BBC UCI Worlds Track Coverage

tim_wand

Admittedly even I struggle sometimes with the diversity and complexity of events in track cycling.

But why oh why oh why? do the BBC have this policy of a none specialist fronting sport coverage?

Whether its that failded DJ Colin Murray (okay they saw their error there) or any one else who's never competed in the sport in question.

For the World Championships this year they ve got Jonathan Edwards? a bloke who made a living from Hop , Skipping and Jumping. I did nt think the bloke worked Sundays anyway too busy bible bashing.

Jez mon

More annoying is that they constantly leave the velodrome before the end of the days events, for repeats of top gear and so on. Fair enough it's on the red button often, but that's not HD coverage!

verylonglegs

Jonathan Edwards said he'd lost his faith a few years ago now so has been available for other things on Sundays. Not sure how he ended up covering cycling though...

Frank the tank

I'd just said to Mrs Tank "Why do they have someone who knows nowt about cycling, never mind the speciality that is track fronting the event programme"?

Also it has p1ssed me right off how it's got to 6 o'clock and theve left off. The number of times the news has had to wait its turn 'cos some tennis match has over-run. It does my 'ead in. :x

tiredofwhiners

tim wand wrote:

But why oh why oh why? do the BBC have this policy of a none specialist fronting sport coverage?

Not defending the individuals doing the job as I don't know them from Adam or Eve but there could be three reasons;

1. Ex-athletes expect too much money.

2. They look like frightened rabbits in front of cameras and can barely string two coherent words together.

3. They talk b*llocks most of the time.

I know they are not all in those categories but very many are - footballers in particular.

manglier

The best comment by far was from Jonathan Edwards when he opined that Jason Kenny simply had to win the Madison just to keep his end up with Laura Trott.
He doesn't need a Rainbow Jersey for that Jonathan!

solosuperia

I think as a riposte, Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche should front athletics programmes.............
I can never understand a bloody word they say about cycling!

I did like it on Saturday, Victoria gave her opinion on something to do with the racing and then looked at Jonathon Edwards expecting a reply.........

Not a chance....Glazed look and moved onto something else.

lakesluddite

SoloSuperia wrote:

I think as a riposte, Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche should front athletics programmes.............
I can never understand a bloody word they say about cycling!

I did like it on Saturday, Victoria gave her opinion on something to do with the racing and then looked at Jonathon Edwards expecting a reply.........

Not a chance....Glazed look and moved onto something else.

Have you seen Sean Kelly on the official Tour De France history DVD? Absolute car crash of presenting!

Pross

tim wand wrote:

Admittedly even I struggle sometimes with the diversity and complexity of events in track cycling.

But why oh why oh why? do the BBC have this policy of a none specialist fronting sport coverage?

Whether its that failded DJ Colin Murray (okay they saw their error there) or any one else who's never competed in the sport in question.

For the World Championships this year they ve got Jonathan Edwards? a bloke who made a living from Hop , Skipping and Jumping. I did nt think the bloke worked Sundays anyway too busy bible bashing.

I agree that Edwards is poor but disagree on Colin Murray who, although he can be annoying, I reckon can be very good. He takes the trouble to research his subject and shows plenty of enthusiasm for whatever sport he is covering.

Garry H

LakesLuddite wrote:

SoloSuperia wrote:

I think as a riposte, Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche should front athletics programmes.............
I can never understand a bloody word they say about cycling!

I did like it on Saturday, Victoria gave her opinion on something to do with the racing and then looked at Jonathon Edwards expecting a reply.........

Not a chance....Glazed look and moved onto something else.

Have you seen Sean Kelly on the official Tour De France history DVD? Absolute car crash of presenting!

Is that the one where he's quaffing a glass of wine outside a bistro?

Daz555

The presenter of the show does not need to be a specialist - they first and foremost need to be a quality presenter. They need to understand the sport but the expert observations should be left to the pundits.

I suspect the BBC are playing a long game on Edwards and see him a a potential frontman for many years to come - so are blooding him on programs without a massive profile.

Frank the tank

I couldn't help but notice that Chris Boardman WASN'T fronting the european indoor athletics today.

Wonder why?

He knows a lot about highly trained athletes going around an indoor track at high speed. Ideal bloke for the job I'd have thought. :roll:

tim_wand

It cracks me up now days. I d love to be the BBC Commisioning editor for sport, ( it really must be Alan Partridge)
they really do seem to go out off their way to find someone as much detatched from the actual sport as possible just to test and annoy the shipped in experts as possible.

Future line ups. Wimbledon / Host = Shep from blue peter. Co hosts Boris Becker and Restaraunt Waitress

Formula one/ Host= Alan Titchmarsh. Co hosts, Maureen from driving school and Dave Prowse

Grand National/ Host= Claire Balding . Co host CLEAT EASTWOOD. Now id watch that one

Frank the tank

Can't help but think the coverage of the Grand national would have to go out after the watershed with that line up Tim.

tim_wand

Frank the tank wrote:

Can't help but think the coverage of the Grand national would have to go out after the watershed with that line up Tim.

I ve always had a sneaking suspiscion that he's really Little Willy Carson anyway '

garrynolan

Garry H wrote:

LakesLuddite wrote:

SoloSuperia wrote:

I think as a riposte, Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche should front athletics programmes.............
I can never understand a bloody word they say about cycling!

I did like it on Saturday, Victoria gave her opinion on something to do with the racing and then looked at Jonathon Edwards expecting a reply.........

Not a chance....Glazed look and moved onto something else.

Have you seen Sean Kelly on the official Tour De France history DVD? Absolute car crash of presenting!

Is that the one where he's quaffing a glass of wine outside a bistro?

I've seen that one and others on RTE (Irish telly) - great behind the camera but totally 'rabbit in the headlights' in front. Feel sorry for him as he is so knowledgeable - though he's so unexcitable you want to put a firework under him...