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The Sport Thread

(January 2006)

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SW
Steve Williams
Well quite an afternoon, simultaneous FTA HD coverage of three premier sports events on the three
premier TV channels.

Wimbledon Mens' Final on BBC1, UK F1 on BBC 2, Tour de France on ITV.

I don't think I can remember such a day, even when they were the only three channels available ?

<cue steve williams>


Well, of course on Saturday at 2pm there was sport on BBC1, BBC2, ITV and C4, with the ladies' final and the F1 qualifying, plus also the racing.
GE
Gareth E
Speaking of C4 Racing, there's an interesting proposition here to move the Epsom Derby to a Saturday evening slot.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/28192626

One of the reasons being because of falling viewing figures since the move from the BBC to Channel 4.

Not sure how it would perform if it was up against a World Cup/European Championship match, which can sometimes be the case depending on the calendar. But an interesting idea nonetheless.
MA
Markymark
Speaking of C4 Racing, there's an interesting proposition here to move the Epsom Derby to a Saturday evening slot.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/28192626

One of the reasons being because of falling viewing figures since the move from the BBC to Channel 4.



The Derby was originally an ITV event, that was shared with C4 through the 80s, and transferred exclusively to C4 in the 90s ISTR ? Has it been BBC exclusive in recent years then ?
DO
dosxuk
The Derby was originally an ITV event, that was shared with C4 through the 80s, and transferred exclusively to C4 in the 90s ISTR ? Has it been BBC exclusive in recent years then ?


Yes, transferred in the late 90s IIRC. The year after C4 won a BAFTA for their broadcast of the event.
SW
Steve Williams
The Derby was originally an ITV event, that was shared with C4 through the 80s, and transferred exclusively to C4 in the 90s ISTR ? Has it been BBC exclusive in recent years then ?


The Derby meeting moved to C4 alongside all the other midweek racing in 1984 (it stayed at the weekend until World of Sport ended in 1985) but, because not everyone could receive C4 and it was a listed event, the race itself had to be simulcast on ITV for the rest of the eighties. Before that, up until 1980, it wasn't allowed to be exclusive to any broadcaster so while ITV showed all the races from the meeting, the Beeb showed the Derby live as well.

It moved to the Beeb in 2001 and I recall at the time they did it due to a lack of interest and they thought it would capture the public's imagination more on the Beeb. Then a few years ago forgot about that and gave everything to C4.
MA
Markymark
The Derby was originally an ITV event, that was shared with C4 through the 80s, and transferred exclusively to C4 in the 90s ISTR ? Has it been BBC exclusive in recent years then ?


The Derby meeting moved to C4 alongside all the other midweek racing in 1984 (it stayed at the weekend until World of Sport ended in 1985) but, because not everyone could receive C4 and it was a listed event, the race itself had to be simulcast on ITV for the rest of the eighties. Before that, up until 1980, it wasn't allowed to be exclusive to any broadcaster so while ITV showed all the races from the meeting, the Beeb showed the Derby live as well.

It moved to the Beeb in 2001 and I recall at the time they did it due to a lack of interest and they thought it would capture the public's imagination more on the Beeb. Then a few years ago forgot about that and gave everything to C4.


I seem to recall late 70s/early 80s, although ITV had exclusive rights to Epsom meetings, the Beeb
(through the listed events directive) could have shown the Derby, but opted not to, because it
was a rather extravagant thing to rig a full OB for just a single race. Back then it was on a Tuesday afternoon,
so even less reason for the Beeb to make the effort ? Although they could have taken ITV's pictures, and added their own commentary/pres, but back then they had a rather 'superior' attitude towards ITV, so too much pride to swallow ?
TI
tightrope78


Here's the start of ITV's coverage of the 1991 Derby.
SW
Steve Williams
I seem to recall late 70s/early 80s, although ITV had exclusive rights to Epsom meetings, the Beeb
(through the listed events directive) could have shown the Derby, but opted not to, because it
was a rather extravagant thing to rig a full OB for just a single race. Back then it was on a Tuesday afternoon,
so even less reason for the Beeb to make the effort ? Although they could have taken ITV's pictures, and added their own commentary/pres, but back then they had a rather 'superior' attitude towards ITV, so too much pride to swallow ?


Well, they did cover it, here it is in 1977...
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uZBAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8qQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3179%2C248667

They don't seem to have bothered in 1978, but they did in 1979...
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1PM9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=-EgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5273%2C1491290

As you say, ITV could have covered the Grand National if they wanted, but they didn't.
MA
Markymark

As you say, ITV could have covered the Grand National if they wanted, but they didn't.


Now, someone I know who worked for Granada in the 60s and 70s, seems to recall they did one year ?
GE
Gareth E
Bit of Channel 4 para-sport news:

http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/channel-4-continues-para-sport-commitment-in-summer-2014

Interesting that the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games - which for one year only in 2014 is not a Grand Prix/Diamond League event so separate from the BBC's rights remit - will be exclusively on Channel 4. The event will include both able-bodied and para-sport disciplines. Nice little coup for C4 to have Mo Farah and some of the other big non-Paralympic track and field names on show.
BR
Brekkie
Worth noting though the Glasgow event this weekend (using the Ryanair definition for the London Diamond League meeting) does include some para-events as well in the build up to the official Diamond League slot.
HA
harshy Founding member
Looks like Star Sports India are in town as they have their own unilateral cricket feed complete with their own graphics, replay wipes, pundits and presenters (looks like commentators are shared between Sky and Star), I would say Stars graphics are bit more interesting to watch but Sky have at least improved their crickets graphics it has a much more smaller scoreboard.

I think Star's coverage is produced by the same people who do Channel 5's coverage.

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