[Victorian]

I thought it might be interesting to start at thread so people can report on coverage of the torch relay as it trundles around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Yesterday, I thought I'd have a listen on line and tried Pirate FM first. What a load of rubbish. Music and adverts just as nothing unusual was happening at all.
BBC Cornwall by comparison was fantastic- really giving a flavour and atmosphere of the event with reporters all over the place.

I wonder if any independent stations are going to cover the event at all. I think I heard Nick Jones mention that Sunshine 855 might be doing something.

In this area, BBC Radio Solent have already started going on about it but I doubt that any of the other stations will be interested.

[Bandspread199]

Carrying a torch must make exciting radio!

[Martin Phillp]

Palm 105.5 did an OB this afternoon from 4pm which featured a live set from Muse, also Radio Cornwall opted out of networking yesterday and there's also been coverage on Radio Devon today.

[overline]

Originally Posted by Bandspread199

Carrying a torch must make exciting radio!

It doesn't even make exciting TV!

What makes me laugh about it, is they bang on about it being a relay involving some, IIRC, 8000 runners, which implies it's a continuous relay of runners. It's not. For great chucks of the 'relay' it's taken on board a vehicle to be transferred from one town to the next and isn't even on view to the public.

It's a mockery and complete waste of money.

[Mapperley Ridge]

As the BBC is the official olympic broadcaster, I reckon the relay for the most part will be ignored by commercial radio. Good on Palm FM forn their stuff, though and yes, I would have thought the very start of the event might have warranted something from Pirate. That said, BBC Cornwall - like many BBC stations - will be doing extensive coverage.

[DoctorDave]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge;5*****54

As the BBC is the official olympic broadcaster, I reckon the relay for the most part will be ignored by commercial radio. Good on Palm FM forn their stuff, though and yes, I would have thought the very start of the event might have warranted something from Pirate. That said, BBC Cornwall - like many BBC stations - will be doing extensive coverage.

I think I'd agree with Mapperley on the basis of the programming this morning from Devon. It might be possible to suggest that BBC Radio Devon has gone for overkill with the resources that they've employed - but it also means an opportunity to get into areas of the County that would otherwise seldom get a mention (let's hear it for Follygate!).At the risk of straying into "Bah Humbug" territory, it does tend to make tedious listening.

[starlingdarling]

We interviewed one of the relay runners before he did his bit at 8am this morning and have got presenters around north devon doing reports. Had a local school call in with their reaction and a couple of local traders lined up in Combe martin - but then again we are a community radio station !

[justthetonic]

Originally Posted by Victorian

In this area, BBC Radio Solent have already started going on about it but I doubt that any of the other stations will be interested.

You obviously don't listen to other stations enough ... I would be totally amazed if Wave 105 didnt do anything from the relays.

They cover from many other local events and stories, quite often live into their bulletins and programmes

[Phil Dodd]

Originally Posted by Victorian

I wonder if any independent stations are going to cover the event at all. I think I heard Nick Jones mention that Sunshine 855 might be doing something.

Indeed they are. All the people involved with the station are going to be out in Ludlow on Thursday 24th to cover the event. This is another example of the large amount of participation that the station does on and off air within the local community, and an example of why it is such a success in it's local area. Of course, a few miles north at Much Wenlock, is a special place as regards the Olympic movement...

I'm disappointed that at least one person in this thread feels that the torch-bearing is a waste of money. For a start, it is a once in a lifetime event for the UK. Secondly, the actual torch bearers are all special people, chosen for good reason. See this page for more details :

http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/torchbearers/

Every radio station should be covering this event, so special to the UK.

[Victorian]

Great post Phil Dodd.
Have a day at home on Thursday and will have Sunshine 855 on on line all day.
Completely agree your comments re Sunshine- even the local. News is getting better.

[Adam792]

Heart are doing some sneaky smart networking to provide some form of coverage about the torch being here in the West today. Toby Anstis dropped in the fact that the torch was "in the Westcountry and Wiltshire today", and Nick Snaith has just done a link for Bath telling us this afternoon's timings!

[SouthCity]

It will be interesting to see what exactly Sunshine are allowed to do, as my understanding is that the event is covered by the BBC's exclusive Olympics rights so commentating from the route itself is not permitted for any commercial station.

They can of course interview the participants away from the course or broadcast other events that happen to coincide with the torch coming to town.

Sebastian Coe has said that LOCOG will take action against non-rights holders that breach the rules.

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by Bandspread199

Carrying a torch must make exciting radio!

I am totally baffled by this. What on earth is exciting or newsworthy about it? A few plebs being tossed some crumbs from the VIP Olympic table.

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by SouthCity

It will be interesting to see what exactly Sunshine are allowed to do, as my understanding is that the event is covered by the BBC's exclusive Olympics rights so commentating from the route itself is not permitted for any commercial station.

They can of course interview the participants away from the course or broadcast other events that happen to coincide with the torch coming to town.

Sebastian Coe has said that LOCOG will take action against non-rights holders that breach the rules.

Yeah, go for it Seb. Got to prosecute every peasant that dares to intrude on the corporate sponsors.

[Mapperley Ridge]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson

Yeah, go for it Seb. Got to prosecute every peasant that dares to intrude on the corporate sponsors.

It's nothing to do with sponsorship at all. It's to do with commentary rights. How would you feel if you ran a commercial station with exclusive rights for a football match and some community outfit or the BBC started doing their own commentary?

Presumably the same principles will also apply to the Paralympics, which Channel 4 has the rights to.

[RadioKnower]

Originally Posted by SouthCity

It will be interesting to see what exactly Sunshine are allowed to do, as my understanding is that the event is covered by the BBC's exclusive Olympics rights so commentating from the route itself is not permitted for any commercial station.

They can of course interview the participants away from the course or broadcast other events that happen to coincide with the torch coming to town.

Sebastian Coe has said that LOCOG will take action against non-rights holders that breach the rules.

You do realise, you can't stop people reporting the fact the torch is passing them on the street describing what's happening and interviewing a few relevant people?

[SouthCity]

Originally Posted by RadioKnower

You do realise, you can't stop people reporting the fact the torch is passing them on the street describing what's happening and interviewing a few relevant people?

The Boat Race, the Great North Run, the London Marathon all have broadcast rights.

You cannot just turn up with a microphone and describe in graphic detail what's going on without the permission of the event organisers.

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by RadioKnower

You do realise, you can't stop people reporting the fact the torch is passing them on the street describing what's happening and interviewing a few relevant people?

Absolutely right. It's like the sponsorship morons prosecuting cafes that have been called Olympic for thirty years. I do not see how anyone can 'buy' a word that has been in use for centuries.

[RadioKnower]

Originally Posted by SouthCity

The Boat Race, the Great North Run, the London Marathon all have broadcast rights.

You cannot just turn up with a microphone and describe in graphic detail what's going on without the permission of the event organisers.

Maybe the event organisers may like to think that, but I doubt these laws would stand up to any scrutiny.

You can legally provide commentary on any sporting event shown free to air, from a TV as long as you brand it as unofficial.

So if you were go to a public area, or a privately owned property with a view of the event I really don't understand on what legal basis this could be stopped.

[lundavra]

Originally Posted by RadioKnower

....So if you were go to a public area, or a privately owned property with a view of the event I really don't understand on what legal basis this could be stopped.

There are some quite specific draconian laws passed for the Ol####cs that cover every venue and might well cover the route of the torch relay.

BTW, I was reading earlier about OFCOM's taking back various shared areas of spectrum and imposing special restrictions for the duration of the Ol####cs. They are talking of prompt action against any breaches.

[Mapperley Ridge]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson

Absolutely right. It's like the sponsorship morons prosecuting cafes that have been called Olympic for thirty years. I do not see how anyone can 'buy' a word that has been in use for centuries.

Because the word Olympic was trademarked after the Atlanta games. And whilst you shouldn't believe everything you read in the papers, the owners of trademark are perfectly entitled to take legal action against those seeking to unduly capitalise on the name.

That probably wouldn't apply to a business that's been around for 30 years, but would apply to businesses suddenly using the word in their name or promotional material. Eg : "we've got some olympic deals for you" would not be allowed in an advert, yet a mock "race to our deals" would be OK.

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by Mapperley Ridge

Because the word Olympic was trademarked after the Atlanta games. And whilst you shouldn't believe everything you read in the papers, the owners of trademark are perfectly entitled to take legal action against those seeking to unduly capitalise on the name.

That probably wouldn't apply to a business that's been around for 30 years, but would apply to businesses suddenly using the word in their name or promotional material. Eg : "we've got some olympic deals for you" would not be allowed in an advert, yet a mock "race to our deals" would be OK.

Fair point. I just instinctively dislike this big business buying up well established names stuff. And I can't believe it actually does than any good. I still don't understand how you can possibly trademark the word Olympic. Wasn't the Atlanta games generally viewed as the worst ever?

[Harris Tweed]

The BBC's exclusivity is limited to broadcasting from the media vehicle in the convoy.

Although the use of certain tech kit can be restricted by JFMG (and a lot of 3G stuff will be wiped out by the convoy stuff passing through), I don't think other stations will have problems broadcasting from the street.

[crusher19860138]

This Olympic Torch relay is boring and getting on my nerves!...oh look,it's in Cornwall today,oh look,it's in Bristol,oh look,the same bloody torch has reached Birmingham!!!!stop this nonsense now!

[overline]

Originally Posted by crusher19860138

This Olympic Torch relay is boring and getting on my nerves!...oh look,it's in Cornwall today,oh look,it's in Bristol,oh look,the same bloody torch has reached Birmingham!!!!stop this nonsense now!

But, it's not the same torch, there's about 8,000 of the bloody things - some of which are already on sale, on e-bay.