-Open Coverage"; the running order ticker and all on-screen graphics were displayed in an enlarged panel at the buttom of the screen (race footage was displayed on the top portion of the screen). Commercials were instead shown in a box docked to the lower panel, while race footage continued to be displayed. Many of the commercials were unique and/or specially created for the race broadcast, and lasted up to 1–2 minutes in duration (as opposed to the 15-30 second duration of normal advertisements). Time was still provided for local ad breaks.[4]

The format was used from 2007 through 2012; the 2013 edition of the race discontinued the format.

NBCSN

Beginning in 2009, Versus, now known as NBCSN, became a new television partner with the IndyCar Series. During the race broadcast, they introduced IndyCar Non-Stop with a format and appearance nearly identical to that of Side-By-Side. The format has since been extended in 2013 to NBC/NBCSN's coverage of Formula One (branded as Formula One Non-Stop) until NBC lost the rights to ESPN for 2018, and again in 2015 in the networks' return to NASCAR (branded as NASCAR Non-Stop).

Fox

Fox, who started covering NASCAR[5] in 2001, resisted the use of the technology for many years. By about 2010, however, executives began exploring the concept.[5] In 2011, they conducted one experimental commercial break with a split-screen format.[5][6] Through 2011, Fox has preferred to air traditional, full-screen commercials, and if any action occurs during the break, their policy is to interrupt the commercial and return to the live action (e.g. at the 2013 Auto Club 400, the broadcast was in a commercial break when Clint Bowyer blew an engine and spun, so the feed immediately cut the commercial break right away; at the 2013 Aaron's 499, the feed was in commercial break when a crash occurred on lap 43). FOX returned to using the side-by-side coverage during the 2012 Daytona 500.

During coverage of the 2013 Cotton Bowl Classic, Fox began experimenting with a split-screen commercial format dubbed the Double Box, where commercials are displayed in a prominent widescreen box, accompanied by an "L-bar" with sponsor logos relevant to the commercial, and a small window showing continued live footage from the event (limited mostly to teams in the huddle and no actual gameplay, as the commercials took place, as normal, during a television timeout).[7] Fox also experimented with a similar format during American Idol, where selected breaks showcased behind-the-scenes camera feeds from the live broadcast[8]

In 2017, Fox introduced a similar presentation for short-form, in-game commercials displayed in the midst of a telecast, which are acknowledged and introduced by the commentator.[9][10]

RDS and TSN (Canada)

The French Canadian sports channel Réseau des sports (RDS, the French sister network of TSN), which is partially owned by ESPN, adopted a Side-By-Side-styled split-screen for its Formula One race coverage beginning in 2006. As TSN simulcasts the British feed, it was able to initially use ITV's commercial breaks. With the transfer of F1 rights to the BBC (and the fact that the BBC feed does not contain commercial breaks), Side-By-Side was introduced for F1 races on TSN beginning in 2009.

TSN has also adopted the format on curling telecasts, where the first few stones thrown of an end (which has typically occurred during commercial breaks on televised matches) are shown in such a split screen view.

Golf

In October 2013, Golf Channel introduced a similar feature known as Playing Through (referencing a courtesy in golf for groups playing faster to overtake groups playing slower).[11] CBS uses a nearly-identical format under the title Eye on the Course.

Criticism

Side-By-Side and its similar counterparts have been generally received with positive reviews from viewers, sponsors, and sanctioning bodies.[2][12] It has been criticized by others.[13]

The format receives criticism because it potentially devalues the advertisements, costing networks revenues, and waning the interest of the advertisers.[1] In addition, it has led to speculation that a similar technology might be implemented for in-game advertisements.[7]

gollark: Oh no, how DARE they talk about a bug shown by a public published binary.
gollark: I didn't make any analogies like that, and this doesn't seem to have been a security issue. Additionally, based on your displayed attitudes I doubt there would have been a bug report without them forcing it.
gollark: Basically all of them encourage different ones.
gollark: Assembly language compiling to websocket frames.
gollark: Hmm...

References
  1. Demmons, Doug (2011-10-23). "ESPN pleased at how its NASCAR Nonstop coverage is working". Birmingham Sports. al.com. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
  2. "ABC Sports, ESPN to debut split screen for continuous IndyCar coverage". Newsrooms. BroadcastEngineering. 2005-02-25. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
  3. "ESPN2 to provide in-car camera simulcast of opening race". News Archive. IndyCar.com. 2005-03-02. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
  4. "A woman's place is in the booth". New York Daily News. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  5. Engle, Greg (2011-05-15). "FOX surprises with side-by-side experiment during NASCAR coverage". NASCAR.
  6. "TV/MEDIA/NETWORK MAGAZINE NEWS and RUMORS". Fox Sports boss David Hill discusses NASCAR TV coverage. Jayski.com. 2011-07-05. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
  7. Paulsen (2013-01-04). "FOX Debuts "Double Box" Commercial Break Format During Cotton Bowl". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  8. Steinberg, Brian (2014-02-19). "Fox Expands Test of Ads, 'American Idol' Running Simultaneously". Variety. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  9. Littleton, Cynthia; Littleton, Cynthia (2017-08-31). "Fox Sports to Offer Six-Second Ad Spots in Football, Baseball Telecasts". Variety. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  10. "Fox to bring the 6-second ads back for its NFL Thanksgiving game". Awful Announcing. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2019-03-03.
  11. "Golf Channel Debuts Playing Through Advertising Format for European Tour's Final Series". Golf Channel press release. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  12. Pistone, Pete (2011-05-17). "Idle Thoughts: Side-by-side a surprise". Eye on NASCAR. cbssports.com.
  13. "2006 TV Commercial News". More on the Split-screen for TV. Jayski.com. 2006-07-28. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
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