Regular readers (chortle!) may recall my praise of the columns written by Brian Viner of the Independent newspaper. He specialises primarily in writing about sport. He has conducted a number of interviews with well-known sporting figures and I have long admired how he approaches his subjects and the insights he encourages them to reveal.
A few years back, he moved from London to the wilds of Herefordshire and has a longstanding ‘sister’ column relating the trials of that move upon himself and his family and general stories about their new life and the ‘adventures’ and characters they have encountered and they are highly entertaining.
I like his style of writing because I have always found him to be highly considerate. Even when discussing his beloved Everton Football club, his eye is never so jaundiced as to deny (however grudgingly!) the merits of another team *even* if they are L****pool. I can enjoy his musings on these things because I support Brighton (I may have mentioned this before…) and therefore am not qualified in football matters.
However, one thing that I do appreciate is his attention to his readers. He is never too busy to acknowledge and reply to comments sent by readers, even when they are the demented ramblings of a Brighton fan. You see, I had cause to register my disgust across the internet regarding the amazing lack of terrestrial tv coverage of Switzerland vs England a while ago. I was, momentarily but very definitely, pissed off about it and Brian was kind enough to reply with something appropriately soothing about how the walls of civilisation as we know it are gradually crumbling etc. I suppose I forgave ITV (as they are the ones who purport to be responsible at the minute for England matches) as even the most hardcore fan may have thought twice about watching a full 90 minutes of Switzerland but that wasn’t my point.
After the world cup fiasco, I would have thought qualification matches for Euro 2012 would have been must watch games to see how England may improve (if at all). Rather naively, I supposed that being relatively poor wouldn’t be an issue and the games (even if only highlights) would be available to all. Nope. It was Sky or nothing.
Time moved on, wounds healed, lives were gotten. The next stage of the EC was approaching and *all* we heard about was Capello, Terry, Ferdinand et al. The fact that this was “A Local Derby” (Wales vs England) and all the spice that entailed. Craig Bellamy (see notes passim) doing his best to be moronic (And remember I actually *like* him a bit!) things were bubbling along nicely. I was all set to enjoy the game until I went to set the tv reminder. “Is this a mistake?” I wondered as I searched in vain for the programme note. Apparently not. As this was an “Away” match, no terrestrial tv station had rights to the game or even the highlights. Unbelievable. Naturally, my immediate instinct was to pester Brian with my outrage (poor bugger) and, once more he expressed dismay on my behalf like the good chap he is.
So, imagine my surprise when I received an email from *him* this time. Somewhat apprehensively opening it, expecting to find a request to cease and desist my sputterings, the note was the precise opposite.
“Hi Mark,
Just to let you know that I’ve aired your grievances in my column tomorrow!
All the best,
Brian”.
I was very excited opening the link and reading the article which, once again, was of Mr. Viner’s high quality (and I am honestly *not* just saying that!) and v. amusing. Even the irresistible temptation to make reference to Anti-Aircraft missiles. (At the very least, BV got it right.)
Either way, and notwithstanding the excellence of Sky’s golf coverage, which includes the 3D facility that reportedly so excites Augusta chairman Billy Payne, it is utterly shameful that all those among Britain’s golf lovers who do not pay Uncle Rupert 50-odd quid a month, have not yet been able to watch this year’s Masters at all. And it’s not as if this creeping disenfranchisement is limited to golf. A fortnight ago I received an email from a reader, Mark Flack, who had already contacted me last autumn to express his incredulity that the Switzerland v England Euro 2012 qualifier was not shown on terrestrial TV. This time it was Wales v England that drew, if he’ll forgive me, his flak.
“There’s been lots of preamble to today’s game,” he wrote, “what with Capello and Terry and Bellamy… the minor point of this being an international derby. And is it on TV? Nope. Only bloody Sky again, of course. Actually, I tell a minor lie, I can catch highlights on S4C later … must brush up on my Welsh. Why is there no anger in the press about this? Does none of this matter any more?”
The answer is that it does matter, enormously. That there is no longer much anger in the press is partly because sports writers are either at these events in person, or have Sky at home, and partly because, as King Canute knew, it’s futile trying to turn back the tide. I don’t share Mr Flack’s irritation with Sky, incidentally. They’re a commercial organisation who, misjudged James Brown jingles apart, do a cracking job. What is upsetting is the diminishing responsibility the BBC and ITV seem to feel towards armchair sports fans, and the increasing likelihood that even the so-called crown jewels currently protected for universal access, among them our beloved Grand National, will one day belong exclusively to subscription television. The way it’s going, Sky will end up not just with our Monty, but the full Monty.
I have quoted the relevant bit of the article as I have two points to make. First, I concur with Brian about Sky. I also feel they do a cracking job and have been highly innovative in delivering TV (especially sport) to those who can afford it. They are a business. And the second point made about the sheer wimpishness of our two main terrestrial broadcasters lamely accepting this state of affairs is what really irks me. After some pootling about, I finally found a contact email for ITV’s “Customer Services”. (It’s on page 75 of the 2011 Oxymoron Guide) and wrote off asking why there was no coverage of the game.
I got this in reply (quoted verbatim)
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for your recent email regarding England v Wales EURO 2012 Qualifier.
I can confirm that SKY Television have secured the ‘rights’ to broadcast the England EURO 2012 qualifying away games hence ITV not broadcasting today’s match, it may also be worth noting that due to the contract SKY have we are unable to show a highlights programme.
ITV do have the ‘rights’ to Euro 2012 qualifier home games for this competition along with England ’s friendly matches.
If you wish to take the complaint further you would need to UEFA as they allocate the ‘rights’ to the various broadcasters.
I hope the above clarifies the situation.
As I don’t know how to UEFA anything (sic) and I believe I may enter a black hole if I was ever unfortunate enough to ‘speak’ to Sepp Blatter, I resisted. Just the sheer lack of interest spoke volumes. To me, it’s entirely indicative of a malaise that has ITV having so many other problems. And the Beeb have nothing to crow about either as Brian so eloquently relates above.
So, to my legions of fans (Ha! I kill me!), I wanted to express my thanks to Brian for taking the time to express far better than I ever could something that seriously annoyed me and doing so much more graciously. Thank you sir. I also recommend his columns and books to you.
userdefinedlogic 