Vision
Shortly before D-Day the BBC added the red button channel to its original iPlayer offerings, an encouraging step in answer to criticism. Fi Tomas of the Telegraph had pointed out that BBC2 was offering the seventh repeat of a ‘Flog It!’ programme rather than live sport.
Things were still far from perfect. The advertised start time didn’t materialise. Nick Heath, our lead commentator, had offered his Instagram audience a very precise moment to tune in for his intro. It didn’t happen. In fact there was no commentary until after the ceremonials, only the background mikes were at work.
Of course RAI may be partly at fault here, but the effect was similar to the inadequacies of the previous week’s presentation.
During the interval there was a lengthy gap, then a page of first-half stats without comment, then the brief Six Nations trailblazer ‘Superheroes’ featuring leading players with their nicknames – ‘Lisa Thomson is Thommo’ – finally the same commercial as last week for BBC iPlayer’s offerings. We have to wonder how many viewers were delighted to see Peter Crouch.
After the end of play Kat Merchant held the fort, giving us a clinical verdict of the game’s twists and turns. Then Heath led five interviews, first with Player of the Match Meg Jones; then Sarah Hunter, restored to action after over a year; then Manuela Furlan with Giada Franco acting as a fluent interpreter; then Simon Middleton; finally with Andrea Di Giandomenico.
So this was an attempt to answer the widespread criticism of the lack of supporting material we have come to expect from major sporting events. But it was still inadequate. No Maggie Alphonsi in the studio to add her views; no anchor in the studio or on the ground to pull everything together; just Heath and Merchant having to carry all the burdens, which they did excellently. It’s just as well for the BBC that they could rely on two proven experts in their respective fields.
In Cardiff it was a similar story. Fortunately we had Sara Orchard and Philippa Tuttiett on hand to give us a clear-headed interpretation of events. But once more they were the lone presences.
It will be fascinating to see what efforts the BBC makes to give the Super Saturday version of the 6N on BBC2 some real pizzazz.
International Comparisons
By contrast, both Irish and French viewers live in clover. France TV has long been a backer of women’s rugby, which may in part explain the huge support the national team enjoys wherever they play. Ireland’s RTÉ2 is free-to-view. Italy offers Eurosport Player.
Audio
BBC 5Live Sports Extra offered full coverage of the Italy game in Parma. Our commentator was Fraser Kay, who delivers clearly at lightning speed and knows the game inside out. He was well versed in the background to the fixture. Supporting him were two Red Rose internationals, Rocky Clark and Mo Hunt, who not only count over 180 caps between them but are also equipped with X-ray eyes. There was hardly one aspect of the game played out before them that went unnoticed. They added searching comments about every detail, both technical and personal. With a scrum-half and a prop involved, you had every corner covered.
It’s a particular credit to our three radio comms that they were a million miles from pitchside. yet nobody would have guessed it. For anyone unable to find a screen to watch they brought the game to life quite admirably.
PS Vicky Fleetwood confesses she missed Flog It! Tut tut.
