Badminton TV Coverage vs Other Sports

[rickys]

DISCUSSIONS
===========
Posting a previous thread resulted in a new debate being started, therefore I'd like to take these points and follow them up here on this new thread.

BADMINTON ON TV
===============
Why is it that badminton has such poor coverage on TV in the UK? It's great that the BBC are putting a whole hour on Sunday Grandstand for the Finals of the All England (highlights that is).

PAST COVERAGE
=============
In the 90's we had virtually nothing on mainstream TV so this is an improvement, however in the late 80's we had both the BBC & ITV showing coverage.

BADMINTON vs OTHER SPORTS
=========================
What do you think about the following points?

Badminton's appeal vs Golf, Darts, Snooker & Cricket. How many women watch the above? I think very few!

How interesting are the other mentioned sports? - Almost dead boring, okay for older people, but really interesting when someone streaks in front of the cameras! Golf makes for some great views!

POPULARITY
==========
Badminton is the most played sport in the UK. You see it in almost every Leisure Centre across the UK. People play (try that is) in their gardens!!! Perhaps this is where the problem lies?

WHY oh WHY?
===========
Why therefore is badminton fighting for coverage with the main TV channels? Why do the above mentioned bores get so much TV coverage? I hear women frequently complaining about their partners watching the boring old ......

Sorry to generalise ladies.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
=================
What do any of you think that we can all do to change the current situation? What is the BAofE doing about it?

[cole]

I think that Badminton is alot more interesting than most sports on TV especially darts. I can't understand why they even put it on TV

[seanrachy]

Maybe one day we can get the Head of Sport from the BBC, to share his/her views on why certain sports are shown on TV and not others.

Again like I have said before, you need to get the crowds to tournaments like Karakal Welsh Open as well as the All England. It is funny how people pay £30 + to go and watch a 90min game of Football, but aren't prepared to go and watch some Badminton.

[SylviaPenn]

The main reason people watch football or tennis etc is to support a team or a favourite player. Why should anyone go to watch badminton when they have either never heard of the players or don't know anything about them.When did the last badminton player ever appear on TV (eg Question of Sport)- it was probably Gillian Gilks, and why is press coverage so poor. Do the current Chief Executive and his administration care and do their "public relations team" ??! do anything about it? There aren't even any player profiles anywhere (apart from Graham Hurrell). The BAofE need to promote our players and then people will want to watch them - especially if there are any David Beckhams out there!

[johng]

I think that Sylvia is quiet correct we need to have a much higher profile for our players, but I wonder just how she thinks we can do that.....by the way I am sure I have seen some player profiles on the BAofE web site.

The problem is of course how is this to be achieved, some of our top players do indeed have the good looks that could get them onto TV unfortunately they are not having the results that would propel them onto the screen.
As regards when was the last badminton player to appear on Question of Sport....I have no idea....but I also bet Sylvia, that you have not written to the BBC to ask why or to lodge your objections.

One of the main reasons that we get bad coverage is that the demand just does not seem to be there.....look at how many people turn up to watch the All England....I think it was just over 22,000 was last years figure..quite pathetic for the nations favourite racket sport.

As for the comment about the Chief Exec. or his public relations team "caring" about our sport....what a fatuous remark...of course they care...they work bloody hard trying to get the game on TV and to find sponsorship, but what a struggle they face...when us "loyal" fans cannot be bothered to turn up to events and those that do seem to think that creating an exciting atmosphere is something that is "not British"...no wonder Sky and the BBC don't wnt to show a sport surrounded by empty seats ans a deathly quiet

[george]

I totally agree with John.

The so called badminton fans in Britain must do more to persuade the TV bosses that they care and the only way is to pester them with e-mails or letters.

The other way is "bums on seats" i.e. to attend badminton events. The All England should be sold out but never is. The BA of E moved it from Wembley to Birmingham 10 years ago and yes numbers have slowly grown but are not that great when you consider its central location and the low cost of tickets. So shame on some of the badminton fans for not attending.

Someone asked me some years back should they book in advance. My reply was only if you want a specific seat otherwise just turn up and you can buy your ticket on the day. That has been my experience in many years of attending these championships.

On the matter of player profiles. The BA of E should do more in this area to bring the players to the public. They have a website (which I think could be a lot better in a lot of ways) which is under utilized and often out of date. I, as I'm sure many others, much prefer to visit this site than the BA of E's. I urge them to look at this site. (which I'm sure they must do)

If they don't produce the player profiles, then can I suggest that Badders. com does so in the same way as they have done with Graham Hurrell. Is Graham being paid for acting as the resident pro? I'm sure the likes of Simon Archer, Jo Goode, Nathan R, Gail Emms, Anthony Clark, Julia Mann, Colin Haughton, Mark Constable and Tracy Hallam would be very happy for a little more media exposure which would keep their sponsors happy and perhaps enhance/attract sponsorship opportunities. I think it could also improve England performances as the players become more noticed. (Oops, I nearly said famous!)

Performances do matter in so far as sponsorship is concerned but then maybe not. I watched an appalling display by Anna Kournikova in the Aussie Open two days ago when she was virtually whitewashed by Justin Henin. But Anna is one of the highest paid players on the circuit. Something to do with image not performances. There is a lot to be said for projecting an image that the public want to see. That is what attracts sponsors.

Player interviews at the All England is another idea beamed onto the big screen in the arena. What about interviewing players for TV. It was done at the Commmonwealths and I thought worked well. Then the whole country could see and hear our top players. I have expounded similar views on a previous thread on this site.

The bottom line is the BA of E, our national governing body, must do more of the right things to attract TV coverage. May I suggest employing a proven PR person?

I would urge all those who visit this site (who obviously are fans) to encourage everyone they come into contact with within the sport and outside to lobby the TV bosses. Get your children, many who spend a lot of time on their computers anyway, to send e-mails to BBC/ITV/Sky. Only then will they see that sufficient numbers of people do care passionately about badminton. Only then will they be convinced and badders will then gain more TV coverage and a higher public profile.

There is no point complaining without doing something positive.

By the way, I do remember Helen Troke appearing on "Question of Sport" around 1991/2.

[FeatherhitterJ]

OLD THREAD... GOOD SUBJECT FOR REINVIGORATION.

Now 2007 and nothing has improved, since this thread was started.

Publicity for badminton in England is a serious problem. There is little coverage anywhere, and this is a key contributor to the falling numbers of players.

If that is to change thne it must be changed by BadEng, the County Associations and the Clubs.

To do it needs a change of emphasis, by which I mean that everyone needs to find ways of getting people who have never thought of our sport to consider it and then to get them to start learning to play it.

In some areas virtually all clubs are league clubs... and of course they are the route to improving standards which is essential... but in those areas it is almost impossible for anyone who is a novice to to take up badminton.

That cannot be right.

The schools situation is a different market, but we have this BISI thing; I would guess that the vast majority of junior schools have never heard of it.

So, my dears, the problems continue.

JONNO

[Dimo]

There may be quite a long wait.

[Dimo]

Some more of the same. Just spoilt for choice.

[FeatherhitterJ]

I like a bit of forward planning, or are you, Dimo, some sort of soothsayer?

I have to go to TW tomorrow a.m.... perhaps I could use you rather than a Tom-Tom???

Happy Christmas?>

Jonno

[TheChosenOneReturns!]

Tom Tom is **** !!

Tried to get me to turn left off a bridge into a river yesterday !!

:mad:

[FeatherhitterJ]

HI Chosen,

Here in the UK a Tom-Tom can easily take a large coach or articulated lorry down very small country lane and get the vehicle stuck between cottages/banks/trees/hedges...you name it!.

Just thought you would like a little bit of sympathy.

Jonno

[FeatherhitterJ]

DISCUSSIONS
===========
Posting a previous thread resulted in a new debate being started, therefore I'd like to take these points and follow them up here on this new thread.

BADMINTON ON TV
===============
Why is it that badminton has such poor coverage on TV in the UK? It's great that the BBC are putting a whole hour on Sunday Grandstand for the Finals of the All England (highlights that is).

PAST COVERAGE
=============
In the 90's we had virtually nothing on mainstream TV so this is an improvement, however in the late 80's we had both the BBC & ITV showing coverage.

BADMINTON vs OTHER SPORTS
=========================
What do you think about the following points?

Badminton's appeal vs Golf, Darts, Snooker & Cricket. How many women watch the above? I think very few!

How interesting are the other mentioned sports? - Almost dead boring, okay for older people, but really interesting when someone streaks in front of the cameras! Golf makes for some great views!

POPULARITY
==========
Badminton is the most played sport in the UK. You see it in almost every Leisure Centre across the UK. People play (try that is) in their gardens!!! Perhaps this is where the problem lies?

WHY oh WHY?
===========
Why therefore is badminton fighting for coverage with the main TV channels? Why do the above mentioned bores get so much TV coverage? I hear women frequently complaining about their partners watching the boring old ......

Sorry to generalise ladies.

WHAT CAN BE DONE?
=================
What do any of you think that we can all do to change the current situation? What is the BAofE doing about it?


Hi RICKYS,

You have outlined or even detailed a problem that is serious, in my view. There is almost nil coverage in most papers or the TV... any TV channel that is.

A typical UK problem in the UK nowadays is that very few.. and I mean FEW, local papers receive any notification of league results or any events from clubs or associations.. If it it not press released, it will not be covered.

Also I would say that too many clubs, probably for fair enough reasons, are so concerned with playing amongst themselves and cannot/will not take on beginners. So there is no outward looking publicity to get more people playing which is what Adrian Christie wants to achieve.

Further the internet must shoulder some blame. Lets face it, every member of Badders is in some way involved whit our sport.. that's why we are all discussing our favourite topic. What I mean is that no one at all would looks at this if they were not interested in badminton... any other site come to that. So the net provides for the badminton community and we risk becoming a closed community. There is not perceived need to generate publicity... all that we sad shuttle bashers need is here laid out for us and lets face it, Badders.Com and all the other sites are totally incapable of getting anyone whose is not already involved, to take an interest.

Pse refer to the next mag!!


Jonno

[TheChosenOneReturns!]

HI Chosen,

Here in the UK a Tom-Tom can easily take a large coach or articulated lorry down very small country lane and get the vehicle stuck between cottages/banks/trees/hedges...you name it!.

Just thought you would like a little bit of sympathy.

Jonno

My Tom Tom is Scouse, obvioulsy pre-programmed straight out the box leading you into dead ends, ambushes and off bridges ... come to think about it when I plugged it into the cigarette lighter, scouse himself jumped out the glovebox.

The Chosen One through a razor at him and done a runnnnnnner !!

[Luncheon]

Tom Tom is **** !!

Tried to get me to turn left off a bridge into a river yesterday !!

:mad:

Actually the TomTom is obviously very clever, taking into account - owner and then doing us all a favour!
hahaha!!!

[FeatherhitterJ]

Don't you all agree that we are getting away from the orginal thread... Media coveagre.

Anyway if your Tom Tom plays up, try a Garmin!

Jonno

[Woody]

Some people wouldn't know how to keep a thread on track at all.

[Luncheon]

I like it woody!!!

Track.....in keeping with transport type things from the satnav..."some satnavs send lorries down narrow tracks"

[TheChosenOneReturns!]

Don't forget the tramlines !!

[AXC]

Hi RICKYS,

You have outlined or even detailed a problem that is serious, in my view. There is almost nil coverage in most papers or the TV... any TV channel that is.

A typical UK problem in the UK nowadays is that very few.. and I mean FEW, local papers receive any notification of league results or any events from clubs or associations.. If it it not press released, it will not be covered.

Also I would say that too many clubs, probably for fair enough reasons, are so concerned with playing amongst themselves and cannot/will not take on beginners. So there is no outward looking publicity to get more people playing which is what Adrian Christie wants to achieve.

Further the internet must shoulder some blame. Lets face it, every member of Badders is in some way involved whit our sport.. that's why we are all discussing our favourite topic. What I mean is that no one at all would looks at this if they were not interested in badminton... any other site come to that. So the net provides for the badminton community and we risk becoming a closed community. There is not perceived need to generate publicity... all that we sad shuttle bashers need is here laid out for us and lets face it, Badders.Com and all the other sites are totally incapable of getting anyone whose is not already involved, to take an interest.

Pse refer to the next mag!!


Jonno

I think you have summed up in one what the problem is. Badminton is a dying sport at club level and we do not seem to have a junior stream coming through. I shudder to think what the sport will be like in 10 years.

[TheChosenOneReturns!]

... I shudder to think what the sport will be like in 10 years.

Hopefully with some far better looking women for a start !!

[AXC]

Hopefully with some far better looking women for a start !!

This is a sign of a dying sport. If you cannot attract the lookers they must be going somwhere else; maybe tennis? I'm sure it cannot be to do with the money