The Sport Thread

Still using the same chopped-down titles and GFX set from last year as well. Gone our the ideas of really original and imaginative title sequences from BBC Sport.

Interestingly, we've had the old-style 'closing music' to three Wimbledon programmes so far, yet this particular theme had all but become extinct a couple of years ago. It had been replaced on almost every occasion by a specially-created musical montage sequence to close the programme, and only seemed to be used in the event of a 'quick close' or coverage crossing over channels. Is this just because it's the first day of the championships?

Maybe tonight was a 'quick close' as a match was still underway?

I miss the days of old style BBC Sport when you'd get full closing music and credits in a white font scrolling up the screen slowly over laid on top of the Wimbledon aerial view.

Now you get a pop song with the tiny credits scrolling at rapid speed horizontally!

The BBC's rules and regulations on how long opening and closing sequences should be have completely sapped all the romance out of the coverage, if you ask me.

Take the World Cup opening titles- the rainbow theme that was so excellently presented in the trailers for the tournament doesn't even have time to get through all the colours before the BBC stopwatch puts a halt to things and slaps on a MATCH OF THE DAY banner in the actual programme. As a result, the whole sequence looks rushed, the music has to be awkwardly cut short -- although it never really gets going to begin with -- and it all falls a bit flat.

Wimbledon: everyone knows the music, it's instantly recognisable right from the first note, but not even that is sacred. It's so cut down by time restraints that you barely have a chance to enjoy it, especially with all the interruptions from "swooshes" and silly effects. See also the Match of the Day titles used for FA Cup games when the Beeb had them last.

With more and more coverage being shifted to the red button, and less programmes on the "normal" channels actually having title sequences (especially at Wimbledon, where channel changes are often during live action), it's a real shame that the only outings for these wonderful themes are gradually being curtailed (and a real shame that very little effort seems to go into new titles - MotoGP being a case in point). It's only F1 that seems to have a proper opening anymore...

[rant continues, becomes inaudible...]

I do wish the clowns at the BBC wouldn't stick programme trailers in the middle of sporting coverage, World Cup Foorball is just about acceptable, but Dr Who in the middle of Wimbledon why?

on reflection ...

... It might just have been that it was used to get BBC HD from BBC TWO to BBC ONE, but even so wasn't really acceptable.

It's pretty much normal practice now in BBC Sport coverage which runs more than a couple of hours, and I agree, not acceptable or necessary at all.

Also don't see why they extend CBBC to 5.50pm rather than return to Wimbledon at 5.15pm. BBC1 & BBC2 simulcast earlier in the afternoon, so no reason not too for an extra half hour in the evening.

And though the schedule was changed fairly late for the Budget I think today they should have ran the Budget on BBC1 from around 12.15-2pm and rescheduled the news to allow Wimbledon to continue on BBC2. Surely if the news can be cut back for the World Cup, it can be cut back for the budget too!

Part of the reason is that CBBC on BBC2 is starting at 3.25, not the normal 3.05 when it is on BBC1. No doubt they wish to make up that 20 minutes


Agreed. Something like
11:45-12:15 - News/Regional News
12:15-whenever - Budget
Then maybe a quick news headlines before going to Wimbledon

And if that had happenned the Wimbledon coverage could have started at 12pm on BBC2 rather than1215 on BBC1. Plus there would have been no 45 minute period with no Wimbledon on either channel

So they add 35 minutes. I don't think they care about that as CBBC is being dropped when the World Cup is on anyway. A few years back they only used to run CBBC 4.10-5.35pm during Wimbledon, which would be more than enough now - and certainly in a couple of years once DSO is completed I'd like to see it dropped completely for Wimbledon.

CBBC still needs that BBC1 window the rest of the year, but can afford a two-week break for events like Wimbledon (and the Olympics) - especially as unlike the news channels for example, output on the CBBC channel rates just as highly as output on BBC1.

No Today at Wimbledon as Mahut and Isner enter the ninth hour of play - currently 54-54 in the final set.

Budget cutbacks?

John McEnroe in to spoil the mood by saying they should have had a tie break seven hours ago!