Monday 13 June 2011

BBC Fiasco

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm still seething. I tuned in last night, like millions of others, to BBC1 in the hope and expectation of that balm to the nation, Antiques Roadshow - and what did we get? A lot of dreary petrolheads standing around in the rain shouting about some motor-car race that hadn't happened. And so it went on and on and on, until it had entirely eclipsed Antiques Roadshow's scheduled slot. The 'action' then switched to BBC2 where it wiped out the slot allotted to another reliably restful and informative programme, Coast.
There was talk over the weekend that the impending 'cuts' threatening the BBC might cause it to give up on covering some sporting events. Bring it on, I say - then we'll have no more fiascos like last night, when a minority-interest (to put it mildly) 'sport' is allowed to cut a destructive swathe through the schedules, ruining it all for the rest of us (i.e. the vast majority who haven't the slightest interest in motor racing). Test cricket was the only TV sport worth hanging on to, and they let that go, so why not the endlessly tedious Formula One next? It would be a gift to the viewing nation.

9 comments:

  1. synchronised seething Nige - I kicked the coffee table in exasperation and spilt the Rhone.

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  2. So you weren't tempted by the Come Dine with Me omnibus edition on More4, Nige?

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  3. Years ago I heard the best description of "sports" (specifically NBA basketball) --

    A bunch of millionaires runnin' around in their underwear.

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  4. You're right there Barbara - and cricketers at least wear long trousers (and aren't millionaires).
    Susan - if I'd only known...
    David - that must have made things even worse - I sympathise.

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  5. Bring it on, I say - then we'll have no more fiascos like last night, when a minority-interest (to put it mildly) 'sport' is allowed to cut a destructive swathe through the schedules, ruining it all for the rest of us (i.e. the vast majority who haven't the slightest interest in [fill in the blank])

    The vast majority of people have no interest in any particular sport.

    Just as the vast majority of people have no interest in Antiques Roadshow.

    Goose, meet gander.

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  6. Its true, motor racing is the most boring sport. The only thing more boring than it, in fact, is the Antiques Roadshow.

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  7. Brit! Skipper! Have you no souls? Or no antiques?

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  8. When the BBC finally ascends to that great cathode ray tube in the sky, or at Sky, then Battie and Hilary will be given pride of place, Battie sitting on a piece of blue and white, Hilary astride an autograph of Elvis. Viva the Roadshow, part of the background radiation of the British way of life since time immemorial.

    All is not lost Nige, the finest sporting contest is nigh upon us, the TDF, bikers, scenery and half pissed Germans, what more could you desire.

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  9. Its true, motor racing is the most boring sport.

    Try getting a car around a race track as fast as you dare sometime.

    Most who have both met me and are honest agree I have no soul.

    And in my house, I am the only antique.

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