I’m in Copenhagen this week and being a Liverpool fan, I thought I’d see if the Chelsea v Liverpool match was on the TV tonight. Sure enough, it was on Danish channel TV3+ (hosted by Denmark’s own version of Gary Lineker... the legend that is Peter Schmeichal! Very good he is too!)As good as the TV presentation and commentary was, I thought I’d check to see if it was being streamed anywhere on UK radio. Sometimes the matches are... sometimes they block them to international listeners, due to licence restrictions. However BBC London were streaming. So I listened, and although the web stream commentary was about 20-30 seconds behind the pictures on my TV, it was nice to hear the analysis.
The commentary on BBC London however wasn’t particularly good as radio commentaries go. (And I’ve listened to a fair few in my time). But beggars can’t be choosers I thought.
Then it went to half time, and the commentator made a pointless and smug remark about the whole of the second half being live on BBC London 94.9 and went on to say, and I quote... “Crackle, commercial and claptrap free...”, an obvious reference to national commercial station broadcasting on AM, TalkSport.
Now I didn’t know that TalkSport were running live commentary of the match. (In fact, I didn’t really think of TalkSport, so maybe that’s a marketing issue for them) But due to a petty and cheap remark from the BBC guy Phil Parry, I was alerted to another way of listening to the match... tuned in... and enjoyed the commentary of Jim Proudfoot and entertaining analysis of Danny Kelly of TalkSport much more.
I know knocking the competition can be a bit of fun and there are lots of historical and current examples of it, but is it just an ‘in’ joke that only makes radio types chuckle? It can backfire and it did on this occasion, as BBC London lost about 1 hour of listening time from me, by directly alerting me to another station to listen to.
Plus it annoyed me that BBC London felt they needed to have a swipe at a commercial competitor? For what reason was it really necessary?
So... PD’s and Producers... before you write all your witty liners highlighting your competitors alleged weak spots.... just think twice!!
PS – Even though we lost, it has to be was one of the best games of football I've ever seen... ever... in the world... ever!
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2 comments:
I heard that reference too. But I was listening to BBC London because it was all I could get on my mobile.
I'd first tried to stream Five Live via my phone. But the BBC's "clever" mobile site doesn't allow streaming. I think the reason is because I might end up with a massive data bill without realising (I won't).
Having faffed around with that and precious minutes ticking by until I could get home, I tried FM and there was BBC London's commentary to carry me through until home and the second half on TV.
I too didn't think of trying Talksport.
Another interesting question is whether UEFA would be happy that two UK broadcasters weren't geo-IP locking their steams..?
I thought it was strange that I was able to listen whilst in another country as normally the 'rights' situation is quite limited to domestic territories only.
I guess the work experience guy charged with "switching off the feed" to non-UK IP's just forgot!!
Tut tut...
(Interestingly 5Live remembered to turn off their international stream!)
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