Too much information

JohnM20 replied on 11/04/2021 11:45

JohnM20

Posted on 11/04/2021 11:45

Does anyone else get frustrated by the amount of information superimposed on TV screens especially during important events. The BBC is the worst offender I think.

During the many Covid briefings from Downing Street there have been at least three different strap-lines, one at the top telling us that the picture is' Live from Downing Street' (but not, of course, if you have recorded it)Towards the bottom of the screen is 'BBC News' frequently telling us that Boris or others will be leading the briefing that is already on and that we are trying to watch and then a second ticker-tape line at the bottom of the screen of 'Breaking News' some of which we have just heard Boris etc telling us and some completely irrelevant to the matter in hand. These two lower lines in particular block out a good proportion of the screen, often making important information shown at the bottom of the graphs completely invisible. The lower part of a person's head is also frequently obliterated.

The same thing happened yesterday during the 41 gun salute for Prince Philip. Many of the guns couldn't actually be seen for the same reason as above, particularly Cardiff Castle. Why broadcast something that can't be seen. I may as well listen to the radio.

Do the producers of these programmes never actually look at what they are broadcasting or do the copy writers just believe in their own self importance and believe that their wordage is more important than the picture that they are covering up?

99 replies

Rocky 2 buckets replied on 11/04/2021 22:52

Rocky 2 buckets

Posted on 11/04/2021 21:50 by

Yes, I know I wasn't mentioned. I was trying to say that mostly on here people do not attach themselves to one "cohort" or another. What some like to call "the usual suspects".

And if you did perceive there to be disruptive cohort (as per your post to which I was responding) then I'd hate to be thought of as one of such a group because I am free floating.

Never mind. I was too long winded. Too much verbiage.

Posted on 11/04/2021 22:52

I’ve noticed that most can disagree intelligently whilst conceiving points of weakness & continuing a positive relationship. Then there are a few that Wade in throwing verbal punches with no forethought. I was questioning the need to put the passing of HRH on so many channels but it was hijacked & repackaged as near Royalists vs Republicans🤷🏻‍♂️

5 people like this

Tinwheeler replied on 11/04/2021 22:56

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 11/04/2021 22:52 by Rocky 2 buckets

I’ve noticed that most can disagree intelligently whilst conceiving points of weakness & continuing a positive relationship. Then there are a few that Wade in throwing verbal punches with no forethought. I was questioning the need to put the passing of HRH on so many channels but it was hijacked & repackaged as near Royalists vs Republicans🤷🏻‍♂️

Posted on 11/04/2021 22:56

Mmm, exactly what I found.

3 people like this

Rocky 2 buckets replied on 11/04/2021 23:05

Rocky 2 buckets

Posted on 11/04/2021 22:56 by Tinwheeler

Mmm, exactly what I found.

Posted on 11/04/2021 23:05

👍🏻. I have no beef with Royalty I don’t bother them & they swerve me👍🏻😁

1 person likes this

Tinwheeler replied on 11/04/2021 23:20

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 11/04/2021 23:05 by Rocky 2 buckets

👍🏻. I have no beef with Royalty I don’t bother them & they swerve me👍🏻😁

Posted on 11/04/2021 23:20

+ 1 to that👍

brue replied on 12/04/2021 08:04

Member

brue

Motorhomer

Posted on 11/04/2021 21:57 by SteveL

My point was what you are paying for is the right to receive electronic transmissions. Personally I am happy to pay for the news alone.

However, if I never watched BBC coverage, I would still have to pay. I might then be indirectly funding the BBC, but I wouldn’t be paying to watch their output. There is a subtle difference. In the past when it was the only option, if you didn’t want it you wouldn’t buy a TV license.

Posted on 12/04/2021 08:04

There's a history behind it starting with radio licences then TV licences, I presume the licence fees have helped to develop transmission opportunities in general with a great degree of indepence not found in the commercial sector. People are paying extra for companies like sky and Netflix but these companies are controlled by commercial interests, the BBC is free of those shackles and can commission a broader range of programmes. I think complaints about the BBC are about commissioning too much rather than in house production. They've paired things back due to financial constraints. So yes some are paying for a service they don't use but I'd be sad to lose out to commercial interests. (Even if, on rare occasions, the BBC appear to get it wrong. )

JohnM20 replied on 12/04/2021 08:39

Member

JohnM20

Caravanner from Derbyshire

Posted on 12/04/2021 08:39

Talk about a thread being highjacked ! Of the 84 posts as a result of my OP only 1 actually answered my comments and another, after re-reading, believed it was just a general complaint about the BBC. No it wasn't.

At no point in my OP did I make any comment about the amount of coverage or the fact that the very same broadcast was on at least three BBC channels simultaneously even though I was disappointed by this. It was not the purpose of the post. It was about straplines and banners obliterating the screen and covering important information or images, for those that haven't bothered to read it.

I know threads can drift away from the OP, I've been guilty myself, but it appeared that people just wanted to complain about the coverage and my OP was a vehicle for them to immediately jump on to. It makes me wonder if it is ever worth asking a straightforward question on here.

5 people like this

Tinwheeler replied on 12/04/2021 08:59

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 12/04/2021 08:59

OK, John, to answer the question raised in the first para of your OP, no I don't.

Have you complained to the BBC about the banners? The link I provided earlier can be used for that purpose.

I think it was inevitable that the thread went the way it did and I'm surprised you didn't anticipate that.

JVB66 replied on 12/04/2021 09:07

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 11/04/2021 20:24 by moulesy

If I might be allowed to express an opinion .....

I have the greatest of respect for the main members of the royal family (a few too many "hangers on" IMHO but that's another matter all together).

The years of sacrifice and service which Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have given this country is undeniable and the benefit the DofE scheme has had on millions of youngsters is inestimable.

Philip's death at the age of 99 was very sad even if not totally unexpected, the more so since it happened on his eldest son's wedding anniversary.

The coverage was fascinating and deserved .... but should (again IMHO) have been restricted to the main BBC channel. I trust the BBC will have learned the lesson when the funeral takes place.

Most telling, though, or so it seems to me, is that his own wish for a simple funeral with the minimum of fuss would have left him aghast at the blanket coverage on Friday, and, not to add, totally bemused that, so far, 7 pages of forum posts have been devoted to it!

Posted on 12/04/2021 09:07

The "blanket coverage" that was broadcast was not an off the cuff cobbled together ,it would have been,, as many of that type of programmes ready for months if not years, with just dates and extra on the day inputs already to be transmiited ,and the the persons who it was about would have been aware of what was to haapen

Rocky 2 buckets replied on 12/04/2021 09:08

Rocky 2 buckets

Posted on 12/04/2021 08:39 by JohnM20

Talk about a thread being highjacked ! Of the 84 posts as a result of my OP only 1 actually answered my comments and another, after re-reading, believed it was just a general complaint about the BBC. No it wasn't.

At no point in my OP did I make any comment about the amount of coverage or the fact that the very same broadcast was on at least three BBC channels simultaneously even though I was disappointed by this. It was not the purpose of the post. It was about straplines and banners obliterating the screen and covering important information or images, for those that haven't bothered to read it.

I know threads can drift away from the OP, I've been guilty myself, but it appeared that people just wanted to complain about the coverage and my OP was a vehicle for them to immediately jump on to. It makes me wonder if it is ever worth asking a straightforward question on here.

Posted on 12/04/2021 09:08

Here’s another one-no it bothers me not one iota, in fact I appreciate it rather than have someone padding out their on screen time. I’d prefer(for me) to have all the relevant info as straplines on the screen. Your thread would be dead in the water shortly after you posted it without the thread drift🤷🏻‍♂️

1 person likes this

Takethedogalong replied on 12/04/2021 09:18

Member

Takethedogalong

Posted on 12/04/2021 08:39 by JohnM20

Talk about a thread being highjacked ! Of the 84 posts as a result of my OP only 1 actually answered my comments and another, after re-reading, believed it was just a general complaint about the BBC. No it wasn't.

At no point in my OP did I make any comment about the amount of coverage or the fact that the very same broadcast was on at least three BBC channels simultaneously even though I was disappointed by this. It was not the purpose of the post. It was about straplines and banners obliterating the screen and covering important information or images, for those that haven't bothered to read it.

I know threads can drift away from the OP, I've been guilty myself, but it appeared that people just wanted to complain about the coverage and my OP was a vehicle for them to immediately jump on to. It makes me wonder if it is ever worth asking a straightforward question on here.

Posted on 12/04/2021 09:18

I made brief reference to your dislike of the banners in my response. And yes I also raised the issue of how the blanket coverage of an event left many rather baffled about what was going on, or complaining because their viewing preferences had been altered. Sorry if it took your opening post away from the intended debate/ observation.

Try Channel 4 News, I don’t think the use of rolling news updates is as bad on there, and it’s usually a more in depth look at issues, rather than the hurried scurry through you get on the BBC or ITV news programmes.

Not sure how much else can be said about a news format that almost every single broadcaster has adopted, or can it be made any better? It is what it is🤷‍♀️

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