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The BBC are only interested in the ‘Big events’ – which is what I’m sure Claire said, when questioned. I too miss the every weekend coverage of Racing…
Saying that, it’s not just Horse racing that receives less coverage than it deserves – I’ve seen complaints today about the lack of coverage on BBC radio of the TT Races, unless there are fatalities.BBC Racing has been for the last 5 or maybe more years absolute dross… long gone are the days when we had the simplicity of watching the races and a little bit ov interviews. True racing fans simply cant be interested in whos wearing the smartest dress and how long it took to choose. From Balding(my brother trains that 1) and Carson to Mcgrath(retire and let Bartlett do a better job) and Parrot/Wiltshire, too me it is summed up as second class crap! ATR for ascot.
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Doubtless that’s true for most Racing fans who can afford RUK – I certainly stuck with Mellish, Luck and McNae all afternoon, and was thankful for being able to do so.
But the BBC aren’t doing it for you and me: they are producing general coverage for a non-specialist audience, and apparently doing it it pretty well. An Aged Aunt (male) of mine who did watch Willie and Clare said there was some nice coverage of the horses, explanation of special tack and other arcane matters.
BBC Sport has gone downmarket because most real fans have migrated to the specialist channels. But their professionalism is still very strong. We can’t blame Clare Balding for the dumbing down of society. Broadcasters simply have to reflect that trend.
Due to illness, Pinza, I planned to spend the afternoon at home watching the racing. I made a tactical decision two years ago to ditch ATR and RUK and get out and about, so the BBC and Channel Four were my companions for Derby Day.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with Channel Four. Since I gave them a slap a few months ago, they’ve improved a bundle on both Saturday shows.
Emma Spencer is improving faster than Dancing Rain. She’s finally getting rid of her airhead image and its obvious she’s got something to say. Her partnership with Mike Cattermole works really well too. Most importantly, I understand every word they both say.
The BBC? Now, they’re just amateurs, part-timers who dip into the sport whenever they feel like it. And you can tell.
How Channel Four, who bring the brilliant sport of horse racing to a TV audience week after week – and whose presenters, in comparison to the BBC, are experts in horse racing – didn’t get the Ascot gig in October, is a travesty that needs looking into.
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The BBC? Now, they’re just amateurs, part-timers who dip into the sport whenever they feel like it. And you can tell.
Of course – if you’re not doing something week in, week out, the facility rusts.
Having said which, the Derby (like the Grand National) is not quite the same challenge to broadcasters as, say, Glorious Goodwood. More of the general populace will be watching, which means a need for a change in style – which will make them look more cack-handed than they would otherwise.
I didn’t see the coverage, and you did – so all I can offer is that general defence!
I posted on the BBC Message Board but they stopped the thread as the Moderator said that sport coverage cannot be discussed there any more. They have also scrapped the Sport Message Board 606. Say’s it all really; though they have allowed a longish discussion about the tennis.
I though the Beeb coverage was decent yesterday. Willie Carson not going overboard on the paddock appearance of Carlton House despite the goading from Mr Persad was good, as was his objective post race analysis of Carlton House’s performance. The VT of the Queen and the royal sweepstake was fascinating, rare to see them in such informal circumstances.
Pinza, I’m not having a pop. Generally, you and I see the racing world through the same lens. Up till yesterday, I desperately wanted a strong BBC presence in horse racing for one simple reason – more people watch BBC than any other channel. That’s why I’ve been critical.
Now, I think we should sever all ties with the BBC and work with Channel Four, particularly with the October gig. Risky, yes. But at least we’ll have interviews with Dierdre Johnson, for example, rather than Rishi Persad asking the Litter Picker what it means to be part of Derby Day.
At least C4 use their own informed opinion to tip up horses, as opposed to the BBC who just default to 5 stars for the fav, 4 stars for the second fav, 1 star for the rags and 2 & 3 stars for everything else. Tipping for dummies.
Just managed to watch some of the BBC coverage of the Derby. Have to say that the aftermath was very poor.
The amount of time Carlton House was in shot after the field had passed the post was totally unnecessary.
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Now, I think we should sever all ties with the BBC and work with Channel Four, particularly with the October gig. Risky, yes. But at least we’ll have interviews with Dierdre Johnson, for example, rather than Rishi Persad asking the Litter Picker what it means to be part of Derby Day.
The problems are twofold. First – far, far fewer people tune in to C4 Racing than to the BBC (when they do cover the sport.) Second – I fear that the general public rather
like
interviews with Litter Pickers. You see, they can identify better with them than with intelligent professionals such as Dierdre Johnson. Sad but true…
I didn’t think the Derby coverage itself was all that bad. They’re presenting sport to a country that’s dazzled by Strictly Come Talent Factor after all.
And there’s still no denying that racing is better treated for coverage than many other sports, even football you take purely terrestrial channels. Live coverage every Saturday, two dedicated channels & (most importantly) you won’t find ‘Interesting’ Adrian Chiles on any of them!
First – far, far fewer people tune in to C4 Racing than to the BBC (when they do cover the sport.)
True, Pinza, but the ones that do tune in are committed viewers and Channel Four
cater
for them. Week in, week out, they are there for the sport.
The BBC won’t even cover Glorious Goodwood any more. Nor the Betfred meeting at Haydock. Newbury’s Horris Hill meeting. The Spring Cup/John Porter meeting. They cover nothing in midweek outside Royal Ascot. They managed to fit the Oaks in somewhere between the sets of a tennis game in France.
And don’t forget, they wanted to completely eliminate their NH programme (outside the Grand National) before the BHA intervened and Barbara Slater relented – to an extent.
Remember that Arctic Saturday in late November last year? Channel Four even turned up alongside sixty three of us at Southwell, the only horse meeting of the day. The show must go on. Why should the BBC get the October gig? It’s just not right. It doesn’t make sense either.
Second – I fear that the general public rather like interviews with Litter Pickers. You see, they can identify better with them than with intelligent professionals such as Dierdre Johnson. Sad but true…
Can’t argue with that. They could at least try though. Jimmy Lindley taught me to understand what a fit horse looks like going to post. What does Mr Persad teach us? I swear one day someone is going to chin the lad…
And there’s still no denying that racing is better treated for coverage than many other sports, even football you take purely terrestrial channels.
Not Formula One, Anthony. Every race. Four, five hours a time. Plus the mechanical thing they do the day before.
Every race.
Round. And round.
And round. And round…and round…and round…and…Channel Four
cater
for them. Week in, week out, they are there for the sport.
Remember that Arctic Saturday in late November last year? Channel Four even turned up alongside sixty three of us at Southwell, the only horse meeting of the day.
Max, there are 3 million (pounds worth of) reasons under their current contract with Racing why C4
cater
for people that wish to watch the sport on terrestrial telly.
And given the aggressive stance they took – pay us what we want or we pull the plug – during the last round of contract negotiations with Racing/Levy Board I’m not sure C4 can rightly be held up as some sort of punters pal and
there for the sport
.
C4 have to be paid several million for coverage yet the BBC get their crown jewels for free, why?
Surely coverage of the Grand National and to a lesser extent The Derby and Royal Ascot are worth a few bob?
Does football receive nothing for FA Cup coverage?
Why does racing undersell itself?
All the big days on the BBC should be put to the highest bidder or in return for free coverage the rest of the year. Of course there would have to be a proviso the National was available to everyone via freeview.
From what I’ve seen, the BBC’s coverage of the sport in recent years has been abysmal and the personnel presenting it likewise.Mcgrath(retire and let Bartlett do a better job) .
Not a McGrath fan but Bartlett blotted his copybook in calling the wrong winner of yesterday’s French Derby
Doubtless that’s true for most Racing fans who can afford RUK – I certainly stuck with Mellish, Luck and McNae all afternoon, and was thankful for being able to do so.
But the BBC aren’t doing it for you and me: they are producing general coverage for a non-specialist audience, and apparently doing it it pretty well. An Aged Aunt (male) of mine who did watch Willie and Clare said there was some nice coverage of the horses, explanation of special tack and other arcane matters.
BBC Sport has gone downmarket because most real fans have migrated to the specialist channels. But their professionalism is still very strong. We can’t blame Clare Balding for the dumbing down of society. Broadcasters simply have to reflect that trend.
That’s well said and reinforced by what Willie Carson said in an article on him in yesterday’s RP.
What do BBC cover- about 12 day’s racing a year?
The limit of most of their Derby day viewers’s knowledge was that (a) The Queen had a runner and (b) Frankie Dettori had a ride.End of .
Thus their coverage aimed at that market appeared dumbed down to anyone with a modicum of knowledge. They would be watching the specialist channels anyway.
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