Wonderful BBC

john · Top national player

RE: Wonderful BBC

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

At least the BBC aren't as bad as the American TV network that cut away from Murray/Gasquet after Murray won the 3rd set TB to show the Williams sisters play a women's doubles match, or showed Venus's press conference in preference to live tennis at one point in the tournament!

I'm not a fan of the Williams sisters at all, as there are plenty of things wrong with the way they play, and their attitude at times, but they are the best players in the women's game at the moment after Henin's retirement, and so it's expected they'll get the most coverage.

Can't comment that much on what the BBC have been saying about them though as I've barely watched them play at all, with me always choosing another option on interactive.

And yes, at times the BBCi service has been a bit erratic with them not bothering to change the streams so you end up with the same match on 2 of the 3 available platforms at times, but I've been impressed with the amount of coverage they've given to the juniors this week.

indiana · Tennis legend

mkkreuk wrote:

What does being glamorous, elegant and humble have to do with anything? If you don't like their tennis style, then that's tough - it's successful and therefore they'll be on terrestial television for a long time. I guarantee that if these were the Ren sisters, in ten years time, both of you would be extolling their every virtue and "brown nosing" them whenever you had the opportunity. You'd be talking about their resillience, their great shotmaking, their athleticism, their power... You'd not be concerned, not even in the slightest, of their 'dominance. In fact, how many times have you complained that we've had to watch Fed dismantle a player, when their have been tonnes of 'more interesting' matches unfolding? Just take the blinkers off.

I presume I'm one of the terrible "both of you". Well, Mystic Mkkreuk, who seems to think they can see into our future, I assure that I don't brown nose anyone. Like, John, cetainly one person I don't brown nose, for instance, is Andy Murray, although I want him and other British players to do well. if you like to check quite a number of my posts, you will see this to be true.

I assure you that I don't really dislike the Williams sisters. I made a comment on her jigging up to the net after her win against Dementieva and I stand by it. I expect slightly more of a Wimbledon Champion. You disagree, fair enough. Also, how dare anyone stray a bit of thread subject, I'm sorry, but it happens !

One thing I do like so much about here, in comparison with some other forums, in particular the old BBC one which I used to inhabit, is one can occasionally make negative comments about a player without being told you are just saying that because you hate the player.

One thing that sticks in my mind is once when Roger Federer was clearly practicing trick shots during an early Wimbledon match one year ( and a BBC commentator remarked on it as well ), I wrote on the BBC forum that I thought that was disrespectful to his opponent. Needless to say, I got abuse from Federer supporters saying such as whatt next would the Federer haters be saying that they don't like the colour of his racket or something. I had to point out to them that I was in fact a huge admirer of Roger Federer, and it was just a point that I would have made about any player, and would of happily debated it's legitimacy.

So, please allow contributors to make occasional negative remarks about a player, without jumping on their backs, along with adding made-up assumptions about the contributor.

Back to your normal programming....

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Back on topic.

What has really annoyed me about the BBC is the switching of a match from one channel to another. Three times when I have been unable to watch all of a match I have set the video running, only to come home and find they moved the match and I have a wonderful video of some rubbish I wouldn't have dreamed of watching.

Why, for example, did they move the Andy/Gasquet match from BBC2 to BBC1? Why couldn't they leave it where it was, and move the BBC2 programs over to BBC1 if the ones on there were the least likely to be missed?

Ratty · County player

Strewth, you people can find anything to complain about.

The BBC coverage is pretty damn good by any stretch of the imagination. A choice of about 5 matches, all with commentary, for several uninterrupted hours per day. And this year, some heavy duty coverage of juniors too.

If you want a example of what really is dire, just check out the message boards on Tennis Warehouse for some views on the ESPN/NBC Wimbledon coverage on US TV.

For example, repeated replays of Williams sisters' matches in preference to live men's singles involving non-Americans. Breaking off in the final set for some unscheduled college basketball. Just deciding not to show the scheduled tennis in favour of truck racing. Etc.

Here are a few samples:

I can't believe ESPN2 is showing the Williams doubles match...instead of the men's matches...unbelievable. I hope everyone complains about this lousy coverage.
I think it's usual ridiculous american TV.
I woke up just to watch the men semi and nothing...disappointing as usual.
Here if you don't like baseball or american football you are screwed.
They're making me watch Dementieva and Venus again. I have every stroke memorized.

Ratty · County player

I'm going on a bit I know, but here's another one that sums it all up nicely:

yeap...the greatest country on earth is the only place where you can't watch the semis of the world's best tennis tournament live..coz of commercial reasons!! what a load of crap!!
Yes, it really does seem to be "Wonderful BBC"!!!

indiana · Tennis legend

I agree with you, Ratty, that the BBC is much better than a lot of other stations and countries.

That does not mean it is perfect, so please allow us to comment with what we regard as valid criticisms, thanks.

john · Top national player

Agree with indiana here. It may be better than others but the one thing that irked me was that they actually seem to have gone backwards from last year. I think the least we should expect is that they match last year's standard and this year there has consistently been less matches available at one time than last year.

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

Also, don't forget that the USA stations are covering what is to them a foreign tournament with timings that do no suit them.

I would expect their coverage of the US Open to be better.

And my complaint of moving matches from one channel to another still stands! I am having to buy two matches that I should have been able to record.

indiana · Tennis legend

OK, to show I am a fair minded chap,

Congratulations to the BBC for showing the Laura Robson match in precedence to the Men's Doubles Final. I am sure that they chose the correct match that the public wanted to see !

Tracey Austin didn't seem convinced ( nor did Pat Cash ), thinking it was hyping her up too much but then "Brits aren't used to having such a good young player" mee-aww

At least, as has been discussed, American broadcasters are never parochial biggrin

-- Edited by indiana at 00:36, 2008-07-06

Sheddie · administrator

greaat win for Laura !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im pissed.......lol..........

GBJ · Club Coach

(Did a quick search for a bbc thread and this was the most recent lol!)

I was just wondering whether anyone knows whether it is possible to listen later the live bbc websites radio coverage (currently about to do commentary of Raducanus match)? I have been really enjoying listing to things like Evos thriller yesterday by listening on bbc sounds (accessed via the radio five live sports extra schedule) but it is not on the radio just on the website and I cant see a way of listening to it.

I was also pretty annoyed that I couldnt find the end of yesterdays program cos the only link I could was to the program and ended suddenly at the at the scheduled end of the program even though they were mid sentence and clearly continuing the commentary service live on the website at the time

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

In line more with 'wonderful' BBC, pleased to read that so many people were amazingly impressed with the Amazon Prime coverage.

And wasn't it blinkin marvellous not to have flippin John Lloyd? And Andrew Castle? And Sue Barker?

BBC - take note ! Their time is up - get rid of the three stooges and get in some fresh blood. Who know a bit about modern tennis. And don't just waffle on about themselves and get off on little jokes with each other.

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Coup Droit wrote:
In line more with 'wonderful' BBC, pleased to read that so many people were amazingly impressed with the Amazon Prime coverage.

And wasn't it blinkin marvellous not to have flippin John Lloyd? And Andrew Castle? And Sue Barker?

BBC - take note ! Their time is up - get rid of the three stooges and get in some fresh blood. Who know a bit about modern tennis. And don't just waffle on about themselves and get off on little jokes with each other.

Poor Sue one of the 3 stooges. Mind you they did replace her on QES with somebody who has not gone down very well.

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Coup Droit wrote:
In line more with 'wonderful' BBC, pleased to read that so many people were amazingly impressed with the Amazon Prime coverage.

And wasn't it blinkin marvellous not to have flippin John Lloyd? And Andrew Castle? And Sue Barker?

BBC - take note ! Their time is up - get rid of the three stooges and get in some fresh blood. Who know a bit about modern tennis. And don't just waffle on about themselves and get off on little jokes with each other.

Poor Sue one of the 3 stooges. Mind you they did replace her on QES with somebody who has not gone down very well.