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Post by Geoff on Oct 30, 2008 8:20:56 GMT
Can someone please tell me what fast track means.
A new TV program is currently being promoted as fast track. I have no idea what this means, nor do I understand what it means most times when I hear, or see, it. Some years ago I looked for a definition and found that a major project was said to be fast tracked when its implementation was commenced before all the planning and contractual arrangements were complete. That made sense; but today, it seems to have quite different meanings. Can anyone explain?
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Post by Dave on Oct 30, 2008 9:35:36 GMT
Entering in gives these results, one of which is a BBC travel programme. Could that be it?
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Post by TfS on Oct 30, 2008 10:26:09 GMT
Geoff,
I believe the term originated in the airline industry with the introduction of a special channel at major airports to permit the swift processing of First/Business/Gold Card passengers through security control thus avoiding the long queues at places like London Heathrow.
TfS
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Post by Vadim on Oct 30, 2008 11:27:21 GMT
Geoff, I believe the term originated in the airline industry with the introduction of a special channel at major airports to permit the swift processing of First/Business/Gold Card passengers through security control thus avoiding the long queues at places like London Heathrow. TfS I'd have to agree with this as the majority of times I hear "fast track" are in relation to some sort of que-jumping. Like the fast track passport service (1 day as apposed to 3 months!). Most of the time you pay for it, but some other uses would be at similar cost or even cheaper, like fast track ticket systems (book on Internet, pick up at the station) removing the need for a human. I suppose it could also be used for an idea, an event, a programme etc, I'm not sure.
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Post by Alan Palmer on Oct 30, 2008 11:42:45 GMT
We often refer to "fast-track" pupils who will, perhaps, take a course intended to last two years over one year.
It is, of course, a metaphor taken from the railways, where the fast track is reserved for the express trains, with the slow track being used by local, stopping trains.
I don't see what this could have to do with a TV programme, though, unless it is an educational programme.
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Post by Geoff on Oct 30, 2008 21:16:55 GMT
That is not the TV programme. The one being promoted here is some reality programme.
It was interesting to see a number of definitions similar to this one on Google. This coincides with the definition I found years ago. I think today fast track has a far more general meaning such as the queue jumping someone mentioned.
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Post by Geoff on Nov 2, 2008 3:04:33 GMT
The latest TV supplement from the daily newspaper contains a story titled, TV's deadly sins. The story discusses the three mortal sins which it claims are 1. Constant shuffling of programs, 2. Programs often running over time, and 3. Passing off repeat shows as original. The story twice mentions ' fast track', once in relation to the programme, The Amazing Race, the promos for which prompted me to start this thread. Here are the references to fast track, and perhaps someone can explain what is meant from the context. Channel 9 and Channel 10 have dumped or moved the most programs this year - [Channel] Nine recently moving Wipeout and Hole in the Wall and dropping Battlefronts.
[Channel] Seven has shuffled Ugly Betty, Prison Break, Lost and Jamie Durie's Outdoor Room.
Networks defend some of the shuffling by explaining the fast-tracking of imported shows can be problematic.
On occasion, shows have been so late in their delivery from the US that our networks have been forced, at short notice, to run replacement shows in given timeslots. Steve ABC is adamant he's representing the thoughts of many viewers in expressing his fury over networks starting shows late and having them run beyond their advertised timeslot. Networks are quick to suggest it's hard to stick to advertised starting and finishing times when a program is live, but [Steve ABC] says networks do run shows over simply to rob you of the chance to see the start of a program on an opposite channel.
"I'm p----d right off, the first new fast-tracked episode of The Amazing Race ran over so (after watching a recording of the show) I've got no bloody idea who was voted off," [Steve ABC] says.
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Post by Dave on Nov 3, 2008 1:17:14 GMT
Here are the references to fast track, and perhaps someone can explain what is meant from the context. Unless they are making these shows in a hurry at the last minute (why?), "fast track" doesn't seem to fit your examples contextually.
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Post by Geoff on Nov 3, 2008 5:19:54 GMT
Dave,
Do you mean that what you understand by 'fast track' doesn't fit the usage in the extracts I've given? If so, exactly what do you understand 'fast track' to mean?
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Post by Dave on Nov 3, 2008 7:18:16 GMT
Yes, I don't see "fast track" as shown in any of those Googled definitions as fitting your excerpts. The main one I think of concerns the overlapping construction phases. And certainly a dry race track is a fast track. So I don't understand how a possibly rushed (fast-tracked) TV program can be routinely late for showing. The programs like the ones listed are filmed/taped and edited much earlier to fit a time slot, not only for the first showing, but also for repeat and syndicated showings. Certainly transmitting the programs by satellite from source to Oz can't take much time!
Our networks also occasionally start a program purposely off-hour (e.g., 10:02), meaning really ending the previous show off-hour, just to keep the viewers on their channel.
True live programs like sports can go over time, but you can't fast track them!
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Post by Pete on Nov 3, 2008 17:53:10 GMT
Yes, I don't see "fast track" as shown in any of those Googled definitions as fitting your excerpts. The main one I think of concerns the overlapping construction phases. And certainly a dry race track is a fast track. So I don't understand how a possibly rushed (fast-tracked) TV program can be routinely late for showing. The programs like the ones listed are filmed/taped and edited much earlier to fit a time slot, not only for the first showing, but also for repeat and syndicated showings. Certainly transmitting the programs by satellite from source to Oz can't take much time! Our networks also occasionally start a program purposely off-hour (e.g., 10:02), meaning really ending the previous show off-hour, just to keep the viewers on their channel. True live programs like sports can go over time, but you can't fast track them! I think that what was being said was that some shows bought from abroad are not being delivered in time, so a substitute programme has to be, well, substituted on short notice, to fill the vacant slot. And it is this substitution on short notice that is being referred to as "fast tracking". For the record, I consider such a use of the phrase to be out of line with its original meaning or with the meanings that have developed therefrom. You'll notice that I didn't say that it was wrong!
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Post by Alan Palmer on Nov 3, 2008 20:31:28 GMT
Is it possible that these programmes that have been bought elsewhere are being shown instead of the regular programmes and are being fast-tracked in that way? In other words, they are shown in preference to the regular shows?
It may be some jargon used by TV (and possibly radio) programmers to which the public is not privy.
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Post by SusanB on Nov 5, 2008 13:42:12 GMT
Is it possible that these programmes that have been bought elsewhere are being shown instead of the regular programmes and are being fast-tracked in that way? In other words, they are shown in preference to the regular shows? That's what I would expect it to mean, too. But I can't decide quite what is meant, from the way it is written.
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Post by Geoff on Nov 5, 2008 21:25:19 GMT
Perhaps I have a pre-conceived idea of what fast track means. Fast track suggests some sort of hastening process. Showing one programme instead of another doesn't seem to suggest that, unless it is that the substituted programme is being shown ahead of its (otherwise) scheduled release. Is that what you mean?
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Post by Twoddle on Nov 5, 2008 22:47:28 GMT
Perhaps I have a pre-conceived idea of what fast track means. Fast track suggests some sort of hastening process. Showing one programme instead of another doesn't seem to suggest that, unless it is that the substituted programme is being shown ahead of its (otherwise) scheduled release. Is that what you mean? I can understand the use of "fast track" in a circumstance where a TV programme that was planned weeks in advance to be shown at a specific time has been replaced at very short notice by a new programme that's circumvented all the usual planning processes. There, the new programme has been "fast tracked". It strikes me that it's one of those pieces of jargon, like "grid lock", that started off with a precise meaning but has been mangled by know-nothing reporters etc., and now means virtually anything anyone wants it to mean.
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