Anger at cricket's move from free TV channel

Anger at cricket's move from free TV channel

Channel 4 gets record audience with Ashes Test

Andrew Culf, sports correspondent
Wednesday August 17, 2005
The Guardian


Record television audiences for the thrilling climax to the Old Trafford Ashes Test match between England and Australia led to calls yesterday for a review of the decision that means live cricket will disappear from terrestrial screens next summer.
Channel 4 achieved its best figures in seven years of cricket coverage with an audience peaking at 7.7 million viewers on Monday evening - 42% of all people watching TV at the time - as England failed to capture the last Australian wicket to win the Test.

But as the broadcaster lauded the figures as "amazing and sensational", and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said nothing was more marketable than a successful England team, there was criticism of the new television arrangements which begin next year.

Sky Sports begins a four-year £220m deal with the ECB, giving the station exclusive live rights to all home Test matches and one-day internationals. Five is to broadcast a 45-minute peak-time highlights package.

More at: http://sport.guardian.co.uk/ashes2005/story/0,15993,1550378,00.html

Was a thrilling match, my Dad commented that England haven't played so well since Len Hutton was Captain. I think Vaughan's a much better Captain than Atherton ever was. So, on to Trent Bridge.

I wish Channel 4 would sell off 'Channel 4 Racing' to somebody...ANYBODY. It's on all this week AGAIN.

It's always especially nice to see another Brit about the place.

Both the last two tests were amazing. I'm very hopeful that they can get the series victory despite things being tied.

I know what you mean about Channel 4 Racing. It makes ITV2 look good, and that's saying something.

For the welcome...and it's comforting to know that there's someone here who might like a bit of football banter!

Gosh, Harmison and Flintoff rock big time. We can take the Aussies for sure at Trent Bridge.

Channel 4 Racing tomorrow have the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes. Sounds fab huh:boring:

Now, if it would have been the Gincrack Stakes...

Yes, I'd go for that. :D

How did you find DU? :)

Heartened that you got my attempt at humour there!

How did I find this place? I was just overwhelmed and annoyed at what Blair has become and I live unfortunately in a very Conservative town, and I thought that there must be something out there where there are like-minded people...and so, I found this Democratic Underground site and it seemed to look pretty good.

I've got an interest in American politics too, because my Mother's American, hence my avatar of the Louisiana State flag.

Hey, that gold star by your name means you've donated funds yes? I was thinking of donating, but I'm not keen on using credit cards online. So, do you think they'd let me donate via mail in a cheque?

As far as I know you can pay by cheque. Although it might mean waiting a few weeks to receive your donor star. If you have any queries you should PM Skinner, Elad or EarlG and they'll help you out.

I've always donated by credit card and have had no problem with it (you also get your star pretty much straight-away), although I can understand being wary about online purchasing.

Donating brings with it some nice benefits: advanced searching, having your own avatar, and access to 'DU Groups' of various interests (the main benefit) amongst other things.

------------
I'm also very interested in American politics, which is why I'm here - being married to an American has heightened that interest. :)

DU can be both a positive and negative experience as with any message board, but it's mostly enjoyable. I hope you enjoy your time here. :hi:

Yeah that gold star looks cute:) I'll have to send a cheque I think.

I notice your wife's from Dallas. I'm off to Dallas next month, haven't been before, I've been to Austin, but I thought I'd give Dallas a go this time.

With posts at the moment, I'm trying to stick to British and European people, because I'm not, well something oddly isn't gelling with the American's and I feel TERRIFIED of posting anything in one of their threads now. Maybe they're suspicious of me because I've got such a low post count and NO gold star, I dunno. But I'm terrified. So I've come here instead.

But you're welcome was nice:)

I've got to stop doing spelling errors, then I can stop editing my own posts. It's bizarre.

If you state any feasible opinion in GD with a low post count, someone will accuse you of being a freeper/troll or whatever. It's very unfortunate. Getting a gold star will help things though.

Well, what can I say about Dallas. Well... be careful there's a lot of crime there and it was the reason why my wife moved to Missouri (I live in England - long story).

We'll be nice to you in the UK forum. The Canada forum is also cool too. I'm sure that when the other Brits log-on, they'll say hello.

Always avoid:
Israel/Palestine forum (you will be flamed)
Irish Affairs forum (it's very sectarian and very pro-Sinn Fein)
September 11th forum (conspiracy theory central)

Tread carefully in:
GD
GD: Politics
Latest Breaking News

Thanks for the advice. I'm not up to being combative. I've just tried to be friendly, but can't seem to engage the American's in any to and fro past one post from them, then they disappear. It's been very confusing for me the last few days with them just upping and leaving...I was thinking of leaving completely yesterday, unsubscribing or whatever.

My Mother's INSISTED that my DAD come to Dallas with me. She actually told him that she was worried I might meet a tall Texan and run off with him! Parents, they can be the curse of their children ;-)

I know some about Canadian politics, so I might check their forum out. My ex-B/F is Canadian, so I have some sort of Canadian connection I suppose.

I think you're a top bloke.

I like you already.

DU can be very cliquish at times. The Lounge can appear so, usually when you'll find people posting in-jokes and references that only certain posters will "get". It takes a while to get to know people. It took me about 8 months before people from the Lounge really responded to me.

There can be instances of anglophobia on DU too. Usually it's in LBN and you'll find anti-British comments from those who are unable to differentiate between British people and their government. The whole business over the killing of De Menezes have mobilised DU's anglophobes somewhat recently. On the other hand the Lounge seems very anglophile, with lots of Beatles and "Britcom" fans.

Flame wars in the UK and Canada forums are very rare, so these are very much "safe havens".

You're also welcome to message me anytime if you have a query or just want to sound-off.

Also, beware those tall Texans.

Your blog. On This Day In History is always an interesting thing.

Oh heck, anything BUT The Beatles and Britpop, please. Chinese water torture is better than those.

I like you already too, you're sweet.

The tall Texan's. Well my Dad usually goes to bed by 10.30pm and as you can see I'm an insomniac, so...He also is a golf obsessive, so I could find him a golf course and give him the slip that way too:) It's the Southern drawls and the Stetson's you see!

I suppose I'll get some sleep now, this at 5.30 is about my bedtime. But students know all about burning the candle at both ends, so you better get some sleep too.

... nice to have you on board. Look forward to you posting!

The Skin

Thanks for your nice comments:)

A lot of people don't to and fro much and just drop the odd comment in, but you shouldn't see that as being unfriendly. Far from it usually. One possible reason sometimes, myself I'm not keen on keeping threads kicked up on the main boards too long, especially in LBN, if there seems to be no real wider interest in them. Which is the only reason I mention it at all! Didn't want you to think I hadn't replied earlier in LBN for reasons like that, so I thought I'd reply here instead where the pace is calmer and it doesn't matter. :)

I know what you meant anyway. I don't like going overboard on smiley things myself, but they can save a lot of miscommunication and grief on any board. And when it comes to some types of British humour (or attempts at least, heh) on a sometimes very heated American board, you probably can't have too many of them. As I've already found out the odd time. Oops.

If people don't reply, sod it, just assume you've left them speechless for good reasons!

I think I'm getting used to things now. It was probably me misunderstanding what happens in a thread...but I'm still sticking to quieter threads. Thanks for the advice and tips, you're nice.

My Mother totally DOESN'T understand British humour, but we've learnt to live with it :) It's okay because she has a David Lynch-esque sense of humour, so that MORE than makes up for it.

I've got no idea how to start a thread, I was going to see what anyone thought of that terrible England performance tonight. Why does Sven insist James keep playing, it's really weird. I watched the highlights and it was borderline hilarious.

You've got someone here who's more than willing to slag off James. He is USELESS. Me and my friends were pissing ourselfs! All and all I hate football at the moment with Bristol City's damned awful start.... dammit!

But I don't know as of yet HOW to start a thread. What's to be done? We're stuck.

Oh Hello btw :hi:

Bristol City, I support Inverness Caledonian Thistle:

http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s14.htm

But I have a soft spot for Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic.

WHAT was James doing with that first goal, he came at least a foot and a half outside his area and then started trotting back. The England defence throughout was pretty non-existent, it was dreadful. Then on the match analysis, Alan Hansen after slagging off the performance said "But I still think England can win the World Cup" REALLY Alan? Think that team can beat a Brazil or an Italy? Oh well, they should be able to beat Wales SURELY.

Go to the main forum page where you want to post: (e.g. here is the link to the UK forum main page)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=191

At the top there are a selection of icons, one of which is called "Post", you click "Post" and this is how you compose a new thread. :)

I'll give this a go...heck I've just broken out in a sweat on my forehead now!

:hi:

for many, your username for instance. Now that's a proper British reference.

Ain't that the truth! I wanted to be The Impression of J.Temperance, but it was over the 20 letters allowed, so I'm stuck with ...of J.Temperance.

The full title is a track off The Fall's LP 'Grotesque', which was from the period that Mark E. Smith was a junior alcoholic.

for saying it, but that earlier stuff is their best stuff. :D

He's totally lost the plot, and a number of teeth. Whatever happened to the genius of 'This Nations Saving Grace', 'Hex Enduction Hour', 'Frenz Experiment', heck. 'The Complete Peel Sessions', now there's a gem.

Of course nobody will EVER hear any new Fall stuff, or ANY other stuff now that Uncle John has gone :cry:

Not that I don't like loads of the later stuff, all eras, he's been all over the place for years but most of it still pisses on most else out there for me. Toothless genius. Or should I say "british smile" genius...

Ha! He's a British Institution.

Do you like Mogwai at all?

I got one or two albums by them a while back but I've never really gave them a listen, I'll give them a try again sometime. Too much choice, I end up overlooking most of it nowadays and running to old favourites. Nowt to to with hitting a "kids today..." age, nothing at all, just too much to choose from. That's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it. :)

And thats okay about Mogwai, I won't hold it against you ;)

I often swing back to the old favourites, it's like a comfort thing. It's true we're being overwhelmed with everything these days.

Mood dictates, and what I'm listening to often reflects the sort of things discussed here unsurprisingly.

Top three for today's climate:

Zappa - Dumb All Over
Radiohead - Electioneering
Half Man Half Biscuit - Dump That C**t Blair in Tikrit (says Nora next door)

Who gave us probably my favourite song title EVER:

"All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit"

Mood does dictate, but for todays climate, I'm not sure what mood I'm meant to be in:

Silver Apples - Contact
Quasi - Hot Shit
Beefheart - Doc At The Radar Station

Beefheart. If you're unsure of mood, that'll take care of it. :bounce:

Got to be a Peel thing, though I hadn't listened to him in a long time. Unless I know you and you already knew all the stuff I really like. Steve, is that you? Kidding! }(

On edit: obviously a Peel thing, lol. And I said I wasn't keen on going overboard with smileys.. ;)

Worship him, granted about four albums are highly disappointing, but the rest you can't go wrong with.

Nearly every band I love, nearly every record I've bought since I was about 13, is ALL because of Peel...which is now why I, and I think a lot of others feel totally at sea. I'll NEVER get over losing him.

Steve? You know I'm a girl, yes? Heck, I hope that doesn't put you off :)

Just messing about. Post 4am and done in joking. ;)

Aye, so many people share common bonds through John Peel and the music he woke them up to as kids. Some legacy. :)

That's fab then:)

That's 100% accurate about Peel. I made friends at school solely through Peel a lot of the time, because those people listened to him as well, so as soon as we found that out, we'd immediately bond. He SHOULD have been made Sir John Peel, an OBE wasn't enough.

I wonder where that UK_Socialist fellow went? I hope he comes back.

I'm off to bed now I reckon...so don't get into trouble by yourself ;-)

I guess he'll be back, just not to and froing tonight. :)

To and froing

Night night to you and a night night for Anarcho-Socialist wherever he may be (he's possibly suffocated under a mound of History books, due to swotting)

Froing, it's an oddly spelt word :)

I actually wrote "swatting" instead of "swotting". I blame this on 'Dirty Blue Gene' and it's chaotic time changes. Damn you Don Van Vliet, you evil genius you!