If the BBC is "host broadcaster" then how dare they pull the plug on live coverage of the TV table? If World Snooker is to be treated like this by the current host broadcaster, then surely it would be better if they covered the Welsh Open on the same basis as they do with the PTCs - I don't know who the host broadcaster is for these events, but they do a darn sight better better job that that which the BBC appear to be doing.

As an aside, the crowd at Cardiff seems totally flat, compared with the enthusiasm shown in Berlin.

Its all well and good saying "get Eurosport" but if the host broadcaster (BBC) decides to turn the cameras off, that isnt going to help at all.

This is true.

Dave Hendon himself says on Twitter that BBC Wales aren't providing pictures for the 8pm matches, so I suppose it will be to avoid the risk of overtime payments to camera crew etc if a match runs late.

In which case, maybe World Snooker need to get Eurosport to be the host broadcaster, and BBC Wales take pictures on a sub-contract basis.

I would have thought that World Snooker would be most dischuffed that their broadcaster of choice for pan-European coverage, and thus development of the game across the continent is deprived of prime time live snooker because the BBC can't be @rsed. I hope that Barry Hearn has given the BBC a kicking.

It is noticeable that the BBC only shows any interest in snooker when it's on their network - zilch coverage of the results of the German Masters on BBC Sports news, but daily coverage of the Welsh because it is being (sort of, half heartedly) covered on the BBC.

Has the time come to sack the BBC and perhaps offer snooker up to ITV, who would cover it properly on ITV4, or if Eurosport were to go FTA on Eurosport 1, as they do in Germany, offer it to them. I feel both would be delighted to take it on since the BBC obviously aren't that interested anyway.

The BBC probably arent that interested in this event anyway, I would wager that they only broadcast it to fulfill some regional sport output quota that exists on some charter somewhere. If this exact same event was in Bristol it would be nowhere near a BBC TV camera.

Exactly. It is BBC Wales that cover it not the BBC as a whole, it is a regional event. Like BBC Yorkshire showing rugby league at times when the rest of the country isn't.

As for Eurosport going FTA, why ? They are there to make money. ITV I don't think are that interested in as many events as we would like. Most are just on Eurosport so I reckon ITV could bid for those but choose not to.

I think we have to admit to ourselves that snooker is nowhere near as popular as it was plus there is so much of it now that the public are maybe cherry picking what they watch. This thread is a good example of that. Look how quiet it is in here when anything but the worlds/masters/UK are on.

That never happens: The Super League Show is also shown by the BBC regions that also cover the NE/Cumbria and also the North-West.

Think the point being made is having a "host broadcaster" who doesnt give a stuff about the later sessions is rather unfair to the other companies who rely on the footage. Give host broadcasting rights to someone who cares and let BBC Wales dip into that. Might even save the BBC money in the process whilst they still fulfill their "regional sports" output.

I know that but i was just using Yorkshire as an example. Have a day off Bradley

You said the "rest of the country", was merely correcting that. Chill out, ffs.

You knew what i meant you were being a smart arse.

OK, thanks.

Woolaston already through to the QF's, winning 4-1.

Ronnie is looking on top form isn't he...

Quality quarter final line up so far. Lots of big names which, considering it started at 128, is a rarity these days.

Especially over a best of 7 format

Yes a nice line up indeed

World ranked - 1,3,5,9,10,12,17 and 31

I fear I may have to turn to the woeful BBC coverage this afternoon as it appears that Eurosport are showing pillocks throwing themselves off mountains instead of the Selby v O'Sullivan match.

You sure ? Dave Hendon tweeted that Eurosport have Robbo v Ding then Selbo v Ronnie live from 12

EDIT - Schedule http://tv.eurosport.co.uk/tvschedule.shtml

Ding's on for a 147

He got it

Well done ding especially after the osullivan schenanigans this week.

Paddy power offered osullivan 61 grand if he did a 147 by the end of the week.

They should do the decent think with ding

Seems to suggest that snooker goes off at 1545

Be interesting to see if they do - they like their publicity, and the bad publicity that will follow if they don't wouldn't go down well with their powers that be, so I reckon they might.

Tough school for Ding though, two tons including a max, 94% pot success rate, but two frames was all he got.

Stuck a few quid on Selby to win this match at 15/8 which is decent odds.

He is still the player that gives osullivan more trouble than anyone else

It's still on. I never pay much attention to Eurosport EPG timings, they change too often when showing live sport