Field events should be just as important as track events!!
M
malcolm wallace
11 years ago
I wrote to the BBC twice about the low standard of presentation of athletics on the television, the first letter was a standard response the second letter started off with .
We are sorry to tell you that we have nothing to add to our previous reply. "We do not believe your complaint has raised a significant issue of general importance that might justify further investigation. We will not therefore correspond further in response to additional points, or further comments or questions, made about this issue or our responses to it."
In other words we do not cre about our viewers.
B
Bob Welfare
11 years ago
Cut the chat of the pundits and the replays of running and give us more field events to watch live.
M
Mike McNeill
11 years ago
Our national broadcasting company are failing to inspire our potential throwers/jumpers with consistent coverage of field events. Just watching the top three throws is not good enough or acceptable. As a public funded network it doesn't have to worry about appeasing sponsors, it just needs to give a balanced presentation of the sport. Stop patronising the public with endless chat by ex athletes who were all great and need to earn a good living.... But not at the expense of us watching the throws/ jumps. Let have the events on red button at least! I remember watching German coverage of an event and they even had a presenter sitting in the stand with the coaches asking questions!! If they want expert views on what is happening for individual events interview top coaches not ex athletes who only really know their former events. This might be more informative for parents and young athletes. I no longer watch BBC athletics live! I record and fast forward the babble! Sorry Denise, Jonathan, Gabby etc... Or I watch Eurosport where we get to watch not listen!
M
Mike Daly
11 years ago
Definitely an imbalance.
D
Denise Burges
11 years ago
Love track and field but too much replays talking and analysing on track events not enough air time for field events only a selection of the leading athletes are shown and usually hi lights .
D
David Clark
11 years ago
Great idea to start this petition to raise awareness of how equally important the field events are in relation to the track events. All athletes across all disciplines (track and field) have to be equally dedicated to get to the top. Come on TV let's see some unbiased coverage.
L
Laura Poole
11 years ago
Although I miss the live action, this season's BBC Diamond League highlights programmes have been enjoyable because you get an hour of action and no pundits just the great commentary team. During live coverage at a recent international competition, the BBC showed two sprint heats during the first hour of coverage with the rest of the time spent listening to the pundits and watching athletes' performances from yester year, primarily the pundits' performances. Whilst I do enjoy seeing the success of our athletes from past decades, I would much rather see today's athletes competing live. Nowadays I prefer to watch competitions online as you see more of the action especially the field events. I'm not expecting to see every attempt by every athlete but surely the BBC can show more than just the odd one or two after all, the field events are often much more exciting than those on the track. Come BBC, more field events & less of the pundits.
R
robert jones
11 years ago
more field events and less talking about the track
B
Bunt Scott
11 years ago
The pundits are a waste of time.
B
Betty Petch
11 years ago
I certainly agree. Too much talking and not enough high and long jump
J
Jayne aarre
11 years ago
About time. Field athletes do as much training as any other athlete and deserve the support.
J
Jon Hunter
11 years ago
I completely agree, the BBC clearly undervalues the throwing events with the highlights being given 2 minutes coverage which when compared to how much air time the track events is given is a joke.
More throwing air time and less former athletes chatting and speculating.
H
Helen Odunaiya
11 years ago
I am a parent of a young javelin enthusiast. He is 12 years of age and currently ranked 3rd in the UK. He trains hard each week and during the summer travels widely to compete. He loves his sport and aspires to represent his country one day and honour that would make all his family proud. However he has no role models to watch on the TV. We watch the athletics and his sisters who sprint see lots of young women role models. In this day and age when recognition is partly about being on TV he is depressed that TV coverage shows few field events. It is a bit of a standing joke that there is a fill section of someone being interviewed and in the background a javelin thrower is seen running by or when the 5,000 metres is on a javelin is seen flying by. Youngsters need positive role models so bbc have some respect for the youngsters aspiring to be great and let them see that you recognise athletics is both track and field.
A
Amanda Schwabauer
11 years ago
Throwers are supreme athletes. They deserve and have earned their place on tv as much as other athletes in all other events. Educate the masses about how amazing and awesome the throws are at all ages, by more tv exposure!
M
Mike Martin
11 years ago
It's time to change people are getting bored of watching replays and every lap of long distance races. Presenters are more interested in talking about themselves than showing field events!
S
Susan Main
11 years ago
Son is a hammer thrower so could not agree with this more
J
John Blackwell
11 years ago
I have not watched since they spoke for what seemed like 40 mins about No in USA.....JOBS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS.
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
to many talking heads and not enough throws. Hammer especially.
M
Megan
11 years ago
Track athletes are no more talented than field athletes so why should track athletes have privalegde over public views.
Field events should be just as important as track events!!
I wrote to the BBC twice about the low standard of presentation of athletics on the television, the first letter was a standard response the second letter started off with . We are sorry to tell you that we have nothing to add to our previous reply. "We do not believe your complaint has raised a significant issue of general importance that might justify further investigation. We will not therefore correspond further in response to additional points, or further comments or questions, made about this issue or our responses to it." In other words we do not cre about our viewers.
Cut the chat of the pundits and the replays of running and give us more field events to watch live.
Our national broadcasting company are failing to inspire our potential throwers/jumpers with consistent coverage of field events. Just watching the top three throws is not good enough or acceptable. As a public funded network it doesn't have to worry about appeasing sponsors, it just needs to give a balanced presentation of the sport. Stop patronising the public with endless chat by ex athletes who were all great and need to earn a good living.... But not at the expense of us watching the throws/ jumps. Let have the events on red button at least! I remember watching German coverage of an event and they even had a presenter sitting in the stand with the coaches asking questions!! If they want expert views on what is happening for individual events interview top coaches not ex athletes who only really know their former events. This might be more informative for parents and young athletes. I no longer watch BBC athletics live! I record and fast forward the babble! Sorry Denise, Jonathan, Gabby etc... Or I watch Eurosport where we get to watch not listen!
Definitely an imbalance.
Love track and field but too much replays talking and analysing on track events not enough air time for field events only a selection of the leading athletes are shown and usually hi lights .
Great idea to start this petition to raise awareness of how equally important the field events are in relation to the track events. All athletes across all disciplines (track and field) have to be equally dedicated to get to the top. Come on TV let's see some unbiased coverage.
Although I miss the live action, this season's BBC Diamond League highlights programmes have been enjoyable because you get an hour of action and no pundits just the great commentary team. During live coverage at a recent international competition, the BBC showed two sprint heats during the first hour of coverage with the rest of the time spent listening to the pundits and watching athletes' performances from yester year, primarily the pundits' performances. Whilst I do enjoy seeing the success of our athletes from past decades, I would much rather see today's athletes competing live. Nowadays I prefer to watch competitions online as you see more of the action especially the field events. I'm not expecting to see every attempt by every athlete but surely the BBC can show more than just the odd one or two after all, the field events are often much more exciting than those on the track. Come BBC, more field events & less of the pundits.
more field events and less talking about the track
The pundits are a waste of time.
I certainly agree. Too much talking and not enough high and long jump
About time. Field athletes do as much training as any other athlete and deserve the support.
I completely agree, the BBC clearly undervalues the throwing events with the highlights being given 2 minutes coverage which when compared to how much air time the track events is given is a joke. More throwing air time and less former athletes chatting and speculating.
I am a parent of a young javelin enthusiast. He is 12 years of age and currently ranked 3rd in the UK. He trains hard each week and during the summer travels widely to compete. He loves his sport and aspires to represent his country one day and honour that would make all his family proud. However he has no role models to watch on the TV. We watch the athletics and his sisters who sprint see lots of young women role models. In this day and age when recognition is partly about being on TV he is depressed that TV coverage shows few field events. It is a bit of a standing joke that there is a fill section of someone being interviewed and in the background a javelin thrower is seen running by or when the 5,000 metres is on a javelin is seen flying by. Youngsters need positive role models so bbc have some respect for the youngsters aspiring to be great and let them see that you recognise athletics is both track and field.
Throwers are supreme athletes. They deserve and have earned their place on tv as much as other athletes in all other events. Educate the masses about how amazing and awesome the throws are at all ages, by more tv exposure!
It's time to change people are getting bored of watching replays and every lap of long distance races. Presenters are more interested in talking about themselves than showing field events!
Son is a hammer thrower so could not agree with this more
I have not watched since they spoke for what seemed like 40 mins about No in USA.....JOBS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS.
to many talking heads and not enough throws. Hammer especially.
Track athletes are no more talented than field athletes so why should track athletes have privalegde over public views.