Post by Teddy Bear on Mar 22, 2010 21:30:48 GMT
Since there's very little of BBC output that attracts me anyway, I really didn't notice this overdone sports output last weekend, the decline in programming all across the media has been going on for yours. However, when you think there is somebody in the BBC making lots of money to make decisions like this, without considering how angered the many licence fee payers will be by it, it does boil ones urine that much more.
BBC defends 18-hour sports blitz after dropping popular entertainment programmes
By Simon Cable
If you are not a television sports fan, there was every reason to cry foul.
The BBC faced a backlash last night after dropping popular entertainment programmes to broadcast 18 hours of sport over the weekend.
On Saturday, football and back-to-back Six Nations rugby matches took over the schedule, with almost 13 hours of continuous coverage – at the expense of regular Saturday night drama shows such as Casualty.
On Sunday, licence fee payers saw another six hours of sports-related programmes, including two Sport Relief shows.
Online message boards were flooded by irate viewers who complained corporation bosses had 'shoved sport down their throats'.
A host of high-profile names, including Esther Rantzen, also joined the criticism, with the presenter labelling the decision to drop Saturday night entertainment as 'extraordinary'.
See all it shows is sport
Yesterday, the corporation refused to apologise, saying the Six Nations tournament had proved popular, with the France versus England match watched by 6.6million.
A spokesman said: 'Saturday was the climax of the tournament, with England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales all playing.
'The BBC broadcasts all Six Nations matches live every year and they are very popular with viewers.
'In the last few years the final weekend's fixtures have all been played on the same day.'
Conservative MP John Whittingdale, chairman of the House of Commons culture and media select committee, said: 'BBC1 is the place which is supposed to cater for a mass audience.
'Saturday evening is traditionally the time when families want to sit down and watch television together.'
Last year, the BBC spent a total of £357million buying the rights to broadcasting a range of sports, including Formula 1.
By Simon Cable
If you are not a television sports fan, there was every reason to cry foul.
The BBC faced a backlash last night after dropping popular entertainment programmes to broadcast 18 hours of sport over the weekend.
On Saturday, football and back-to-back Six Nations rugby matches took over the schedule, with almost 13 hours of continuous coverage – at the expense of regular Saturday night drama shows such as Casualty.
On Sunday, licence fee payers saw another six hours of sports-related programmes, including two Sport Relief shows.
Online message boards were flooded by irate viewers who complained corporation bosses had 'shoved sport down their throats'.
A host of high-profile names, including Esther Rantzen, also joined the criticism, with the presenter labelling the decision to drop Saturday night entertainment as 'extraordinary'.
See all it shows is sport
Yesterday, the corporation refused to apologise, saying the Six Nations tournament had proved popular, with the France versus England match watched by 6.6million.
A spokesman said: 'Saturday was the climax of the tournament, with England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales all playing.
'The BBC broadcasts all Six Nations matches live every year and they are very popular with viewers.
'In the last few years the final weekend's fixtures have all been played on the same day.'
Conservative MP John Whittingdale, chairman of the House of Commons culture and media select committee, said: 'BBC1 is the place which is supposed to cater for a mass audience.
'Saturday evening is traditionally the time when families want to sit down and watch television together.'
Last year, the BBC spent a total of £357million buying the rights to broadcasting a range of sports, including Formula 1.