BBC Coverage

From camerawork (particularly the opening ceremony) to commentators - they have been very very poor. More money they pay them, the worse it gets.

 

I wouldn't say its that poor but some of the camera work has been frustrating

 

In your opinion

 

I don't think it is BBC camera work, I think it is standard Olympic broadcast coverage.

I've enjoyed the coverage. Hats off to the BBC for setting up channels to cover every single event.

 

The pictures are nothing to do with the BBC

The BBC just pick up a feed like the rest of the world. They're produced by the OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Service).

http://www.obs.es/obslondon2012.html

As for what the BBC is responsible for in my opinion the majority of it is first class. There are some mistakes but when you consider we're getting 16 hours of live coverage every day on up to 24 simultaneous channels, plus highlights shows and analysis, then I think we're getting an exemplary service in what is a monumental, unprecedented effort.

 

Re: The pictures are nothing to do with the BBC

Agreed

good to see the moaners are laying off Hill and getting stuck into the beeb

 

Re: The pictures are nothing to do with the BBC

The BBC receives footage from the 'Olympic team' and it's the same footage that's broadcast around the world.

What camera angles etc. etc. are not decided by the BBC.

 

Re: The pictures are nothing to do with the BBC

I know that it's the Olympics providing the footage but in reality will they be using BBC cameramen or equipment/knowledge?

 

"24 simultaneous channels"

Really? Bugger. I've had to make do with just the one, typically showing Aus v Ita volleyball, sandwiched in between the many adverts.

But I'm sure the Beeb were terrible nonetheless.

 

Re: "24 simultaneous channels"

Every single sport is covered in its entirety. Either on the BBC website or on 'the red button' from various TV providers (Virgin, Sky, Freeview etc). BBC1 and BBC3 provide blanket coverage sticking to the major sports like Swimming, Athletics, Rowing and Cycling and then jumping to anything Team GB is doing well at. The coverage really is first class.

 

Re: The pictures are nothing to do with the BBC

Equipment and personnel are pooled from broadcasters from all over the world. No more from the BBC than anywhere else. A lot of the coverage will have no one from the BBC anywhere near it.

 

The BBC commentary has been so jingoistic and over the top it's embarrassing. Very American. 5 Live was awful this morning with the host saying "the whole world was still in awe of Ennis".

 

Re: "24 simultaneous channels"

My only complaint with the coverage so far is that with everyone* now having some form of digital TV and therefore having access to the 24 extra channels I think it is wrong to then also show blanket coverage on two normal BBC channels as well.

*It's only the newcastle area that doesn't HAVE to use digital TV now isn't it? And the majority of those will have digital anyway.

 

Re: The pictures are nothing to do with the BBC

Always wondered how it works. I thought that maybe they'd rely on the BBC quite a lot with it being based in London and rely on the Chinese TV stations in Beijing and so on.

The commentary is provided by the BBC though right? If so I have to say that's been excellent. You can be on olympic channel 21 showing water polo with afghanistan playing the south pole (that'd be a bit cold) and they still seem to have experts commenting who know the names and backgrounds of all the players.

 

Re: The pictures are nothing to do with the BBC

All the commentary we hear is from the BBC. The BBC receive the feed and put their commentary on top of it. All other countries will do the same.

What the BBC are mainly doing with their resources are the interviews and pieces to camera. So, for example, in the rowing when John Inverdale is introducing the next race and talking to Steve Redgrave that's a BBC camera filming them. Then it cuts to the race, that's the feed from the Olympic Broadcasting Services. Then it's back to John Inverdale interviewing the competitors, that's the BBC. Then back to the studio, that's the BBC. But all the actual footage of the races and the events is the OBS, which isn't really anything to do with the BBC at all. The OBS may have employed some personnel that usually work for the BBC, but it's not a BBC production.

 

I don't understand that at all. I think most people are sat on their arses spoilt for choice fondling two or three sticky remote controls then complain they are being given unprecedented and extensive live coverage of the games with no clue how this is brought to your cosy living room and the amount of work and logistics involved?

I think it has been stunning, hats off to the folk who have worked their arses off to bring us this!

 

Re: The pictures are nothing to do with the BBC

Cheers Jay. I thought it worked something like that but wasn't sure if the OBS relied heavily on the BBC.

You've just mentioned one part of the coverage that I can't stand. John Inverdale. I don't know why, I just cant.

 

I think generally it has been excellent. However, I do think athletics coverage has become a bit stuck in a rut. There's huge opportunities to apply innovation (such as the world record line in swimming or the 3D GPS tracking in the sailing). At one point yesterday when Rutherford was jumping there wasn't even the computer generated lines on the pit.

Added to which they've missed moments when athletes have been announced to amazing receptions to show a pre-recorded montage which adds nothing.

It struck me this year how much you would learn from every Tour de France programme. I think athletics are missing a trick in selling and explaining the sport at times.

But overall the BBC have been great, particularly the female presenters. And contrary to most on here, I actually liked Ian Thorpe!

 

I warmed a bit to Ian Thorpe as the week went on. He was a decent pundit, I just had issues with his personality. Nowt to do with him maybe being gay or being camp, I just thought he was too contrary and a bit of a dick. I'm sure if he ever met me, which he won't, then he'd think I was an arsehole too.

Did you see Sir Steve Redgrave on the highlights show last night? Filmed outside the rowing knees-up. He was quite clearly pissed.

 

They had Thorpe and Jonathan Edwards on together the other night and it was like the Graham Norton show! If they'd had Colin Jackson on too the camp universe would have imploded.

Yeah, that amused me. My two favourite moments of the evening was Chernova completing the 800 metres doing a Spotty Dog impression and John Inverdale having some kind of brain spasm at the pinnacle of his commentating career:

"Sometimes you love sport, sometimes you hate it but Erm basically you love it"