Commonwealth Games - BBC coverage

The BBC has released information on its Commonwealth Games coverage.

Presenters will be as follows:
9.00am Mishal Husain
12.00pm Jason Mohammad
3.00pm Hazel Irvine
7.00pm Gary Lineker
Highlights - Mark Chapman with Clare Balding on location
Venues - Clare Balding, Gabby Logan, John Inverdale.
Ceremonies - Gary Lineker and Clare Balding with Huw Edwards and Hazel Irvine commentating.

So to compare with the Olympics - Sue Barker is sadly absent, Gabby moves out of the studio and in to the stadium and in come Jason Mohammad and Mark Chapman.

BBC Three will have hours extended with presenters Dougie Vipond, Lee McKenzie, Manish Bhasin and Dan Walker. Presenters at the Olympics were Sonali Shah, Rishi Persad, Manish Bhasin and Jake Humphrey (with a bit of Dan Walker too).

Programmes such as BBC Breakfast and The One Show will come from Glasgow.

More here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/commonwealth-games.html

Why the lack of Sue? Very sad news.

Obviously the aim is to give BBC Three a Scottish vibe, what with Dougie Vipond and Lee McKenzie being used. And interesting to see Lineker back - it looked like he was just interested in doing London 2012, but good to see his affinity with the big events continuing, as I thought he worked well in places, especially doing the ceremonies with Sue.

Yes, a great shame about Sue, she'll be covering the Winter Olympics (although details of the coverage haven't been announced yet), but it looks like she'll only be covering Tennis from then on. The Beeb really giving the Commonwealth Games some big coverage, which is good, but it's not really regarded as that an important sporting event - Mo Farah for example is unlikely to compete. Still, good to see.

It'll be interesting to see how they cover the Winter Olympics and the World Cup. Will the Olympics be presented from Sochi? I guess that'll be Sue, Hazel, probably not Gabby with the 6 Nations, maybe Clare, not sure who else.

As for the World Cup that will be presented from Rio on the BBC and back home on ITV. I guess we'll see Mark Chapman presenting with Gary, though it would be nice to see Gabby used more than just the England reporter.

I would imagine Sue will be limited to figure skating commentary in Sochi, as was the case in 2010 (with the exception of the opening ceremony, which I think she presented). It is indeed a shame that she isn't part of the Glasgow presenting team, but it's good to see Hazel Irvine getting a slightly more prominent slot, and great to see such a big commitment to the Games by the BBC.

Interestingly Glorious Goodwood clashes with the Games from the middle Tuesday to Saturday, so I wonder if we'll see Clare Balding dividing her time between the BBC and Channel 4.

Seems very early to be releasing such precise information about scheduling and presenter line-ups, considering the Winter Olympics are only three months away and we've heard nothing about them.

Similar info for the Olympics was released very early wasn't it?


She could maybe be involved still in a smaller capacity. The press release mentioned A Question of Sport coming from Glasgow during the games

You'd have thought her name would have been mentioned if she was doing that though. Which could suggest she'll be leaving that role too, no doubt Gabby Logan would be the one in the frame, now that two of other likely candidates have left the BBC. Although they might go for Hazel for the Glasgow, due to a greater Scottish connection. That's all speculation of course.

Highlights the lack of male presenters once again at BBC Sport - not quite sure what Inverdale will be on location fronting now Gabby has the athletics (cycling possible), but would rather see Dan Walker than Jason Mohammed in the lunchtime slot. Even Matt Baker would be preferable. Presumably Clare Balding is fronting the swimming - bet they have Burt le Clos on by the end of the first day!

Seems odd they've announced this so early too - don't really understand the logic (it's not like they've got advertising to sell). Considering recent red button woes can't see a deal being struck with Sky this time for extra streams, and it remains to be seen what happens on Freeview as the BBC have virtually no logic to such decisions.

Jason Mohammad might, at least partially, have been chosen because he is Welsh and of course England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all compete against each other. So therefore they want to limit the numbers of English faces. This way you have Welsh, Scottish and English presenters on BBC1, and also two Scottish and two English on BBC3.

Not entirely sure why that's an issue, though?

So, is BBC Parliament going to take some time off on Freeview again?

Sounds like it, if they succeed in getting the extended hours for BBC Three.

There are also the 15 live streams announced earlier this year - whether these will be online only, or through other platforms, remains to be seen. http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/commonwealth-streams.html

Interesting though that the press release mentions that The One Show will come from Glasgow 'during Games time' . . . a hint perhaps that the prime time coverage will not necessarily be on BBC One.

Wouldn't The One Show usually be on a break around then?

They might go for a compromise option and have it on BBC2 say 6-8pm to keep The One Show and EastEnders on BBC1. 6-8pm though a busy time with swimming and athletics most nights overlapping.

Would rather they choose people based on talent rather than nationality. Jason Mohammad is OK in small doses, but Dan Walker a far better presenter IMO.