BT Sport

[Free Ian Brown]

Does anyone really believe anything will actually be done on the back of this by BT?

Not trying to be argumentative as I think the questions are really good - frank and not blinkered - but will probably be replied to with non-specific, wishy-washy, non-answers.

I just think that they don't really give a fuck. And possibly they're actually getting publicity from the whole situation.

For what its worth I cancelled BT on the back of this issue, which is a shame as their other sports coverage, particularly the rugby, is excellent.

 

[SilverFox2]

I think they realise there's an issue, but I agree that they don't care. Not in any meaningful sense.

Absolutely.

They know exactly what they are doing and deliberately employ pundits more likely to be viewed by their paying public.

 

[bluemike]

Had the misfortune to see an EE ad on the box for free BT, whatever.
Can anybody guess two of the Premier League managers to feature (although not directly)? Clue: Pep isn't one of them. And 'Arry also shows his droopy features.

Don't think it has sold it to me.

 

[unexpected item]

I bet there's been a bidding war between BT and Sky for the services of Giggs. Let's hope he gets a manager role asap or he'll be perched on the BT sofa giving it "City have been very lucky to scrape through 4-0 against these Latvian part timers Gary" before we know it.

 

[Bigga]

Here are the questions I have sent to Simon Green this morning that he has agreed to answer for publication.

There are a number of pertinent omissions - namely the flyer and McManaman/Mills - but I took them out for balance and because with them in it just looked like a unremitting attack.

1/ While it is obviously important to appeal to every football fan regardless of allegiance would it be fair to suggest that the key demographic for any live game are the people who pay to use your service in order to watch their club?

2/ Prior to this interview I conducted a survey with 50 supporters on two BT Sport pundits and a co-commentator – namely Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen. I was careful to ask fans of varying ages who support several different Premier League clubs and the questions were put to them neutrally. I am happy to share the data Simon but it is fair to state that the feedback was overwhelmingly negative with many of the responses not fit for print.

You have previously stated the importance of having Champions League winners in the pundit’s chairs - and nobody can dispute the pedigree of these former players nor the experience that pedigree brings – but at what point does gravitas continue to outweigh an acceptable degree of competence in their role?

3/ With hundreds of millions of pounds invested in your Champions League coverage one can only imagine the number of meetings that took place prior to, and during, last season. At any stage did any individual at any level state a concern that it may be problematic to have two Manchester United legends analyse Manchester City matches?

4/ Did the subsequent outcry from City fans surprise you?

5/ Do you believe that Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand are capable of being objective in their punditry towards a club they quite openly – and understandably – dislike?

6/ When Rio Ferdinand publicly states that he wants Manchester City to lose prior to the game and when Jake Humphreys jokes to Paul Scholes after a subsequent City win “We should quite rightly praise them…as hard as it is” these are surely candid acknowledgements that impartiality is difficult for the United legends in question? Which begs the query – what on earth are they doing there commenting on a huge night for Manchester City and their multitude of watching supporters?

7/ Many Manchester City supporters have compared BT Sport’s coverage of City’s Champions League games last season to watching their club on MUTV such was the persistent tone of negativity and outright petty digs on occasion. Knowing that these are paying customers to your company how does that personally make you feel?

8/ Why was there such a distinct difference in tone and narrative in your coverage of City in the Champions League and Liverpool in the Europa League last season? While the former was unrelentingly negative to the point of hostility – where even a win felt like a wake afterwards – the other was reverential, celebratory and always partisan. Do you indeed accept there was any difference?

9/ A large number of City supporters believe that this was a deliberate and considered strategy on your part: that BT Sport attempted to curry favour with the larger fanbases of Liverpool, United and Arsenal aware too that City are unpopular with the mainstream audience. How do you respond to this charge?

10/ Deliberate or otherwise BT Sport’s coverage of Manchester City’s Champions League campaign last season has led to Blues cancelling their subscription in droves. Do you believe the relationship between the fifth largest fanbase in the UK and a major broadcasting company has now become irreparable? Do you accept that though every club’s fanbase have grievances with the media we are now in unchartered waters as regards to the severity of this?

11/ What would you say to the City fans who have either cancelled their subscription or are considering doing so ahead of the new season?

12/ Can we expect to see fairer coverage of the club in the future and do you acknowledge the pertinent point that City fans do not want special treatment but only to see the same coverage afforded to their rivals?

Missed a trick not drawing direct correlation to their main rival in GN, at least, trying to be neutral in commentary.

A lot of those questions could be answered the same way.

 

[john@staustell]

Had the misfortune to see an EE ad on the box for free BT, whatever.
Can anybody guess two of the Premier League managers to feature (although not directly)? Clue: Pep isn't one of them. And 'Arry also shows his droopy features.

Don't think it has sold it to me.

Pep probably told them to fuck off

 

[Lancet Fluke]

Nothing wrong with the questions but sadly I expect the response to be "you can't please all of the people all of the time" written in 12 slightly varied ways. No way will he admit that they fucked up and certainly not that they are deliberately biased, he will make out the whole thing is just in our heads.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Nothing wrong with the questions but sadly I expect the response to be "you can't please all of the people all of the time" written in 12 slightly varied ways. No way will he admit that they fucked up and certainly not that they are deliberately biased, he will make out the whole thing is just in our heads.

I think he'll go a bit further, but not much more. I'm certainly not expecting him to acknowledge that Scholes and Ferdinand are thick rag cunts.

 

[Lancet Fluke]

I think he'll go a bit further, but not much more. I'm certainly not expecting him to acknowledge that Scholes and Ferdinand are thick rag cunts.

I am pretty sure we will be more angry not less angry once we have seen his response which will tell us all we need to know in terms of their utter disdain for our club and its supporters. I'm pretty sure the whole thing has been deliberate, it would be almost impossible for them to have been so consistently biased against us and it be some kind of faux pas. It would be impossible for him to admit to it being deliberate so his response will inevitably be a whitewash. More of us need to complain and if possible ditch the service and tell them exactly why, it's the only way we will have the slightest chance of getting anywhere.

 

[the-ecstacy-of-eight]

Can't understand why any blue still has BT.