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Wednesday, 4th November 2009 Change Date Latest Issue

BBC told telly blackout just not cricket

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Published Date: 24 June 2008
BBC television bosses were under fire today for ignoring the first cricket international between Scotland and England, to be played in Edinburgh in August.
The corporation says it has no plans to screen the historic one-day match at the Grange because it is too busy with the Olympics.

But city cricket lovers accused the BBC of turning its back on them, while Lothians MSP Margo MacDonald said it had
a duty to cover the game.

The row follows criticism of the corporation earlier this month for its failure to cover Scotland's two rugby test matches in Argentina.

Two weeks ago, a report commissioned by the BBC itself highlighted sports coverage as one of the most controversial areas where the corporation fell short of giving Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland their proper place.

Mohammed Arshad, secretary of the Edinburgh Cricket Club, said he was "very disappointed" at the BBC's decision not to televise the match.

He said: "There are lots of people out there trying to bring this game to the wider public, and we have to fight football and rugby for the attention of youngsters.

"The Scotland cricket team has made a lot of progress and has qualified for two world cups in recent years, which is better than the football team. But the BBC has turned round and said it is not going to do anything about it."

Ms MacDonald has written to BBC bosses saying it seems strange that BBC Scotland, "as the public service broadcaster in Scotland, should not deem this one-day event worthy of coverage".

She said she understood the massive commitment of resources needed for the Olympics coverage but added: "I still think BBC Scotland has a duty to cover important sporting events in Scotland.

"This cricket match, I believe, could act as an effective catalyst in persuading youngsters, in particular, to engage in a sport in which Scotland is growing our own heroes and role models."

She said she was not necessarily asking the BBC to broadcast, either live or recorded, every last second of the match, but she urged it to think again on its refusal to show any of it.

A BBC spokesman said: "BBC Scotland has been very supportive in broadcasting cricket coverage and it is unfortunate that this match has been scheduled in the midst of the Olympic Games.

"The BBC has a commitment UK-wide to transmitting many hours of Olympic coverage each day the event is on.

"We have had many meetings and conversations on the subject with Cricket Scotland, who know how disappointed we are that it will not be possible to broadcast the match on television. We will be covering the match live on BBC Radio Scotland."





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 24 June 2008 10:13 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: The BBC
 
1

legless,

Edinburgh 24/06/2008 13:18:31
Once again the Beeb lets down the Scottish sports fans.
2

Alasdair MacWhirter,

Tidying in the garden 24/06/2008 13:23:09
"We will be covering the match live on BBC Radio Scotland." well how exciting is that.
The fact that Beijing is 8 hours ahead of UK time must mean that the BBC will be screening stuff at 2pm that is taking place in Beijing at 10pm. Can anyone tell me what events are included in night time Olympics? Or have the powers that be not realised there is a time difference and expect China to align with UK time.

Not particularly interested in cricket but it just emphasises the disdain the BBC has for Scottish sport.
(I believe some 800 staff of the BBC are due to go to Beijing, and you and I are paying for it.)
3

tomias,

Edinburgh 24/06/2008 13:49:50
Nos 1 and 2- I agree.
4

Pen Fold,

Here 24/06/2008 14:26:24
agree this is a disgrace not to show the cricket.

if this is true about what the bbc are doing it is a disgrace considering the recent report mentioned by the posters above.

putting a slightly more sceptical hat on - could this be a cunning plan by cricket scotland to ensure the game is a sell out?

they have constantly said that this game will sell out quickly because of the importance of the first ever ODI between the 2 nations. but tickets have now been on sale for several months and seem to be readily available as they are getting advertised in sunday papers and on the cricket scotland website still.

perhaps could be to do with the fact that the tickets are priced at £48 for adults & £28 for concession + booking fee.

from recollection this is easily a 40% increase in the ticket price compared to the scotland v india game in glasgow just 12 months before.

so, how can we increase ticket sales? i know, let's not televise the game and then people have no choice but to come along.

either way, cricket scotland & bbc have a lot to answer for to the cricket supporters of scotland.
5

Defiant,

Salford/England 24/06/2008 14:59:26
"legless,Edinburgh 24/06/2008 13:18:31
Once again the Beeb lets down the Scottish sports fans."

It's Scotland vs England so how are they letting down just Scotland ?. You seem to forget that the mighty BBC is already sending more people to the Olympics than the entire British Olympic team so it's understandable that their short on sports people to cover this!.

I myself couldn't careless and if this gaining lots of interest other channels would be queueing up fo broadcast it but they aren't (wounder why!)
6

Stan Dup,

24/06/2008 15:23:30
Scotland v England at the Grange. So it's a home game for England then.
7

Ian Ross,

Edinburgh 24/06/2008 18:31:35
The BBC at it its' best, ignoring Scotland - as usual
8

JT,

24/06/2008 19:33:12
may be Scotland should ignore the bbc and not pay the licence fee, then perhaps the EBC would notice. Mind you its not just Scotland they ignore, anything outside the M25 and its provincial coverage at best.
9

JenJen,

WestIsBest 24/06/2008 20:30:20
Nothing to do with the "EBC" this time. This is down to BBC Scotland's allocation of its budget. It is incapable of spending even a tiny percentage of its annual Old Firm budget on a sport other than football.
10

Marky Bhoy,

Dunfermline 24/06/2008 22:07:34

I cant picture myself usualy watching umpteen hours of Cricket but even I would like to see this game
11

ten pound tourist,

Australia 25/06/2008 02:19:00

They should rename it the EBC (English Broadcasting Corp)
12

Michelle Fifer,

Fishing dangerously outside off stump 25/06/2008 08:22:14
You have to be careful what you wish for: Dougie Donnelly or other clueless weegies in shiny suits trying to spout forth eruditely on cricket, "the big lad bowled good etc etc" :)

 

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