Test Match Special

Mark, re TMS and Sky not being in perfect sync - if you listen to TMS on DAB radio and watch Sky on the normal channel (non HD) they are *close* to perfect sync.

Mark writes that "the programme of course is now online" but it can take quite a while to find it!



There are *no* links to live listening that i can see from the Radio 4 Test Match Special page:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00c67t1



The Radio 4 pages once again leave the online reader to look elsewhere around the BBC.



I am an ardent fan of Radio 4, and TMS - "a defining part of R4's culture", says Mark - deserves better from the online team.







Readers of this blog can listen online here:

https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8138621.stm



Good wishes

nikki

Completely off-topic, but can I just say that..



1/ Mark Lawson interviewing Victoria Wood on Front Row,



and..



2/ Peter White's entire series of 'No Triumph, No Tragedy'



were excellent. Hope that No Triumph gets re-commissioned.

Just listened to Today with foreign secretary calling the area between Pakistan and Afghanistan as the 'bad lands'. When I hear such a total generalization of a huge land mass, let alone mass of different tribes of peoples, I feel anger rising up because it is obviously a label that is meant to convey to the British public - its OK to bomb there. I would encourage the today program to interview Greg Mortenson, head of the Central Asia Institute who has been building schools specifically in that area for 10 year - 55 in fact that seek to really combat the issue of fundamentalism by providing an alternative education to Madrassas especially focused on women who stay in communities over the longer term and thus create real change. Greg is an American offering education to women in a strong muslim area, who is now loved by the people there. if he can create fundamental change without bombs and on an extremely tight budget, ($12,000 per school), so can we. Please interview him and please read his story - the best seller 'three cups of tea'

thanks Steve, for the post - your link to BBC Sport is not correct :-(

#6. At 10:29am on 21 Aug 2009, nikki noodle wrote:



"thanks Steve, for the post - your link to BBC Sport is not correct :-("



Try this https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/tms/default.stm for TMS



Or https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/default.stm for the BBC Sport Cricket home page

But Steve, surely the point of 'test match special' is that some of their comments are widely off the topic of cricket !?

#8. At 1:54pm on 21 Aug 2009, lordBeddGelert wrote:



"But Steve, surely the point of 'test match special' is that some of their comments are widely off the topic of cricket !?



I think you've just bowled the "Googly" (if that is the correct spelling) there LBG! :-)

For those who post 'links' to BBC on-line live coverage...please be aware that these are only for those in the UK. I, living in France, can only get TMS/live coverage on 198KHz (steam radio R4).

Steve wondering if you can explain the lack of sync between the TV and the radio. As an Australian listener, it is a ritual for nearly 30 years that the TV sound is turned down and TMS is listened to. I dont understand how if it is out of sync the signal cant be modified for it to be in sync. Surely having it in sync with the TV should be a priority. If the TV change their signal so the radio is out of sync, why cant the radio adjust accordingly?

We were very happy to hear Henry on TMS as we werent quite sure if he would be on it or not. Also hearing Ian Chappell, untethered from his TV role where he gets to say not much in between the ads and what have you - it was a real pleasure. For Australians of a certain vintage he remains a paramount and most respected figure in our cricket. I used to enjoy the work of Don Mosey as well as Brian. I thought Don Mosey was a great commentator.

Sorry, I realise I should have asked Mark. Mark what can be done to ensure the radio and TV are in sync for the majority of the time? thank you

#12. At 05:33am on 24 Aug 2009, astrolin wrote:



"Steve wondering if you can explain the lack of sync between the TV and the radio. As an Australian listener, it is a ritual for nearly 30 years that the TV sound is turned down and TMS is listened to. I dont understand how if it is out of sync the signal cant be modified for it to be in sync. Surely having it in sync with the TV should be a priority. If the TV change their signal so the radio is out of sync, why cant the radio adjust accordingly?"



Sorry but why should the BBC do anything to encourage people to use a rival network, perhaps you should be asking BSkyB why they have such poor presentation and commentary values?!

#15. At 09:51am on 24 Aug 2009, steve_bowbrick wrote:



"There are so many points of delay in the digital distribution chain - encoders, decoders, MUXs, de-MUXs etc. - that it would be a waste of effort trying to synch signals - even if the signals arrived in your house in synch, your computer, set-top box or digital radio will insert its own unpredictable delay"



Yes, and attempt at syncing would have to be done at the point of use (viewing), the delay required (either audio or video) will be different depending on platforms used and were in the world the consumer is. It is possible to buy end user consumer spec equipment that can delay either vision of audio, if I remember correctly it's intended to sort out miss-matched audio-visual content on large built-in home-theatre type installations etc. but would probably work with these miss-matched cricket broadcasts. Saying that, quite why anyone would want to spend such money...

"metaphor and similie" No spellcheck in the BBC, was it banned by Lord Reith? ;)

I wish to thank you for your reply re sync. As an Australian I come from a cricket culture where Channel 9 commentary is not everyone's cup of tea. Endless promotions flogging this signed picture or whatever between deliveries. In the last few years, even poor old Richie Benaud has been corralled into saying "Such and such program is on at 830 tonight on Nine. Its very good viewing". So its been my practice for many years to turn the sound down and listen to the radio. Sync has only become an issue here and with the Ashes from England in the past few years. I can only put it down to the tv people wanting to subject you to their ads etc. Before then it everything was in synch.

Now I read this blog and realise there are technical issues in getting things in sync. TMS was in synch for us Aussies for the Lords test and that was abt it. As for BBC not wanting to synch their coverage with Sky, as they are another broadcaster, I find that puzzling. As far as I know they are the only TV broadcaster and in my opinion, the ABC and BBC should be providing commentary in synch for people at home rather than just provide commentary for people in their car or moving around. So I cant see the business case for denying fans an alternative to the TV but I acknowledge what was written about the techy side. On that, all I can say it was never the case in all the 80s and 90s Ashes series from England. But I bow to the technical remarks here.

Also Steve, with Australia playing two tests v Pakistan in England next year, will TMS be covering those? It would be nice if they did but I know an England team is not playing, so I am wondering.

thanks, again, Steve!!