To think the BBC should be showing the Paralympics?

[Nanny0gg]

It's the live opening ceremony and there's an ad break!!

So annoying, isn't it?! Does this mean all the sports are going to have ad breaks too? Argh!

I was just thinking the same thing. It cheapens it somehow.

It's pants! Hope it doesn't interrupt the sport too much.

The BBC definitely screwed up by allowing itself to be outbid. I think they realise that now, FWIW. There was an online article about this a couple of weeks back, related to the popularity of Clare Balding and how she's also doing the Paralympics, and how the BBC basically missed a trick.

HOWEVER I think Channel 4 sounds as if they will be doing a good job at including former Paralympians as presenters. The BBC might well have stuck with Mr Lineker and co.

But the BBC bid for the Olympics, Channel 4 for the Paralympics. They pay bucket loads for the TV rights.

Neah, doesn't cheapen it, some people really don't like BBC monopoly or style, I like this being on advert channel. Encourages diversity of presentation & commentary.

Channel 4 has always shown the Paralympics, and the BBC the Olympics, from way back.

It's the break in the middle I object to, not that it's Channel 4 as such.

I'm taping the opening ceremony to watch tomorrow, not only so dts can see it but so we can ff through ad breaks.

Channel 4 will hopefully give good coverage, it doesn't always have to be the BBC but the ads will be annoying.

Warning, this is a link to a Daily Mail article!

I think Channel Four still has some level of Public Service remit (something about innovation). Any profits made are reinvested into programme making and they have no shareholders. They should do a decent job IMO.

Saying that, ads are annoying but I doubt they'll interrupt events at potentially crucial moments.

yanbu was thinking the exact same thing!!!

I would have said that a while back, but I doubt if the BBC would have done the super humans ad or thanks for the warm up which is brilliant, so I will now give it a chance

I was just ranting about this to DP! It's dreadful that the 'real' Olympics is important to the BBC, yet the paralympics can be passed over the C4.

For coverage it is on from 7am until 11.15pm either on C4 or More 4.

They haveb't been passed over, this is how it has always happened. Does anyone remember Bejing?

Yanbu - was just saying this to DH. The ad breaks are getting on my wick.

I'm sure the BBC would love to show them but LOCOG awarded them the Channel 4. I don't know if it was about money but with the licence fee frozen I don't imagine the BBC had loads to offer if it was.

Channel 4 bid about £9m for 150 hours coverage, BBC bid about half that for just 50 hours.

Sorry not half. A third, £3m.

If you can find setanta it's free view tonight there are no ads. But biased towards the Irish:)

Nearly up to us!

I thought they said they weren't going to have ad breaks during the opening ceremony. Some bloke from channel 4 was on the radio and said they wouldn't be doing that!

They managed to fluff the second most important TV moment of the ceremony cos of the ad breaks. Total muppets.

Too many adverts! The bbc coverage of the Olympics was exceptional and worth every penny of the license fee. I was glued to it. I have a funny feeling the channel four coverage will not be of the same standard, which is a real shame.