^^ I was thinking the same as well, and it probably makes more sense for local BBC services to cater more appropriately for their respective audiences. Perhaps the best thing would have been reporting from all of the UK's major cities so far.
I think the problem is that that is also the perfect thing for local news teams to cover, it's local stories of interest to local people whilst the torch is in their patch. It's pretty tricky to make an interesting and varied show every day for weeks and weeks when the stories are likely to be quite similar and possibly a bit repetitive for regular viewers? (And that's ignoring the Ofcom genre quotas that The One Show has to hit)
What sort of quota would The One Show fulfil - kids programmes?
It is a difficult one - I agree about the benefits of the local aspect but I also think it warrants a bit more national coverage outside of the news, so maybe not everynight on The One Show but at key moments throughout - or just every Friday or something. I do think where appropriate a second local special should be scheduled to as just two weeks in and in my neck of the woods the Midlands, North West and Wales programmes are officially done, and although the torch won't return to Wales it is still to visit Birmingham and Manchester.
P.S. Are BBC NI doing anything over the weekend while it's in Northern Ireland?
There is a live 30 minute OB each day, starting Sunday, on BBC Radio Ulster following the route of the torch. BBC Newsline will have coverage of course. There is also a live programme on Wednesday on BBC 1 NI at 7pm as the torch arrives at Belfast City Hall.
What sort of quota would The One Show fulfil - kids programmes?
... the same genre commitments of all the programmes it replaced at 7pm (and a few more I suspect).
So current affairs, natural history, specialist factual, consumer etc. etc. Plus there is a BBC vs Independent (You may notice that The One Show isn't a 'BBC Productions' production - because a chunk of the inserts are made by indies) and a BBC Nations and Bristol & Salford commitment as well...
The live stream now has a permanent 'BBC' logo in the top left, as well as a permanent 'LIVE' location tag next to it, and now uses BBC Sport graphics to introduce the runners on screen.
Also, instead of just going back when the stream goes down, it cuts to a 'We are unable to bring you pictures' slide.
Out of interest, does anyone know why the Olympic torch is touring through the Republic of Ireland today? Being the London Olympics, I can understand the torch going to Northern Ireland as it's going round the UK, but Ireland is a separate country with no ties to the UK anymore. No political motive here - but just curious.
Out of interest, does anyone know why the Olympic torch is touring through the Republic of Ireland today? Being the London Olympics, I can understand the torch going to Northern Ireland as it's going round the UK, but Ireland is a separate country with no ties to the UK anymore. No political motive here - but just curious.
This is from the BBC site, but I still don't really understand.
Quote:
1042: Several people have been asking why the Olympic flame is visiting Dublin.
Sebastian Coe, chair of Locog, said: "This is a historic opportunity to showcase the wealth of sporting talent from across the Republic of Ireland ahead of the competition at London 2012."
And Michael Ring TD, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Republic of Ireland, said: "This historic occasion recognises the friendship, peace and cooperation that now exists on the island of Ireland and demonstrates the unifying power of sport.
"A number of international teams have already chosen Dublin as a training base before the London Games. The visit of the flame will be a wonderful opportunity for the whole of Ireland to be even more closely involved with the 2012 London Games and for Irish people to be part of the biggest sporting event in the world."
Cultural links being the reason, with a throw back to Irish representation in the Great Britain and Ireland teams in Olympiads pre separation. Deal done as part of the Queen's visit last year and sanctioned by the IOC.
Just to add to that, The Olympic Council of Ireland includes both Ireland and Northern Ireland and so it was felt that the torch could visit both sides of the border.
Out of interest, does anyone know why the Olympic torch is touring through the Republic of Ireland today? Being the London Olympics, I can understand the torch going to Northern Ireland as it's going round the UK, but Ireland is a separate country with no ties to the UK anymore. No political motive here - but just curious.
Same reason it visited London in 2004 and 2008 - the torch relay can visit places other than where the Games are happening.
