The Sport Thread

I believe that the extra ITV one is a 'repayment' for the 5th round last year when ITV couldn't have a replay for scheduling reasons.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/16516805.stm

The BBC has revealed its Formula 1 presenting team for the 2012 season.

Jake Humphrey remains as presenter, alongside chief analyst Eddie Jordan and co-commentator David Coulthard, while Ben Edwards joins as commentator.

Experienced F1 car designer Gary Anderson has been recruited as technical analyst, while Lee McKenzie remains as pit-lane reporter.

James Allen becomes Radio 5 live commentator, joined by Jennie Gow as radio pit-lane reporter.

Confirmation the BBC will only show the Aussie open finals - doesn't look like they even plan to cover the Murray games: http://www.touchline.tv/broadcasting/bbc-scale-back-coverage-of-australian-open-tennis

Problems on MOTD tonight. Dodgy picture interference during Chelsea-Sunderland game (screen pixellated green with audio tone for a few seconds) and then the autocue conked out during the lead into the next game, prompting a catty response from Mr Crisps:

"And the autocue has just failed which isn't really what you want to happen in the middle of a live programme".

Or words to that effect.

Hmm, Are they trying to make sure people take up Sky subscriptions. Can't see many people deciding to experience the races BBC don't have on TV in the company of James Allen.
Gary is moving over from Setanta as far as I'm aware where he was little more then a pitlane reporter after Setanta failed to bring Peter Collins over from RTÉ, promoting the then pitlane reporter Declan Quigley to main commentator. RTÉ had at the time got one up on ITV when they brought Anderson in as ITV didn't have an equivalent expert.
I wonder if Setanta Ireland are even going to bother covering Formula 1 next year. There is little to no Irish interest on the track to appeal to RTÉ or TV3 to resume any coverage on their channels.

One day this week(can't remember which day!), the Radio Times has flagged 2 alternative schedules on ITV 3 , depending on whether ITV 1 had a match on or not!

This is a first AFAIK, as from what I remember of the schedule on ITV 3 , there didn't seem to be a reason for 2 different schedules.

ITV 1, I could see a reason, but ITV 3 being affected by ITV 1?

Yes, it's to stop both channels showing drama at the same time, as if ITV weren't showing football they'd show Foyle's War, so ITV3 would show Carry On Screaming rather than Midsomer Murders, to attract a different audience. I remember in the 1990 World Cup, BBC2 ended up dropping quite a few programmes at the late minutes and replacing them with films so they could offer an alternative to the football.

ITV2 have had to do alternative schedules in the past, based on how many episodes of Corrie and Emmerdale they've had to repeat.

The picture has just gone on the Darts on BBC Two just as the final was going to begin. Fault slide up with music... it's now back, but we've missed the opening 6 darts from each player.

I see. Never noticed that before.

Setanta just took BBC's pooled coverage last year. Quigley, Anderson and the other guy weren't with Setanta.

Have Channel 7 brought the BBC Sport graphics package?
Some very familiar looking score astons on the coverage from Melbourne today...

It's a common theme with Setanta these days, taking international feeds and coverage instead of doing their own thing. Their UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League coverage is now done by having their commentators commentate from Dublin over the pooled feed. The FA Cup also took the world feed for most games although Setanta did do their own coverage for United v City. They also seem to have axed their studio analysis for all but very big Top 14 rugby games. I'm not sure if the Breakdown has been axed - its not on at present but I have a hunch it might be back for the Six Nations.

The only thing they are really doing their own build-up/halftime/post match coverage for on a regular basis is now the 3pm Saturday FA Premier League kick-offs.

Talking of football (and bringing this back to Formula 1 in a way), Jake Humphrey presented MOTD2 last night, which was odd.