BBC Cuts Off Blair's Final PM Speech

[Teddy Bear]

In any private business, heads would roll for such bad decisions, but at the BBC it's par for the course.

BBC apologises for Blair 'mistake'

Stephen Brook
Wednesday June 27, 2007
MediaGuardian.co.uk

The BBC has apologised for cutting off the prime minister's final speech to parliament today, saying it made the "wrong decision".
"It was an operational mistake and we would like to apologise to the viewers," the BBC said in a statement.

"There are often difficulties when live events do not run according to schedule but we recognise that this was the wrong decision under the circumstances."

The BBC's decision to end the BBC2 Daily Politics live special before Mr Blair's final PMQs performance had finished meant terrestrial TV viewers missed the climax of his last speech at the despatch box, which drew a standing ovation from the government and opposition benches.

Instead, BBC2 viewers saw trailers for the dramas Rome and Jekyll before the network's Wimbledon coverage commenced.

"The Daily Politics was scheduled to finish at 12.35 today, at which point BBC2 would go to Wimbledon and a special news programme would start on BBC1," the BBC said in a statement.

"This should have given more than enough time to come out of prime minister's questions at its usual finishing time of 12.30 and allow a short studio summing up by Andrew Neil before the end of the Daily Politics," the corporation added.

"Unexpectedly Tony Blair's last PMQs overran by five minutes and as a result the Daily Politics came off the air a minute before the end of PMQs.

A row is understood to have occurred inside the corporation over the decision to cut away early from the coverage.

"I think it's disappointing that the final historic remarks of the prime minister and his historic standing ovation were not broadcast live on terrestrial television," said Andrew Neil, the presenter of The Daily Politics.

"I was very disappointed. I sympathise with viewers who feel that this was a wrong decision."

Mr Blair's final PMQs was shown live in full on digital channels BBC News 24 and BBC Parliament - but both draw tiny audiences compared with BBC2.

The Daily Politics was due to end at 12.35pm to allow for PMQs overrunning.

But it is understood that because the programme went to air at 11am, it was ordered to come off air at 12.34pm.

[steevo]

As much as I can't stomach the Guardian, I've been enjoying some of their reporting

[Teddy Bear]

They're mostly the private 'mouthpiece' for putting the BBC view across as objective reporting, which is why the BBC advertises for job vacancies there.

If for example we refer to the above article, WE see what's behind it and read between the lines, but in actual fact it's supposed to show how good the BBC is to actually apologise for this deed, which the headlines makes clear..

[indikit]

On the BBC editors blog, it's a Jolly Hockeysticks explanation. "Yes, we cocked up."

Oh ha ha ha. Those clowns at the BBC. Cocking up when it comes to the P.Ms last speech in Parliament.

Of course there wouldn't be any sackings Teddy. It's the BBC. But woe betide anyone who cuts short Alan Johnstons last speech - if he gets one. Because then we can be sure...heads will roll.

Pun intended.

[Teddy Bear]

Your giving me an idea for another fit to the BBC acronym - Bungles Bankrolled Continuously