Should BD complain to the BBC

amymay said:
Again, I have to wonder if we've been watching the same coverage.

From the moment the gold was won in Dressage yesterday it was constantly mentioned in every update on the medals for the day. I must have seen the report and subsequent reports about 10 times.
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Can't quibble on the quantity, have been delighted with it. It's just the throwaway comments like 'that's the thing about the Olympics, you watch sports you'd never watch otherwise', or Linneker's "Tally ho!" sign off. Neither of these are an institutional problem, on th whole the BBC's played an absolute blinder. But I just hope prog editors are picking the presenters up on their tone and audience awareness occasionally.

Re the pundits - they probably sound just as thick about every other sport they talk about besides their own, to be honest. It's only when you really know a topic that you can spot how clueless some very confident talkers really are underneath :)
 
It's just the throwaway comments like 'that's the thing about the Olympics, you watch sports you'd never watch otherwise
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But isn't that true? I've certainly been watching sports I'd never normally watch.
 
Re the pundits - they probably sound just as thick about every other sport they talk about besides their own, to be honest. It's only when you really know a topic that you can spot how clueless some very confident talkers really are underneath :)[/QUOTE]

So true! I'm sure there are countless conversations on other forums saying the same about their sports! Like I said before, we are getting coverage, we can't micro manage how it is presented unless we own the channel, and we need to keep things mainstream and interesting for the 'don't know anything' rather than 'know quite a bit' viewers. This is also why I rasied the subject long ago about commentary that goes on about horses breeding....that sort of info is totally alien to non riders, despite the fact that some aspects of the subject are interesting. Bongo-boy doesn't care or even understand the significance of another horse being described as '..11 year old bay gelding by Cruising..' but when he heard that there were 'x' number of horses all with the same daddy competing at the same olympic gamesl he was intrigued about what made them so good etc etc...again...talking a common language...
 
amymay said:
But isn't that true? I've certainly been watching sports I'd never normally watch.
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Yes, we've all been watching sports we don't usually watch, but it's about a presenter's audience awareness so no, the statement isn't appropriate. At any one time, most people watching a specific sport are doing so because they have an interest in it. This is far more the case this time around with every sport being covered live: people will more often watch the sports they know because they CAN see them, whereas in previous Olympics we had less opportunity to see the sports we're interested in because of far more limited coverage. That aside, when you broadcast a sport in the current context with loads of choice, there'll be a SMALLER proportion of people watching who don't know it or have an interest in it, whereas the majority of your audience probably are interested or they'd be watching something else.

The trick with presentation and commentary of all types is to be inclusive so the uninitiated can make sense of it and feel part of it, but to be credible enough for the audience who do know about it. As a presenter you should never make a sweeping statment about your audience or assume that they only know as much about a topic as you know, ie not very much. This is why it's a point about editors coaching presenters: if you want to reflect that loads of people will have been gripped by that who never usually watch showjumping - completely true, valid and correct - say that. But don't make a throwaway remark that disregards the probable majority of your audience at that point because it shows you don't understand you audience and makes them feel alienated from you and your coverage.

That's a way longer answer than you were after, but I manage presenters for a living and this is the kind of conversation you have to have with them sometimes. To remind them that it's about serving the audience that they have, as opposed to talking to an audience of people who all like think like them the presenter ... and that comment - as it was delivered - didn't.
 
bongo-girl said:
we need to keep things mainstream and interesting for the 'don't know anything' rather than 'know quite a bit' viewers. This is also why I rasied the subject long ago about commentary that goes on about horses breeding....that sort of info is totally alien to non riders, despite the fact that some aspects of the subject are interesting. Bongo-boy doesn't care or even understand the significance of another horse being described as '..11 year old bay gelding by Cruising..' but when he heard that there were 'x' number of horses all with the same daddy competing at the same olympic gamesl he was intrigued about what made them so good etc etc...again...talking a common language...
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Yep - I posted on a previous thread that people told me they'd had to google the rules of eventing during the XC commentary because the commntators weren't helping them to understand it. It's a real balancing act, and commentary that's fine for Badminton on the red button hunted down by we eventing geeks can play at a higher level of knowledge than something you're trying to bring to a wider audience. And it's about the balance of being credible enough for your knowledgeable audience and welcoming enough to your new audience. It's not easy, at all, but that's what we need!
 
The trick with presentation and commentary of all types is to be inclusive so the uninitiated can make sense of it and feel part of it, but to be credible enough for the audience who do know about it. As a presenter you should never make a sweeping statment about your audience or assume that they only know as much about a topic as you know, ie not very much.

And this is why Balding rocks the big one!
 
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I'm not really complaining about the lack of coverage (because if I want to read/watch interviews etc.. I can find them on the t'internet, and I know there has been coverage on TV during the day - I'm at work and so don't see that).

I'm really referring particularly to the 10pm news that I watched last night.

Usain Bolt dominated the first 10 minutes at least. Our gold medal winners (all of them) should have (in my opinion) had that time to celebrate their achievement.

The lady who won the boxing had reasonably good coverage in news, but still in the shadow of Bolt. And the dressage winners were briefly mentioned, and then in a little bit more detail at the end. Definately seemed like a poor relation to me.

My point is, that the equestrian medals do not appear to have been celebrated and held in as high a regard as other medals we've achieved, and I don't think that helps the future of the sport. Neither does the silly jokes and comments made by commenatators.

Personally, I feel Team GB SHOULD be covered and supported more than other nations on the BBC. I know it is everyone's Olympics, and I AM interested in other nations, but to me at least, our boys and girls come first.

Only my opinion. :)
 
My point is, that the equestrian medals do not appear to have been celebrated and held in as high a regard as other medals we've achieved, and I don't think that helps the future of the sport.
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Despite the fact that they've been in to the studios to talk about their achievements?
 
amymay said:
Despite the fact that they've been in to the studios to talk about their achievements?
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Yep.

I was referring to the 10pm news last night.

Just felt all our gold medalists should have been the headline, as (to my knowledge) other of our gold medalists have been for the past week.

:)
 
redmone said:
Personally, I feel Team GB SHOULD be covered and supported more than other nations on the BBC. I know it is everyone's Olympics, and I AM interested in other nations, but to me at least, our boys and girls come first.

Only my opinion. :)
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I completely agree. There have been some grumblings in the press that the BBC News (not olympics progs) have focused too much on the GB wins. The papers have been desperately scrabbling for a way to grumble about the BBC because they love to do that, and if that's the only grumble they can find then yar boo sucks to them.

To be frank, so many peope have been in such a fantastic mood over the past fortnight because of the GB successes and the various triumphs of all kinds re the Olympics... and the fact is that almost everyone is getting that via the BBC's coverage. Sorry, but it's a win-win in my view to focus on GB... so I agree with you wholeheartedly.

But Bolt's a massive story, so agree he should have been top.
 
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philamena said:
I completely agree. There have been some grumblings in the press that the BBC News (not olympics progs) have focused too much on the GB wins. The papers have been desperately scrabbling for a way to grumble about the BBC because they love to do that, and if that's the only grumble they can find then yar boo sucks to them.

To be frank, so many peope have been in such a fantastic mood over the past fortnight because of the GB successes and the various triumphs of all kinds re the Olympics... and the fact is that almost everyone is getting that via the BBC's coverage. Sorry, but it's a win-win in my view... so I agree with you wholeheartedly.
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I've got to say, I don't think I've ever felt so patriotic in my life. I'm so chuffed for GB!!!

I keep saying, next week is going to be poo - it'll be all back to how crap the economy is and how Dave and Nick are falling out. Someone throw a pie!!!

:D

Awww you're not allowed to edit yours after I've sent mine!!!!!

I know Bolt's a massive story, but would it have hurt him to be second to our girls???
 
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redmone said:
The BBC 10pm news last night's headline was Bolt and his double wins.

Pretty sure I've made my point! And as I've said, only my opinion!

:)
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You're both right. Charlotte was in the headline sequence but Bolt was top of that sequence and she was 3rd gold menioned behind Bolt and the women's boxer. I happen to think they go the order right in this instance...
 
redmone said:
I've got to say, I don't think I've ever felt so patriotic in my life. I'm so chuffed for GB!!!

I keep saying, next week is going to be poo - it'll be all back to how crap the economy is and how Dave and Nick are falling out. Someone throw a pie!!!

:D
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Ha ha you're so right. I work in news and we were just saying how lovely it had been to have so much good stuff to talk about, lots of lovely 'ordinary' people making the headlines and no politicians spouting off... and then Louise Mensch announced she was quitting and we had to do more politics booooooooooo.

What on earth will we do next week? On Tuesday night I watched something on TV that wasn't the Olympics for the first time since the opening ceremony, and it felt very weird! (And I fell asleep....!)
 
philamena said:
You're both right. Charlotte was in the headline sequence but Bolt was top of that sequence and she was 3rd gold menioned behind Bolt and the women's boxer. I happen to think they go the order right in this instance...
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I just felt he got a lot more coverage, and that GB gold should come first!

Perhaps it's because everywhere seems drowned in stories about him.

I wanted Blake to win.....:D
 
philamena said:
Ha ha you're so right. I work in news and we were just saying how lovely it had been to have so much good stuff to talk about, lots of lovely 'ordinary' people making the headlines and no politicians spouting off... and then Louise Mensch announced she was quitting and we had to do more politics booooooooooo.

What on earth will we do next week? On Tuesday night I watched something on TV that wasn't the Olympics for the first time since the opening ceremony, and it felt very weird! (And I fell asleep....!)
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I KNOW!!! I'm an accountant (and so work with budgets etc... ALLLL day!!!) and it's been lovely not to get home and hear more about the dire state of the country!

It's been so nice, having so much positivity, cheered me right up!!!

And I'm not normally interested in sport very much at all, so it's all been quite new to me!

I only tend to watch the news on TV, and everything else is either movies, sitcoms or cartoons :o - all on DVD, so it's been an unusual couple of weeks for me, but very nice. Don't want it to go away :(
 
I thought it has mostly been very well done. I watched the ITV news and thought the coverage was fine. Bolt's race and achievements were pretty special, and headlines world over. Out of eight people in the race (I think!) seven beat their own personal records, and even the one that came last would have won at the last two olympics, so thats one hell of a race..

I totally agree that the likes of Gary Linekar shouldn't be there - how could he ever give a fair opinion on anything, he has done nothing else with his life other than get overpaid from a young age for football. But thats just the way this country is going in general - thick, good looking people go a long way!

A lot of my non-horsey friends on Facebook thought the freestyle dressage was amazing. A few people on my work forum are asking if it is cruel, as it looks it.

It is a wierd sport, and it is no wonder it doesn't get the attention horsey people think it should. Even I can't be bothered to watch it all and don't enjoy half of the tests...
 
Honey08 said:
I totally agree that the likes of Gary Linekar shouldn't be there - how could he ever give a fair opinion on anything, he has done nothing else with his life other than get overpaid from a young age for football. But thats just the way this country is going in general - thick, good looking people go a long way!
Gary Linneker, good looking?!! ;)

It does occur to me with dressage that most who don't get it probably think we teach the horse the "routine" so it knows it down pat, and does it automatically once "trained to".. and don't realise what 'riding' actually means.

Having said that, my OH's utterly never-been-near-a-horse mum texted me to say "I now love dressage", which is fab. I told her not to get too excited cus it doesn't look like that when I do it!
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amymay said:
Despite the fact that they've been in to the studios to talk about their achievements?
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But that has been during the day when many people can't watch, not on the prime time shows.

None of the equestrian team have been into the studio on the Gaby Logan round up show. The SJ team had a brief five minute interview from a pub after their gold, none of the others have even been spoken to via video link.

I am getting sick to death of Radio 2 trailing interviews with the equestrian team on the breakfast show and then not broadcasting them until after nine. Several days they haven't even been scheduled after another athlete, the prime 8am-9am slots have been pundits, memorably a tennis commentator who knew nothing about Taekwondo trying to comment on our medal prospects. I don't care what some bloke I've never heard of thinks of our chances of winning a medal in a competition that hasn't happened yet. I do care about hearing an interview with our gold medallists, whether equestrian or otherwise. I was pleased to hear Nicola Adams today, but I think that is the first athlete interview I have heard all week during my morning commute.
 
Generally I think the coverage has been great and having the live stream on the BBC Sport website has been fab for watching wall to wall equestrianism (or whatever sport you fancied) if you wanted to. It's a first to know you can watch from start to finish without coverage moving to something else which is so frustrating.

I also agree that Clare Balding is such a professional, showing total respect to whichever sport she is covering. And doing her homework!!

I think some of the other stuff, silly comments, and the like simply reflect societal views (people think anyone with a horse is rich and snobby) and the fact that Dressage in particular is very alien to many people.

To be fair, the rhythmic gymnastics and the synchro swimming gets the mickey taken too.
 
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