They plan to do something I've been saying they should do for years - commission fewer dramas but give them longer runs.
However, they then go on about how they must "cherish" shows like Casualty and EastEnders.
Surely if ever there is a show to be "cherished", it's Grandstand!
If TV programmes could be listed in the same way as buildings, shows like Grandstand and Coronation Street would definately be Grade I status and safe from the axe!
Mark Thompson (DG) is planning a huge shakeup for the BBC's digital age. According to him, its not just Grandstand that will go but other 'output' will have major revamps including new programming to entice more teenagers to the BBC.
I know that everyone likes Teenagers to come to their channels, but unlike any other, does the BBC need them?
We pay for them to make programmes, therefore they don't theoretically need to attract teenagers to boost advertising revenues. Perhaps Mark Thompson still has too much Channel 4 inside him, even though Channel 4 has greatly improved since he left!
One thing, its not going to improve people's perception of the licence fee settlement if it is perceived that they are using it to make commercial-style websites. It's not exactly good timing
Grandstand has been axed because the BBC no longer have any decent sport to show on a saturday afternoon, Mark Thompsons excuse on the new 'digital age' just hides the BBCs failings to bring sport the audiance wants to watch to our televisions.
No decent sport...
Apart from the 6 Nations. And the FA Cup. And the Grand National. And the Derby. And Wimbledon. And the Open Golf. And the Rugby League Challenge Cup. And Royal Ascot. And the MotoGP.
They plan to do something I've been saying they should do for years - commission fewer dramas but give them longer runs.
However, they then go on about how they must "cherish" shows like Casualty and EastEnders.
Surely if ever there is a show to be "cherished", it's Grandstand!
If TV programmes could be listed in the same way as buildings, shows like Grandstand and Coronation Street would definately be Grade I status and safe from the axe!
Even if Corrie became as bad as you keep banging on about EastEnders being now?
PE
pear
so when is the grandstand name being dropped will it be in a few weeks or months
Grandstand has been axed because the BBC no longer have any decent sport to show on a saturday afternoon, Mark Thompsons excuse on the new 'digital age' just hides the BBCs failings to bring sport the audiance wants to watch to our televisions.
No decent sport...
Apart from the 6 Nations. And the FA Cup. And the Grand National. And the Derby. And Wimbledon. And the Open Golf. And the Rugby League Challenge Cup. And Royal Ascot. And the MotoGP.
Oh, and the Commonwealth Games.
And the Olympics.
And I could go on...
The post you quoted did say that the beeb had no decent sport "to show on a Saturday afternoon".
Well the BBC themselves seem to have decided that 6 nations should be shown teatime Saturday and on Sunday, not Saturday afternoon; only the FA Cup FInal is shown on a Saturday afternoon; the golf, rugby league and tennis you mention are annual events, as are the racing meets you mention; the Commonwealth Games, Olympics, soccer World Cup and European Championships are every four years; and I've no idea what MotoGP is I'm afraid.
So on a week by week basis, when its not Derby Day, 6 nations day, Wimbledon or whatever, then the ascertion that the BBC has no decent sport to show on a Saturday afternnon doesn't seem that wide of the mark to me.
Isnt the BBC insulting the younger viewers by 'dumbing down' it's programming and cutting news and documentaries down to 'bitesize' 10-15 min programmes? Don't get me wrong, I love comedy and all that being a young person myself, but surely they've got BBC 3 for most of that? I suppose the one good thing is that they will put on more Doctor Who !!!
Grandstand has been axed because the BBC no longer have any decent sport to show on a saturday afternoon, Mark Thompsons excuse on the new 'digital age' just hides the BBCs failings to bring sport the audiance wants to watch to our televisions.
No decent sport...
Apart from the 6 Nations. And the FA Cup. And the Grand National. And the Derby. And Wimbledon. And the Open Golf. And the Rugby League Challenge Cup. And Royal Ascot. And the MotoGP.
Oh, and the Commonwealth Games.
And the Olympics.
And I could go on...
The post you quoted did say that the beeb had no decent sport "to show on a Saturday afternoon".
Well the BBC themselves seem to have decided that 6 nations should be shown teatime Saturday and on Sunday, not Saturday afternoon; only the FA Cup FInal is shown on a Saturday afternoon; the golf, rugby league and tennis you mention are annual events, as are the racing meets you mention; the Commonwealth Games, Olympics, soccer World Cup and European Championships are every four years; and I've no idea what MotoGP is I'm afraid.
So on a week by week basis, when its not Derby Day, 6 nations day, Wimbledon or whatever, then the ascertion that the BBC has no decent sport to show on a Saturday afternnon doesn't seem that wide of the mark to me.
My list of Saturday events was only a beginning, and I could have extended it, but let's not get bogged down with that. Instead, what sport is it that the BBC is missing? What should it have in the afternoon, to warrant the retention of Grandstand?
The post you quoted did say that the beeb had no decent sport "to show on a Saturday afternoon".
Sorry, but in 2005 Grandstand on Saturday afternoons covered . . .
World Darts, World Cup Cycling, Great North Cross Country, World Indoor Bowls, Australian Open Tennis, Powergen Cup Rugby Union, Racing from Haydock, UIttoxeter, Chepstow, Ascot (at temporary venues), Aintree, Epsom, Goodwood, Longchamp & Leopardstown, International Indoor Athletics, Six Nations Rugby, Masters Snooker, Davis Cup Tennis, European Indoor Athletics, Rugby League Challenge Cup, The Grand National, World Snooker Championship, Badminton Horse Trials, British Masters Golf, PGA Championship Golf
French Open Tennis, World Cup Rowing, Epsom Derby, Queen's Club Tennis, Royal Ascot, European Cup Athletics, Eastbourne Tennis, Wimbledon, Scottish Open Golf, World Athletics Trials, The Open Championship, European Show Jumping, World Swimming, Championships, Women's Open Golf, World Athletics Championships, Hickstead Derby Show Jumping, World Rowing Championships, World Athletics Final, European Three-Day Eventing, World Matchplay Golf, Great North Mile/Great North Run, Moto GP (World Motorcycling Championship), Grand Prix Snooker, Tri-Nations Rugby League, Grand Prix Gymnastics, International Open Bowls, Autumn Rugby Union Internationals, World Gymnastics Championships, Honda Challenge Tennis, UK Championship Snooker and Olympia World Cup Show Jumping
. . . plus Football Focus, Final Score and live FA Cup and International football shown as Match of the Day Live . . .
. . . and have/will show much the same in 2006, taking out some of the biennial events, and adding in the Winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games and World Cup.
Not all ratings-winning stuff, but plenty to keep sport on the BBC on Saturday afternoons I would think - either in Grandstand or otherwise.
Anyway, Roger Mosey says today on the BBC Sport Editor's blog that there has been a lot of discontent about the loss of the Grandstand theme tune. So although the format seems to be a gonor, they are 'seeing what they can do' regarding the theme tune.
