Var

[Witton Park]

You could say that about a lot of sports. How many "popular" olympic sports would have very few spectators outside of the olympics. There are so many sports that the general population has no interest in except for two weeks every four years or annually (Wimbleton, British Golf Open, etc).

The BBC have managed to "manufacture" interest in Tennis, Track Cycling, Gynmastics, etc,etc. If they were not on Free to Air TV would anybody care about them?

There are so many sports I have lost interest in becasue they have gone to Pay-to-View, and I am not interested enough to do so.

Actually the interest in cycling has been on an upward curve since the 80s with the coverage on commercial and satellite channels. The BBC coverage of track cycling is on the back of that and the success of the GB squad starting with Hoy, Wiggins etc.
Golf has always been popular. As a primary school kid I remember the opens won by Miller and Weiskopf, pro Celebrity Gold with Peter Alliss and the A Round with Alliss and I think we can all of a certain age remember Nellie Kim, Olga Corbett, Nadia Commanec (excuse spelling )

Back in the 70s there was only BBC and ITV. Grandstand, Sportsnight, Match of the Day, The Big Match, World of Sport....
They could pick and chose the sports they covered and the "fee" was either nil or negligible.
I even remember the Waterloo Cuo, crown green bowling from Blackpool, with stars like Brian Duncan and Stan Frith.
(I've beaten one of the ex winners )
Let's not forget One Man and his Dog!!!

What we see with the BBC since the satellite channels in particular came along, is that these new broadcasters often build up a sport and then the BBC come along and jump on the bandwagon.

Triathlon is the best example I can give.

The BBC doesn't always win of course because Sky in particular has deep pockets, but that the BBC for years was outbidding the commercial channels for F1 was ridiculous.


Remember as well that there are sporting "crown jewels" that must remain on terrestrial TV skewing the market somewhat.

[DrPatrickBarry]

I hear what you say about BBC 'manufacturing' interest in sports but I think this is a bit of a cynical view.

It was not intended to be cynical, I think it is great.

[noel]

Remember as well that there are sporting "crown jewels"...

We don't want to hear about that sort of filth on the forum.

[DrPatrickBarry]

We don't want to hear about that sort of filth on the forum.

Yes, after weening ourselves off politics we don't want to go onto royalty.

[anthonykay]

When I was injured I spend a couple of years as a member of a gym doing my core exercies. There are a mumber number of female members and the organised classes are so dominated by women, I felt like a dirty old man going to them and stopped going eventually. Why is that, I guess it is a safe friendly environment for them.

While it is brilliant that they are exercising it is also a pity that there are not more of them out doing competitive sport "in the wild".

I did aerobics for several years. The reason I gave up was not because I was intimidated by being surrounded by females, but because it knackered my right knee in a way that even running up and down hills wasn't doing. Oh, and I will be able to indulge my inner dirty old man next Monday when I am at Wimbledon and can watch athletic young ladies playing tennis.

"In the wild", I do see many women out running, both on the suburban streets and on the rural footpaths where I do most of my running; but of course the numbers in competitive events in the wild are smaller.

[DrPatrickBarry]

I do spin classes to top up my fitness without impact. I'm often the only bloke in the class....I understand what you mean Pat! Now, wheres me mac!

Actually at PureGym in Altrincham when I went, Spin was one of the far better ones. It would be 1/3 male.

[Wheeze]

I would venture that 9 out of 10 people I see pounding the streets of my home town are XX. I find that most encouraging but I do wonder where all the blokes are? Maybe they are all out on bikes with their lycra plumage outlining every bulge!

[noel]

What about XYY? Basketball?

[Stagger]

There are some sports that are better to watch in the women's game. Tennis is one of these - I think men's tennis is almost too powerful with lots of big serves.

I quite enjoy women's football, but it takes a while to set my expectations regarding the speed and power of the players having spent so many years watching the men's game. I'm looking forward to the semi-final.

WHAT??

Butch women grunting at each other in skimpy outfits.

Bloody rubbish. Total turn off before the game even starts.

[biaraV2]

BBC jumping on the triathlon bandwagon seems harsh. I'm certain they used to broadcast races such as Bath back in the early 90s before the Olympics destroyed triathlon!! I remember watching Simon Lessing and Spencer Smith have some epic battles.

For lots of shows, BBC and Channel 4 risk some early series and then they get purchased by higher bidders such as Sky!! Remember that the Simpsons was originally on Channel 4 (who are of course part owned by BBC)