BBC and cycling
What is it with the BBC and in particular Radio 5 Live?
When the Tour started in London and was watched by millions, the BBC still only ran the event as its 4th or 5th story on the sports bulletin. Then, throughout the rest of the tour, the coverage has been derisory, mainly consisting of a single sentence at the end of the sports round-up to the effect of...'and the winner of today's stage at the Tour de France was <insert relevant name>.
But guess what? As soon as the Vino and Rasmussen show hits town, the story becomes the lead item on the main news bulletin and BBC journalists are everywhere, pontificating about the dire state of cycling.
Does anyone else think that, through it's uneven coverage, the BBC (and other major sprots broadcasters) are presenting a distorted picture of cycling?
When the Tour started in London and was watched by millions, the BBC still only ran the event as its 4th or 5th story on the sports bulletin. Then, throughout the rest of the tour, the coverage has been derisory, mainly consisting of a single sentence at the end of the sports round-up to the effect of...'and the winner of today's stage at the Tour de France was <insert relevant name>.
But guess what? As soon as the Vino and Rasmussen show hits town, the story becomes the lead item on the main news bulletin and BBC journalists are everywhere, pontificating about the dire state of cycling.
Does anyone else think that, through it's uneven coverage, the BBC (and other major sprots broadcasters) are presenting a distorted picture of cycling?
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Comments
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It is a sad reflection of the face that cycling is only news when there is doping.
Not sure how it can be turned round.0 -
The BBC website has covered the Tour in depth. It's even had a live ticker of every stage which I don't remember seeing before. There has never been so much coverage of cycling on the web. The fact that the sport constantly throws up stories about drug cheats is hardly their fault. I can't comment on TV coverage as the 'News' has been a part of the entertainment industry for so long that I prefer to find factual information about daily events elsewhere.'e pur si muove0
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I am firmly of the belief that the BBC Sports department is crammed full of people who actually know nothing about any sports other than football and snooker.0
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the bbc dont have the contract to show the racing.
Personally thought the BBC were going out of their way to show limited highlights in a sports slot that lasted 2 minutes every morning. As has been said its not their fault the tour is currently imploding and it is sports news.dont knock on death\'s door.....
Ring the bell and leg it...that really pi**es him off....0 -
I'm not suggesting that the BBC shouldn't cover the doping stories. Of course it should. I just think that because the rest of its coverage is so, so limited, it paints a distorted picture of cycling.
I think we're also in danger of pigeon-holing cycling (and to a lesser extent athletics) as the only sports with a doping problem. But it's simply naive to think that other sports such as football, rugby and tennis are clean. Maybe the British media's cosier relationship with these sports protects them from exposure to some extent.0 -
Beeb website this year has had excellent coverage of Le Tour, a constant section on their main sports page with link to daily live text update on the stages.
Also 5Live radio have had a man covering the tour, with updates during the afternoon - admittedly irregularly but usually cover the finish, though I often try to avoid it so as to see the ITV4 highlights not knowing what has happened that day.
I can't comment much regarding Beeb TV, as I generally don't watch much TV. However not havng the rights will limit what they can show. There's no doubt that pre-Tour favourite failing a dope test, plus Leader been pulled out for lying & missing dope test is big news, so you can't blame them for covering it.0
