There has been lots of chat again about the continuing downward slide the BBC is heading with regarding their football coverage, and in particular it's array of pundits that spend zero time doing any sort of research and are employed on the basis of how many jokes they can squeeze into the time allotted, rather than actually having any interesting or meaningful insight into their supposed field of knowledge. Anyway I've been banging on about this for years, but now it’s been highlighted by the likes of Stan Collymore chipping in with criticism (by the way, the same Stan Collymore who works for the lowest of low in quality broadcasting at Talksport, so really does not have a leg to stand on) along with various journalists. However much we point out this failing of the BBC, sadly I don't think it will make a jot of difference. They just don't care when it comes down to it. They believe that a lot of their output now has to appeal to an 'reality TV' type of viewer so dumbing down is best. The likes of Lineker, Hansen, Lawrenson and Shearer could not possibly get away with their lazy, almost contemptuous attitude to their paying customers in any other walk of life, but it appears this is the way forward for BBC football so don't expect anything to change any day soon. Please see below my email and a reply I got from the BBC when I made observations about their vacuous performance at Euro 2008. Two years on and all the comments I made, and all the pitiful feedback points received from the BBC could all be mistaken as coming off the back of the BBC World Cup 2010 coverage. The BBC do not adopt the same value to their coverage of Tennis, Cricket, F1 etc so why they think they don’t have to try with their football coverage is beyond me.
Dear Mr Barr
Thanks for your further e-mail regarding our coverage of Euro 2008.
I'm delighted to read of your enjoyment of 5 Live's commentary however I understand you continue to feel that football broadcast on BBC television is being 'dumbed down' and believe that the main protagonists of this are Gary Lineker, Alan Hanson and Alan Shearer.
I also note you've noticed an array of mistakes and mispronunciations that you feel reflects the lack of research and effort by several members of the production team.
I've registered your complaint on our audience log. This is a daily report of audience feedback that's circulated to many BBC staff, including members of the BBC Executive Board, channel controllers and other senior managers.
I'd like to reiterate that all feedback we receive, whether positive or negative is always appreciated. We're committed to developing better links with you, our audience, to further enhance our understanding of your viewing needs.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact us with your comments.
Regards
Jonathan Dunlop
BBC Complaints
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-----Original Message-----
>{Programme Name:} Euro 2008
>{Transmission Date:}22 - 06 - 08
>
>{Comments:}
>Good Morning, The date above is significant as your coverage reached, or should that be stooped, to another low last night, but to be honest it could be just about any date during your live coverage programmes of this current Football tournament. The BBC TV sports coverage used to be the best by far in presentation, production and content but sadly with football this now seems to have all be disregarded and has been replaced by a definite dumbing down policy. The main protagonists of this are of course Gary Lineker, Alan Hanson and Alan Shearer. Add to this the ever growing tiresome attitude of Mark Lawrenson. Their performances at this competition have been nothing short of scandalous. The three regulars in the studio in Vienna are more intent on squeezing in as many pathetic jokes and in house banter than actually taking this fantastic tournament seriously. It has been noted in a newspaper article that Gary Lineker got more animated and excited during the past few weeks ab!
> out a Holland player farting than anything that has happened during any of the games. We have his almost apathetic presentation, playing on the lack of England's participation hanging over his whole demeanor.
> Alan Hanson USED to be the best pundit on TV but now seems intent of matching his presenter friend with as many inane and moronic jokes and comments. Alan Shearer has quickly slotted into the role as their third stooge, gurning and laughing and acting like something off X Factor rather than a serious sport competition. Lineker and Hanson's attitude towards the excellent Martin O'Neill have been pathetic, almost treating him like someone they would rather not be there spoiling their 3 man comedy act.
>As well as all the stupid jokes and unnecessary comedy last night we also had an array of mistakes and mispronunciations that reflect the lack of research and effort by several members of last nights production.
>Mark Lawrenson who sounds more bored and apathetic with every game that passes started the night off with calling the AC Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini "Massimo Albertini". Then we were treated to John Motson and his ever changing and newly invented commentary style, strangely calling Xavi "Jarvi" Ramos was "Rarmos" Di Natale as "Dee Natalie" Guiza was "Geezer" and Capdevila was "Capdaveeleeaya" but David Villa was first "Veeya" and then by the end of the match "Villa"!
>Lawrenson's depressing style got us to hit the red button and switch to 5-Live. Thankfully the BBC radio production is still as good as ever and the quality and professionalism of presenter and pundit is so much higher than their TV colleagues. After saying that we did get the usually reliable and always listenable Graham Taylor calling the famous Italian coach "Donadini" twice!
>After the game had finished we had Shearer criticizing the Italians for their style of play during the game and he said how can this be when they have players from "AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan"? There was not one player from Inter in the starting 11 or the subs used! This underlines the lack of interest/reserach that the high profile team you have there put in. It has been noted the colour Shearer's tan and his golf game, we know this is another joke, but aren't they out there to work?
>It seems to me and a lot of other people I speak to that the three regular stooges and Lawrenson have such a comfortable position now that they don't really have to try anymore, where as the likes of Mark Bright, Steve Wilson, Gordon Strachan, Lee Dixon, Marcel Desailly, Ray Stubbs and above all the brilliant Gavin Peacock are just used to fill in when the egoÂ's can't be bothered.
>Why has the BBC taking this decision to dumb down? Why all the silly jokes and comments? Is it acceptable for the presentation to lack proper in depth research? The mispronunciation of so many names and mistakes last night were not about unknown players and teams but some of the biggest and well know figures in European football.
>The tournament has been great but I'm afraid BBC TV coverage has been the poorest ever for a live sporting occasion I have watched and it saddens and annoys me that ITV have taken a far more serious and professional approach than yourselves. As I have said 5-Live still remains a shining beacon of everything good about BBC coverage it's a pity the TV management cannot match it.
>I would be very grateful to receive a response.
