Wonderful, thank you

You could argue the BBC are providing better television coverage of the Australian Open tennis this year compared to the last few years. Ok no live coverage of the final will be missed if Murray makes it but to have highlights nearly every day in the second week is much more of a service than just 3 live matches at the end of the tournament.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS HIGHLIGHTS

[u][/WED 27/1/16 (BBC TWO)U]
Introduced by Sue Barker
[b][/Konta v Zhang:B] Fred Stolle & Kerryn Pratt
[b][/Murray v Ferrer:B] Peter Marcato & Mark Woodforde

I'm presuming these BBC highlights are taking Eurosport comms? Or is it Host Broadcaster/WF?

Tennis Australia are the host broadcaster so I'm assuming it's their comms that the BBC are taking. Channel 7 has the domestic rights in Australia, I'm not sure how much (if any) of the TA feed they're using.
Eurosport has the usual team (Simon Reed, Chris Bradnam, Mats Wilander, Jo Durie, Frew McMillan) on site in Melbourne.

I noticed today that Sue Barker was just a voice-over - ie not on screen in a studio.

That's very unusual indeed for the BBC - wasn't sure if it was because today was an unplanned programme.

They originally only scheduled highlights for the middle Sat + Sun and then the final 4 days (ie Thurs to Sun).

So was there a studio last Sat and Sun?

Cost could obviously be a factor too in addition to logistical issues.

You could argue that but the website says something about "highlight schedule may change due to British participation"

To me that suggests if there was no Brits they'd probably just show highlights of the Finals, or if Murray is in just the days he played in week 2.

The EPG had programmes scheduled over a week in advance for both mens semi-finals (ie Thurs + Fri).

So they would have done 6 days minimum regardless of British players - ie Sat, Sun, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun.

They have basically just added the Mon + Wed of the 2nd week because of Murray and Konta.

Also note Castle and Lloyd commentating from tomorrow. Barker presenting - suspect may be in a studio but we'll see.

No, they were just voice-over too.

Interesting - thanks a lot - and they were programmes scheduled well in advance.

Can anyone remember the BBC doing anything similar in the past with any sports event of similar status (on BBC1/BBC2) - ie not having any on screen presentation at all (whether a studio or on site) - with just a voice-over handing over to commentators (and not dedicated BBC commentators at that).

Historically the BBC has always put a lot of emphasis in its sports coverage on presentation.

I'm sure this won't become the norm but it still seems noteworthy and may be an indication that this will start happening more frequently on events where they believe having presentation is less necessary.

From memory it's happened a couple of times in recent years with golf events like the Irish Open and Dunhill Links (they took the European Tour Productions commentary), but not much else immediately springs to mind.

EDIT - Although they may have had someone doing a brief opening link from onsite

Sunday 7 February- Six Nations Rugby Union on ITV

Ireland v Wales- Mark Pougatch presents. With analysis from Brian O'Driscoll, Gareth Thomas and Jonny Wilkinson, commentary by Nick Mullins, Gordon D'Arcy and Shane Williams, and reports from Martin Bayfield and Maggie Alphonsi.

Today Barker was in studio not a voice over and Andrew castle and john lloyd did the commentary so they went with the normal bbc guys today

I can from the Australian Open in the past, when they held the rights for the two weeks but didn't show matches every day, if a brit did well (not sure if it was late Henman or early Murray) they sometimes showed highlights with a voiceover (I remember Ian Payne voicing such a show) or sometimes the commentators started the show themselves for live coverage (I remember Chris Bailey doing that).

Yes Chris Bailey lived ( and assuming still does ) in Australia. He was a terrific commentator, infinitely better than ABC, Andrew Bloody Castle

Six Nations Rugby Union on RTE2

Friday 5 February

Ireland U20s v Wales U20s- Joanne Cantwell presents. With analysis from Alan Quinlan and Donal Lenihan, and commentary by Ryle Nugent and Tony Ward.

Saturday 6 February

Daire O'Brien presents. With analysis from Brent Pope, Donal Lenihan and Shane Horgan.

France v Italy- Commentary by Hugh Cahill and Bernard Jackman.
Scotland v England- Commentary by George Hamilton and Ralph Keyes.

Sunday 7 February

Ireland v Wales- Daire O'Brien presents. With analysis from Conor O'Shea, Ronan O'Gara, Shane Horgan and Eddie O'Sullivan, and commentary by Ryle Nugent and Donal Lenihan.

The SJA British Sports Journalism Awards nominations
http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/s...n-awards-race/

Nominations for Sports Commentator of the Year are:

Martin Gillingham – Freelance
John Hunt – BBC Radio 5Live
Sam Matterface – TalkSport
Conor McNamara – BBC Sport
Clive Tyldesley – ITV
Martin Tyler – Sky Sports

What a terrible list, all tennis and golf commentators have been overlooked, Matterface isnt very good at all and McNamara wont stop talking. I feel sorry for commentators like Nick Mullins, Andrew Cotter, Peter Alliss, Simon Holt, Steve Wilson and even Mark Nicholas are all better commentators than some on this list. Of that list though i have to say i would like it if Gillingham or Hunt won an award and were properly recognized for their work

World Seniors Snooker on Sky

Presented by Andy Goldstein

Rory McLeod v Nigel Bond- Clive Everton and Mike Hallett
Anthony Hamilton v Darren Morgan- Phil Yates and Willie Thorne
Dominc Dale v Jimmy White- Clive Everton and Neal Foulds
Robet Milkins v Mark Davis- Phil Yates and Mike Hallett

Semi-Final One- Clive Everton and Mike Hallett
Semi-Final Two- Phil Yates and Willie Thorne

Final- Clive Everton and Neal Foulds

Yes Chris Bailey was an excellent tennis commentator, shame he doesn't come back for Wimbledon each year any more.

Yes seems a slightly strange selection. For me John Hunt should win it.

Just wanted to echo the views on the fantastic Chris Bailey, used to love the Australian Open when I was at Uni. Waking up to Bailey, Lloyd and Sam Smith on the red button for the evening sessions. Such a shame the BBC's coverage has been so scaled back from those days.

Guinness Pro12 – Friday 29 January (BBC Two Wales)

Round 13 – Newport Gwent Dragons v Leinster

Ross Harries at Rodney Parade with Ryan Jones.

Commentators: Gareth Charles & Martyn Williams

Analyst: Sean Holley

Reporter: Phil Steele

Welsh-language red button commentary was available but no namecheck for the commentators.


Guinness Pro12 – Sunday 31 January (S4C)

Round 13 – Ospreys v Glasgow

Gareth Roberts at the Liberty Stadium with Deiniol Jones and Jamie Robinson.

Commentators: Gareth Charles & Gwyn Jones

English-Language Commentators (red button): Andy Moore & Dafydd James

Reporter: Catrin Heledd

Guinness Pro12 – Sunday 31 January (BBC Alba)

Round 13 – Ospreys v Glasgow

Commentators: Hugh Dan MacLennan & Peter Horne

English-Language Commentators (red button): John Beattie & Scott Hastings

The Saturday 30th January 2016 Guinness Pro12 Games on Sky Sports

Connacht v Scarlets

Presented by James Gemmell from (BT Sport) Cardiff Arms Park, with Rory Lawson & Scott Quinnell

Commentators: Miles Harrison, Stuart Barnes & Ieuan Evans

Reporter: Rupert Cox

Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh

Still Presented by James Gemmell from (BT Sport) Cardiff Arms Park, this time with Scott Quinnell & John Barclay.

Commentators: Mark Robson, Rory Lawson & Ryan Jones

Reporter: Graham Simmons

Aviva Premiership Rugby – Friday 29 January (BT Sport 1)

Round 10 – Northampton Saints v Wasps

Craig Doyle at Franklin’s Gardens with Austin Healey, Ben Kay and Alex Corbisiero.

Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, Ben Kay & Austin Healey

Reporter: Martin Bayfield


Aviva Premiership Rugby – Saturday 30 January (BT Sport 1)

Round 10 – Saracens v Bath

Sarra Elgan at Allianz Park with Austin Healey, Ben Kay and Dave Attwood.

Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, Ben Kay & Austin Healey

Reporter: Tim Cocker


Aviva Premiership Rugby – Sunday 31 January (BT Sport 1)

Round 10 – Worcester Warriors v Exeter Chiefs

Martin Bayfield in the studio with Lawrence Dallaglio and Scott Hansen.

Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, David Flatman & Ugo Monye

Reporter: Sarra Elgan


Aviva Premiership Rugby – Sunday 31 January (ITV)

Round 10 Highlights

Mark Durden-Smith at Sixways with David Flatman.

NOR v WAS: Alastair Eykyn, Ben Kay & Austin Healey (as BT Sport)

GLO v LEIC: Martin Gillingham
SAL v LIR: Tom Skippings (reporting)

SAR v BAT: Alastair Eykyn, Ben Kay & Austin Healey (as BT Sport)

WOR v EXE: Alastair Eykyn, David Flatman & Ugo Monye (as BT Sport)
NEW v HAR: Tom Skippings (reporting)

Other full-match commentaries on premiershiprugby.tv:
GLO v LEIC: Jonathan Harris-Bass
SAL v LIR: Nick Heath
NEW v HAR: Martin Gillingham