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BBC reply to commentary line-up.

Wed 21 Jan, 01:55 PM


The BBC sends the following response to Crash.net viewers after concerns over its 2009 MotoGP commentary line-up and level of coverage.

The news that the BBC's MotoGP commentary team will remain unchanged for 2009 - when the channel will become the exclusive MotoGP broadcaster on British television, following the end of Eurosport's long agreement with Dorna - generated an avalanche of comments within the Crash.net forum, most of which expressed disappointment that some of the Eurosport team were not signed by the BBC.

Among the 260+ posts on the subject left since Monday were additional concerns about the BBC's commitment to MotoGP, in terms of the amount of live coverage it will broadcast from each MotoGP event and the channel on which it will be shown - prompting BBC MotoGP Series Producer Belinda Rogerson to send the following reply.

Belinda had intended to post directly in the Crash.net forum, but the length of her reply meant it could only be added in full within a news story:

"Having read my way through the various comments on the site I wanted a chance to respond to some of the points raised. The BBC team work hard to produce the best possible coverage but I also accept that it is impossible to please everyone with our programmes. I also want to point out that many of the post are of a highly personal nature and I am not prepared to get involved in that discussion.

"BBC Sport are proud of their coverage of MotoGP and bringing premier class racing to a terrestrial audience. In 2009 we are expanding our coverage to include Qualifying of the 125 and 250 classes on Saturday alongside MotoGP Qualifying from every round on the red button. There will be live coverage of every race and in Europe MotoGP Extra after the race has finished giving further insight and interviews. That's around 7 hours of coverage each weekend.

"Our coverage attracts audiences of over a million with an approval rating that has been the highest for any terrestrial program in a given week. We believe the BBC team and the commentary team are key to that success and we look forward to another exciting season in 2009.

"Steve Parrish raced at the very highest level and Charlie Cox is an experienced lead commentator with a great passion for and extensive knowledge of motor bikes. We always review our coverage at the end of the season and I frequently read the comments posted on a variety of websites including this one but commentary is a hugely subjective issue and we believe we have the best team to lead our programme.

"In terms of presentation Suzi Perry has a wealth of experience from years of fronting motorbike racing and our pitlane reporter Matthew Roberts has worked as a journalist for Dorna for 8 years before joining the BBC and his excellent connections with the teams enabled us to break stories last year ahead of anyone else.

"We have taken on board feedback about the non-recordable nature of the red button when viewed on certain platforms and as a result we will be looping the Qualifying on Saturday afternoon and evening and will do the same with the races on Sunday into the following week. A timetable for this will appear on the website at the start of the season.

"The inability to record the red button is a Sky Box issue rather than a specifically BBC one so we are doing all we can to enable you to watch the sessions you may have missed live. If you can get Eurosport then you will also be able to access the red button. Under the terms of the licence we can't turn BBC3 or 4 into a sports channel although we can use them occasionally and they are unavailable during the day as the bandwidth is used by CBeebies and CBBC.

"All broadcasters take the race coverage from Dorna and this is currently not produced in HD although I understand they are planning to do so in 2010. We took the widescreen coverage of the racing as soon as it became available at the start of the last season and we are always looking for further ways to innovate our coverage. I have a great deal of time for all the Eurosport team, I know them all personally and I was very sorry to see them go at the end of last season but this was a decision taken by Dorna and not the BBC.

"I am always keen to get feedback and to read suggestions as to what you would like to see within the programme and I will continue to read the websites and your views."

Belinda Rogerson, MotoGP Series Producer, BBC Sport

 

Comment 11 - 30 of 30

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  1. What a disgusting fiasco, BBC have exclusive rights to Moto GP thus ending the fantastic live coverage on Eurosport and their excelent, professional commentary teams input.
    About to watch the Italian GP and what do I get, Tennis.
    BBC you should be ashamed of yourselves.

    From Gixer Steve, on Tue 2 Jun 8:16AM

  2. If Charlie Cox is knowledgable on motorbikes why does he always mention he was car racer!!?? What hacks me off, we have genuine 125cc GP title hopes in Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb so we put it to the red button!! Usually when they get audiences BBC flogs the theme to death, Celebrity Dance etc so why can't they see the talent we have.

    From afc, on Sat 31 Jan 6:27PM

  3. Toby ,Julian with the superb Randy in the pits made motogp what it is today. Lets see the BBC ruin a fantastic sport AGAIN with half harted commentry and thinking a pritty face on the grid will suffice. Roll on when eurosport returns.

    From davies912, on Thu 29 Jan 9:25PM

  4. You're all wrong as far as this commentary argument goes. The best commentary double act without doubt was Keith Huewen and Julian Rider.

    On the other hand I would rather have Toby, Parrish and all and be ABLE to watch MotoGP than not see it at all.

    From paul.higgsboyo, on Thu 29 Jan 1:50PM

  5. Don't get Eurosport, therefore I am delighted to be able to watch (& record) MotoGP on the telly, I wouldn't care if Maggie Thatcher is doing the commentary, I can turn the sound down and watch the racing whatever. Keep the faith!

    From Only Human After All, on Wed 28 Jan 9:21PM

  6. Moto GP will not be the same without Toby, Julian and Randy and unfortunately I don't mean that in a good way. The problem with the BBC commentators is that they leave their sense of humor (if they have any) at home and try to be to much like a news correspondant in stead of commentators of a thrilling race! Damn shame and I only hope that Eurpsport will get their contract back eventually... I'll trade adverts for the bbc commentators any day!

    From Kris, on Wed 28 Jan 12:25PM

  7. mamola's roving mic will be sourly missed

    From simonpbrooke, on Tue 27 Jan 10:46PM

  8. Wonder who produces the prog? LOL need i ask?

    From mo, on Mon 26 Jan 7:15PM

  9. suzy perry...........for goodness sake beeb does moto gp really need a woman talking bikes???? its a bit like us blokes talking about knitting!!!! gives us all a break and get someone like toby and co and be rid of these hangers on like perry and parrish

    From mo, on Mon 26 Jan 7:08PM

  10. Well it's ok for you people out there with Eurosport. I travel for a living and I mean leave the country so havng it on the BBC means the better half can record the main race for me. As far as Steve and the team go how can you say they are not enthusiastic bikes, they have all been around them for a long time and know thier stuff. I am sorry that Eurosport has lost it but you must remember that there are contracts for the BBC team and I'm sure there would have been upset if these may have been broken to bring the other team. I like what Belinda said and am pleased that the BBC is trying to bring sport like this to our slightly stuffy sometimes BBC. Perhaps if Mr Ross or the hairy idiot did a guest spot it will bring you lot in?????

    From Rob, on Sat 24 Jan 1:36PM

  11. If the BBC team are so good why did so many 1000,s chose to watch Moto-GP with adverts on Eurosport? Including me flicking to BBC on some adverts turning back to the best coverage a.s.a.p.

    From Snapie, on Sat 24 Jan 11:03AM

  12. if the BBC

    From Snapie, on Sat 24 Jan 10:58AM

  13. Steve Parish and CHarlie Cox just bore me to death. Toby, Julian and Randy were great, fun and their enthusiasm was infectious. The bbc have missed an opportunity here...

    From chutney, on Sat 24 Jan 9:12AM

  14. It`s good the Beeb has got MotoGP and to be fair to them it`s uninterupted. That said if they only could get Toby, Julian & Randy on board it would be perfect. The banter and genuine love of the sport made the races even better. Do you remember when Toby couldn`t speak after Mc.Will won !! He had me filling up too !!! :)Brilliant.

    From will, on Fri 23 Jan 9:19PM

  15. I was flicking through the channels one Sunday afternoon with nothing else on I stopped on motorbike racing on Eurosport, I never had a bike or a real interest in them until I got caught up in the infectious commentary from Juls, Toby and Randy I am now a huge Moto GP fan, I’ve bought a bike thanks to the in-depth, interesting, incisive and above all else fun commentary we used to get on Eurosport. I have watched BBC coverage when at my friends house (He doesn’t have Eurosport) and I can quite honestly say it was boring! I watched the Laguna race from last year on ES but just before Casey crashed there was an add break and I switched to the BBC and my girlfriend shouts in from the kitchen to turn the racing back on cos she was listening to it, she had no idea I was watching it as the commentary was so half-hearted. That in conjunction with the Red Button issue has me more than a bit worried about this year.

    From Graeme S, on Fri 23 Jan 11:22AM

  16. well more dissapointment from the bbc

    From fountain.court, on Fri 23 Jan 7:34AM

  17. I haven't heard any mention of showing pre season testing like we got to see on Eurosport!

    From pigwank, on Fri 23 Jan 5:48AM

  18. please can anyone tell me if its not going to be beoadcast at all on any eurosport channel?
    i don't live in the uk

    From djnamizucker, on Thu 22 Jan 9:52PM

  19. I prefer the BBC coverage, but i want to see free practice on friday and quaily on saturday as this is [to me] a very important part of the build up to a moto gp race weekend,

    From REPSOL ROSS, on Thu 22 Jan 6:42PM

  20. We the fans have had our say and Belinda Rogerson has replied and quoted 1000000 veiwers to the BBC coverage will she qoute the veiwing figures at the end of the year and tell us what % the BBC has increased its veiwers without Eurosport as a competitor.
    Lets be honest here if you appointed a team to do a job you are hardly going to accept that you got it wrong

    From GEORGE W, on Thu 22 Jan 12:42PM
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