The Sport Thread

A bit of a blow, but not a disaster as with the time difference I'd imagine most of the games would have been on Sports Extra anyway.

With the radio rights announced though I'd expect the TV rights announcement to follow soonish - just hope they remain free to air.

Any news on the TV rights for next years Rugby World Cup ?

Apparently an announcement is due within six weeks.

So I wonder how much truth there is in the rumours that Christine Bleakley was being lined up to be the main female anchor of the 2012 Olympics? Would seem to be a huge snub to Sue Barker if it were true.

If so I'm glad she's gone. She's a very overrated presenter and has no experience at all in sports broadcasting. It would be a huge snub to BBC Sport as a whole considering their wealth of female presenters - Hazel Irvine, Gabby Logan and Claire Balding all very capable presenters, and I've said before I'd rather see Hazel in the flagship female role over Sue for 2012, co-hosting with John Inverdale.

It hasn't been mentioned yet that selected World Cup games on the BBC are going to have an alternative commentary available on the red button - by Chris Moyles and Comedy Dave!

Cross post from the World Cup thread, but I feel it's relevant here as well...

From an insider on DS (yes, I know): "There's been a mistake somewhere with the new BBC Sport microphone covers being used this weekend [on Moto GP]. Those shouldn't have been used until the new look is launched."

Which suggests this Friday we will see a new look to BBC Sport's graphics and output without the yellow box (will get screenshot of microphone cover when the Moto GP arrives on iPlayer).

Just looking at Digiguide and as is sometimes the case with a summer football tournament up against Wimbledon there seems to be some potentially messy scheduling this year.

I guess it all depends on who's playing when at Wimbledon, but as an example, on the opening Monday of Wimbleedon, there are two World Cup matches back to back on BBC ONE (12:15pm-2:40pm and 2:45-5:10pm) with a five minute news break in between leaving just BBC TWO (and presumably the Red Button) having televised Wimbledon coverage - of course a BBC Red Button stream of Wimbledon might not be available for Freeview viewers as World Cup interactive coverage may take precedence.

I don't think Murray would be playing on the opening day of the tournament, but if he is going to play on a day when the BBC has World Cup matches scheduled, would they just stick to BBC TWO for the tennis? If so, it seems these football tournaments are the only thing that can prevent changes to the schedule for Wimbledon fortnight!

These?...

Think so, yes.

On Wednesday 23rd June you've got Wimbledon coverage on BBC1
12.15-1.00pm
1.45-2.15pm &
5.30-6.00pm

Hardly worth going to any live coverage for the latter two, they might just have a news update and some chat & banter.

God, that is ridiculous - not worth it at all. It's going to be awful this year, especially with the second Freeview feed gone. I've just got a horrible feeling too the BBC won't think twice about handing the remaining feed to a simulcast of the World Cup coverage for "alternative audio".

And if the BBC can move the One o'clock News for the World Cup and Olympics, would make sense to move it earlier for Wimbledon too so they can be on Centre Court at the start of play at 1pm.