Will The BBC Get It Right At The Olympics..?

"And now it's over to the Olympic Stadium and we join our presenter, Justin B Hindyer".

"Oh, fantastic, respect. There's a red hot atmos here and I'm going to pass you over now to Sophie. I imagine the buzz is absolutely awesome, isn't it?"

"Like, wow, it's totally amazing. People are now entering the stadium to see tonight's running and stuff and it's so amazing I don't think anything this amazing has happened before. In fact this is the amazingist of all the amazing things in this amazing summer. Over to Dwayne."

"Oh yeah, this is the dope. It's like when Krayzee Bone is in the zone, This Olympics here is reaching a crescendo. Over to the horsie stuff with Fearne."

Hello, well there are some horses here at Greenwich and they're doing a sort of ballet fing and the riders are wearing these, like, big hats and they get marks just like on Strictly, I suppose one of the judges is really mean and calls everybody darling. Now it's over to.......

And so it goes on. I think you get the drift. Of course, the BBC's coverage of the Olympic Games will be nothing like that but if the current descent of presenters as shown during the recent Jubilee celebrations is anything to go by, it might not be too far into the future before it is.

Of course, things haven't always gone completely smoothly for the BBC in past Olympics, but the presenters have been able to get by.... but on occasions, only just. The veteran presenter or commentator has sometimes had to rely on his experience, professionalism and the odd bit of luck to get out of a tight situation.......

Auntie Beeb has some superb specialists in sports such as eventing, rowing, swimming and cycling but it is in the minor, less well covered areas that things can sometimes get a bit tricky.

John Motson was once given the task of covering white water canoeing and one British competitor capsized his canoe, was driven, head underwater, downstream in a swirling maelstrom until he crashed into a rock,head first. "I don't wish to be pessimistic" said Motty, "but I think British hopes of a medal are fading fast". Talk about understatement.... the poor sod barely escaped with his life..!!

At another games he was given Greaco Roman Wrestling to cover and admitted that the only wrestling he'd ever seen up to then was Mick McManus versus Jackie Pallo at Catford Town Hall. But he did his homework and made a fairly decent fist of it until he commented on the final between a Soviet wrestler and a Bulgarian. It wasn't until the result was announced that he realised he'd gotten the names the wrong way round throughout the contest. "Don't worry" an expert said "Only three people in the country will know the difference, and two of those will be out training".

When Des Lynam worked for the BBC, he was told that the King of Denmark was about to come into the studio. He quickly warned David Moorcroft beside him as the door suddenly swished open and a tall, suntanned figure entered with his retinue of bodyguards. Before the cameras rolled, his royal highness said something about how pleased his country would be that Patoudlidoulainas had won the high hurdles that afternoon. Moorcroft switched on that they were, in fact, entertaining the ex-king Constantine of Greece and somehow managed to warn Des before he could introduce their guest on air as the sovereign of a completely different country.

But whatever mishaps or close calls there are, I expect the BBC will rise to the occasion. I doubt very much that the parade of gushing airheads that turned the coverage of the Jubilee festivities into a near national embarrassment will not be allowed anywhere near the Olympic Park, rather, they'll be kept away with fully charged cattle prods if necessary.

I fully expect the BBC... our national broadcaster... to cover the games at least competently and probably brilliantly as it has in the past. With a bit of luck thrown in when needed.


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They will.

6am to 1am on BBC One, only moving to BBC Two for news.

9am to 11pm on BBC Three.

I can't wait!!!!!

The red button was made for the Olympics. Thankfully they don't hav adverts, it severely decreases the possibility of an ITV style screw up!

BBC coverage of the Olympics is fantastic.

You should try watching the Olympics whilst in another country - you learn to fully appreciate how good it actually is in comparison.

BBC looks like it's going to be handling the Olympics extremely well. Technology is now on their side of course but even so, we are promised terrific coverage. Much much better than any other country in the World.

The only blemish is likely to be their coverage of Athletics (and possibly Swimming). Anyone interested in the field events is likely to find coverage - despite all those channels - pretty dire. Also, I really hope they don't have that countdown to Bolt clock which I found very disrespectful of all the other great talented athletes on show.

I actually think the field events might be better covered this time round, just because in athletcs, that's where really most of our medal chances lie. Figners crossed anyways.

Sure NBC in America dont cover that much live, prefering to tape delay it and show it in their primetime......

Dave, a lot of that is due to the fact that a lot of the events are on in the middle of the day in the US when people will be working or busy. Has been the case since Sydney anyway.

That was the same for Beijing for us really. Didn't stop the BBC from showing everything live.

Olympics coverage in the US is diabolically bad, although improving since I had the 'pleasure' of experiencing it in 1996. (and that was a home games for them.)

djlovesyou wrote:That was the same for Beijing for us really. Didn't stop the BBC from showing everything live.

Olympics coverage in the US is diabolically bad, although improving since I had the 'pleasure' of experiencing it in 1996. (and that was a home games for them.)

The Atlanta Games was the worst organised ever. It was so bad that at the closing ceremony, the President of the IOC (at that time Juan Antonio Samaranch) broke with tradition. Usually, the President of the IOC says that the latest games has been the best one yet but at Atlanta he didn't do so. It was a clear snub intended to let the world know that the IOC was bloody unhappy.

The American attitude of putting the importance of making a profit ahead of the spirit of the Games so disgusted the IOC that they have viewed every American application since with extreme caution. I mean... having the cauldron for the flame in the shape and colour of a McDonald's fries carton...... It doesn't get tackier or more commercialistic than that..!!

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The 24 Olympic channels and their frequencies: http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/info/bbc_olympics_channels.shtml

The one great thing about living in Holland is that i get 4 countries worth of coverage. Dutch, German, Belgium and English. I will be spoilt for choice

The Beeb are doing a fantastic job so far. I don't claim to have watched every single minute of every single event, but from what I've seen I have no complaints at all. That'll change when the track and field starts though, when Colin Jackson appears. He's been doing punditry for years and he's still no good at it. Then there's that Phil Jones bloke, who says "going forward" at least once in every single interview.

But Hazel Irvine and Claire Balding are two of the best, most professional sports anchors we have.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:The Beeb are doing a fantastic job so far. I don't claim to have watched every single minute of every single event, but from what I've seen I have no complaints at all. That'll change when the track and field starts though, when Colin Jackson appears. He's been doing punditry for years and he's still no good at it. Then there's that Phil Jones bloke, who says "going forward" at least once in every single interview.

But Hazel Irvine and Claire Balding are two of the best, most professional sports anchors we have.

liverbnz wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:The Beeb are doing a fantastic job so far. I don't claim to have watched every single minute of every single event, but from what I've seen I have no complaints at all. That'll change when the track and field starts though, when Colin Jackson appears. He's been doing punditry for years and he's still no good at it. Then there's that Phil Jones bloke, who says "going forward" at least once in every single interview.

But Hazel Irvine and Claire Balding are two of the best, most professional sports anchors we have.

Ha ha, but she knows horses pretty well though.

Jennifer1984 wrote:The Atlanta Games was the worst organised ever. It was so bad that at the closing ceremony, the President of the IOC (at that time Juan Antonio Samaranch) broke with tradition. Usually, the President of the IOC says that the latest games has been the best one yet but at Atlanta he didn't do so. It was a clear snub intended to let the world know that the IOC was bloody unhappy.

The American attitude of putting the importance of making a profit ahead of the spirit of the Games so disgusted the IOC that they have viewed every American application since with extreme caution. I mean... having the cauldron for the flame in the shape and colour of a McDonald's fries carton...... It doesn't get tackier or more commercialistic than that..!!

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I never thought of that but its probably one of the ugliest in the history specially with that sloppy scaffolding beneath it.

Claire Balding always knows her stuff, whatever sport she's presenting. She's great.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Claire Balding always knows her stuff, whatever sport she's presenting. She's great.

Good dentist too apparently.

Far as I'm concerned the BBC has done a fantastic job so far.

Thoroughly enjoyed the swimming, sailing, rowing and football, among other things and have yet to be annoyed, or even irritated by any of the presenters.


Seems Jennifer's fear that they'd get the presenters from CBBC to cover the Olympics has proved unfounded.

dyrewolfe wrote:Far as I'm concerned the BBC has done a fantastic job so far.

Thoroughly enjoyed the swimming, sailing, rowing and football, among other things and have yet to be annoyed, or even irritated by any of the presenters.


Seems Jennifer's fear that they'd get the presenters from CBBC to cover the Olympics has proved unfounded.

No one to my knowledge has complained about the presentation of these sports. It's athletics which hasn't started yet that has previously been the target of most of the criticsm.

I'm a tad disappointed in Ian Thorpe. His dour, almost taciturn demeanour and irritating habit of starting every reply to a question with "Look...." as if he is in a pub argument with a bloke who's had one too many is rather irritating.

I enjoyed Carl Lewis's appearance on BBC highlights package last night. Here is a man who came across as completely at ease with everything around him whereas Thorpe looks uncomfortable and ... to be honest.. downright shifty at times. I get the feeling that if he smiled, his face would shatter into a thousand pieces.

I'm not knocking Thorpe's knowledge of his subject. Some of his comments are quite insightful but he doesn't appear entirely happy to be here.


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dyrewolfe wrote:
Seems Jennifer's fear that they'd get the presenters from CBBC to cover the Olympics has proved unfounded.

Thank goodness for that..!!


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BBC red button and internet services have been great, I would be surprised if anyone has missed much coverage of the sports they want to watch...

Well done Aunty...!

djlovesyou wrote:BBC coverage of the Olympics is fantastic.

You should try watching the Olympics whilst in another country - you learn to fully appreciate how good it actually is in comparison.

agreed watching in canada

they seem to think it is the Olympic Swimming Games and nowt else

On the whole the coverage has been pretty good, the cycling being the exception. 5 hours of waffle, mistakes and infinite repeating of the waffle with a lack of any captions or information of value - perhaps I've been spoilt by the Tour de France coverage. On the other end of the scale I've suddenly found archery to be the most gripping sport ever, have barely been aware of it in previous games.

I wached Italy versus the USA in the archery on the weekend, it was gripping. I'd never watched archery until then (unless you count Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves!).

djlovesyou wrote:BBC coverage of the Olympics is fantastic.

You should try watching the Olympics whilst in another country - you learn to fully appreciate how good it actually is in comparison.

Completely agree with this comment. I am trying to watch the olympics on Rai (Italian national broadcaster) and the coverage is terrible. Apart from the Italian performances the only other thing they are interested in is talking on a daily basis about the large numbers of empty seats at the venues. They ruined the opening ceremony also by talking over most of it, not translating or explaining what was happening, just making random comments trying to be funny.

I have my first complaint about the BBC's coverage of the Olympics. I was leaving work as Bradley Wiggins won his gold, so I was looking forward to watching highlights of the time trial. Instead of showing proper highlights, the BBC's catch-up programme showed a weird montage of full-speed and slow-motion clips with music over the top of it. It was so unnecessary, and actually downright bad - as Wiggins approached the finish line, the commentator said "keep an eye on the clock", only for the clock to disappear as they showed him crossing the line in slow motion.

It was frustrating because they didn't need to 'fancy up' the footage at all. So why bother?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I have my first complaint about the BBC's coverage of the Olympics. I was leaving work as Bradley Wiggins won his gold, so I was looking forward to watching highlights of the time trial. Instead of showing proper highlights, the BBC's catch-up programme showed a weird montage of full-speed and slow-motion clips with music over the top of it. It was so unnecessary, and actually downright bad - as Wiggins approached the finish line, the commentator said "keep an eye on the clock", only for the clock to disappear as they showed him crossing the line in slow motion.

It was frustrating because they didn't need to 'fancy up' the footage at all. So why bother?

I've noticed this sort of thing happening in a number of sports shown on BBC in recent times.

I think it is a consequence of the Sky revolution in sport. Sky introduced the "rocked up" zappy, zoomed-in clippet, (mostly at football) with hysterical overlaid commentary and a background blitz of Black Sabbaath. BBC are trying to keep up with that kind of innovation and although it may work well in football, with all its hype and bellowing of "ROOOOONEY.... BRILLIANT" with amplified crowd noise and all the extras, it doesn't sit quite so comfortably with other sports.

Speaking for myself, I'd be happier if Auntie went back to doing what it used to do best: Presenting the pictures with as little commentary as possible and letting the viewer just enjoy it.

Sometimes, all you want is to see the event.


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Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I have my first complaint about the BBC's coverage of the Olympics. I was leaving work as Bradley Wiggins won his gold, so I was looking forward to watching highlights of the time trial. Instead of showing proper highlights, the BBC's catch-up programme showed a weird montage of full-speed and slow-motion clips with music over the top of it. It was so unnecessary, and actually downright bad - as Wiggins approached the finish line, the commentator said "keep an eye on the clock", only for the clock to disappear as they showed him crossing the line in slow motion.

It was frustrating because they didn't need to 'fancy up' the footage at all. So why bother?

I think there will be actual highlights available.

enjoying the coverage.

I'm sure there will, Crimey, but it would have been better and easier for the BBC to have shown straight highlights.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I'm sure there will, Crimey, but it would have been better and easier for the BBC to have shown straight highlights.

I think it's a case of 'Dif'rent strokes for dif'rent folks'.

Some people like the artificial stimulus of the Sky hype. It can make even the most tedious match seem exciting and more importantly, it sells subscriptions. It's not my cup of tea personally, but if people want that sort of thing, then fine.

Selling subscriptions isn't a consideration for the BBC. They don't have to hype an event, indeed, their role as Britain's public service broadcaster is to provide a service to the licence fee payer, not sell the event.

I suppose it can be argued that "selling the event" is not a bad thing and if Auntie Beeb didn't move with the times it would stand accused of being bland and boring. Perhaps there is a balance to be struck but in my opinion a reasonable compromise would be to put the heavy metal rock track and bellowing commentary into the opening credits to build up interest but then simply show highlights Au naturelle.

Something for everyone.

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They can use all the effects they want for a trailer, Jennifer; but when it comes to highlights, let the footage speak for itself.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:They can use all the effects they want for a trailer, Jennifer; but when it comes to highlights, let the footage speak for itself.

That would work just fine too, in my opinion.

I think you and I are pretty much singing from the same hymn sheet.


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I think you probably just got unlucky in that they were showing that form at that time, I've seen highlights of it three or four times now and only once have I seen the one you're talking about.

it was the main evening show, Crimey, the one with Lineker hosting. It hasn't ruined the Olympics for me or anything, but it was just so unnecessary.

Yeah, all through the day was just normal highlights.

On the basis I haven't seen any presenter use the phrases "totes amaze" or "reem" yet, I conclude it's been none too bad.

At work all day so like the BBC website livestream and when I'm home the 20 or so extra HD channels BBC are running give HD coverage to basically every event which is awesome!

Haven't seen Fearne Cotton involved either.

And thank feck for that!

Amen!

We're seeing far more of Jake Humphrey than I'd like, though.

I quite like Jake actually. Partly the reason I was so unhappy about Sky getting F1 was the Jake, DC, Eddie and Brundle were the perfect team at BBC.

I really don't like him. He's on the radio at the moment, with Patrick Kielty, who I don't like either. Fortunately, I finish work at four!

I always avoid the hoohah surrounding major sports events like the plague which mean things like the red button and the BBC extra Olympic channels are a god send because you get the action and nothing else.

After the Phelps 200 IM today I thought he was heading for an interview so switched over to BBC1 to hear it but instead was presented with Messrs Balding, Thorpe & Foster.

I cannot believe I've missed out on them all these days, they were absolutely hilarious, not in a stupid, pointless childish way like the football mugs but in a warm genuine and thoroughly entertaining way.

Thorpe was fantastic, what a charming, lovely and sweet human being.

They've been great, Hibbz.

The interactive ability BBC have tailored to suit their audience is about as good as it gets.

They seem to understand their audience for the Olympics better than they ever have done for any of their other sporting output.

But I imagine the budget to cover the games is astronomical in comparison to anything else they do on a day to day basis.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I have my first complaint about the BBC's coverage of the Olympics. I was leaving work as Bradley Wiggins won his gold, so I was looking forward to watching highlights of the time trial. Instead of showing proper highlights, the BBC's catch-up programme showed a weird montage of full-speed and slow-motion clips with music over the top of it. It was so unnecessary, and actually downright bad - as Wiggins approached the finish line, the commentator said "keep an eye on the clock", only for the clock to disappear as they showed him crossing the line in slow motion.

It was frustrating because they didn't need to 'fancy up' the footage at all. So why bother?

Apologies for quoting myself, but they've just done it again for Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins's race. What should have been footage of a great sporting moment was turned into the trailer for a schmaltzy film!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I have my first complaint about the BBC's coverage of the Olympics. I was leaving work as Bradley Wiggins won his gold, so I was looking forward to watching highlights of the time trial. Instead of showing proper highlights, the BBC's catch-up programme showed a weird montage of full-speed and slow-motion clips with music over the top of it. It was so unnecessary, and actually downright bad - as Wiggins approached the finish line, the commentator said "keep an eye on the clock", only for the clock to disappear as they showed him crossing the line in slow motion.

It was frustrating because they didn't need to 'fancy up' the footage at all. So why bother?

Apologies for quoting myself, but they've just done it again for Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins's race. What should have been footage of a great sporting moment was turned into the trailer for a schmaltzy film!

And again I have seen maybe 3-4 highlights of it throughout the day that was just normal. They were clearly short on time as the swimming was starting, they were just trying to give a sense of it before the interview.