The Sport Thread

Well Broadband speeds are getting faster, and although, sadly, rural areas might be left behind a tad it is the way forward. I know how frustrating that is, no Freeview where I grew up until switchover last year and only four channels available unless you wanted Sky.

Still super fast broadband will get rolled out over the next few years. I'm certainly planning on buying some sort of connected TV device before the Olympics (probably YouView if they get their act together) as the BBC's plans do sound very exciting.

Back to Final Score and I too enjoyed it most when they had four pundits with monitors. It was clearly a Soccer Saturday rip off, so then they tried to differentiate themselves. But sadly it's just not as good. They should just give us Freeviewers what we want!

On another subject, BBC Radio had a team of six at the Australian Open - Russell Fuller, Jonathan Overend, Alistair Eykyn, George Riley, Jeremy Bates and Pat Cash and had commentaries every day. Yet BBCTV couldn't afford to send anyone and only have pictures of three matches. How does that work? I'd be surprised to see th Australian Open on BBCTV next year to be honest.

Rights costs? It also takes a lot more people, with associated accreditation, transport, hotel and catering costs, and equipment (weight, hire fees) to create a television broadcast than a radio one.

I thought the 5 Live/Sport Extra coverage had been axed too this year. Do we know if the TV commentary was done in Aus or off-tube today?

It was off tube. John Lloyd was in the studio too. 5 Live and Sports Extra's coverage was as comprehensive as last year, although the clashes with TMS meant some of it was online only.

The BBC Sport presentation team is far too fat, most of the presenters are under utilised or limited to one or two niche sports.

In line with their declining sports portfolio, I think the on screen presentation team should be limited to a core of about 6 faces.

I agree, it would make the brand much stronger. But Steve Williams would not agree.

I'd have Lineker doing Focus and MOTD and whoever they decide to do Final Score out of the current lot doing The Football League show, I'd keep Murray for MOTD 2 as that needs to feel a bit different.

Possibly the wrong place to put this, but at about 07:59 this morning, a trailer aired on BBC1 for the carling Cup semi final 2nd leg between Cardiff City and Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

Except, it was held last Tuesday!

As a Palace fan, I don't mind if they play again this Tuesday

But why is it a bad thing to have presenters who specialise in one or two sports? You do far more damage to your brand by shoehorning in a presenter who knows nothing about the subject, see Ortis Deeley on the athletics, than you do having numerous presenters for different sports.

It's fine when you have plentiful of that sport to show - but the BBC don't have much of much at the moment, and there is a difference between bringing in someone like Ortis Deely and having alrounders on board like John Inverdale and Hazel Irvine. It might mean sometimes presenters have to cover sports they'd rather not - but hey, work sucks!

Right. So work sucks - so viewers should suffer? Next you'll be saying women shouldn't work in broadcasting. Oh...

Hazel Irvine - Snooker, Golf
John Inverdale - Rugby, Tennis, Athletics
Sue Barker - Tennis, Horse Racing, Cycling, Swimming
Gary Lineker - MOTD, Live football, Football Focus (shared)
Jake Humphrey - Formula 1, Live Championship Football, Football Focus (shared)
Mark Chapman - Final Score, Football League Show
Colin Murray - MOTD 2, Darts

If they were to adopt this they would be cutting back on Clare Balding, Dan Walker, Manish and Gabby Logan. I think that's feasible.