Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Thursday, 20th November 2008

Premium Article !

Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.

Options

Premium Article !

To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the The Scotsman site.

Subscribe

Registered Article !

To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.

Sign In
Register

Hamish Macdonell: BBC must tackle imbalance in sports coverage



Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 30 September 2008
One of the reasons crowds have been low is because professional rugby in Scotland has been starved of coverage
THE STV evening news programme used to be known affectionately in media circles as "the murder and fitba show", such was its reliance on court stories and the SPL for its day-to-day material. It is better now, but unfortunately BBC Scotland, at least...



The full article contains 1026 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 30 September 2008 12:12 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: The BBC
 
1

Guga II,

Rockall 30/09/2008 05:25:22
Another good reason to scrap the iniquitous television tax, and force the EBC to compete on the open market.
2

Linda,

Edinburgh 30/09/2008 08:28:51
Magner's League is live on Setanta on Friday evenings.
BBC London will pay £200 million for boring Formula 1.
The reason is that BBC London does not finance BBC Scotland properly. Another reason for Scotland to have its own National Broadcasting Channel and broadcasting to be devolved then BBC will be more responsive.
3

Teofilio Cubillas,

30/09/2008 09:05:31
#2 I don't know if it's because of a lack of cash at BBC Scotland - buying the rugby highlights from Setanta or BBC Wales wouldn't cost much. The real reason is the BBC's pandering to the lowest common denominator, obsession with 'accessibility' (i.e. televising dross for the benefit of pizza munching schemies)and outrageous west coast bias. See River City, Rab C Nesbitt, Old firm coverage (particularly, as pointed out , the ludicrous decision to televise Rangers -v- Partick Thistle last week)etc etc. In their workers paradise they consider rugby 'elitist' played only by 'snobs' and public schoolboys. Tell that to the hundreds of kids who turned out for the Penicuik minis tournament last Sunday, from clubs all over Midlothian, Edinburgh and the Borders, none of whom were from private schools. Hamish McDonnell is right, Rugby survives in Scotland in spite of the BBC not because of it.
4

gus1940,

Edinburgh 30/09/2008 09:25:58
How about all the football p--h that fills page after page of the press including The Scotsman.

How can Scotland ever hope to become a mature independent country while its media is totally obsessed with 22 grossly overpaid neds kicking a ball around.
5

Venachar,

30/09/2008 09:28:20
I wrote to the BBC complaining about the lack of coverage of rugby after the two Argentinian Tests because the pro club matches are not even mentioned on Reporting Scotland. To say that the requested reply was pompous is being modest. If you feel there is not enough coverage find the complaints page (if you can) on the BBC website and aske for a written reply.
BBC just help raise the profile of the matches for Glasgow and Edinburgh.


6

Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 30/09/2008 12:01:27
Yes, there is an imbalance in sports coverage. There is far too litle coverage given to offshore yacht racing, power boat racing, Le Mans 24 hours series and desert rallying for starters.

Watch any so-called "sports" program nowadays and it's football, football and more football. If it's not that then its something else involving a damn ball of some sort.

What is this British obsession with balls all about?
7

THE DREADED SILVER CROC,

Lounging with the MSP's on the Holyrood floor 30/09/2008 23:47:22
In reality, rather poor quality stuff from Hamish Macdonell who appears to have strayed out of his usual habitat at Holyrood - emerging with straining waistband and bloodshot eyes blinking & stumbling into the world of sport. OK - the world of ruggah, then! Scottish ruggah at that.....

Fact is, our bespectacled overweight journo has only demonstrated his lack of knowledge of the sporting subject. Despite his denials, of course there is indeed loadsa ruggah to view on the haunted fishtank on Fridays and at other times. Hapless Hamish has overlooked Setanta & BBC Wales regular match coverage in addition to lots of Guinness Premiership, French Top 14, EDF Cup, Currie Cup, Air NZ Cup, Super 14, Tri-Nations, Pacific Islands, Churchill Cup, Heineken European Rugby Cup & competitive / friendly action in addition to numerous internationals & age-grade games, etc on various different channels at most times of the year!

One way or another, the penniless SRU has historically derived some 85% plus of its total income from the international arena. The growing proliferation of cash-cow internationals in recent years has been a grubby if not blatant money-making exercise which is in danger of killing the goose if not the golden international eggs it lays for the benefit of the whole game in Scotland. With a starving grassroots club game to feed, the last thing the game in Scotland needs is another drain on the already overstretched funds and commitments of loyal rank & file supporters with inducements to fruitlessly spend more time and money at the less-than-atmospheric ProTeam matches.

Back to the drawing board (if not ironing board), Mr Macdonell!
8

Shameless,

Close to the ouija / meeja 01/10/2008 13:29:31
Y'know, the good ole' Dreaded Silver Croc has made a "snappy" few points in the previous post!

Oh, to have such vision and delivery....... But that's just the DSC, I guess. Talented to the core.

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.