Idiot Programme Schedulers at the BBC

[LV426]

Once again the Programme Schedulers at the BBC show their total lack of understanding of the environment in which they have to work.

For the umpteenth year on the trot they have chosen to continue Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 after 1800 and shift the normal news coverage to BBC2.

Why is this idiotic? Because there is a technical limitation that still hasn't been fixed that means that the regions can't broadcast local programming on the Digital (Freeview) platform other than on BBC1. Therefore, when they choose to shift the national and then (importantly) regional news over to BBC2 to make way for tennis (or anything else) it means that regional viewers get the really useful London news at 1830.

Worse, there is no good reason AT ALL to move these programmes. Back in the early 70's, there may have been a case in that BBC2 coverage was perhaps less than that for BBC1. But it seems likely that in 2009, anyone that can see BBC1 can also see BBC2 if they wish. But it seems that the programme schedulers consider tennis fans unable to change channels and so it becomes a greater priority to offer such people ongoing coverage than it is to offer regional news to those of us who prefer (or, indeed those who HAVE) to use the digital platform.

Unless and until this technical limitation is fixed, it's my opinion, expressed to the BBC ad nauseam that provision of local news outside London ought to take priority over the (pointless, as far as I can see) "need" to keep tennis coverage on the "premier" channel.

[Tarbat]

My 80+ year-old Dad was totally confused when the BBC announcer told them to switch over to analogue for English regional news. He phoned me asking what to press on his remote control. He would't even believe me when I told him they couldn't switch to analogue. Nothing in all the digital switchover literature explained that they would lose regional news when Wimbledon is on.

Don't the BBC know that some regions, including Devon, don't have an analogue system anymore? And no apology to viewers in switched-over regions.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by Tarbat

My 80+ year-old Dad was totally confused when the BBC announcer told them to switch over to analogue for English regional news. He phoned me asking what to press on his remote control. He would't even believe me when I told him they couldn't switch to analogue. Nothing in all the digital switchover literature explained that they would lose regional news when Wimbledon is on.

Don't the BBC know that some regions, including Devon, don't have an analogue system anymore? And no apology to viewers in switched-over regions.

The region I live in is going to be one of the very last areas to go digital only but most people I know are not using analogue at all. What a disgrace to encourage us to go digital and then say you need to watch something on analogue.


Bri

[scrapbook]

I had to watch one of the murray games at a crucual timeon the red button as I haven't set up the analogue on mine.

On BBC1 and BBC2 was exactly the same regional news for about 5 minutes.

[mhsslinky]

Originally Posted by LV426

Once again the Programme Schedulers at the BBC show their total lack of understanding of the environment in which they have to work.

For the umpteenth year on the trot they have chosen to continue Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 after 1800 and shift the normal news coverage to BBC2.

Why is this idiotic? Because there is a technical limitation that still hasn't been fixed that means that the regions can't broadcast local programming on the Digital (Freeview) platform other than on BBC1. Therefore, when they choose to shift the national and then (importantly) regional news over to BBC2 to make way for tennis (or anything else) it means that regional viewers get the really useful London news at 1830.

Worse, there is no good reason AT ALL to move these programmes. Back in the early 70's, there may have been a case in that BBC2 coverage was perhaps less than that for BBC1. But it seems likely that in 2009, anyone that can see BBC1 can also see BBC2 if they wish. But it seems that the programme schedulers consider tennis fans unable to change channels and so it becomes a greater priority to offer such people ongoing coverage than it is to offer regional news to those of us who prefer (or, indeed those who HAVE) to use the digital platform.

Unless and until this technical limitation is fixed, it's my opinion, expressed to the BBC ad nauseam that provision of local news outside London ought to take priority over the (pointless, as far as I can see) "need" to keep tennis coverage on the "premier" channel.

The freeview issue is a pain and needs fixing but I think they were right to extend the Tennis on BBC1. I'd bet money that there were more people recording the tennis on Sky+, a PVR or any other recorder with PDC than people out there that were desperate to see the regional news and didnt have access to analogue TV.

I think it was the right decision, imagine if you'd set it to record and spent ages watching the match only for Sue Barker to come on and say "we are now switching to BBC2" just as the match was getting to the critical stages. To switch it to BBC2 would have been lunacy IMO.

[LV426]

For much of the previous week, tennis coverage has been scheduled to switch from BBC1 to BBC2 with a 10-minute overlap between 1750 and 1800. No good reason why the same couldn't have been true here.

Indeed, supposing that what you say about recordings and PVRs were a good enough reason to extend coverage on the same channel, and given that the same thing happens whenever there is any major sporting event (and so is quite predictable actually) and (importantly) given that there is this technical limitation on regional opt-outs on BBC2 et al, then the entire coverage should, in my opinion, be on BBC2 where it's totally clear of any impact on local news and so on. I see NO good reason for it to be on BBC1 as opposed to 2 and I see ONE good reason why it should be on 2 rather than 1.

Do the programme schedulers somehow believe that, if it were all on 2, all those tennis fans would suddenly be unable to find it, and they'd all not bother? Really?

[Fifty]

Originally Posted by LV426

For much of the previous week, tennis coverage has been scheduled to switch from BBC1 to BBC2 with a 10-minute overlap between 1750 and 1800. No good reason why the same couldn't have been true here.

Indeed, supposing that what you say about recordings and PVRs were a good enough reason to extend coverage on the same channel, and given that the same thing happens whenever there is any major sporting event (and so is quite predictable actually) and (importantly) given that there is this technical limitation on regional opt-outs on BBC2 et al, then the entire coverage should, in my opinion, be on BBC2 where it's totally clear of any impact on local news and so on. I see NO good reason for it to be on BBC1 as opposed to 2 and I see ONE good reason why it should be on 2 rather than 1.

Do the programme schedulers somehow believe that, if it were all on 2, all those tennis fans would suddenly be unable to find it, and they'd all not bother? Really?

Pretty much exactly what was agreed in our household last night - just have BBC2 for all Wimbledon coverage, instead of mucking around with plans for other programmes on other channels. Madness, quite simply.

[MrBlofeldt]

Originally Posted by LV426

Once again the Programme Schedulers at the BBC show their total lack of understanding of the environment in which they have to work.

For the umpteenth year on the trot they have chosen to continue Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 after 1800 and shift the normal news coverage to BBC2.

Why is this idiotic? Because there is a technical limitation that still hasn't been fixed that means that the regions can't broadcast local programming on the Digital (Freeview) platform other than on BBC1. Therefore, when they choose to shift the national and then (importantly) regional news over to BBC2 to make way for tennis (or anything else) it means that regional viewers get the really useful London news at 1830.

Worse, there is no good reason AT ALL to move these programmes. Back in the early 70's, there may have been a case in that BBC2 coverage was perhaps less than that for BBC1. But it seems likely that in 2009, anyone that can see BBC1 can also see BBC2 if they wish. But it seems that the programme schedulers consider tennis fans unable to change channels and so it becomes a greater priority to offer such people ongoing coverage than it is to offer regional news to those of us who prefer (or, indeed those who HAVE) to use the digital platform.

Unless and until this technical limitation is fixed, it's my opinion, expressed to the BBC ad nauseam that provision of local news outside London ought to take priority over the (pointless, as far as I can see) "need" to keep tennis coverage on the "premier" channel.

While I generally agree with you, I would just like to make a slight correction, you say that there is a technical limitation in that regions cannot broadcast on BBC2, and that it still has not been fixed. This is only half correct, there is indeed a technical limitation, however this is how it has always been, there was never any plan to "fix" it, it was decided long ago that regions would only broadcast on BBC1 (Digitally). This must have been particularly annoying for viewers around Whitehaven who no longer have an analogue service, consequently if the 18.00 bulletin was shifted to BBC2, there would usually be a caption to say that viewers could watch their regional opt on analogue BBC2. I imagine the wording for people around Whitehaven must have been... comprehensive !

[Billo]

I'm convinced that they hate us and treat us with contempt, after not being able to watch the local news on BBC2 I changed channel to BBC news24 only to find that they were reporting(live) on the bloody tennis game that was on BBC1