TV coverage of the Olympics

[Alfa Fan]

So, I have just seen the schedules listed for the London 2012 Olympics. It seems the Beeb has created 24 new channels solely for the purpose of showing the games. Not only that, but it will be on near enough 24/7 on BBC One and Three for the entirety of the Olympics as well.

Is it just me that thinks that's grossly excessive, and a ludicrous waste of license-fee payers money? 24 channels?! Does every single event really need to be shown live and in its entirety? When the BBC has had to axe things such as half of it's Formula One coverage, a lot of it's Golf coverage, and lost events in many other sports including Snooker, Tennis and Rugby, does it not seem absolutely absurd the amount that must be being spent on the coverage of the Olympics?

[ArrowsFA1]

On the one hand this is the Olympics. Undoubtedly a major sporting event. And it's the first time since 1948 the games have been in the UK.

On the other hand there is generally a low level of interest in Olympic events when the games aren't on, and this is reflected in the limited coverage of these sports on the BBC normally.

More than the actual games coverage there is the 'placement' of the games elsewhere on the BBC (radio & tv). "Olympic specials" are everywhere and you can't escape it on entertainment & news shows either.

[Mark]

FFS Whinge whinge whinge.

[big_sw2000]

24 channles. Cant wait. If i could watch all of them at the same time i would

STeve

[Bezza]

It is not going to be hard to avoid the Olympics when you think about it, though. 24 new channels but they are way up in the 400's on Sky's channeling and will be accessible through the red-button. If you don't want to watch it, don't watch it!!

For the record, I will mostly NOT be watching it :laugh:

[ArrowsFA1]

FFS Whinge whinge whinge.
:D

[D-Type]

If they'd made them pay to view at a reasonable level they'd have made enough to fund F1 coverage for a couple of years!

[BDunnell]

My problem isn't the amount of coverage at all, but the nature of the coverage — I can almost guarantee that it will be blandly corporate in tone, with awful attempts at levity and lightheartedness.

[Dave B]

It's not really much of an expense. The events are being filmed anyway for international broadcast, and Sky are paying the costs of distribution (see below). I expect commentary on many of the minor events will be at a minimum, and by being on dedicated temporary channels they're not interfering with regular programming to much. It's exactly what a public service broadcaster should be doing: providing niche programming to the widest possible audience at the lowest possible cost.


Sky will also pick up the costs of satellite distribution, irrespective of whether other platforms join in - though we hope and believe there'll be more announcements soon.

Source: BBC - Roger Mosey: TV to stream 24 channels for digital Olympics (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/rogermosey/2012/04/since_the_start_of_our.html)

[Dave B]

24 channles. Cant wait. If i could watch all of them at the same time i would

STeve
I can watch 4 of them at the same time, 2 of them in HD. Probably more if I do it via the PC :D

[Dave B]

If you don't want so many channels covering the Olympics, don't watch it, simple.
That would usually be sound advice, after all there's plenty on the telly that doesn't interest me so I choose not to watch it.

The BBC's trouble is that they're not content with having wall-to-wall coverage on BBC1 and BBC3, as well as their dedicated channels. The Olympics have virtually taken over the News Channel, and to me the idea of a planned event taking place as planned isn't newsworthy to the extent that they seem to think. Obviously it's a huge worldwide event, and it's right that they mention it, but it seems wrong to give it so much airtime on what's supposed to be a news service.

[Dave B]

My problem isn't the amount of coverage at all, but the nature of the coverage — I can almost guarantee that it will be blandly corporate in tone, with awful attempts at levity and lightheartedness.
It's interesting watching the way Channel 4 are treating the build-up to the Paralympics: their coverage has a much more relaxed and informal tone while still treating the event with proper respect. :up:

[odykas]

Stupid bubble mouth Greek commentators did it again. Just ridiculous :evil:

I ended up using mute button while listening to BBC commentary.

[Dave B]

So far this morning I've watched a few minutes each of rowing, table tennis, archery, judo, volleyball (beach and indoor), handball and badminton. Not bad :D

The Beeb's coverage of the opening ceremony was amazing. Trevor Nelson was awful, but there was a "no commentary" option which saved the day. The ceremony itself was odd in places, but the coverage itself was damn near faultless.

[Dave B]

A question for our transatlantic brethren: is the NBC coverage really as bad as I'm led to believe? Tape delayed, riddled with adverts, barely mentioning sports the USA aren't excelling in, and poor commentary - that's what I'm hearing. If the BBC did that there'd be a riot, or at the very least a sternly worded letter to The Telegraph​.

[race aficionado]

This is one of the examples of what we missed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19037588


Sent from my Olympics home headquarters using Tapatalk

[Mark]

They said they didn't know what it was about. That doesn't matter. It's the Olympics they should have the respect for the events and the viewers to show it in full and uncut.

[Wasted Talent]

Not watched much, but the coverage of the Mens Cycling Road Race was really poor.

After watching quite a bit of the Tour de France, where they had continual updates of who was in the various groups and what the splits were between the breakaway group and the peleton, the coverage here was pretty poor. Not really the commentators fault - it was the same as those on ITV4 for the Tour, but they had no information.

WT

[Malbec]

This is one of the examples of what we missed.

BBC News - Akram Khan upset over NBC Olympic ceremony snub (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19037588)


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I have to sympathise with NBC a little, it wasn't clear at all that that scene was a 7/7 tribute. Also the period of silence for those 'no longer with us' included people who weren't killed in the attacks, one of them was the father of a friend of mine. Admittedly they could have asked the BBC or LOCOG about which scene would be appropriate to cut but I don't think it was the clearcut idiotic mistake the headlines make it out to be.

[Mark]

After hearing about how NBC are doing things - 20 mins of commercials per hour? Then I'm thankful we have the BBC :)

[Dave B]

Not watched much, but the coverage of the Mens Cycling Road Race was really poor.

After watching quite a bit of the Tour de France, where they had continual updates of who was in the various groups and what the splits were between the breakaway group and the peleton, the coverage here was pretty poor. Not really the commentators fault - it was the same as those on ITV4 for the Tour, but they had no information.

WT

Chain of blame: the BBC are blaming OBS who were in charge of the outside broadcast; OBS are blaming Twitter users (honestly) for clogging up the mobile networks they relied on for timing data; Twitter users are blaming the networks for not having enough capacity for a pre-planned event.

Can we all just agree it's Boris Johnson's fault? :p

[Iain]

I'm a big fan of the coverage. I've been watching archery and handball among other things. It really is making me watch sports I would never have contemplated watching before.

The road race coverage was awful, but the course didn't help either. Too many leafy lanes which didn't allow the helicopter shots to be used to their full potential and we ended up with a lot of shaky footage from the back of a motorcycle.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

[Mark]

Pathetic excuses really. TdF manages to have constant timing information over thousands of miles and on the top of mountains, yet they couldn't manage a few miles away from London?

[big_sw2000]

Pathetic excuses really. TdF manages to have constant timing information over thousands of miles and on the top of mountains, yet they couldn't manage a few miles away from London?

Not really down to the BBC, they used what they could. OBS were in charge of providing the broadcast.
Eurosport also showed the Mens race, and that was just as bad.
Although Hugh Porter was the most useless commentator ive seen. He commentated on an event in Abergavenny 2 weeks ago, and also had no idea what he was watching.

Steve

[Wasted Talent]

Not really down to the BBC, they used what they could. OBS were in charge of providing the broadcast.
Eurosport also showed the Mens race, and that was just as bad.
Although Hugh Porter was the most useless commentator ive seen. He commentated on an event in Abergavenny 2 weeks ago, and also had no idea what he was watching.

Steve

Yes, he is like a two-wheel version of Murray Walker.

OBS should be ashamed of theri part then....

WT

[brad]

The BBC are blaming the Organisers for the horrible coverage of the Men's Olympic Road Race. Nonsense!
The commentators were watching the same screen (and more) as the viewers and they could not identify numbers, riders, national flags and team uniforms. They had minimal knowledge of the course, except for Box Hill and the Mall, and there were long gaps in the commentary.
I raced as a teenager and have been following cycling for decades. Eurosport's coverage is exceptional but they were not allowed to cover the Men's Road Race live.
For those new to Cycle Races on TV just watch any event on Eurosport and you will notice the difference!
To sum up...another reason to abolish the TV Licence. The BBC has no business doing these things if they can't do them right.

[BDunnell]

To sum up...another reason to abolish the TV Licence. The BBC has no business doing these things if they can't do them right.

What utter nonsense, if I may say so. The BBC coverage has been far from perfect, but it still covers major events far, far better than any other broadcaster.

[Mark]

The BBC are blaming the Organisers for the horrible coverage of the Men's Olympic Road Race. Nonsense!
The commentators were watching the same screen (and more) as the viewers and they could not identify numbers, riders, national flags and team uniforms. They had minimal knowledge of the course, except for Box Hill and the Mall, and there were long gaps in the commentary.
I raced as a teenager and have been following cycling for decades. Eurosport's coverage is exceptional but they were not allowed to cover the Men's Road Race live.
For those new to Cycle Races on TV just watch any event on Eurosport and you will notice the difference!
To sum up...another reason to abolish the TV Licence. The BBC has no business doing these things if they can't do them right.

To be fair ITV4 are pretty good too.

[BDunnell]

To be fair ITV4 are pretty good too.

Well, their BTCC coverage isn't bad, but ITV in general is hopeless at major events. Its coverage of Euro 2012 just screamed 'rubbish'.

[Mark]

Well I was talking specifically about their cycling coverage, but I suppose you can't go wrong when the actual TV feed is from the TdF organisers and you have Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen on the commentary.

But I agree in general ITV is crap - not just at covering major events, it's just crap at everything.

[big_sw2000]

The BBC are blaming the Organisers for the horrible coverage of the Men's Olympic Road Race. Nonsense!
The commentators were watching the same screen (and more) as the viewers and they could not identify numbers, riders, national flags and team uniforms. They had minimal knowledge of the course, except for Box Hill and the Mall, and there were long gaps in the commentary.
I raced as a teenager and have been following cycling for decades. Eurosport's coverage is exceptional but they were not allowed to cover the Men's Road Race live.
For those new to Cycle Races on TV just watch any event on Eurosport and you will notice the difference!
To sum up...another reason to abolish the TV Licence. The BBC has no business doing these things if they can't do them right.


To be fair ITV4 are pretty good too.


Agree with both Eurosport are awsome with cycling, bt i always watch the Tour de France on ITV4. Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen are brilliant to listen too. And Chris Bordan is also great on the tour.
BBC1 was terrible. Hugh Porter was useless, and Chris Bordman had no intest in anything except Bradley Wiggins.
We had Hugh Porter do a live event in Abergavenny, witch he also had no idea who was riding what.

Steve

[BDunnell]

Well I was talking specifically about their cycling coverage, but I suppose you can't go wrong when the actual TV feed is from the TdF organisers and you have Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen on the commentary.

But I agree in general ITV is crap - not just at covering major events, it's just crap at everything.

Oh, absolutely. Though I've always enjoyed Inspector Morse.

The ITV4 TdF coverage was superb. I have little interest in the sport, but was hugely impressed with the commentary.

[D-Type]

As a generalisation, I feel that in covering all sports, the BBC is stretching its resources very thinly and are having to use general commentators/ reporters where they do not have a specialist available. But having said that, they've only had seven years to plan and prepare.

[BDunnell]

As a generalisation, I feel that in covering all sports, the BBC is stretching its resources very thinly and are having to use general commentators/ reporters where they do not have a specialist available. But having said that, they've only had seven years to plan and prepare.

I wouldn't mind if they struck the right tone, but too often they don't — overly informal, yet somehow blandly corporate. Jake Humphrey used to impress me on the F1 coverage, but he's irritated the hell out of me during the Olympics. By contrast, Hazel Irvine and Clare Balding have been spot-on throughout.

[Dave B]

I've barely seen any presenters, preferring the raw OBS feeds up in the 450's on the Sky box, but the little I saw of Gary Lineker nearly put me to sleep. He's dull enough talking about sports he understands, positively soporific when he's talking about volleyball or rowing.

For commentators you'd be hard pushed to beat the pairing of Bob Ballard and Leon Taylor talking about diving, their natural enthusiasm and Chandokesque knowledge of the sport is fantastic; although swimming commentators Andy Jameson and Matt Neal soundalike Adrian Moorhouse give them a run for their money. They guy on the evening beach volleyball sessions is entertaining too.

[BDunnell]

I've barely seen any presenters, preferring the raw OBS feeds up in the 450's on the Sky box, but the little I saw of Gary Lineker nearly put me to sleep. He's dull enough talking about sports he understands, positively soporific when he's talking about volleyball or rowing.

For commentators you'd be hard pushed to beat the pairing of Bob Ballard and Leon Taylor talking about diving, their natural enthusiasm and Chandokesque knowledge of the sport is fantastic; although swimming commentators Andy Jameson and Matt Neal soundalike Adrian Moorhouse give them a run for their money. They guy on the evening beach volleyball sessions is entertaining too.

Another presenter I should mention is John Inverdale, who I've just been watching. Much like Steve Rider, he exudes professionalism without being overly stuffy.

[gadjo_dilo]

I can't understand why on gymnastics competition they choose to show gymnasts un/bandaging feet after finishing the routine instead of moving to another performance. We lost a lot of the exercises looking how an obscure gymnast was waiting for marks.

[D-Type]

Take today's women's triathlon with the almost dead heat. The live coverage switched from a side on shot to a head on one just before the finish. I can't find fault with that - it's just bad luck. But, when they showed a replay five minutes later they showed the same sequence. A competent director would have shown the side on shot from the camera direct feed.

But, as I said on a previous post, the BBC have had to stretch their pool of competent people very thinly.

[Dave B]

Take today's women's triathlon with the almost dead heat. The live coverage switched from a side on shot to a head on one just before the finish. I can't find fault with that - it's just bad luck. But, when they showed a replay five minutes later they showed the same sequence. A competent director would have shown the side on shot from the camera direct feed.

But, as I said on a previous post, the BBC have had to stretch their pool of competent people very thinly.
That sounds like OBS, not the BBC, were to blame there.

[Dave B]

I've got too far this time... :p

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/306773_10151149923677269_757975733_n.jpg

[race aficionado]

I've got too far this time... :p

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/306773_10151149923677269_757975733_n.jpg

Go Dave!!!!
:)


Sent from my Olympics home headquarters using Tapatalk

[CaptainRaiden]

I am torn between what commentary to listen to:

Since I am in Romania, I can't listen to their default commentary as I don't understand the language fully yet.

I can change it to English on Eurosport, but then I'm subjected to heavily biased British commentary, which is this weird utopia where every British athlete craps gold.

[Tazio]

[quote="henners8O"]Its fantastic, we're not used to winning.
Don't be a punk WhOEVEER ORIS THIS TYRMWSMIOSSION)ucvehoerver Renult 0rt FrrrARRI ULL
HO

[Tazio]

tHIS IOS CI\OMMING DOWN TO PLAYINGTO TYHEIRT CONWSTIOATYF

[Tazio]

QUOTE=henners8O;1056443]Its fantastic, we're not used to winning.
Don't be a punk WhOEVEER ORIS THIS TYRMWSMIOSSION)ucvehoerver Renult 0rt FrrrARRI ULL
HO tHIS IOS CI\OMMING DOWN TO PLAYINGTO TYHEIRT CONWSTIOATYF
PUI :beer: :s nore:

[anthonyvop]

All I know is that the BBC coverage couldn't have been worse than NBC's......Holy Crap they sucked.

[anthonyvop]

Were they the guys who interviewed Evander Holyfield thinking he was just a random tourist? lol

Didn't hear about that one.

NBC are the ones that insist on broadcasting the big events via tape delay for Prime time which pretty much sucks for anyone with an internet connection.

The 1st week was all Gymnastics and Swimming all the time.

And everything was happy, happy, joy, joy! No controversy at all. Anyone who disagreed was a loony.

[AndyRAC]

I'll bear that in mind whatever that means :p

Apart from a few grumbles about the Beeb being biased towards our athletes, who would have thought lol, I think they did a fantastic job! Makes you wonder if other sports will make themselves available to the Beeb simply because they are officially the best sports broadcaster in the UK? The red button stuff made viewing what you wanted easier and live which was good. Watching all this just made me wonder why F1 supported the coverage going to a satelite channel with a smaller audience when they could have cut the price and stuck with the quality we have seen over the past few years and especially these last two weeks. :)


What I'd like to see happen now is for the Beeb to give some coverage to some of the minority sports that were successful. Something that used to happen with Grandstand, Sportsnight, Sport on Friday, etc We keep hearing about 'Legacy', but if these sports just disappear, there will be no Legacy. About time people/media realised sport isn't just football, etc

[BDunnell]

And everything was happy, happy, joy, joy! No controversy at all. Anyone who disagreed was a loony.

It must be said, the BBC was rather like that, too. Excellent coverage, but at times a bit too Britain-centric.

[anthonyvop]

It must be said, the BBC was rather like that, too. Excellent coverage, but at times a bit too Britain-centric.

I have no problem with a nation's TV network giving their athletes more coverage. Isn't that what the Olympics REALLY is all about?

My issue with NBC was their insinuation that those who questioned Caster Semenya's gender were loonies. It only took 9 months of tests for the IAAF to allow her to race. 9 Months lends one to believe that it wasn't cut and dry.

Then their was the Oscar Pistorius issue that NBC refused to address the issue except to denigrate those who believe he shouldn't have been allowed to compete with the performance enhancing prosthetic.

It doesn't matter on which side you land on these issues. The fact is for a "News" organization to refuse to admit there were legitimate questions in the debate is disingenuous at best and insulting at its worst.

[BDunnell]

I have no problem with a nation's TV network giving their athletes more coverage. Isn't that what the Olympics REALLY is all about?

To some extent, I can understand it, but there are limits. It struck me as editorially strange to talk first about a British athlete coming, say, fifth or sixth, and only then the winner.



My issue with NBC was their insinuation that those who questioned Caster Semenya's gender were loonies. It only took 9 months of tests for the IAAF to allow her to race. 9 Months lends one to believe that it wasn't cut and dry.

Then their was the Oscar Pistorius issue that NBC refused to address the issue except to denigrate those who believe he shouldn't have been allowed to compete with the performance enhancing prosthetic.

It doesn't matter on which side you land on these issues. The fact is for a "News" organization to refuse to admit there were legitimate questions in the debate is disingenuous at best and insulting at its worst.

Incredibly, I agree with you.

[Mark]

I think the worst was on the first day when Vino won the cycling and the first question he was asked was about Mark Cavendish. Like he knew -- or cared!

[wedge]

I found it barely watchable.

The biased commentary was unbelievable. Must the 'legacy' theme.

Lineker was plain awful. The amount of times he ask "how does it feel" was more then cringeworthy. Gabby Logan didn't deserve a late night slot.


Well, their BTCC coverage isn't bad, but ITV in general is hopeless at major events. Its coverage of Euro 2012 just screamed 'rubbish'.

Gareth Southgate is a consummate analyst.

The BBC's equal and easily trumps Hanson, Shearer et al is Chris Waddle. Why he is forever stuck on radio I have no idea. For years he has criticised the FA and the way kids are coached.

Garth Crooks too is a terrific analyst and reporter. Not a big name enough to be in the limelight of Hanson et al.

[AndyRAC]

Lineker was out of his depth; just didn't know enough about all the different sports, so asked the same questions. It is okay to do some research...Something that Clare Balding seems to do, and seems interested in sports away from her normal.

[Dave B]

Lineker was plain awful. The amount of times he ask "how does it feel" was more then cringeworthy.


Lineker was out of his depth; just didn't know enough about all the different sports, so asked the same questions. It is okay to do some research...Something that Clare Balding seems to do, and seems interested in sports away from her normal.

+1 on the dislike of Lineker and his wooden uninterested manner. That's why I watched most of the events on the dedicated channels, to avoid the (mainly) poor presenters - especially the BBC Three ones who looked like they were on work experience.

[wedge]

+1 on the dislike of Lineker and his wooden uninterested manner. That's why I watched most of the events on the dedicated channels, to avoid the (mainly) poor presenters - especially the BBC Three ones who looked like they were on work experience.

I couldn't believe how Jake Humphries could be so awful.

For Euro 2012 he had the short straw playing the idiot roving reporter reporting from the host venues/cities. But for the Olympics he presenting skills were absolutely awful and too many silly errors eg. how could you mistake a footballer for Scott Sinclair?

An utter shame considering he has done a professional job for the Superbowl coverage and his appearance for MOTD & FF without resorting to try hard to appear 'chummy' to the audience and analysts.