Prom 1 - 18.07.14: The First Night - Elgar: The Kingdom, BBC SO / A. Davis

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My TV must have a really special remote control. Unlike HGs, it can get BBC4 just as quickly and easily as BBC2.

[Pulcinella]

It's fairly obvious that sports fans much prefer to watch major events covered live, in real time, not deferred.

Showing the First Night on BBC2 is a shop window for the whole Proms season to the general public. Many of them wouldn't notice it at all if it kicked off on BBC4.

The present scheduling gives prominence on BBC2 to both Sport and Music.

It would perhaps suit you better to cut the Proms season by a week and start it on the following Friday when BBC2 could show the First Night live at 7.30.

Or the live concert could be scheduled at 8.00, with an understanding that it would be delayed in the RAH for up to an hour if the Open golf were to over-run, if live tv coverage in real-time were considered paramount.

So it's acceptable for a whole RAH audience (and performers) to be kept waiting for the Open to finish is it?
Typical BBC arrogance and disdain for music lovers, of the sort that constrained participants in Choral Evensong to fit in with a (ridiculously unsuitable for many) 3:30 `kick-off'!

[Honoured Guest]

My TV must have a really special remote control. Unlike HGs, it can get BBC4 just as quickly and easily as BBC2.

You miss my point, perhaps deliberately. The committed audience, actively seeking the programme, like you, would watch on any accessible channel. A larger general audience will view on BBC2 than BBC4.

As an example, I know people who select what to watch by looking at the tv listings for the main four channels (BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4) in the daily newspaper. One of them, who used to see some of the late evening weekly BBC1 Proms, moaned to me that there were so few Proms on tv now.

[Honoured Guest]

So it's acceptable for a whole RAH audience (and performers) to be kept waiting for the Open to finish is it?
Typical BBC arrogance and disdain for music lovers,

No, it's not acceptable, which is why the Proms tv coverage is deferred. I was pointing out to you how the First Night could be broadcast live on BBC2 on the same day as the Open golf.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Living in the past? 4 main channels?

Things have movef on.

[Honoured Guest]

Living in the past? 4 main channels?

Things have movef on.

These are consistently the most-viewed tv channels.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

These are consistently the most-viewed tv channels.

With that rationale, perhaps the FNOTP should be moved from Radio 3 to Radio 2.

[Honoured Guest]

With that rationale, perhaps the FNOTP should be moved from Radio 3 to Radio 2.

As I'm sure that you well know, that was how radio scheduling worked up until 1967(?) when Radios 1,2,3 and 4 started and every genre was separated out to specific stations. Before then, some Proms were broadcast on the Light Programme, some on the Home Service and some on the Third Programme, dependant on the nature of the music. BBC tv scheduling now lies somewhere between these two radio scheduling approaches, but it's closer to the old Light/Home/Third approach than to the present 1/1xtra/2/6music/3/4/4extra/5live/sports extra/asian network system.

[french frank]

How so? They were always on the schedule and are not infrequent FNOP visitors for works needing extensive choral forces.

Yes, I know that they were always on the schedule; and probably the Symphony Chorus would need to be augmented beyond the possible for this work. Perhaps I should have said 'Good' rather than 'Interesting' because for me, personally, the prospect of a fine hearty Welsh choir to supplement the Symphony Chorus is a delight! :-)

[VodkaDilc]

Yes, I know that they were always on the schedule; and probably the Symphony Chorus would need to be augmented beyond the possible for this work. Perhaps I should have said 'Good' rather than 'Interesting' because for me, personally, the prospect of a fine hearty Welsh choir to supplement the Symphony Chorus is a delight! :-)

The combined Welsh forces in the memorable Bernstein Mass Prom two years ago were stunning.

[teamsaint]

In some ways I can see where HG is coming from.

However, if the BBC wants , i mean REALLY wants, to drive up viewing figures on BBC 4, surely the FNOTP is an absolutely excellent opportunity.

No mucking about, just live, as it happens, properly and sensitively trailed, (EG on BBC1) and they could hit a big audience, AND keep armchair golf fans (is there any other sort?) happy.
And I think that is something we all want .

Although, I'm not really sure a thriving BBC 4 is going to help the old budget cutters.......

[Barbirollians]

Watching the bumptious Andrew Davis bouncing up and down is hardly likely to have the hordes stampeding for more classical music especially in Elgar choral music

[Honoured Guest]

This full-evening choral work gets a repeat in lieu of The Choir on the following Sunday. Some people here will be wetting themselves - Choir Works on a Sunday!

[french frank]

This full-evening choral work gets a repeat in lieu of The Choir on the following Sunday. Some people here will be wetting themselves - Choir Works on a Sunday!

Are you retired, HG?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Are you retired, HG?

Definitely an owl.