If by some miracle the BBC could show in parallel, every match that Sky, ITV, Chan4, Chan5 etc, etc, were showing, would anybody prefer not to watch the BBC ?

As far as I'm concerned it's the BBC every time. Nowt to do with personalities, purely and simply, no adverts. I don't consider trailers to be adverts.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Also italics paranoia.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

I prefer the way that

hang on I'll switch the [i's} off

that Sky present the football.I don't mind the adverts , in some cases they are more entertaining than the football.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Thanks Rik. Why didn't the LessThan-ForwardSlash-I-GreaterThan work for me, then ?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

You put two >I's< in your first statement , so you would have to switch them off twice.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

;7)

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

:-(

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Pit Bil,

Until recently I'd have said unequivocally the BBC. However, like Rik I do like the way Sky present football, even though the supercilious, pontificating Andy Gray now gets right on my udders.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Hazard a guess Pit Bill, lot of the auld movies were westerns okay, short exerpts to whet the punters may have been called trailblazers, I realise that trail is `behind` , not always tho, (a)set a trail (b) trail a caravan , or is that an americanism ?.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

It depends on who is broadcasting in widescreen.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

.....doesn't everyone?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

This interactive gimmick does nowt for me either. I think what I'd prefer would be for the viewing to resemble as closely as possible being at the match.

Which means there'd be no commentary, all you'd hear would be the crowd noise. Let them rabbit a bit before the ko, at half time, and after the game maybe, but during the game, keep shtum.

They'd also need to have static wide angle cameras in each area of the ground, any of which the viewer could select to simulate being in that part of the ground.

Goals and incidents could be re-shown on a pop up screen in the main screen.

Definitely can't agree that the ads are sometimes better than the programmes though. Whatever merit a particular ad might have is countered by the hours of mindless, lowest common denominator, utter garbage that surrounds it. :-\

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

'Trail blazers' is good enough for me Buff. Although, having just said that, it occurs to me that maybe it's a hangover from when they used to trail a banner behind an aircraft to attract people's attention.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

The real problem with the ads is the endless repetition that renders even the initially amusing ones gut-wrenchingly irritating after the 56th showing during the Aussies 2nd innings in a test match.
NB. they can usually only manage 11 showings during an England innings!

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

I like the new Budweiser adds for American Heroes. I'd rather watch them than listen to an Interview with Beckham.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Sky every time.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Something is afoot in the advertising world, In Beech is Back I timed the verts at 10min intervals which put paid to debate I had a few years back while visiting an American cousin in Sarasota and moaning about the frequency of adverts on US tv. The next night a repeat of Frost comm 8p.m., first pull in for advert was 8.30 pm, there seems to be no set pattern, why?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

If I have to see that annoying little brat talking to her f***ing yoghurt one more time I'll send the product's customer relations department a turd in a shoebox.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Do you mean the, "How can anyone be so thick"? Fridjj advert?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

The ads used to on at a predetermined frequency Buff - to facilitate cups of tea etc. However, things are much more sophisticated and scientific now!

They space them such that they allow you to become fully committed to the programme content by initially having a long gap between commercials, and them shortening the gap once they're reasonably certain you won't give up. Clever marketing tossers!

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

No rik, the Fridj ads are class, I mean the supposedly precocious (insufferable) brat who gets told all about the goodness in yoghurt and then tries to talk to it. Can't act for toffee and I can't remember the product: 2 strikes and out in my book.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

cHEERS FOR EXPLANATION CLARKY, MIND YOU CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF THE DAD WALKING ACROSS BRIG , FACE PROUD AS PUNCH , SHOUTING TO UNSEEN PAL, "OI NEIL , POINTING DOWN AT KID , FORST MATCH ", IT`S ,WELL NICE.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

It's a cracking ad Buff - kind of warm, cozy and nostalgic.
The young 'un is apparently a manure supporter who baulked at donning the b&w, but I hope that doesn't spoil it fer yer!

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

The Sunday Sun said the lad is actually a ManUre fan from Haydon Bridge(??).

Well there you gan...

ML

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

.... there's no accounting for tastes, eh ML#3?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

no wonder he looks so bloody scared!!

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Sky for me every time. I think their commentators are a class above the aged Mottie (tho he's nice is a Statto sort of way) and Barry "I've been to elocution lessons" Davies. I also like the analysis that Gray gives to a game and his gizmos are better than anybody's (I see ITV have dropped the Cr@pzone {or whatever its called} already).

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

....and the best series of adverts right now is those Skoda ones. Nearly p!$$ed mesel last night (nowt new there then, eh?) at the one where the two boffics are looking over a car, one doing a forensic on it. I won't spoil the ending if you haven't seen it, but I like their style. Self mocking - nice. More tea, Vicar??

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Have to admit the self mockery in the Skoda ads make them just about bearable, but in among all the other puerile sh1te, I'd rather give them a miss.

There's an evil twisted sense in getting you hooked and then piling on the agony, which makes it even harder to bear.

Am I alone in believing the advertising so called industry to be one of the most obnoxious institutions devised by man ?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Yakult, Softie?

I hate ITV football. It's cheap, tawdry shite shot in badly designed, appalingly lit studios. I hate Tyldsley and the other one who's now started sounding like him. Anyone who defects from BBC - Lynam being the prime example - to ITV becomes wank self-parody and immediately ages 20 years (cf Bob Wilson).

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Roger Thames and Tyne Tees for me, without a shadow of a doubt.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

"I hate ITV football - it's cheap, tawdry shite shot in badly designed, appalingly lit studios".

As far as I'm concerned Dan, you could apply the same to everything concerned with ITV.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Well, yes...

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

It would be Sky for me, simply because they do things like replays almost straight away rather than waiting ten minutes.

Pit Bill, I would also like a big wide angle view, but apparently, the way cameras work makes this impossible as everything would seem even further away than it is in reality and you wouldn't be able to watch it without a magnifying glass.

There really is no alternative to being there, but Sky are the best if you can't make the game live.

BTW, is the England v Germany match on BBC and Sky?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

It's on both.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Anything with the Fosters' ads is cool.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Oh yes, the Foster's ads.

Is life really like that in Australia? :)

-- Anonymous, September 01, 2001

Nope Paul, its better!

But do not tell everyone we don't want this place full of immigrants!

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

BBC all the time for internationals Lineker and crew were a class act last night and it was enhanced by Reidy being there.... sorry to say but Shearer sent me to sleep with his boring non-committal monotone.... on sky...

anywaysup I thought he'd backed in the international stuff to spend more time with his family.... he's still at the internationals though!!! commentating!!!!

BBC wins hands down,....

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Unfortunately,I was stuck with BBC as we haven't got Sky at Chez Nous II.

Reidy was definitely an improvement on Lineker, Hansen and Anally-Retentive Lawrenson - he's a real character.

However, the commentary from John Motson was the worst, indeed the most embarrassing, cringe-inducing I've ever heard. Why the hell the BBC don't retire him and Barry bloody Davis is utterly beyond me - they are both dreadful.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Agree Clarky, Motty should be put out of our misery. That pathetic little nasal half laugh when he couldn't think of a way to finish what he was saying had me cringeing. I might even have done something other than watch if it hadn't been such a great game.

But I'd still prefer the beeb just for the absence of poxy ads. Reidy can comment any time he likes for me. I even think the Monkey Heed thing has been done to death and it's time it was put to rest.

Lawrenson hardly opened his gob all night.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

You know PB, I thought Lawrenson had his mind on something else - he just didn't seem to be at the races.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Sometimes the adverts on Sky games are welcome - 0-0 between Bradford and Everton at half time etc. nothing to talk about so it gets boring. Adverts are a nice break for you to go and grab some more nuts or get another can.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Paul.
You aren't supposed to go elsewhere when they're trying to flog you stuff. Up to the 'commercial break' you've only been watching a fabulous football match (occasionally) or some blockbuster film.

If you nick off to the fridge or whatever, you're denying their raison d'etre. You should immediately snap out of your stupor/euphoria and hang on their every word. Which is a possibility if your vocabulary is extensive enough to include 'der'.

And then as soon as possible, you should rush out and take advantage of all this good advice you're being offered.

I'm bliddy glad I'm sad.

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

I know, but the Foster's ad would make me thirsty, and then I'd miss the expert half time opinion that we all value so much

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Roly, to commentate at matches, Shearer need only be away for a day or two. Nowhere near the time commitment when he was playing. Agree with you about him not being one of the more engaging commentators. At least on the 1 or 2 occasions I've seen him. Nice to look at, but when he opens his mouth...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 02, 2001

Re. Lawrensen´s quietness, I read in the Irish Times him admitting that he had been permitted him a live feed of the Ireland-Holland game. Might well´ve been a factor?

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

I just wish I could recall who commentated on the Liverpool v Bayern Supercup Final for BBC last week - was it Barry bloody Davis?
Anyway, whoever it was he described Oliver Kahn't as "currently, probably the best goalkeeper in the World". Yeh, right!

Even at the time my reaction was "which World would that be?"

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

Speaking of adverts @ half time reminds me of the Shrewsbury game away many years ago. There was a lad happily asleep on the terraces right through the 1st half. Whistle blew for half time and one of his mates came over and kicked him shouting 'Wake up its half time'.

He did - went off to the snack bar - came back and promptly emptied his stoumach onto the terraces - it was bright orange - the chant went up - 'Orange Puke, Orange Puke, Orange Puke' - ah half time memories.

I think David Barton was playing.

-- Anonymous, September 03, 2001

And what exactly was the ad pushing, Josh ?

Can't think of any product that 'Orange puke' would enhance, Plenty that could be the equivalent, mind. :-))

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

Argh - just came across (so to speak) yet another ad tonight for "ladies intimate accessories". FFS, isn't is going just a bit far when they say it's for those with "small bladder problems"? Too much information. Yes, I know it happens, but FFS, either say it's for incintinent wimmin who p!$$ themselves or bring summat out for us fellas! I'm sure Pit Bill is right behind me on this one (explains the damp feeling, I guess???)

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001

Does anyone actually watch the interactive stuff on Sky? Who the hell prefers to watch that Tossercam thing instead of the match?

Re adverts - has anyone else noticed that since the NYC they have removed the section from that Renault Scenic ad with the pilot and the three stewardesses. I thought that was the best song as well!

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2001