Full-time for BBC's Grandstand
Full-time for BBC's Grandstand
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Tuesday, 25, Apr 2006 01:00
The BBC's Grandstand is to be hauled off our screens after nearly five decades of programming.
BBC director general Mark Thompson is expected to announce the famed sports show which first aired in 1958 will be phased out by 2009 as part of wholesale changes.
Sport will remain an integral part of the broadcaster's programming, Thompson will insist, but Grandstand is considered to have outlived its time.
The news has been met with little surprise and indeed Des Lynam, who presented Grandstand between 1978 and 1999, has described the decision as "inevitable".
"I'm sad about it in many ways because the programme stood the test of time for so long," Lynam said.
"But with multi-channel television, people will only really watch live events when they are big-time.
"The days of viewers sticking with the programme for five hours just because it was on are gone."
Roger Mosey, director of sport at the BBC, has explained that one of the key factors behind the need for a programming overhaul has been recent advances in technology, and in particular internet broadcasting.
Grandstand has only ever had a select few anchor presenters during its 50-year spell on TV, those being Peter Dimmock, David Coleman, Frank Bough, Lynam and Steve Rider.
Occasional hosts have included John Inverdale, Sue Barker, Alan Weeks, Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine, David Vine, Harry Carpenter, Tony Gubba, Helen Rollason, Ray Stubbs and Dougie Donnelly.