BBC drops Hickstead Derby from TV schedule for at least 4 years

But if Sky have bought the rights to it is there anything we can actually do? Surely its a commercial thing. If Sky have bought it they won't let the BBC screen it no matter how many people complain. I don't subscribe to sky sports and I really don't want to - but this is almost enough to make me change my mind.
 
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Shay said:
But if Sky have bought the rights to it is there anything we can actually do? Surely its a commercial thing. If Sky have bought it they won't let the BBC screen it no matter how many people complain. I don't subscribe to sky sports and I really don't want to - but this is almost enough to make me change my mind.
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Auntie's statement suggests it was a deliberate decision because they didn't want to fund coverage of it. This may be the same as saying that Sky was willing to bid more for the rights, but not necessarily.

It is a bit of a poor show really. As with many other aspects of the beeb's anti-Reithian use of the licence fee, they'd rather spend our money creating programming that doesn't require the licence fee to get made in order to chase ratings and audience share, despite ostensibly being a "public" broadcaster. So s**t, inexpensive to make, advertiser-friendly reality TV shows, Wombledong, Tiger Woods' enormous iron and footy get covered in excruciating detail, but nothing that might actually benefit from public subsidy.

Subscribing to Sky means ~£50 a month for at least a year I would have thought. For that money you could helicopter into Hickstead, get a private box and swill as much champagne as you like.
 
Actually I've just subscribed to sky, because I was sick of the **** picture we have as they have turned the analogue signal down in readiness for digital switchover, but being unable to receive digital :mad: :mad:

It worked out pretty reasonable, as little as £18 a month for one package.

We are paying £26 for the first month then £18 thereafter and we get a free box, free dish, free installation and a standard package. The first month includes a premium package too to qualify for the free installation but we can cancel that after a month.

Not too bad really.........

Not that we should have to subscribe to sky though.

Personally I think the BBC should concentrate on the sports that don't get so much tv coverage and are cheaper to air rather than bidding big bucks for football that is going to either be shown by ITV or in every pub in the land.
 
I suspect this year the Beeb have spent a huge percentage of their sports coverage budget on the bl**dy World Cup but I do feel that perhaps some coverage via the red button might have been considered even if they didn't show it on one of the main BBC channels.
 
As I have Sky, its worked out loads better. Good coverage of 2 days that I've watched, and even if the BBC did have the rights, doubt they would have shown it this year what with the ridiculous world cup and all. Was nice to sit there feeling all smug whilst England won at something.

Its ridiculous really though that the BBC thinks it can justify bidding on shows that would be readily picked up by other channels, particularly for something like the world cup where the bidding must be massive. As a public channel, it would be nice to see it covering some of the slightly less commercial things; as it doesnt sell advertising revenue it could let the world cup go and fund a bit of showjumping instead (or any of the other sports that are regularly overlooked in favour of more boring football)! It would make the running costs a lot cheaper too.
 
I thought that Sky's coverage this afternoon of the Derby was far far superior than anything the Beeb have ever put on - lots of little interviews, insights, background stuff, made it all a much more interesting and enjoyable viewing experience.

Although the BBC still pee me off with their massive coverage of anything non equine sport related!!! Haha they had the rubbish football on all afternoon, whilst Sky had a fabulous show of superb riding and won by a Brit.......
 
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