An excellent piece showing how far snooker has fallen. No doubt all the traditionalists will say there is nothing wrong with the sport, we don't need to tinker with anything, blah, blah, blah.
This time next year watch as the prize money for the Masters is slashed as there is still no sponsor, with prize funds declining for what ranking events remain.
Snooker is moribund, and slagging off a piece of journalism that tries to shed some light as to the reasons why is just sticking your head in the sand hoping things will get better when you resurface.
I think it's a big leap to assume anyone criticising what was a hugely shoddy item is unaware of the problems the game is facing now and is 'sticking their head in the sand'.
What a truly dreadful report this was! You can tell the Newsnight staff, cultural elitists that they are, look down their noses at sports like snooker or darts, because they don’t fit in with their middle class, dinner-party type lifestyles. Firstly, darts hasn’t developed a “sense of irony” about itself as the “cultural historian” Christopher Cook says. The darts revival has nothing to do with the so-called “world champion” Ted Hankey, the BBC or the BDO. It has happened because an entrepreneur called Barry Hearn, a man with a vision, saw the sport had massive potential and developed it into a commercial success. The REAL world champion is, of course, Phil Taylor, but I wouldn’t expect the Newsnight team to know that. This is the same Newsnight team who referred to Bobby George as a “former world darts champion” not so long ago- he’s NEVER won it! Hearn’s revolution of darts has no “sense of irony”. The players who make the latter stages of PDC tournaments are dedicated professionals who take their game seriously. Rather than doing a grown-up journalistic report about how World Snooker has repeatedly squandered the opportunity to revitalise the sport, it has resulted to this childish, smug, pointless nonsense which teaches the more educated viewer nothing. I wonder if Steve Smith has ever watched a snooker match in his life. I doubt it some how. What a load of tripe!
It was shocking to be honest. I expected an in-depth analysis as to the failings of the game, instead they decided to interview Princess Diana's wedding dress designer. Perhaps we'd be better off if the BBC lost all its snooker coverage to Sky because it hasn't done the PDC too bad.
I suspect the BBC had second thoughts about mauling one of their flagship sports and put out a comical piece instead. Wouldnt surprise me if some interviews were left on the cutting room floor
I wouldn't be better off if the BBC lost all its snooker to Sky or Eurosport, because I am a pensioner and I cannot afford either of them. The only snooker I get to see is when it is on the BBC, and I am very worried about people trying to take away one of the few pleasure that I still have in life!
I'm sorry for being off topic but do you have to pay if you want to watch Eurosport in GB? Here in Germany it is freely available (but not Eurosport 2) and I thought it was like that everywhere in Europe.
On topic: It is sad to read that sports coverage on the bbc seems to be on the same level as it is over here. In a recent piece of outstanding journalism they told the german audience that snooker is a game played by a guy named O'Sullivan, a permanently drunk man with bad manners taking all the drugs you can think of for breakfast who quits games on a regular basis. And that just about was it. Great. :(
Newsnight is one of the best programmes on the BBC, but Steve Smith's piece was journalistically corrupt. Fine if they wanted to do a lighthearted report, but missing every relevant point is unforgivable. And why keep using the 1985 final as a stick to beat snooker with? It's amazing that people channel-hopping all ended up absorbed by the match, but the baseline figures for snooker are good and highlighting what was a cultural phenomenon - akin to a Royal Wedding - and comparing all viewership to that is just daft. Players would feel better and tournaments would be more fun if there was more sponsorship. Sponsors bring people, money and a sense of occasion. And at the risk of being too hard on Ronnie - he failed to attend a reception after winning this year's Northern Ireland trophy or sign autographs for dozens of fans who waited for him after the match which would have shown him that people were interested even though it was only August. He sneaked out of the building and didn't even send anyone to tell the fans that he had to leave, and now he has invited the British media to trash the game again. Surely he can find a better outlet for his frustration - for example doing something to help the game?! Sorry for ranting but this game really means something to me and if people wish to pass judgement on it, it should be done fairly.
Ruthie, You make good sense. The players are as culpable for the apparent demise of the sport as any promoter or association. Ronnie is World Champion yet his contribution is not to attend or not give his best in any overseas events (including the first ever Bahrain Open)because he claims the prize money is too low. It may be a rebuilding process for snooker in difficult times in the UK at present, yet it seems that the players who have earned many millions have no interest in safeguarding the future of the game to the next generation. They always blame the board, whoever the board have been in the last 5 years or so. Its never the fault of the players yet few can claim to be any sort of ambassador for snooker.
I join with the others in condemning what was a patronising, lazy piece of "journalism". As one of the BBC's flagship current affairs programmes I expected better. To use the 1985 viewing figures as a comparison with current audiences was flawed and seemed to suggest that this was typical of the time when it was exceptional. Those interviewed clearly had no knowledge of snooker - can you remember the last time you saw players in frilly shirts? And all that tosh about developing a "sense of irony" - of course sports should be fun but they must also take themselves seriously.
I am glad to hear the WPBSA have raised the issue with the BBC.
20 comments:
BBC investigates ... er, um - one of the BBC's core sports.
I wonder which side they will come down on?
That was atrocious to be quite honest.
Oh how I cringed ...
Diabolical but somewhat par for the course for the Beeb.
Such wonderful knowledge and understanding of a sport they are contracted to broadcast.
An excellent piece showing how far snooker has fallen. No doubt all the traditionalists will say there is nothing wrong with the sport, we don't need to tinker with anything, blah, blah, blah.
This time next year watch as the prize money for the Masters is slashed as there is still no sponsor, with prize funds declining for what ranking events remain.
Snooker is moribund, and slagging off a piece of journalism that tries to shed some light as to the reasons why is just sticking your head in the sand hoping things will get better when you resurface.
I think it's a big leap to assume anyone criticising what was a hugely shoddy item is unaware of the problems the game is facing now and is 'sticking their head in the sand'.
What a truly dreadful report this was! You can tell the Newsnight staff, cultural elitists that they are, look down their noses at sports like snooker or darts, because they don’t fit in with their middle class, dinner-party type lifestyles.
Firstly, darts hasn’t developed a “sense of irony” about itself as the “cultural historian” Christopher Cook says. The darts revival has nothing to do with the so-called “world champion” Ted Hankey, the BBC or the BDO. It has happened because an entrepreneur called Barry Hearn, a man with a vision, saw the sport had massive potential and developed it into a commercial success. The REAL world champion is, of course, Phil Taylor, but I wouldn’t expect the Newsnight team to know that. This is the same Newsnight team who referred to Bobby George as a “former world darts champion” not so long ago- he’s NEVER won it!
Hearn’s revolution of darts has no “sense of irony”. The players who make the latter stages of PDC tournaments are dedicated professionals who take their game seriously.
Rather than doing a grown-up journalistic report about how World Snooker has repeatedly squandered the opportunity to revitalise the sport, it has resulted to this childish, smug, pointless nonsense which teaches the more educated viewer nothing.
I wonder if Steve Smith has ever watched a snooker match in his life. I doubt it some how.
What a load of tripe!
It was shocking to be honest. I expected an in-depth analysis as to the failings of the game, instead they decided to interview Princess Diana's wedding dress designer. Perhaps we'd be better off if the BBC lost all its snooker coverage to Sky because it hasn't done the PDC too bad.
I suspect the BBC had second thoughts about mauling one of their flagship sports and put out a comical piece instead. Wouldnt surprise me if some interviews were left on the cutting room floor
Yes but where are the WAGS in snooker......?
That was absolutely pathetic. How did they get from snooker to the woman who designed Diana's dress... what a complete waste of 5 minutes.
I wouldn't be better off if the BBC lost all its snooker to Sky or Eurosport, because I am a pensioner and I cannot afford either of them. The only snooker I get to see is when it is on the BBC, and I am very worried about people trying to take away one of the few pleasure that I still have in life!
I'm sorry for being off topic but do you have to pay if you want to watch Eurosport in GB? Here in Germany it is freely available (but not Eurosport 2) and I thought it was like that everywhere in Europe.
On topic: It is sad to read that sports coverage on the bbc seems to be on the same level as it is over here. In a recent piece of outstanding journalism they told the german audience that snooker is a game played by a guy named O'Sullivan, a permanently drunk man with bad manners taking all the drugs you can think of for breakfast who quits games on a regular basis. And that just about was it. Great. :(
what a pathetic report that showed no knowledge or insight into the questions raised.
John H
The WPBSA are writing to Newsnight to complain. Quite rightly, it was appalling.
I think the WPBSA should be grateful - they got off very lightly.
I didn't see it but I bet they didn't mention that the BBC's coverage will be going rapidly downhill now that they've got rid of Clive Everton.
Newsnight is one of the best programmes on the BBC, but Steve Smith's piece was journalistically corrupt. Fine if they wanted to do a lighthearted report, but missing every relevant point is unforgivable. And why keep using the 1985 final as a stick to beat snooker with? It's amazing that people channel-hopping all ended up absorbed by the match, but the baseline figures for snooker are good and highlighting what was a cultural phenomenon - akin to a Royal Wedding - and comparing all viewership to that is just daft. Players would feel better and tournaments would be more fun if there was more sponsorship. Sponsors bring people, money and a sense of occasion. And at the risk of being too hard on Ronnie - he failed to attend a reception after winning this year's Northern Ireland trophy or sign autographs for dozens of fans who waited for him after the match which would have shown him that people were interested even though it was only August. He sneaked out of the building and didn't even send anyone to tell the fans that he had to leave, and now he has invited the British media to trash the game again. Surely he can find a better outlet for his frustration - for example doing something to help the game?! Sorry for ranting but this game really means something to me and if people wish to pass judgement on it, it should be done fairly.
Ruthie,
You make good sense.
The players are as culpable for the apparent demise of the sport as any promoter or association.
Ronnie is World Champion yet his contribution is not to attend or not give his best in any overseas events (including the first ever Bahrain Open)because he claims the prize money is too low.
It may be a rebuilding process for snooker in difficult times in the UK at present, yet it seems that the players who have earned many millions have no interest in safeguarding the future of the game to the next generation.
They always blame the board, whoever the board have been in the last 5 years or so.
Its never the fault of the players yet few can claim to be any sort of ambassador for snooker.
I join with the others in condemning what was a patronising, lazy piece of "journalism". As one of the BBC's flagship current affairs programmes I expected better. To use the 1985 viewing figures as a comparison with current audiences was flawed and seemed to suggest that this was typical of the time when it was exceptional. Those interviewed clearly had no knowledge of snooker - can you remember the last time you saw players in frilly shirts? And all that tosh about developing a "sense of irony" - of course sports should be fun but they must also take themselves seriously.
I am glad to hear the WPBSA have raised the issue with the BBC.
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