[OB racks]

Originally Posted by GeorgeS

I bet Steve Rider is a bit disappointed not to get this role ( if of course it is confirmed). Didnt he do Wimbledon for quite a few years?

I suspect times are all moving on, rightly or wrongly.

It would seem BBC Sport has been hit by a bit of a tsunami from either pay TV, or ITV, in bidding for Sports rights.

So their portfolio is actually much less.

I have no beef at all with good presenters. They have no control over the politics that determine where (ie on which channel) the progs they are good on will be shown. Good luck to them. The industry is somewhat in flux, and they are no different to be looking after where the next paycheck might be coming from?

[LOSG]

Great to see ITV giving the tournament some great coverage. I often got the feeling the BBC didn't want it the way they covered it!

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by scruffbunny

He used to work for BSB's sport channel and Sky Sports.

That's right. I think that he, Sue Barker and Garry Richardson didn't stay at Sky for all that long after the merger with BSB. I think many people think Andy Gray was a Sky masterstroke but he was originally from BSB too as was Richard Keys and Martyn Tyler. Even James Richardson started the Italian Football coverage on BSB, they had a great team. Such a shame it went belly up.

I like John Inverdale, makes the job look effortless.

[smurfs5]

Once I saw Mark Petchey's name mentioned, I got excited about ITV's coverage this year. For me, he is the best tennis commentator around and hopefully ITV will recruit some excellent co-commentators to make their coverage complete and watchable.
I always enjoy Eurosport's tennis coverage, though, especially of Roland Garros and their commentary team of the fantastic Chris Bradnam, Simon Reed and David Mercer is unrivalled in my opinion.

Does anyone know who else could potentially be part of ITV's coverage? Suggestions?

[derek500]

Originally Posted by mersey70

That's right. I think that he, Sue Barker and Garry Richardson didn't stay at Sky for all that long after the merger with BSB.

I remember Sue Barker doing at least two or three US Opens, on site, for Sky Sports.

[polantic]

Originally Posted by mersey70

That's right. I think that he, Sue Barker and Garry Richardson didn't stay at Sky for all that long after the merger with BSB. I think many people think Andy Gray was a Sky masterstroke but he was originally from BSB too as was Richard Keys and Martyn Tyler. Even James Richardson started the Italian Football coverage on BSB, they had a great team. Such a shame it went belly up.

I like John Inverdale, makes the job look effortless.

Was James Richardson really on BSB? I don't remember him at all. From memory I recall Inverdale presented most of BSB's Italian games with Martin Tyler commentating off-tube. Alan Hansen and Ray Wilkins were regular studio guests.

[derek500]

Originally Posted by polantic

From memory I recall Inverdale presented most of BSB's Italian games with Martin Tyler commentating off-tube. Alan Hansen and Ray Wilkins were regular studio guests.

I bet he was getting more like 40 quid a show in those days, compared to the 'reported' 40 grand he gets for MOTD!!

[nicktrow]

Originally Posted by smurfs5

Does anyone know who else could potentially be part of ITV's coverage? Suggestions?

Dare I mention *ndr*w C*stl*?

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by polantic

Was James Richardson really on BSB? I don't remember him at all. From memory I recall Inverdale presented most of BSB's Italian games with Martin Tyler commentating off-tube. Alan Hansen and Ray Wilkins were regular studio guests.

As I recall I think he just did recorded reports from Italy, as you quite rightly say it was presented by John Inverdale.

Maybe i'm getting mixed up, it was a long time ago!

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by derek500

I remember Sue Barker doing at least two or three US Opens, on site, for Sky Sports.

That's right, I think she stayed for no more than a couple of years but left for the BBC.

[rfonzo]

John Inverdale has been with BBC for ages. I remember that late night on Monday nights. It was like the one that Gabby Logan does now. He also did the Darts championsihp at Lakeside.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by rfonzo

John Inverdale has been with BBC for ages. I remember that late night on Monday nights. It was like the one that Gabby Logan does now. He also did the Darts championsihp at Lakeside.

Indeed, the other programmes from BSB/Sky we were discussing date back as far as 1990. I'm guessing it was no later than the mid 90's he left Sky, maybe even earlier.

[mikw]

Originally Posted by derek500

I bet he was getting more like 40 quid a show in those days, compared to the 'reported' 40 grand he gets for MOTD!!

You may be surprised on that one...

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by derek500

I bet he was getting more like 40 quid a show in those days, compared to the 'reported' 40 grand he gets for MOTD!!

BSB had a reputation for throwing money around like confetti so he was probably on a decent wage even then.

But I suspect not £40,000 a show though, allegedly!

[Alex2606]

A few details coming out about the French Open coverage from Mike Dickson of the Daily Mail on Twitter

John Inverdale will be hosting, Sam Smith and Jim Courier will be involved in the coverage and ITV will be showing approx 150 hours of coverage with about 5 days being shown on ITV1

[hendero]

Originally Posted by Alex2606

A few details coming out about the French Open coverage from Mike Dickson of the Daily Mail on Twitter

John Inverdale will be hosting, Sam Smith and Jim Courier will be involved in the coverage and ITV will be showing approx 150 hours of coverage with about 5 days being shown on ITV1

That's a pretty decent amount of coverage. I would imagine ITV will be praying Andy Murray makes it through to the semis, otherwise there will be very little British interest. Maybe it's part of a strategy to develop their tennis credentials with a view to bidding for Wimbledon when the BBC contract is up. I'm trying to figure out why else they would be bothering with the French Open. I suppose it's a good sport for showing adverts as the breaks during changeovers are long enough to drop in one or two, but not so long that viewers will switch over.

[GeorgeS]

Originally Posted by hendero

Maybe it's part of a strategy to develop their tennis credentials with a view to bidding for Wimbledon when the BBC contract is up.

It wasnt put to tender last time so you cant bid if there is no tendering process

[bluesdiamond]

Originally Posted by hendero

That's a pretty decent amount of coverage. I would imagine ITV will be praying Andy Murray makes it through to the semis, otherwise there will be very little British interest. Maybe it's part of a strategy to develop their tennis credentials with a view to bidding for Wimbledon when the BBC contract is up. I'm trying to figure out why else they would be bothering with the French Open. I suppose it's a good sport for showing adverts as the breaks during changeovers are long enough to drop in one or two, but not so long that viewers will switch over.

Benefits of French Open to other events.
Time zone, Paris is only +1 hours, unlike Australia or USA.
For many it is the start of 5 weeks of FTA Tennis, so close to Wimbledon.
Comes in just right after the IPL finishes,
Fills a whole with Superbikes and BTCC not on live,
Keeps ITV sport brand in mind with Euro 2012.
And sits alongside the Tennis Masters in December which seemed to stand out in the ITV Portfolio

27 May looks busy for ITV
French Open Day 1
Snetterton Super Bikes
Final of IPL
Highlights of Aviva Premiership Final (or maybe they will be on the 26th)

Sport that ITV should consider,
English T20 cricket (1 or 2 matches a week)
Heineken Cup match per round/week similar to UEFA Champions League
Wimbledon? Not sure about. Queens maybe or highlights from the European ATP 1000 events, before Paris?

[hendero]

Originally Posted by GeorgeS

It wasnt put to tender last time so you cant bid if there is no tendering process

Really? One the crown jewel sports events, which has to be on FTA TV (the finals anyway), wasn't put out to tender? The committee was happy with however much the BBC was offering, even though the Beeb (presumbly) knew there wasn't a bidding process?

Seems very odd. I suppose Wimbledon always has been stuck in a time warp. And hard to argue with its success as an event.

[ariusuk]

Originally Posted by bluesdiamond

27 May looks busy for ITV
French Open Day 1
Snetterton Super Bikes
Final of IPL
Highlights of Aviva Premiership Final (or maybe they will be on the 26th)

And there's also the IoM TT, and SoccerAid on the 27th, and Norway v England is the previous day.

...but the BSB highlights isn't shown until midweek, so there is room for everything.

[coventrywooo]

day 8 in some tv times saying itv1 9.30am to 5.30pm is this true, and the commertators itv are using very decent well done to itv for once!
and are they on site or not does anyone know?

[derek500]

Originally Posted by coventrywooo

day 8 in some tv times saying itv1 9.30am to 5.30pm is this true, and the commertators itv are using very decent well done to itv for once!
and are they on site or not does anyone know?

Yes they are on site and the coverage is like this for next Monday

ITV4/ITV4HD 9.30-8pm.

Sky 3D 10-8pm.

[coventrywooo]

Originally Posted by derek500

Yes they are on site and the coverage is like this for next Monday

ITV4/ITV4HD 9.30-8pm.

Sky 3D 10-8pm.

really good full day everyday, and hopefulyl all Andy's games they put on itv1....

[mlt11]

Originally Posted by coventrywooo

hopefulyl all Andy's games they put on itv1....

Will be interesting to see how they handle it.

If they're going to put Murray on ITV1 it's going to have to be very short notice as they won't know when his match is going to start (unless he's first on court which is very unlikely).

They only seem to be putting a bit on ITV 1 on Day 1 because the IPL is on ITV4.

I'm a little suspicious ITV won't rip up ITV1 schedules at short notice but then BBC viewing figures have demonstrated it can pay big dividends to do so.

We shall see ....

[derek500]

Originally Posted by mlt11

They only seem to be putting a bit on ITV 1 on Day 1 because the IPL is on ITV4.

Digiguide show that, but not the Sky EPG.