BBC Gone Olympic Mad?
- Thread starter Vern1961
- Start date
For 2 weeks every 4 years the Olympics becomes 'main news' because so many people are interested in following it and are engaged with it. This has always been the case, even when the GB team produced disappointing results. So it's hardly surprising that with Team GB doing so well and second in the medal table this has become 'main news'.
I'm sure the 'real' main news will be back to depressing headlines soon enough and indeed should a major incident or disaster of any kind happen the Olympics will be pushed out of the headlines.
It's also the case that August is traditionally quiet for politics, often dubbed 'silly season' or 'slow season' so there's traditionally less stories breaking (again, aside from unexpected disasters).
The football World Cup followed by the Olympics are pretty much universally regarded as the 2 biggest sporting events - the others all fight it out for third.
Thanks for the varied responses - not just me then but seems (we) are in the minority.
This, really. Should be proportionate to other "proper" news and if I want to find out what's happening in the world over my cornflakes would prefer it on the hour or half hour not 10 - 12 minutes in. Yes Team GB are doing well but not everyone is interested in sport and the section this morning with some Brazilian woman not connected with the Olympics and who could barely speak English passing a message from her hen night to her fiancé, with orchestrated chants from the crowd of "BBC, BBC", was cringeworthy. Hardly news even in normal circumstances - bah humbug.
This, really. Should be proportionate to other "proper" news and if I want to find out what's happening in the world over my cornflakes would prefer it on the hour or half hour not 10 - 12 minutes in. Yes Team GB are doing well but not everyone is interested in sport and the section this morning with some Brazilian woman not connected with the Olympics and who could barely speak English passing a message from her hen night to her fiancé, with orchestrated chants from the crowd of "BBC, BBC", was cringeworthy. Hardly news even in normal circumstances - bah humbug.
What's the news coverage like on the other channels, ITV, C4 etc? The BBC are perhaps understandably fully geared up for the Olympics as they have 100% of the coverage. You might get better balanced news from the other channels for the duration (can't vouch for this as I'm someone who doesn't mind all the Olympics coverage and so glued to the BBC).
The americans spoof their IP in droves so they can see the olympics live, not delayed and not infested with adverts and not behind a cable subscription.
Yes they are leeching off licence payers here but it goes to show how lousy their options are.
Not to worry, all the moaners will be happy when the BBC eventually is unable to fork out enough to secure the broadcasting rights and we get strategic adverts mid tennis or whatever sport you fancy on top of as many adverts as you like in place of sports discussion and interviews.
I'm not entirely sure how the deal with Discovery works but it clearly isn't going to be just the BBC in future: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/35473371
Yes they are leeching off licence payers here but it goes to show how lousy their options are.
Not to worry, all the moaners will be happy when the BBC eventually is unable to fork out enough to secure the broadcasting rights and we get strategic adverts mid tennis or whatever sport you fancy on top of as many adverts as you like in place of sports discussion and interviews.
I'm not entirely sure how the deal with Discovery works but it clearly isn't going to be just the BBC in future: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/35473371
Soldato
- Joined
- 16 Aug 2009
- Posts
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Don't worry it'll be over soon and you won't have to whinge about our successes for another 4 years. 
That was chill
Point is, the BBC is kinda like a dog with a bone these days, about anything, the Olympics is just the current thing that it's fixated with. But that reaction video was demote....
Aye apparently there was between a 1 and 3 hour "tape delay" for some events and the opening to make sure it was at the best time for advertisers in the U.S. on both coasts.
No wonder Americans with the knowledge and access to decent broadband are/were looking for BBC streams so they could actually watch them live.
That was chill
But that reaction video was demote....
Not really, the Olympics are one of the broadcasting jewels and something that gets a massive number of viewers in the UK, so they devote the resources to it and try to get as much out of the money as possible.
One of the things I tend to like about the BBC coverage of such events is that they usually do a series of background and related programmes about it, both in the run up and during the event.
For example they've been doing things about the conditions in Brazil and the background of local Brazilian athletes, which is often an eye opener when you compare their living and training conditions with ours, bits about the technology used in the events and broadcasts, and I noticed earlier some blog bits filmed by some of the athletes for the BBC showing what they're doing when they're not competing or training.
So yes they've fixated a bit, but then when they've got something like 40-60 hours of competitions and core broadcasts a day (across the TV, radio and internet) for it that's going to be the case.
Unless you rate some non-entity making a pudding as top notch entertainment the BBC is long gone as a quality broadcaster.
Each gold medal has cost £5.5m, majority of which is lottery money which John major changed the funding laws after the disaster in Atlanta.
Personally i think athletes should not be funded by lottery money aside from facilities which should be open for everyone outside of working hrs and the weekend.
Rest should be from government or sponsorship.
Personally i think athletes should not be funded by lottery money aside from facilities which should be open for everyone outside of working hrs and the weekend.
Rest should be from government or sponsorship.
Horizon is very good.
Dr Who is very good.
Radio 6 music is bloody awesome very good
I dont mind paying my license fee for them tbh.
This comments suggests you're not much older...
You do realize it is enjoyed all over the world by adults and children alike right?
I'm glad to see we've been doing so well in the events this year and the majority of the coverage I've watched has been spot on so no complaints from me about it.