- This topic has 60 replies, 32 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 10 months ago by
.
- Posts
I hope it isn’t true. I have always enjoyed BBC’s Grand National coverage. They put on a great show every year i find.
The moments before the Grand National are intense enough. Every year as they circle round at the start i break into a cold sweat and am overcome with a feeling of anxiety, excitement and nerves to the point where i am literally shaking. The last thing we need while all this is going on is for this to come through the TV speakers…
"As the 40 runners circle round… we’re gonna take a quick break!"
I actually don’t think i would survive the entire broadcast.
The last thing we need while all this is going on is for this to come through the TV speakers…
"As the 40 runners circle round… we’re gonna take a quick break!"I’ve managed to see yesterday’s Racing Post article and there’s more in today’s paper.
Jim McGrath rightly says: "Having the Grand National and Royal Ascot on the BBC, you’re sending out a message that they are great traditional events.
"Despite what anyone might say about the BBC — and in many cases the criticism is justified — it does give gravitas to the events."
Ironic to be talking about British traditions, coming from an Australian commentator.
Jimmy Lindley says: "The biggest events should be on the BBC and I think racing will suffer if they lose it.
"The world thinks the BBC is the most prestigious channel and I think it will be detrimental to racing if the best races leave."
Quite right. Clare Balding seems to have given up the ghost already, saying: "The history and legacy (of BBC racing) has been very beneficial."
The more I think about it, it would be a great shame if the BBC lost these meetings, especially Royal Ascot and the Grand National.
No mention of the Welsh National at Chepstow (rescued from the axe initially) but even that seems more suited to the BBC than Channel 4.
The point about taking an ad break just before the runners come under orders for the National is a very good one. In fact, Channel 4 would probably fit in two breaks, not one, as they often do before big races. Then there would be another break just after the winner has pulled up (and the rider has been interviewed by Alice).
Imagine one of those awful 30-second bookmaker breaks inside the actual programme just as the parade has finished. "This programme will resume in 30 seconds".If the BBC loses Racing, it only has itself to blame. Racing is not as big in the public mind as it once was. But look at the hours the BBC dedicate to sports like Snooker and Bowles. Not to mention the almost entirely regional sport of Rugby League.
If the BBC want to throw out everything bar the kitchen sink; can you blame social workers wanting to take baby and bathwater away too?.
It may well be the BBC can see much more controversey ahead and want out, before they are forced to make a tricky decision.
Expect more negative BBC reports/documentaries if BBC don’t have any racing.
Value Is EverythingBBC do a great job with the Grand National. But they seemed to do a great job with Cheltenham, before C4 took over.
Be thankful of Royal Ascot without the BBC fashion team. Hang on though, does that mean that Irish woman gets top billing?
Value Is EverythingAgreed JJM, they so got their knickers in a twist with last year’s National with the apparent whip abuse and unfortunate fatalities. What the hell is our license fee being spent on nowadays?
Football highlights and dancing shows
If the BBC loses Racing, it only has itself to blame. Racing is not as big in the public mind as it once was. But look at the hours the BBC dedicate to sports like Snooker and Bowles. Not to mention the almost entirely regional sport of Rugby League.
If the BBC want to throw out everything bar the kitchen sink; can you blame social workers wanting to take baby and bathwater away too?.
It may well be the BBC can see much more controversey ahead and want out, before they are forced to make a tricky decision.
Expect more negative BBC reports/documentaries if BBC don’t have any racing.
I will second that!!!
I don`t think the BBC deserve to keep the Grand National meeting coverage. They are very uncomfortable with it.There is no longer any context for the race for the casual BBC viewer unless they happen to recall the odd runner who may have taken part in the Welsh National.
There is a little more flat racing coverage so not certain about Royal Ascot. They`ve lost The Derby before anyway.
I was sorry they lost the Cheltenham coverage and didn`t think C4 improved on it at all. But that was then and BBC Racing has careered downhill since
Gingertipster is right, Channel 4 have done a superb job of covering Cheltenham and they give the Gold Cup the respect it deserves. If anything Cheltenham feels much more special than it did back in the early 1990’s.
There’s no reason why they can’t do the same for the Grand National. The days of mass viewing events are starting to fade, and if anything the mass audience on BBC1 for the National is harming the race.
I don’t know if it’s been mentioned, but Clare is presenting the Paralympics for Channel 4 so it’s not impossible she might join. But I agree she wouldn’t fit in well with their presenting team.
Racing is not as big in the public mind as it once was. But look at the hours the BBC dedicate to sports like Snooker and Bowles. Not to mention the almost entirely regional sport of Rugby League.
Snooker – three tournaments, possibly down to two this year.
Bowls – two tournaments.
Rugby League – nine Cup matches a year. No Superleague or Division One.And the majority of airtime for the first two takes place on weekday afternoons. A huge percentage of live evening action is red buttoned.
The BBC doesn’t like racing, but then it doesn’t like sport full stop.
Mike
And is cutting costs.
At least Gary Lineker is still in a job. But then a drowned rat could do that job – no need for that salary at all.
And is cutting costs.
At least Gary Lineker is still in a job. But then a drowned rat could do that job – no need for that salary at all.
Hmm, well they have trimmed Alan Hansen’s truly unbelievable £1.5m a year – or £40,000 for every Match Of The Day – to a piffling £1m.
Mike
Racing is not as big in the public mind as it once was. But look at the hours the BBC dedicate to sports like Snooker and Bowles. Not to mention the almost entirely regional sport of Rugby League.
Snooker – three tournaments, possibly down to two this year.
Bowls – two tournaments.
Rugby League – nine Cup matches a year. No Superleague or Division One.And the majority of airtime for the first two takes place on weekday afternoons. A huge percentage of live evening action is red buttoned.
The BBC doesn’t like racing, but then it doesn’t like sport full stop.
Mike
Snooker’s three tournaments add up to quite a lot of hours Betlarge. So too Bowls. Not against either being on terestrial TV, but there are far more people interested in racing.
Rugby League shouldn’t be on National TV. It’s a regional sport best on a regional programme. We just as well have tossing the khyber on British TV. Nine is far too many matches when looking at other sport. One is enough.
Value Is EverythingWe just as well have tossing the khyber on British TV
You’re at it again Ginger, all very Freudian I must say
We all need a kick up the khyber from time to time, but a toss…well
On TV too? that would cause a right old carry on up the caber
More people interested in horse racing than snooker Ginger? How do you arrive at that little pearl of wisdom? Snooker and Bowls are both more television friendly and have the participation element that is impossible in horse racing.
Royal Ascot is a social occasion first and foremost, despite what the anoraked on here would have you believe. Should the BBC relinquish its coverage of the National, it will be just another step towards its expiration.
When Channel 4 won the rights to televise home test matches from the BBC, the reasons for their success were that they kept Richie Benaud on the payroll and they did not radically change the presentation. However, even though the product was good, it did not stop the coverage being lost from terrestrial television.
When Channel 4 won the rights to televise home test matches from the BBC, the reasons for their success were that they kept Richie Benaud on the payroll and they did not radically change the presentation. However, even though the product was good, it did not stop the coverage being lost from terrestrial television.
True, although £250 million into the ECB’s coffers from SKY helped!!
Mike
When Channel 4 won the rights to televise home test matches from the BBC, the reasons for their success were that they kept Richie Benaud on the payroll and they did not radically change the presentation. However, even though the product was good, it did not stop the coverage being lost from terrestrial television.
True, although £250 million into the ECB’s coffers from SKY helped!!
Mike
What actually helped was the ECB taking it off the protected events list!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.