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What is TV Commentary?
A TV commentary may be required in an outdoor event telecast or in a pre-recorded film: As it is delivered out of vision (DDV), the voice quality and the commentary itself take on added importance.
Scripting a TV Commentary:
The commentary and video should merge as one whole. The visuals may be self-explanatory or require commentary to accompany them. The commentary must fit the video with great precision. It is for this reason that the commentary must be well-scripted. Of course the quality of the commentary can make or mar the video. The words used to depict ideas and thoughts and perceptions must be apt, clear and contain a natural flow of their own.
Presenting a TV Commentary:
The commentator's voice, diction, inflection, tone, speed, accent, stress on the right syllables, pauses at the correct junctures, all assume importance. When the face, gesture and other non-verbal expressions are not in view, the voice, its quality and manner of expression take on an added significance. The commentator must also match the visuals on the screen and explain the context of the action being shown. The timing of the commentary should be precise and coincide with the pictures. This is especially the case in a pre-recorded programme. In a running commentary for a direct telecast of an outdoor event, firstly the event is news worthy and as a consequence, its video coverage is extremely important.
Secondly, a lot of preparation goes into 'scripting' the commentary. Research and collection of interesting aspects about the event and its precedents ought to be carried out and all information double-checked, as this would be a basis to deliver the commentary. It is best to leave the running commentary unscripted, while at the same time referring to the information you have accumulated for the purpose of your ‘script’.
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