Limpics: Biased Broadcasting Corporation

I don't know what the coverage is like on the television - it would be good to know - but on the radio it is truly appalling. Leaving aside the awful sound quality of Radio 5 AM I note that BBC Radio are hardly giving mention to those achievers from other countries. U.K. winners are given lengthy spots with over excited commentators screaming their heads off. Even Radio 4 that bastion of conservative broadcasting has lost the plot by relegating important news to sporting achievements. Same with the news web site, you have to look carefully to find out information on non British winners. The only stalwart in this festival of over excitement and delirious raving is the World Service. They are much more balanced no doubt because of their audience.

There's patriotism and nationalism. One of them is questionable the other smells very badly.

Of course they're going to give more coverage to British competitors, they're the British Broadcasting Corporation serving a largely British audience. What else would any reasonable person expect from them?

"Impartiality lies at the heart of public service and is the core of the BBC's commitment to its audiences. It applies to all our output and services - television, radio, online, and in our international services and commercial magazines. We must be inclusive, considering the broad perspective and ensuring the existence of a range of views is appropriately reflected"

lol

BBC follow British athletes in London Olympics stating the bleedin' obvious non shocker. Did you listen to chinese coverage of the Beijing games to come to this balanced opinion?

Originally Posted by KorkyKat

I don't know what the coverage is like on the television - it would be good to know - but on the radio it is truly appalling. Leaving aside the awful sound quality of Radio 5 AM I note that BBC Radio are hardly giving mention to those achievers from other countries. U.K. winners are given lengthy spots with over excited commentators screaming their heads off. Even Radio 4 that bastion of conservative broadcasting has lost the plot by relegating important news to sporting achievements. Same with the news web site, you have to look carefully to find out information on non British winners. The only stalwart in this festival of over excitement and delirious raving is the World Service. They are much more balanced no doubt because of their audience.

There's patriotism and nationalism. One of them is questionable the other smells very badly.

I haven't been listening to the World service that past week. I've really only heard about American athletes. I expect that with the local coverage, we have a medalist in our town, but it would be nice to hear what Kazakhstan is up to with 5 golds and no other medals.

Of course, my local station is doing a report on last night's GB victories in track and field. Replete with vignette and commentary on Boris Johnson's "Hurrah for Us" reaction that assumed the average American knows all about Boris' status as mayor and source of amusement.

Originally Posted by KorkyKat

Don't blame the me for you not having the ability to read and understand their guidelines and editorial policy. It's not that sophisticated.

Their guidelines state they are to be open and fair to all, all sports and medal winners are covered by the BBC, but as you admit you only listen to the radio your only exposed to a fraction of bbc coverage.

Oh there's been plenty of bias on telly too Korky. "Oh what a fantastic dive..." (Us on the sofa - "No, that was crap!") etc.

But for once, we forgive them. I have no interest in sport beyond watching my son excel at cricket (and making sure the scorebook is immaculate, in all the pretty colours) but even I've been enjoying the coverage so they must be doing the basics right.

Don't blame me for you not having the ability to read and understand their guidelines and editorial policy. It's not that sophisticated.

Am I mistaken in thinking that the Olympics is not a competition between all the world's finest athletes but a challenge from London - acting as a proxy for the U.K. and N.I. - to come on down and beat the British? One could be mistaken for thinking such.

Indeed Murcan. This is Boris's opening bid for the title of Leader Of The Conservative Party and ultimately Prime Minister. Would I lie?

Such is the way of things.

Originally Posted by KorkyKat

Am I mistaken in thinking that the Olympics is not a competition between all the world's finest athletes but a challenge from London - acting as a proxy for the U.K. and N.I. - to come on down and beat the British?

You're not mistaken. And why shouldn't we issue such a challenge? After all, we invented it*.


* Not the Olympics, that was some froggy bloke. We invented all the sports**.
** Well, nearly all the sports.

I think the bias runs much deeper than you think.

I mean, even within the general "pro British" stance, what guarantees do we have that different regions, counties or towns will be fairly represented ?

I think we've heard a lot about people from Sheffield. And East London. But what about Cleethorpes ? Or Hemel Hempstead ? Hmm ?

What's that all about ?

A very good point BM. They appear to be making a feeble attempt at redressing the biased class imbalance. This morning they mentioned which schools the various winners had attended. They sounded quite pleased with themselves when they mentioned the word 'comprehensive'. You can guarantee that a BBC Bot will have ticked a special impartiality box with glee. No doubt we will be treated to what their mum or dad put in their little six year old's school lunch pack to make them such fine athletes.

Originally Posted by saga_lout

After all, we invented it*.

* Not the Olympics, that was some froggy bloke.

That froggy bloke born in Much Wenlock?

Think the BBC is biased? From what I've read, you should try NBC's coverage in the USA.

Apparently, they're not even bothering to show any sports where their own athletes aren't winning. Gives them more time for the commercial breaks, even breaking off during events and missing goals. etc. Especially the one featuring a gymnastic chimpanzee they showed immediately after a black American girl won gymnastic gold - cuing calls of racism.

Olympics 2012:

I heard about that a few days ago Dingbat including them delaying the start. Very bad.

Buy a TV and a DAB Radio

IME the Beeb is far more restrained in its sports coverage than other countries, try Australia and NZ sports broadcasting ...

Sports coverage is usually live coverage, the majoity of broadcasting is not retrospective reporting of events. In international sport, the broadcasters objective is to follow the progress of that nations athletes, in the sports that most people want to see. Its not about giving equal coverage to following individual athletes all nations. Tonight however, there will be big coverage of the the final for an event GB has no real chance of winning, as the mens 100 is THE big event for track and field.

R4 is relegating non sports news at the moment, as like it or not, the majority want to know what the latest Olympic news is.

Oh, and if you did get put your hand in your pocket and get a telly, you'd notice that the BBC has over 20 channels covering the games - IMO, that's fairly inclusive and gives a broad range of sports good coverage.

Why do people have to put so much effort into fucking whining