BBC responds to rugby complaints

[PvtPyle]

The BBC has apologised to dozens of viewers who complained that too much sport was shown on BBC One on Saturday.

The corporation received 124 complaints from the public after it televised three Six Nations rugby matches between 1400 and 2200 GMT.

The BBC said it realised that many viewers were not sports fans, but stressed the audience figures justified its decision to show the games.

In total 15 million people tuned in to watch the three encounters.

"We are sorry that some viewers felt the BBC One schedule on 23 February contained too much sport," the BBC said in a statement.

It added that it had been a "very exciting" weekend for rugby.

"We realise that not everyone enjoys watching sport.

"But there is undeniably a large section of our audience who do and as a public service broadcaster, we are obligated to cater for them as and when we can."

Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7267444.stm)

I cannot stress to you enough how this angers me. As though every time one turns on the television, there is sport on BBC One. Oh no, wait a minute, the BBC sold all their sports packages except international rugby and football (the latter of which is shared with ITV) so there is almost NEVER sport on terrestial TV anymore besides Match of the Day.

Show me one of the people who wrote in so I can quash their desperate bleatings to the BBC because they missed Songs of Praise :bangbang:

[Desmo]

I'm surprised they could take long enough time away from watching Coridale Enders to actually complain to someone :/

[Garp]

It's good to see sport on BBC, finally uninterrupted coverage of a sport. Its not like its a regular occurrence either.

[Mark]

Oi, you. Leave my Dad alone. :p

Well, he commented, but didn't write letters or anything. :)

[Pumpkinstew]

What? No Strictly Come Ice Skating tonight? But it's Saturday evening. I demand derrivitive fodder so that I may have a safe topic of conversation at work that allows me to put off doing any actual work. Grrrr. Damn you BBC! Is this how you waste MY licence fee?

[Will]

It's good to see sport on BBC, finally uninterrupted coverage of a sport. Its not like its a regular occurrence either.

Absolutely. :)

[PvtPyle]

I am happy to listen to these complaints when the WC football is on, and we get Algeria versus the Outer Mongolian Ladies 3rd XI at 8pm in a prime time schedule, but when England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales are all playing a nationally followed sport, I don't understand why the moaners can't read a book or find something on either Freeview, another welfare TV channel or of course on the 900 channels (of rubbish) provided by Sky and/or NTL.

No offence to your Dad, Mr Mark, it just grinds me gears a bit that people aren't willing on the very odd occasion now to turn a blind eye :)

[Stan_Lite]

I remember having an argument with my ex about this several years back. She was complaining there was far too much sport on TV and there was very little else on.

I got a copy of the TV Times and counted up the hours of sport and the hours of soap operas on terrestrial channels for the week in question. There were 26 hours of sport on that week with less than half at prime time. There were 56 hours of soap operas (including Sunday omnibus editions - which my ex watched even though she'd seen them all through the week) on that week (and every week) all at prime time. A little bit of give and take is needed. Too many people get upset because "bloody sport" has the temerity to push Eastenders out of it's cosy little slot for a couple of days a month.

[Rich_L]

I don't really see this as a formal 'apology' as in acknowledging that they have done something wrong. The BBC should be accountable to each and every viewer - they aren't sorry, or regret that they put that much sport on, they're just saying we're sorry if you didn't like it..but that's what we did. :p

124 complainers -vs- 15 million viewers. I don't think the BBC are particularly worried about whether they did the right thing :D

[Joe 90]

I don't really see this as a formal 'apology' as in acknowledging that they have done something wrong.
well thats because they did nothing wrong.

you'll never escape the old people with nothing else to do other than write letters of complaint. And has you say its 124vs15million - why has this even become an issue?
theres plenty of other channels... and if you're really desperate theres bbc iplayer.

Lovin the amount of sport on the BBC at the moment as I don't get chance to watch much whilst at uni, not having Sky.

[Vaultingslinky]

Last saturday from 2 till 10 was some of my favourite hours of television. It was a fantastic way to spend a hangover!

We get 6 nations once a year on the BBC, and the WC every 4 years, as has been said Eastenders is on way too much! I might write a letter (and ask them to show the WC more regularly :p)...