BBC iPlayer

Le Commentateur

Thought there's something not right here, then noticed a succession of things... toe clips, steel forks – in fact a general absence of carbon – hairy legs... no brand names (well it's the Beeb, right?). So, do the BBC put a retro, possibly amateur Sunday league image up for their footie coverage?

Eau Rouge

Le Commentateur wrote:

Thought there's something not right here, then noticed a succession of things... toe clips, steel forks – in fact a general absence of carbon – hairy legs... no brand names (well it's the Beeb, right?). So, do the BBC put a retro, possibly amateur Sunday league image up for their footie coverage?

Most images on the BBC site are sourced from Getty Images. I'm sure Getty have much more up-to-date pictures, but the Beeb's preference for non-branding probably limits the selection. Everything cycling-related is massivley branded, you probably do have to go pretty old-school to avoid it.
The footy (I think) uses the Match of the Day logo, not even a picture of a football, let alone players.

Le Commentateur

Most pro sports have branding everywhere, but there must be some kind of graphic imagery that doesn't look old fashioned/amateur/branded yet can symbolise the top end of the sport.

I suppose nowadays even the way wheel spokes are arranged around a wheel are trademarked, so close ups of componentry wouldn't work.

Maybe a long exposure shot of the peloton zooming past (all blurred colours) would do it, or an aerial view of the hairpins of Alpe d'Huez with crowds lining the roadside.

geoff_ss

Wasn't there a problem years ago with unusual frame designs like 'curly' Hetchins or Bates Didrant because of the ban on advertising by the RTTC which was strictly amateur?

Geoff