BBC Host Broadcaster Olympic Coverage 2012

[Durban Sandshark]

I'm not British, no. But I am curious as to how many of Brits across the Big Pond there are regarding the coverage so far from the host nation from the BBC 1-3, those 24 streams, BBC's association with SKY 3D, BBC News' coverage of the Torch Relay that was shown online, and from BBC Radio 5 Live (and Olympics Extra). This thread wouldn't be complete without mentioning the hosts, come on. All of it can be mentioned here including the football that started on Wednesday! This extends to all of the pre-Olympic programming in documentaries and previews before the Opening Ceremony. Also, did the BBC show anything from the pre-Opening Ceremony, if there was one, before the Ceremony proper as part of its Countdown to the Opening Ceremony. Have any of you recorded of that material? What are your thoughts of the sportscasters? You thoughts on the BBC intro using Elbow's "First Steps"?

Somethimes, i wonder if we here in the US would sometimes like to have an audio button to mute the commentary with just venue PA like the BBC offers that option.

[Brekkie Boy]

So many questions...

Others will disagree but I thought the build up was relatively low key - I was hoping for a definitive history of the games which we never really got, though Faster, Higher, Stronger which focused on certain aspects had a couple of outstanding shows - one on the history of the 100m and one on swimming. There were a few documentaries on individuals which were excellent but seemed to air late night or on BBC3, and though a light hearted look at memorable moments the 50 Greatest Moments special was a brilliant appetiser. I also thought the BBC should have done a bit more with the torch relay on the main networks, but the regional specials were superb (if the torch turned up in time!), although overall I was frustrated that it was BBC News rather than BBC Sport that produced the few specials that did air.

The football starting before the Opening Ceremony annoys me - and I'm no big fan of football really. Seemed a bit strange too giving it the full analysis treatment as though viewers expect that for football, with the Olympics most team sports are generally shown without build up and without analysis - you just move on to the next event. Our lack of recent history in Olympic football means the interest isn't really there yet either.

As for the Opening Ceremony. The pre-show was little more than rehearsals and wasn't shown by the BBC - indeed everytime something occured that was considered a spoiler they switched from the stadium to their Olympic Park studio in the build up to the ceremony. It was a great warm up though and worth a look if you can see it. First Steps is excellent - it soon passed the humability test.

As for coverage - as expected BBC1 has been a bit choppy switching from sport to sport, though they seemed better today at settling at one venue for longer periods. Despite not usually broadcasting during the day frustratingly BBC3 is taking a break for news and trailers every couple of hours - everytime I seem to turn over they seem to be on a break. Sadly I don't have Sky but people say the 24 channels is the best red button service ever and they've rated very strongly, while I've watched them online a few times. The Freeview service is poor though - one less stream than Beijing and a crap text service for news and results, while very few Connected TVs actually support the BBC Sport app so you can watch the 24 streams through your TV.

The sportscasters - some very questionable decisions, mainly with the short shifts and Mishal Husain - a great newsreader but has never presented live sport for the BBC, getting the morning shift, especially when BBC Sport has enough faces of their own to cover the day without her. They've also annoyingly opted to have a swimming pundit both with Claire Balding at the Aquatics Centre and in the main studio, meaning they're using two presenting teams for the swimming for no reason at all. It is quite funny though seeing how awkward Ian Thorpe and Gary Lineker seem to be in the evening.

[Durban Sandshark]

Sometimes I wish the BBC would've taken more advantage with the broadcasting of these home games by having some coverage in Welsh and Scottish English. Even if it was just online. However, there has been concerns over the BBC's budget annually that would, while it may have thought of it, make it cost-prohibited.

[tractarian]

Sometimes I wish the BBC would've taken more advantage with the broadcasting of these home games by having some coverage in Welsh and Scottish English. Even if it was just online. However, there has been concerns over the BBC's budget annually that would, while it may have thought of it, make it cost-prohibited.

One of the BBC's Opening Ceremonies commentators was Welsh (Huw Edwards) and one was Scottish (Hazel Irvine)

[AmaniS]

Does anyone know if BBCWorld is showing anything?

Hoping to get something other than ARD and Eurosport.

[Brekkie Boy]

BBC World aren't allowed to show anything as it's not a UK channel, so their rights are not covered. However you can watch coverage at eurovisionsports.tv from any European broadcaster, along with 12 streams of live coverage.

[Durban Sandshark]

Colin Jackson, Denise Lewis, and Michael Johnson all can't their excitement (or objectivity) with Mo Farah going for gold for Team GB at the men's 10,000m final capping a wonderful day for Team GB at Olympic Stadium.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENVFQXlYmFw

Jessica Ennis with tears of joy in a post-gold winning BBC Sport interview winning the heptathlon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpiGPqZ7tRo

Reading a lot of great things about Clare Balding's brilliant performance as BBC sportscaster during London. They're saying if she's not a Dame, she should be with her authority on the sports.

[Mercator]

The BBC has been immense during the last 11 days. I can't remember a time when I spent so long in front of a television without ever getting bored!! If I don't fancy the cycling heats, I can flip over to the Nastics or the shooting. I love the fact, that the people commentating, interviewing and punditing are former (or even current) sportspeople.

Ian Thorpe was so sweet, friendly and eloquent, I hope he comes back.

Michael Johnson has become a regular - he's got that dramatic voice that says 'I know what I'm talking about' and he, plus Colin Jackson know more about athletics than anyone else, with the exception of the now-retired David Coleman, the living prototype of Wikipedia.

Mark Cavendish is serious, but he sometimes throws in a truly funny line.

Steve Cram has evolved into a really useful commentator.

Trackside interviewer Phil Jones is so well-respected by competitors, even the Americans and Caribbeans stop to give him time and call him by his first name.

Clare Balding is a masterful speaker, who knows how to handle difficult situations.

John Inverdale perfectly captured the rowing, and now he's doing the same in the stadium. Calming influence, very good listener.

Gaby Logan is fun, but Gary Lineker needs some sleep, I think...

I love watching "Olympics Tonight", a kind of fun look back on the day's sport. They have some great guests and entertaining banter. They have really captured the atmosphere, and it's what the IOC's members will be watching in their 5* hotel rooms. They can't fail to be impressed.

I live in Germany and I've seen some other countries' Olympic coverage (Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands), and I wouldn't want to watch it on any other broadcaster!

One thing I've noticed on here is how little anyone has actually mentioned the crowds and the atmosphere at the venues. The BBC has done so well to filter this into the home. Even the cynical Daily Mail has made far fewer jibes this week, and that's extraordinary

If anyone is capable of providing entertaining, yet knowledgable, no-nonsense personalities to keep the world informed, the BBC is more than competent, and I have insisted on having the BBC too, but anyone from Britain who lives abroad and has had to put up with TV from other nations for over a decade, can tell anyone back in the UK that the BBC is, by well over a country mile, still the best broadcaster in the world!

[dancingbrogues]

I do wish the IOC had let the BBC do the lot. The Olympic Broadcasting Service seems like a bunch of amateurs, particularly in the cycling and the marathon. the BBC commentators have not been slow to complain that it's not the beeb's fault that they don't get split times or that they get sudden cutaways.

List of Host Broadcasters for each sport:

OBS Teams – Swimming, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo, Modern Pentathlon - Swimming, Basketball, Equestrian, Fencing, Handball, Sailing, Shooting, Beach Volleyball, Wrestling

BBC – Boxing, Rowing, Canoe/Kayak - Sprint, Tennis, Football

YLE (Finland) – Opening/Closing Ceremonies, Athletics-Integrated/Track/Throws

SVT (Sweden) – Athletics-Jumps

SBS(Korea) – Archery, Taekwondo

Fuji TV (Japan) – Judo

TVE(Spain) – Canoe/Kayak - Slalom, Triathlon, Aquatics-Swimming Marathon

CCTV (China) – Modern Pentathlon, Badminton, Gymnastics, Table Tennis

NOS (the Netherlands) – Cycling-Road Race, Time Trial, Athletics-Walks/Marathon

STV (Slovakia) – Hockey

ICRT(Cuba) – Volleyball

ERT(Greece) – Weightlifting

VRT (Belgium) – Cycling (BMX, Track, Mountain Biking)

[Mercator]

I'm glad someone else noticed that the camerawork has been abysmal in some instances. The cycling was awful. I also thought the opening ceremony would visually have been far better explained had the BBC been doing it, as they would have spent more time concentrating on the appropriate bits, being local.

Still, as you pointed out, the BBC did the rowing, and in my opinion, their overhead camerawork shows that they're true innovators!

[dancingbrogues]

I also thought the opening ceremony would visually have been far better explained had the BBC been doing it,

Rumour has it that Danny Boyle had a number of bust-ups with the Finnish team.

The BBC had to come to the rescue in to the sailing, as the OBS team couldn't cope, and that's why the coverage has gotten distinctly better as the regatta has gone on.

Not to be jingoistic about it though, the Chinese have done a good job with the gymnastics. I love their freeze shots and one of the commentators was saying that the camera operators were really knowledgeable about the events.

[FDLondon]

I've loved being able to pick and choose the Olympic channels. You can easily record an event you are going to so that you can rewatch bits when you get home or pick a particular sport and immerse yourself in it.

My only negative - and it might just be that I've missed it - is that once again, they've missed the opportunity to give the less covered sports a bit of a push on the mainstream channels. It was all swimming and all athletics in the evenings with only highlights from where Brits had done well - no real handball, water polo etc action which I think was a shame. Then again, I've been out more days and nights than I've been in so it may be that there's been more of this than I realise. It's just that when I've had the TV on, it's been the major sports featured.

[Daze]

I've loved being able to pick and choose the Olympic channels. You can easily record an event you are going to so that you can rewatch bits when you get home or pick a particular sport and immerse yourself in it.

My only negative - and it might just be that I've missed it - is that once again, they've missed the opportunity to give the less covered sports a bit of a push on the mainstream channels. It was all swimming and all athletics in the evenings with only highlights from where Brits had done well - no real handball, water polo etc action which I think was a shame. Then again, I've been out more days and nights than I've been in so it may be that there's been more of this than I realise. It's just that when I've had the TV on, it's been the major sports featured.

That´s the only thing I didn´t like during our trip.

The BBC coverage was too much on the GB side.

GB won Gold here. GB won Gold there. It´s ok to celebrate the own victories but

they show nothing else. It was a bit disappointing to go on the internet to check other results.

[zekekelso]

The main BBC coverage was pretty much like every other national coverage - a non-stop diet of that country's athletes. If anything the main BBC coverage was even narrower than most, as it focused almost exclusively on events where Team GB had a shot at medals.

I watched the Olympics in London.. had no idea who Gabby Douglas was (Michael Phelps was the one non-Brit I saw any real coverage of) My wife watched in the US, had never heard of Jess Ennis. I also spent some time watching the Swiss coverage of the games... don't think they every showed either.

[Daze]

But who else watches the games in Switzerland or Italy than the Swiss or Italians.

There are very few tourists in those countries being there to watch the olympics.

But the whole world is in London and/or GB to see the olympics. So the coverage of the

host nation should be a bit more open for other countries.

[Rob2012]

"Know how much the BBC's Olympic coverage cost you? £5.58. That's for TV, radio, web, etc. No ads. Just class."

https://twitter.com/Steeephen_

[Steve10086]

"Know how much the BBC's Olympic coverage cost you? £5.58. That's for TV, radio, web, etc. No ads. Just class."

https://twitter.com/Steeephen_

I think the BBC licence fee is a bargain! The huge range of services they offer and the quality of their programmes is second to none.

[Durban Sandshark]

A Blu-ray and DVD set of the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games from BBC Worldwide is definitely coming that will have highlights from both ceremonies, the success of Team GB, and the important moments from the Games. Nine hours in total. Hitting October 29 in the UK with pre-ordering starting on August 10.

http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/BBC-Worldwide-to-publish-DVD-set-of-Olympics_nid-1910.html

Danny Boyle's OC is coming to DVD too in a feature-length style that includes stuff Boyle omitted with behind-the-scenes stuff. Not certain when that will arrive.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/olympics-2012-danny-boyle-opening-ceremony-dvd-380278

[Durban Sandshark]

So what are your thoughts on those 24 BBC live Olympic streams that you may have seen online or on the Red Button? I bet many of you there in the UK and in the rest of Europe miss them like you did with the Olympics themselves.

How about those who listened to the coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live and on Olympic Extra? I seriously think those should be what our Dial Global Sports Olympic coverage must emulate here--being comprehensive in its sports. I like the idea for online you would have the option of using BBC radio for audio along with the TV and the venue-only options.

For the aforementioned upcoming BBC DVD set, I do hope some ample retrospective of the Torch Relay will be included with fully both ceremonies.

The same cheering for Mo Farah's success for gold happened again at the men's 5000m for the BBC Olympic track (athletics) commentating team at the Olympic Stadium. Steve Cram joins in, showing why he's one of the best commentators. Michael Johnson is more sedate this time though at the stadium's studio. Again, Denise Lewis is most excitable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i2-LEfblEs

BBC's Closing Credits for the TV portion of the coverage with Emile Sandee's rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine"

[Durban Sandshark]

Hey, we now got some news regarding what will be in the upcoming BBC Olympic DVD set that was made known last week:

--It will be five discs in total (in both DVD versions) like with the CTV/RDS Vancouver 2010 Olympic DVD set

--Danny Boyle's director's cut of the Opening Ceremony WILL be on there with his audio commentary

--8 hours of mostly Team GB's medal wins highlights also will include the feats of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt

--full closing ceremony by Kim Gavin

--Blu-Ray will have extra 30 minutes of the LSO's Nimrod performance and pre-ceremony performance of Frank Turner

http://www.amazon.co...rs-cut/0922709/

How about this to be on there too? It's Benedict Cumberbatch, best known as Sherlock Holmes on the BBC, provides the fab intro to the BBC's 2012 Olympic coverage. Gotta love the one-sided smile at the end as he departs the Olympic Stadium.

[Citius Altius Fortius]

I think everbody knows here that the London 2012 was for me a dream coming true, but I have to admit that I think that the IOC should allow that you can watch the online live-streams of the different national broadcasters in the hosting city during the Games...

I am a huge fan of BBC - I do love a lot of their programs/shows, but I don't want to be informed about the home team only by the host TV...

Of course I am aware that the home broadcaster has to focus on the home team - therefore I would recommend that the visitors should have the possibility to watch the online live-streams of their national broadcaster during the games in the host city.

[Mercator]

I agree CAF - although I can only presume there's a lot of "broadcasting rights" issues tied up in there somewhere wrapped in disguise as "Olympic impartiality"....

[Rob2012]

The focus of BBC1 was a lot more British-centric than normal.

That would have been a little annoying but for the fact that the BBC also had BBC2 and 3 covering the Games, and were streaming every single session online with commentary.

You could basically watch whatever you wanted on the BBC this year, and indeed EVERY session of the Olympics from EVERY venue is still available on BBC iplayer until the middle of next year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/schedule-results

Has any other host broadcaster ever done that before?

[Olympian2004]

I think what contributed to the British-centrism of BBC and also Channel 4 was that there were so many British athletes at the Games and also so many British athletes with medal chances.

However, I also found it much too difficult to catch a glimpse of a German athlete during the Paralympics when I watched the Channel 4 broadcasts in London. I didn't even know which rank Germany had in the medal table during that first weekend of the Paralympics because they only showed the Top 10 or even Top 5 positions on Channel 4.

So maybe it's better sometimes to have a good but not excellent and not too big team at the Olympic Games. That maybe forces you to show more of other nations' athletes as well, just like it was the case for the German TV broadcasts from London.

[Citius Altius Fortius]

Has any other host broadcaster ever done that before?

I don't know that - and I think BBC is a very good and reliable TV-channel - no doubt about that.

I just believe that the IOC should think about its media-policy - I think I had mentioned it before, but I wanted to watch the medal ceremony in rowing eights (male). The ceremony wasn't shown on TV or wasn't online in the UK - the BBC showed a very good interview with Sir Redgrave and with the British rowers after the race 'only'.

Of course I can understand that the BBC preferred to show other events, in which TeamGB had the chance to win a gold medal (and they won other gold medals on that day/time), but as a German visitor in London I did feel chiselled of the victory ceremony. I suppose I was not the only visitor in London during the Games who experienced such "thing"...

I think the IOC should allow online live steams of the different national broadcasters during the Games in the host city. I doubt that the host nation would watch the live streams of the the different national broadcaster during the Games, therefore it wouldn't have an impact on the host broadcaster...