And now, the doyen speaks...

And on the mic with Mr Nicholas, I hear the voice of my favourite commentator - 

Now I’m not quite so ashamed after all...

Cricket on the iPlayer, anyone?

Today’s BBC iPlayer


Wow!!! The Beeb are now supping with a very long spoon.

According to The Guardian today, the BBC and the BSkyB Corporations have come to a deal regarding the iPlayer.

Those who subscribe to the Sky subscription service will now be able to access BBC programming through the proprietary Sky Player, rather than going through the BBC’s iPlayer site. Any room for the cricket next year, chaps (?)

A back-handed compliment if ever there was one.

The heat is on...

I have not seen this anywhere else...

I nearly missed this story.

Will the Government stand up to BSkyB and make them sort out some free live coverage with the terrestrial broadcasters for next summer? Or will a ‘fudge’ be concocted that denies universal coverage to the terrestrial TV viewer? After all, the satellite broadcaster has poured a lot of money and televisual expertise into cricket: county matches are also covered, and energy and focus have been brought to the sport. But who cares about all that if only 300,000 or so viewers see the matches?

Channel 4 did lots of energising for cricekt too - with the added handicap of inappropriate advertising, and slouching off mid-over to watch some sad soap opera. Yet Sunset & Vine garnered more than several awards for their cricket coverage...

If the Government did insist that a terrestrial broadcaster show the cricket - who would answer the call? The BBC? C4? 5ive (Channnel 5) ? If none of them bid for the live rights a few months back, how will they seek to convince the Government (and the E(W)CB) of their interest now? Perhaps the E(W)CB are desperate for exposure, just as I surmised in a previous blog, and on poorcricketfan’s website.

The review hasn‘t taken place yet. But when it does, I’m hoping that live cricket coverage of the major tournaments in the UK will not be relegated to the satellite channel, but that anyone with a bonafide interest in cricket (or anyone per se who just wants to know what cricket is) can watch the whole match. Live. On free-to-air television.

That’s all I’ve ever wanted.

I'm trying not to Weasel out of the Reverend's acid comment...

Posed a teaser from the Reverend Weasel of the Siks oh Siks parish...

...

with all due respect, Reverend - it isn't.

For any number of reasons, but definitely including:

• Lack of disposable income

• Planing permission restrictions regarding satellite dishes / vindictive councils, etc.

• Hard financial responsibilities (kids, old parents, credit card payback)

• Computer Operating systems not supported for live online broadcasts from the sole supplier (especially if you are a Mac user)

you will not really have a choice if any of the above applies.

I stated that cricket had been 'taken away' because for those people who operate under stringent financial constraints (ie lack of cash), with all the will in the world, cricket cannot be accessed in a way that it was previously (before live TV cricket was removed from free-to-air).

Don't know how anyone else feels about this, but if a person becomes so disenchanted with lack of access to cricket that they just 'walk away' from the game - for whatever reason - then for me, that is very very sad.

If for you, cricket is fully accessible to SEE live, then that's great, and I'm happy for you. Clearly this is not the case for D*ca***n. I came on this 606 board in part because of my inability to see cricket live (except if I go to see a match).

D*ca***n does go on a bit (even more than I did) but I do commend him for it. The biggest lie of the past decade in many areas of public discourse is that certain 'wants' and 'needs' are 'available to all'. Cricket sadly now comes under that banner, and people such as myself have been banished to the 'third man' position of the cricket world because of this (wrong) perception.

The satellite broadcaster purchased live TV rights for the game fair and square (no matter what I think of the company). The guardians of the game didn't protect the game, or themselves from this takeover. The public service broadcsater is still too sore at losing TV rights to think clearly about the wonderful opportunity that online access provides. My brother's right on this one: 'The BBC are lazy', he said.

Will stop here - big boss back from break and real world intervenes...

...

I can be articulate if I'm angry and / or motivated enough. I must let cricket go! I don't want to give ONE PENNY to Marvin Dack - or his 'gyal', Gillian Clarke...

©PoorCricketFan: 11August2008

R•I•P Terrestrial Coverage of Cricket in the United Kingdom.

Much loved (even when interrupted for the 3:30 at Catterick) and missed

Can you feel me???

Krick it love Lee Krick itt

Goin' a huntin' fo' more...

Cricket spredding lyke a virus 'crawss de intahnet!!!

ƒ*¢% Skiiiieeee

I'm ashamed to say this but...

...watching the ‘highlights on five’ makes me feel bad (as in not good). As country cousins, they can't begin to compare with Skiee...

...and even though I can do without the highlights, TMS is a much more difficult thing to let go. Glad I don't have to.

Thanks and 'BigUpp’ to DumpysRustyNuts

Would you Adam and Eve it???

A most benevolent 606er has provided me with a link to cricket (on SKiee) live and direct. The sound isn't so hot, but who cares?

Here is the link for future reference:

http://www.justin.tv/chavstser

Must join these guys. YHWH bless ‘ DumpysRustyNuts (U4487436) ’

Cheers, Pal (even though I don't know you)

Meanwhile, at Headingley - I can SEE that the Proteas are 300+ for only four wickets.

What say you that England are going to take it up the 'arris this Second Test

Cricket should be put back on the sporting 'A' list immediately!

off I tilt again... can't help myself

Could this channel be the new home of cricket in the UK... ?

(previously posted to a poster who wrote an excellent article on BBC's 606 today)

Cricket should be put back on the sporting 'A' list immediately.

I personally think that the best way for cricket to be brought back to the majority of TV watchers in the UK will be through BBC digital and 'red-button' channels. A quick glance at the Radio Times tells me that, if the Government did return cricket to the Sporting Crown Jewels, the game could (with some imagination and a some sheets of graph paper divided into 168 squares) be back on TV within days.

BBC3, BBC4, CBBC and CBeebies have tranches of airtime (behind a cute red + white screen) that could be swopped for cricket as more than several posters... ...have pointed out.

My one concern is that 'the satellite corporation' may not relinquish its prize of EXCLUSIVE TV RIGHTS (and the millions of pounds already invested in its name into cricket) so readily.

Digital bandwith is now here. IMHO the BBC do not want to show cricket on TV; and will do so only if - or when - the Government decides that it is expedient (ie it will win them votes).

Gotta encourage your allies - I hope that he does post the letter to the Sports Minister.

The boards are full of live cricket on TV 'moans and groans'...

... not seen it like this since I first joined the 606 boards last year May.

Here's an article from the Telegraph (was this the mysterious article that Giles Clarke was so quick to dismiss as 'simply wrong'?)

And another surprise from a Mr Geoffrey Boycott - why was this story not covered more widely? Is it true what he says here?

And yet another link - Mr John Grogan being a thorn in the flesh asking awkward questions...

I've decided to make a permanent home of my front page, updating it with stories, news and views looking forward to the day when live cricket will once again be seen on free-to-air TV. I have to live in hope, because even if I do get the money together, I am not allowed to put up a satellite dish in the building where I live (!)

A true 'WTF' moment if ever there was one.