BBC drops Hickstead Derby from Tv

At least with satelitte tv you are given an option to buy it or not, with the BBC we have no choice, it is forced upon us by law...It is almost close to the time for the BBC to become commercial and take on advertising in line with ITV and like...If we wasn't forced to pay a license fee I expect the BBC would have folded years ago....there is so much wrong with the way it is run it is criminal...they waste £millions and then moan they don't have enough money for creating new content
 
We have sky sports anyway but the coverage of Hickstead on Sky is absolutely amazing in comparison to that of the BBC.
 
Jeeze, it isn't much to ask tbh, i wouldn't even mind less coverage!! If darts can be aired, why can't one off showjumping be aired?
Do see what people mean about it being repetitive though, and it does last for hours.
 
BBH said:
I don't think many people do have Sky, let alone Sky sports and often the SJing is on sky 2, 3 & 4 so even less people will have the full package.
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Oh I thought it just came as a package do apologise. There will be somewhere streaming online.
 
Well thats disappointing. Love watching hickstead.

Well I may have sky but certainly not going to give any more money to sky so I can watch the sports channels. Rip off
 
For those who have sky but not the sports channels, you can add them on for a month and cancel them. I did this last year then left it for the RIHS and oops forgot to cancel them. I'll need to remember this time round. You do get a massive amount of coverage, and it's in HD as well, so worth adding just for the time you want it. I'm sure it was £9 extra for the month. I couldn't be without Sky - we can't pick up any watchable network coverage here nor can we get any freeview, but sky is crystal clear.
 
It is pathetic that the bbc have dropped hickstead, especially given the load of rubbish they do broacast. I resent paying a licence fee when i hardly ever watch anything on this channel. Luckily i do have sky sports and am quite impressed with the coverage of their equestrian events. At least they are prepared to televise them which is more than can be said for the bbc. Have enjoyed the recent coverage of Bramham on their horse trials programme and will be watching hickstead. Its a pity we can't choose to drop the bbc and just have sky sports instead.
 
It's probably good news for those of us who have sky sports (thanks to my sports mad husband ) and sad to say I am sure they will give much better coverage than the BBC have been doing over the last few years.

All of the equestrian events covered by the BBC have shown so little in recent years they are always a disappointment! No wonder viewing figures have been down!

It's difficult to understand why they can't even bother with the red button. I really would rather not have to pay for the BBC at all now.
 
I dont have a tv licence.I dont have a tv. I watch programmes on iPlayer, not live transmission though. If you are not watching live you dont need a licence.
 
No doubt it is no longer fashionable - all the TV chanels are interested in is reality programmes where we are expected to ring in at prime time call costs and vote for nonsense!

equestrian is shown less and less however over sports are repeated more and more does not seem to make sense what a waste of tv license money.

:mad:
 
If the BBC's SJ coverage is anything like their Royal Ascot coverage (let's not look at the horses, let's speak to a load of fake-tanned show-ponies in silly heels and even sillier hats) then Sky couldn't be any worse!

The BBC seems to be increasingly unable to cater to specialist audiences - the problem with making everything to appeal to everyone is that you're likely to alienate your core viewers. The fact that there are NO Olympic equestrian tickets left for the next round other than some very expensive dressage ones goes to show that the appetite is there for people to watch horse sport in the UK, and surely the BBC is the most accessible place for everyone.

The BBC's coverage of Olympia in the past couple of years has been very good - when they get it right I think they're the best.
 
Doesn't bother me as I can't watch it anymore. I know it probably happens without us knowing on the telly, but I was there when a horse broke his leg coming down the bank and it just made me feel sick, we were all really upset and I couldn't watch anymore I went round the trade stands
 
The monthly cost of Sky Sports 2 package is £12.95. Not 100% sure you can buy it just for one month, I will go and check.
 
Ha! Just called Sky and of course it isn't as simple as that! The ACTUAL cost of getting coverage for the Hickstead Derby is £20.25 for the month as you need to buy BOTH Sports 1 and Sports 2 in order to get Sports 3 which is showing the Derby on Sunday. What a swizz. :(
 
Boo, I have a soft spot for the Hickstead Derby, it was the first horse even I ever went to way back in 1984, I can't remember it of course but I do believe it sowed the seed of horse addiction!
 
9tails said:
Ha! Just called Sky and of course it isn't as simple as that! The ACTUAL cost of getting coverage for the Hickstead Derby is £20.25 for the month as you need to buy BOTH Sports 1 and Sports 2 in order to get Sports 3 which is showing the Derby on Sunday. What a swizz. :(
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Thats what I understood aswell and it goes further because some of the SJing is on sky sports 4 at an even greater expense.
 
For those on the fence over buying Sky Sports as well I would say go for it! The coverage is fab and then invite all your horsey friends well and make a thing of it.

We do it every year, have a BBQ put Hickstead on it's almost as good as the real thing. :p
 
9tails said:
The monthly cost of Sky Sports 2 package is £12.95. Not 100% sure you can buy it just for one month, I will go and check.
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Yes you can,just let them know when you upgrade that you only want it for the month to watch this event.

Have to say that while I dislike it not being on the BBC and avalable to everyone(the derby at least) Sky have done a wonderfull job last year with their coverage and I look forward to this year!
Have HD this time around too :D

As for the cost, tickets for the meeting are £15 for an adult on Thursday and Friday,£20 for Sat and £25 for Sunday then add on petroll ect- all well worth it if you can get there,but if you can't £20 for 3 days of (bloody good quality) coverage is good value for money IMO.
 
Like it or loathe it, without Sky there wouldn't be a Derby to televise. The sad truth is that the money Sky pay for broadcasting rights enables the Bunn's to put the show on.

If you love showjumping then the best thing you can do (other than going to Hickstead) is to pay the £20 or £30 it costs to subscribe for the month. You don't have to have all the equipment either...you can subscribe to Sky Player on t'internet.
 
It's not just the Derby meeting they'll be broadcasting, but the Royal International Horse Show too. :) It is on from the 28th - 31st of July. With something like FIFTEEN hours of coverage!! :D Then, there will be Spruce Meadows later in the year (which gets around a dozen programmes), HOYS in October, plus everything else in-between. Such as the monthly show jumping magazine show Canter Banter, and their new hour-long Horse Trials series. Here's hoping they get the rights to Olympia. I am sick of Eurosport. It used to deliver great coverage, but the past couple of years have been dire.

So, go on - treat yourselves to Sky Sports. You won't be sorry. :)
 
I've just subscribed to sky sports through Virgin, going to cost £28 per month!!!

But I CANNOT miss the Derby so well worth every penny :D :D
 
No problem this year coz im gonna be there to watch it live!!! Cant wait, love Hickstead, love the Hickstead Derby and love the strawberries with melted chocolate.
 
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