BBC Coverage

[marktea]

Glad people agree, thought i might have been flamed by people who like Zane Lowe. Statistically speaking there must be some.

I lost my Glasto '95 videos about 10 years ago, and have been hunting for some ever since, if anyone's up for burning them onto DVD or the like, well, get in touch!

There's bits on Youtube though, Page and Plant doing 'In the evening' is the one that sticks in my mind as some really well done filming on C4's part, but that doesn't seem to be on there anymore. This one from the same set isn't too bad though.

[Chazeboy]

Well I am no great fan of Zane Lowe but I think the 'piss poor' thing is completely wrong.

First of all, there is no way that there will be concensus over this so the BBC just won't be able to win. If you look at the lineup threads on here over the last few months (or in fact the last year after the controversy in '08) the views range from not enough big names to there being to many 'big' names and not enough new bands to all the fuss over the Jay Z thing. And when the BBC coverage focuses on the main stages of course everyone moans about the balance of the coverage.

But just look at the likely lineup this year and imagine the fuss if the Beeb missed out a few of the big names. It's inevitable that the main stages will dominate any tv coverage. Of course the festival is about more than the big names on the big stages but I would like to see the comments on here if ME came out next year and said that because the main stages are not the 'real' festival he would be getting rid of them. They are a massive part of the festival and they will inevitably attract a major part of the coverage.

But that said, nowhere near enough credit is being given for the sheer scale of what the BBC does in terms of hours broadcast. The use of BBC3 and the red button option means that they can pack a hell of a lot in. I recorded as much as I could last year and loved every minute of watching it when I got back. Particular highlights were catching up on Elbow (which was the one band I regretted missing) and some great coverage of a vintage year on the Jazz world stage.

All this moaning over the style of the coverage or particular presenters is just a distraction and loses sight of the big picture. The music is what it is all about and the BBC delivers hours and hours of the stuff. Whatever they do they will never capture what it is like to be there but having got home last year feeling tired and a bit down that it was all over I can tell you that watching 'One Day Like This' on the BBC coverage brought it all back in a flash and gave me a massive buzz.

Finally, the main point is that the sheer bulk of the coverage and the profile and the attention that the BBC provides is a massive plus for the festival in attracting bands each year for much lower fees than they would usually charge. At the end of the day it's us, plus the charities, who benefit from that. And the fact that the BBC won't plaster the coverage with sponsorship and advertising deals means that the whole 'feel' of what they show is much less corporate and in line with the ethos of the festival.

So, no it's not perfect, but in many respects there is a massive amount that the BBC deserves credit for.

[Pinhead]

True.

But there has got to be room for improvement in their coverage surely. I don't believe covering the other performances of the festival and other events going on around it is beyond the remit of their massive OB unit and production crew at all, and I believe non-attendees and returning festival goers would want to see this material. I sometimes wonder if they cover just the main stages and the big names cos that's what the record companies have asked them to do.

[bubbsio]

True.

But there has got to be room for improvement in their coverage surely. I don't believe covering the other performances of the festival and other events going on around it is beyond the remit of their massive OB unit and production crew at all, and I believe non-attendees and returning festival goers would want to see this material. I sometimes wonder if they cover just the main stages and the big names cos that's what the record companies have asked them to do.

[marktea]

agree, not nessecarily all about the music though, but if you mean for the viewing public, not those attending, then yeah i agree

I still maintain and always will, channel 4 would give it sunday morning till lunch time on T4 a wee bit at night on E4 and maybe one or two pyramid headliners on C4, but you wouldnt have red button function, and they would only cover "heard of" bands, they wouldnt go near say Tinaweren (sp?) because, the general public watching C/T/E 4 wouldnt a) know who they were, and because of this said channel may loose viewers and therfore advertising revenue. so best to stick with heard bands.

So would the coverage be any better on 4, i cant see it, i really cant.

[cran]

and they will only show what is on at pyramid and other stage

[Pauljoanss]

Can't say I have seen any problem with BBC coverage. They have a massive amount of air time (BBC1, 2, 3) which no other mainstream channel could provide.

Cannot be an easy job, would love to see behind the scenes, all that high tech equip to keep going in muddy fields with very short deadlines. Must be a lot of stress.

Sometimes too much chat, sometimes too much live stuff in studio. Maybe nice to have more chat from ordinary punters.

BBC rocks, where would we be without them.

[Pinhead]

I doubt the record companies have that much of a say in it.

Tbh, it would be pretty difficult to portray the randomness that you get by actually being there on tele. You'd need to have a crew wandering around the site all day, to get enough material for a few short interlude type things...

they should film a sunrise from the stone circle one year though

[Pinhead]

"BBC rocks, where would we be without them."

Richer.

And if we had a choice, it might make them listen to public opinions such as these in this thread.

[bubbsio]

Maybe, though they seem to dominate when Radio 1 decide on what they are going to play endlessly for the next few months. Having seen th two movies and all the footage they built upon, I'm sure they could make a similar effort themselves with their resources.

[Pauljoanss]

"BBC rocks, where would we be without them."

Richer.

And if we had a choice, it might make them listen to public opinions such as these in this thread.

[marktea]

"BBC rocks, where would we be without them."

Richer.

And if we had a choice, it might make them listen to public opinions such as these in this thread.

[Pinhead]

The films weren't anything to do with the BBC were they? And the Julian Temple film is only average (imo)

There have been some interesting 'behind the scenes' programmes about Glastonbury on the beeb that have had nothing at all to do with the music I seem to remember

Edited May 15, 2009 by Pinhead

[marktea]

No more a fan of commercial TV than you are, but at least I have a choice of not watching and funding those channels. Not a Daily Mail reader either, and I worry that some feel the BBC is beyond criticism or reproach.

[Pinhead]

OK - there is another thread on this that I was posting to a week or so ago which went into the issue over whether the BBC could still justify its license position. Have a quick search, else I'll see if I can dig it out.

In summary though, my contention was that I have a problem with the absence of 'choice' between the BBC and Mudoch et al. If I don't want to watch the BBC and still want to own a telly so I can watch just the other channels, I still have to pay the BBC for the priviledge of doing so, which I felt was unacceptable in a digital age where channel feeds could be separated and changed for by subscription just like Sky Movies etc. Surely it amounts to unfair competiton as well, leading perhaps to a reticence to improve - for example, in the coverage of Glastonbury.

Others on the thread were also unhappy with the bullying tactics the TVLA license collectors had shown on behalf of the Corporation.

Few sites with some further points after a quick search:

http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2005...icense_fee.html

http://turnoffyourtv.com/international/bbc.html

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/

I am not a BBC 'hater', but I do have a good sense of fair play and freedom of choice.

Edited May 15, 2009 by Pinhead

[marktea]

OK - there is another thread on this that I was posting to a week or so ago which went into the issue over whether the BBC could still justify its license position. Have a quick search, else I'll see if I can dig it out.

In summary though, my contention was that I have a problem with the absence of 'choice' between the BBC and Mudoch et al. If I don't want to watch the BBC and still want to own a telly so I can watch just the other channels, I still have to pay the BBC for the priviledge of doing so, which I felt was unacceptable in a digital age where channel feeds could be separated and changed for by subscription just like Sky Movies etc. Surely it amounts to unfair competiton as well, leading perhaps to a reticence to improve - for example, in the coverage of Glastonbury.

Others on the thread were also unhappy with the bullying tactics the TVLA license collectors had shown on behalf of the Corporation.

Few sites with some further points after a quick search:

http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2005...icense_fee.html

http://turnoffyourtv.com/international/bbc.html

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/

I am not a BBC 'hater', but I do have a good sense of fair play and freedom of choice.

Edited May 15, 2009 by marktea

[PabloCoke]

OK - there is another thread on this that I was posting to a week or so ago which went into the issue over whether the BBC could still justify its license position. Have a quick search, else I'll see if I can dig it out.

In summary though, my contention was that I have a problem with the absence of 'choice' between the BBC and Mudoch et al. If I don't want to watch the BBC and still want to own a telly so I can watch just the other channels, I still have to pay the BBC for the priviledge of doing so, which I felt was unacceptable in a digital age where channel feeds could be separated and changed for by subscription just like Sky Movies etc. Surely it amounts to unfair competiton as well, leading perhaps to a reticence to improve - for example, in the coverage of Glastonbury.

Others on the thread were also unhappy with the bullying tactics the TVLA license collectors had shown on behalf of the Corporation.

Few sites with some further points after a quick search:

http://weblog.brunton.org.uk/archives/2005...icense_fee.html

http://turnoffyourtv.com/international/bbc.html

http://www.tvlicensing.biz/

I am not a BBC 'hater', but I do have a good sense of fair play and freedom of choice.

Edited May 15, 2009 by PabloCoke

[blowsagainsttheempire]

if 99% of the same broadcasters and djs who covered it last year are covering it again. it will be totally shit and irritate you.

[Pinhead]

Well I provided those links just for perspective, though I have no time to corroborate their various opinions and assertions.

An 'independant BBC' - I know many who would have much to say about the BBC's definition of independance, not least Tony Benn, particularly in relation to the Government.

"I just think we should be up-front about the debate. Those people who object to publicly funded broadcasting in principle (and I don't know whether that includes you or not) should have the intellectual courage to come out and make that argument. To dress it up as some sort of unfair taxation issue is disingenuous and misleading."

Yes, good point - I think it would be very useful to have such a debate. And as I said before, there really is no issue with the existence of the BBC, just that it has to grow up and be bought kicking and screaming into the reality of the new broadcasting age where it competes alog side everyone else.

"And the world service is simply stunning for what it gives to planet."

Yes, that we fund without any choice, for use by people who don't

Edited May 15, 2009 by Pinhead

[PabloCoke]

"And the world service is simply stunning for what it gives to planet."

Yes, that we fund without any choice, for use by people who don't

[BlackHole2006]

The 2007 coverage was ecellent I thought, they showed lots of small bands from the John Peel stage and Amy Winehouses Jazz World performance, her full set was almost shown!

Last year however, I thought it was absolutely apalling. They only showed the acts on the pyramid stage and on the other stage. The only time when they showed the decent bands was at 12 o clock midnight! Anyway, I have made a list of how they could improve their coverage, not that it will help.

1. Show more obscure bands on the other stages, maybe interview the avalon stage headliners, or something like that.

2. Interview punters and have their point of view on the festival. Get Jo Whiley or Edith to get their wellies on and see what they can find!

3. The helmet cam is a terrible idea, and made me feel sick.

4. Get rufus hound around the green feilds too, not just at shangri la.

Erm can't think of anyone. That filming out own coverage is a brilliant idea though, would anyone be up for making a website or something, with a video to download of all the coverage we have collected over the weekend, like the glasto movie for example?

Cheers,

BlackHole2006

[timbrass]

Indeed. It pained me to see John having to sit with Wiley in his last few years. He was the only presenter (bar Mark Radcliffe) who seemed to actually leave backstage.

[Laura_Babs]

My wife was working behind the "Wine Bar" in the market area a few years ago when this bloke shuffled up and asked for a bottle of red. Mistaking him for someone she knows at home, the conversation went as follows...

"What are you doing here Otto!".

"but I'm not Otto"

"So who are you then?"

" errr....John Peel"

and so it was....!

[dwukky]

Get Jo Whiley or Edith to get their wellies on and see what they can find!

BlackHole2006

[Mardy]

I don't care about the BBC coverage, I'll be ther, not watching it on the telly, I'll be living it, breathing it and loving it.

who's the telly coverage for?