How the BBC’s sport coverage lost its way

[redforest]

The BBC is like the NHS, everybody funds it even if they don’t use or like it. It’s a socialist idea and that why the Tories hate them both. To such an extent that they underfund both for over 10 years, run critical articles in their client press to build a consensus that they’re not very good and eventually get rid whilst their mates make lots of profit selling off the good bits.

 

[HBB]

Be careful what you wish for. You get rid of the BBC and its funding and the news especially and all you'll get is the same as the US, new news channels created by the extremely rich with their own agenda - you think the likes of GB News is bad now, just wait until they are followed by more of their ilk

 

[JohhnyM]

Be careful what you wish for. You get rid of the BBC and its funding and the news especially and all you'll get is the same as the US, new news channels created by the extremely rich with their own agenda - you think the likes of GB News is bad now, just wait until they are followed by more of their ilk

Despite all its faults I couldn’t agree more. The radio is pretty good (partly because it’s advert-free), their news coverage is excellent, I go on their website multiple times a day, and they do some decent tv. We’d have a big hole without it all.

Doesn’t mean they have to ram women’s football down my throat, or ditch a load of good presenters because they’ve got the wrong profile.

 

[Strummer]

If the BBC produced nothing other than Test Match Special it would still be worth it.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Despite all its faults I couldn’t agree more. The radio is pretty good (partly because it’s advert-free), their news coverage is excellent, I go on their website multiple times a day, and they do some decent tv. We’d have a big hole without it all.

Doesn’t mean they have to ram women’s football down my throat, or ditch a load of good presenters because they’ve got the wrong profile.

Women's football is cheap, that's why they do it, it allows them to broadcast live football on a small budget.

The good thing about the BBC is it creates niche programmes that are genuine quality that wouldn't get made by any media organisation working under the profit motive. Endless episodes of Strictly, Bake Off and the Traitors just because they're popular would get dull pretty sharpish.

 

[redtreeant]

Be careful what you wish for. You get rid of the BBC and its funding and the news especially and all you'll get is the same as the US, new news channels created by the extremely rich with their own agenda - you think the likes of GB News is bad now, just wait until they are followed by more of their ilk

No one is talking of getting rid of the BBC, just giving people the choice if they want to pay for it or not, no different to sky or Netflix, but why should people be forced to have it?

 

[Project Zeus]

The BBC hate is overblown, but I think it's interesting that the article indirectly recognises something that the Torygraph usually wouldn't: the country peaked in 2012 and it's been a downward spiral since then. That was the last time we were a united and proud nation.

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

 

[Alvar Hanso]

I mean, I can see how the bullet points may lure some into thinking that's what it's saying, but it's clearly not.

“She’s able, but in my opinion, if she went in for an interview without the sports background, she wouldn’t pass it,” he (Lynam) says. “I wasn’t a sports person of any repute, I was a broadcaster. I think the BBC have moved away from broadcasting too much. They hire a lot of people who are excellent at sport but not at broadcasting.”

He clearly says these people are not excellent at broadcasting, and the Beeb is hiring athletes who then aren't good broadcasters.

That doesn't mean people who are ex-athletes but are also excellent broadcasters shouldn't be hired though, and Clough would fit that bill.

I was referring to the article's criticism of Lineker for having views that don't match the pro Tory agenda of the Telegraph (even though Tories claim to love free speech).

And, personally, I think Alex Scott is a great broadcaster

 

[valspoodle]

I just love the BBC. It has such great programmes (where else in the world would you find radio like "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue") or the World Service which, for all the supposed faults of the broadcaster, is straight news you can believe.And the breadth of it's output is staggering.

Like us all, it has it's faults, but it' has been there, like a favourite aunt all my life, providing a safe haven.

I remember when Psycho turned up on QOS and everone was amazed this guy was so soft-spoken and eloquent, not the raging monster all expected.

 

[lavelleuk]

I've never liked much BBC stuff as I hate most TV, but I do think it's funny people say MOTD has a problem when every other channels attempts at doing football highlights has always been so much worse. When ITV had it, the terrible football league show, when GBNews decided to host one as MOTD was woke or whatever it was etc.

And I say that as someone who doesn't like MOTD no matter who hosts, who the analyst people are etc.

Watch Andy Townsend in a van and tell me you think football highlights are better off outside the BBC!

 

[Mr. Blonde]

I love the BBC and I if it were done away with I think we'd all be poorer for it

That said, I do think they need to change the way it's funded

The whole "TV licence" is a relic of the 20th Century and is in no way a viable basis on which to charge for the service in 2024

 

[Bobby The Brain]

I just love the BBC. It has such great programmes (where else in the world would you find radio like "I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue") or the World Service which, for all the supposed faults of the broadcaster, is straight news you can believe.And the breadth of it's output is staggering.

Like us all, it has it's faults, but it' has been there, like a favourite aunt all my life, providing a safe haven.

I remember when Psycho turned up on QOS and everone was amazed this guy was so soft-spoken and eloquent, not the raging monster all expected.

On the occasions I’ve been ”lucky” to go to China I always watch the BBC News channel in the hotel. Every 3rd or 4th news item the screen cuts out and is replaced with pictures of flowers or mountains. Proper 1984 stuff.

We’re lucky to have an independent broadcaster without censorship.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

I love the BBC and I if it were done away with I think we'd all be poorer for it

That said, I do think they need to change the way it's funded

The whole "TV licence" is a relic of the 20th Century and is in no way a viable basis on which to charge for the service in 2024

I agree,

Should be incorporated as part of income tax.

I do think it's important that it's generally funded rather than "people can pay if they want to have it or not" because:
1) It provides a general service to the country, like other generally funded things like the NHS.
2) It ensures niche interests are covered, which wouldn't get covered in a subscription model.
3) It improves likelihood of selling "blockbuster" shows to foreign audiences, recouping some of the budget which can go directly back to taxpayer plc.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

I agree,

Should be incorporated as part of income tax.

I do think it's important that it's generally funded rather than "people can pay if they want to have it or not" because:
1) It provides a general service to the country, like other generally funded things like the NHS.
2) It ensures niche interests are covered, which wouldn't get covered in a subscription model.
3) It improves likelihood of selling "blockbuster" shows to foreign audiences, recouping some of the budget which can go directly back to taxpayer plc.

Yep, I agree with all of that

 

[Page_Three_Stunner]

 

[EmmersonForest4]

I agree,

Should be incorporated as part of income tax.

I do think it's important that it's generally funded rather than "people can pay if they want to have it or not" because:
1) It provides a general service to the country, like other generally funded things like the NHS.
2) It ensures niche interests are covered, which wouldn't get covered in a subscription model.
3) It improves likelihood of selling "blockbuster" shows to foreign audiences, recouping some of the budget which can go directly back to taxpayer plc.

Look I wouldnt have a problem with that concept but letting Linekar preach to the nation whilst forcing half of the people who absolutley detest him pay his wages is a kick in the bollocks. If Nigel Farrage was ever employed by the BBC you just know that there would be a huge campaign and theyd get rid of him. Its a hypothetical situation though cause the Beeb would never employ Farrage.

If the Beeb was a private corparation that people could choose not to pay I couldnt give a toss who they employ but if they are forcing me to pay a mans wages who is preaching than that is a problem. If you want a service that is communial it has to start being much more communal.

 

[mister]

Does 'preach to the nation' mean post opinions on twitter?

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Look I wouldnt have a problem with that concept but letting Linekar preach to the nation whilst forcing half of the people who absolutley detest him pay his wages is a kick in the bollocks. If Nigel Farrage was ever employed by the BBC you just know that there would be a huge campaign and theyd get rid of him. Its a hypothetical situation though cause the Beeb would never employ Farrage.

If the Beeb was a private corparation that people could choose not to pay I couldnt give a toss who they employ but if they are forcing me to pay a mans wages who is preaching than that is a problem. If you want a service that is communial it has to start being much more communal.

Do you think NHS staff should be barred from posting political opinions on social media? What about firemen?

 

[adam09]

I feel like there's a severe lack of regional detective series these days.

 

[Monkman]

The Lineker stuff is daft, I get people may disagree with his opinions but unless he's spouting them on MOTD who cares? Just don't follow him on Twitter.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Do you think NHS staff should be barred from posting political opinions on social media? What about firemen?

People in public positions so that wouldnt extend to a Nurse or Firemen no but the public heads of these corparations I would say yes. Also its a bit of a false equivalence as the NHS and the Fire Service have no media arms and provide a practical service that does not hold sway on public opinion.

 

[Monkman]

But these are his personal views expressed on his personal social media account. I thought the right was into freedom of speech.

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

Lineker has every right to spout the bollocks he does, but if people hate him for it that's fair too.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

People in public positions so that wouldnt extend to a Nurse or Firemen no but the public heads of these corparations I would say yes. Also its a bit of a false equivalence as the NHS and the Fire Service have no media arms and provide a practical service that does not hold sway on public opinion.

The NHS has corporate social media profiles and much of what it posts could construe to be swaying public opinion.

The BBC provides a practical service. It entertains, educates, informs etc.

The head of the BBC is Richard Sharp who's a Tory donor and who suspended Linekar after Linekar's social media postings. Are you saying he shouldn't have got involved in order to maintain an apolitical stance?

 

[Mr. Blonde]

I don't understand people's problem with Lineker posting his views on Twitter; he's entitled to do so as much as anyone. If he were using MoTD as a platform to preach to the nation then there would be a case to answer, but he isn't

I mean he gets on my nerves for being a smug, self-satisfied twat, but that's hardly a crime

Good presenter though