BBC's Glastonbury coverage - why is there no comedy or poetry shown?

WingerWinger Posts: 529
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Apologies if this has been raised elsewhere: I think the BBC's Glastonbury coverage is great, but I do wonder why all we ever see is music and roving reports. Comedy and poetry, for example, are never shown and I do wonder why.

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  • calico_piecalico_pie Posts: 10,060
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    I read that it was because none of the comedy and poetry at Glastonbury was left wing enough for the BBC. So they stick with the likes of Metallica and Dolly Parton to push their sinister commie views.

    Joking aside, there is usually some on Radio 4 I think - not sure if they did it this year, but they have recorded episodes of The Infinite Monkey Cage there the last few years. (Brian Cox Bingo is usually a good laugh!) As well as some panel type stuff with Marcus Brigstocke.
  • NilremNilrem Posts: 6,938
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    I'm fairly sure they do show some of the comedy etc, but I've got a feeling it's probably on after the main coverage in specialist shows.
  • Steve1977Steve1977 Posts: 1,274
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    I'm glad they don't show everything - because then there'd be no point in going.
  • mattwmattw Posts: 1,505
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    The comedy and poetry also tend to happen in fairly small tents (using small here in a relative sense to say the pyramid or other stages, where most of the live BBC coverage is from).

    The BBC will I'm sure as always have lots of coverage from Edinburgh over the next month, which has a much much bigger and more varied slate of comedy acts.
  • ElMarkoElMarko Posts: 5,224
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    Steve1977 wrote: »
    I'm glad they don't show everything - because then there'd be no point in going.

    Apart from the whole atmosphere thing.
  • hyperstarspongehyperstarsponge Posts: 16,562
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    Didn't even know there was comedy and poetry at Glastonbury, BBC Radio 4 could cover that anyway if they want to but they don't.
  • henderohendero Posts: 11,773
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    I almost wish they did show poetry from Glastonbury just to see if the total number of viewers was in the single digits.

    Next week on the broadcasting forum: "Will they be showing my kid's school play on BBC this year?"
  • degsyhufcdegsyhufc Posts: 59,251
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    mattw wrote: »
    The comedy and poetry also tend to happen in fairly small tents (using small here in a relative sense to say the pyramid or other stages, where most of the live BBC coverage is from).

    The BBC will I'm sure as always have lots of coverage from Edinburgh over the next month, which has a much much bigger and more varied slate of comedy acts.
    hendero wrote: »
    I almost wish they did show poetry from Glastonbury just to see if the total number of viewers was in the single digits.

    Next week on the broadcasting forum: "Will they be showing my kid's school play on BBC this year?"
    You've got arguments for both. It's the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts. It's not just a music festival so why shouldn't they show some of the comedy and other performances?

    The same with the Edinburgh Festival which is Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
    It's not just standup comedy but that's usually what is shown on the BBC3 programmes that cover it.
  • calico_piecalico_pie Posts: 10,060
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    hendero wrote: »
    I almost wish they did show poetry from Glastonbury just to see if the total number of viewers was in the single digits.

    Next week on the broadcasting forum: "Will they be showing my kid's school play on BBC this year?"

    Well, if nothing else, John Hegley is usually there. No disrespect to your kids, but he probably sells more tickets than they do.

    And so what if it got low figures - a lot of the comedy / poetry stuff is exactly the sort of thing that would be on R4, who do cover a lot of it.

    Best thing I saw there was John Osborne doing his show John Peel's Shed.
  • hyperstarspongehyperstarsponge Posts: 16,562
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    degsyhufc wrote: »
    You've got arguments for both. It's the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts. It's not just a music festival so why shouldn't they show some of the comedy and other performances?

    The same with the Edinburgh Festival which is Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
    It's not just standup comedy but that's usually what is shown on the BBC3 programmes that cover it.

    BBC Radio 4 Extra covered that last year so I think they do it again.
  • cnbcwatchercnbcwatcher Posts: 56,681
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    I never knew they had comedy and poetry at Glastonbury! I always thought it was just a music festival. Well I guess you learn something new every day :p
  • Funk YouFunk You Posts: 6,864
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    why is there hardly any dance music shown? piss poor coverage by BBC each time.
  • ElMarkoElMarko Posts: 5,224
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    They have put some big dance acts on in the past. Orbital being the one I remember in recent years. Not sure why not this year.
  • Funk YouFunk You Posts: 6,864
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    ElMarko wrote: »
    They have put some big dance acts on in the past. Orbital being the one I remember in recent years. Not sure why not this year.

    Glasto is too cheesy nowadays main stage wise, like you said they used to vary up the styles but now they stick to top 40 rubbish or old music that we have heard time and time again. There are lots of wicked new dance acts but the BBC never show em.
  • ch958ch958 Posts: 188
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    calico_pie wrote: »
    I read that it was because none of the comedy and poetry at Glastonbury was left wing enough for the BBC. So they stick with the likes of Metallica and Dolly Parton to push their sinister commie views.

    Joking aside, there is usually some on Radio 4 I think - not sure if they did it this year, but they have recorded episodes of The Infinite Monkey Cage there the last few years. (Brian Cox Bingo is usually a good laugh!) As well as some panel type stuff with Marcus Brigstocke.

    Two of the most right wing acts in existence!
  • calico_piecalico_pie Posts: 10,060
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    Well I'm really confused. The BBC only shows Glastonbury because it suits their lefties views.

    Then they don't show anything from the Leftfield tent, not even Billy Bragg.

    But they do show right wing artists like Metallica and Dolly Parton.

    Is one of you yanking my chain?
  • cnbcwatchercnbcwatcher Posts: 56,681
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    ch958 wrote: »
    Two of the most right wing acts in existence!

    How are those acts right wing?
  • mfrmfr Posts: 5,596
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    BBC accused of right wing bias: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bbc-accused-ofpolitical-bias--on-the-right-not-the-left-9129639.html

    I expect they're getting it right if both sides are accusing them of bias!
  • ocavocav Posts: 2,341
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    hendero wrote: »
    Next week on the broadcasting forum: "Will they be showing my kid's school play on BBC this year?"

    Yes. Cbeebies. 2:30pm.
  • degsyhufcdegsyhufc Posts: 59,251
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    Just watching my recording of Saturday night and there's just been a circus/freak act on in the 'studio'.

    Only a minute though.
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