David Challinor

I know this is not the place for sport, but I’m sure some of you will agree that the BBC’s blanket coverage of this latest football tournament that none of the home nations are involved in is ludicrous.
No doubt contracts to screen it were signed long ago. But the BBC seems to march towards allowing criticism of its licence fee being spent willy-nilly, for the benefit of its own contracted legion of sports contributors. Has anyone counted just how many are there in Austria/Switzerland? …I would love to know what we’re paying in hotel bills alone for Linker, Hansen, Shearer, O’Neill, etc etc…
…Put aside the two interesting questions – such as can/should the BBC shove this frankly irrelevant tournament to a sports-channel it already has on channel 301, and put on some quality drama instead (even a 30 year-old drama like Blue Remembered Hills, so easily shown on BBC4 t’other night, would show some imagination and give the viewers some more choice); and why should the Beeb chose this competition to ‘highlight’ the boring HD development (anyone for watching an actual 1.2 seconds of an Austrian defender challenge for a high-ball filmed so it lasts 30 tedious seconds in ultra-slow-mo?)?....
Euro 2008’s real legacy will simply give those who are looking to end the BBC’s licence fee funding some more ammo.
…. And despite once being a staunch supporter of the BBC and its output, good luck to them.

Grey Wyler

im sure the contracts are all signed and sealed in the hope that at least one of the home nations or Eire make it to the finals.
The very fact that none of our teams are there really make it all a bit of a bore. I have only a passing interest in the tournament. The BBC should simply show extended highlights rather than the blanket coverage they are giving it.

DB7

Not wishing to be pedantic, but the rights are normally shared 50/50 with ITV.

Grey Wyler

But its always so nice to have a dig at the BBC.

Even though the other mob deserve it just as much.

dremble wedge

As a football fan I'm loving it!

DB7

Personally I'm all in favour of it, this is our national sport and it already narks me that Sky has gobbled up much terrestial sport like the cricket.

What are we missing out on anyway? Afternoon antiques shows and Eastenders.

Grey Wyler

Well, when you put it that way it does make sense.

Jackdaw

I find it more enjoyable without England because it's now a football tournament rather than a "let's all root for England" cheerfest.
Having said that, ITV appears to think that we're not capable of watching football as neutrals, as they continually exhort us to pick a team to support and make a great point of picking out players who compete in the Premiershite.

batman

I agree with Jackdaw ... it's nice to be an objective observer rather have to endure more sub-standard England performances. Also, there are lots of non-Brit fans in the UK, why should they be deprived of watching the tournament?

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

Fellwanderer

Did I imagine it or did the BBC1 news late on Saturday evening completely ignore the cricket when they did the sporting roundup?

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

Tony Pendrey

Cricket ? What cricket ?

Ah Yes, the Soviet Union. All them wheatfields and ballet in the evenings

orpheum

at the begining of July BBC start their wall to wall coverage of Wimbledon,and i dont mean MK Dons oe AFC Wimbledon.I realise that it happens once a year.I find it very boring,so i either watch other channels or put on a DVD.Same thing applies for football haters to Euro 2008.In any event they can no longer claim that there are no other channels to watch.I am sure that even the over 80s nudist leapfrog competition is catered for somewhere in the dim caverns that are satellite tv.

Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

Jackdaw

Viagra is now on the list of banned substances for this event after some unfortunate incidents in earlier competitions.

EHV_Emmetts

BBC TV should have it's own dedicated sports channel. It does on radio, i.e., Radio Five Extra.

Marky B

Good idea.
There is not much interest in the tournament as far as the club and pub trade is concerned. Unless people are buying their own tinnies and watching it at home.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.