Reply from Radio Sheffield re commentaries (or lack of them).

I complained that two Blunts awaymatches in the space of a few days were their match commentaries. This is the reply I have just received:-</p>

<font size="2" face="Arial">Your email concerning commentary games has been passed on to me. Firstly, thank you for taking the trouble to get in touch. Feedback like yours is always welcome, no matter what its nature, and is useful when we come to review the content of our shows. For this reason, I have copied Paul Walker, Sports Editor, in on this reply.</font></p>

<font size="2" face="Arial">When looking at what games to cover we have to consider a number of factors. </font></p>

<font size="2" face="Arial">Our main commentary game on FM each week is they key away game where we believe there will be the greatest demand from listeners. We have to prioritise coverage for those clubs with the larger fan base, where fans cannot get to these away games. It is important to give good value for the licence fee, and sometimes this will mean looking at the potential biggest audience for particular game. However, we also look at where the clubs are in the league and the interest that the games will have to a wider audience and not just the hardened fans of the clubs concerned</font></p>

<font size="2" face="Arial">It is impossible to cover Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Chesterfield to the same extent as the two Sheffield clubs, but we do try to make sure we offer key games like derby matches and other big games either as the main commentary or as an alternative commentary on our medium wave frequency. We also send reporters to all games to offer match reports and updates. We are the only radio station in South Yorkshire that does this. And we are the only station in the region where fans can have their say on football matters six days a week. We are very proud of our investment in sport, which no other station can match. However, we accept we cannot please all the people all of the time.</font></p>

<font face="Times New Roman">I hope this clarifies the situation for you.</font> </p>

<font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman">Mike Woodcock</font>
<font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman">Assistant Editor</font> </p><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman">email: mike.woodcock@bbc.co.uk</font>
<font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman">Tel: 0114 267 5402</font>
<font color="#008000" size="1" face="Tahoma">BBC Radio Sheffield</font>
<font color="#ff0000" face="Wingdings">7</font><font color="#ff0000" size="1" face="Arial">104.1 94.7 88.6 FM</font>
<font color="#800000" size="1" face="Tahoma">Website</font><u> </u><u><font color="#800000" size="1" face="Arial">http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire</font></u><font color="#800000" size="1" face="Tahoma"> </font><font color="#800000" size="1" face="Tahoma">

<font color="#000000" size="1" face="Tahoma">54 Shoreham Street, Sheffield S1 4RS.</font>
<font color="#000000" size="1" face="Tahoma">Switchboard 0114 273 1177</font>
<font color="#000000" size="1" face="Tahoma">Newsroom 0114 2675440</font>
<font color="#000000" size="1" face="Tahoma">Fax 0114 267 5454</font>
<font color="#000000" size="1" face="Tahoma">Studio Phone In 0114 279 6699</font> </p></font>

 

Us away at Swansea should have had full match commentary.

 

So its official then. Its Radio Blunts and Washday

Cheeky buggers we cover the clubs with the largest amount of fans. So do that large amount of fans pay a bigger license fee than us then ???? (doh) (doh) (doh)

 

I stopped listening to Radio Sheffield many years ago, I don't know why any of you still bother. /poo

 

spot on. nt

 

Sheff Utd do seem to have the commentaries all the time

The last 2 have been the dullest matches i have ever listened to.

Why they choose to do commentaries on a long ball hoofing team is beyond me.

 

It is impossible to cover Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Chesterfield to the same extent as the

<font face="Arial" size="2">two Sheffield clubs...</font></p>

End of discussion. End of debate.</p>

Sithi.
</p>

 

I don't listen to Radio Sheffield either - but I'm not surprised they don't cover other games. I know they profess to cover south yorkshire but the clue is in the title - at its heart its still a station primarily covering Sheffield and are obviously going to make that the priority, with lip service to anywhere else but with enough coverage to make sure they do what they need to to keep the 'watchdogs' happy.

 

Assuming everyone pays their licence fee then yes,

a larger group of fans will pay more in total than a smaller group.

 

Never mind that. Have you ever been a parent? nt

 

Tried it once

Didn't like it so gave up.

 

abandonment

or extermination?

 

You could look at it another way

If I feel like listening to a commentary and turn it on out of interest and its the Blunts or the Fowls ( as usual!) I turn it off if its Doncaster, Rotherham and Chesterfield I am tempted to leave it on ut of interest because its different. If supporters of these clubs do the same there would be a bigger audience than if its the usual two. Is this official BBC policy or is it being influenced by the bias at Radio Blunt if so out of fairness we need to complain to the Beeb.

 

Laughing.

So you don't actually commentate on football matches yourself then ? You just listen to other people do it ?

 

Well apparently it's summat you can dip in and out of

Parenting, not kids.

 

Why are you laughing at George Robledo ? nt

 

Didn't know you could get those hours off

I might have another go then.