Roger Mosey BBC Director of Sport

Hello. I'm Roger Mosey, the BBC's Director of Sport - and I'm here to answer your questions about what we do.

So I've updated this page by answering some of your feedback about this year's Sports Personality of the Year show.

But I've also kept underneath, for reference, my previous answers related to some of BBC Sport's coverage in November - whether it's on TV, radio and the web.

We receive hundreds of emails and do read them all, so thanks for taking the time to give us your views - it's great to get such valuable feedback.

There's no room to reproduce all the emails, but you'll see that I try to answer a selection of your questions, which I hope are representative of the most common topics that were raised...

Regards,
Roger

Q: Why was the trophy in Pakistan? Does that mean the vote was fixed?
A: The trophy in Lahore was a replica. The real one was in the studio, so we were covered for all eventualities.

Q: Why don't you publish the voting figures?
A: We have done. Andrew Flintoff won with 194,040 votes - and Ellen MacArthur came second with 115,932.

Q: How about Sue Barker's joke about Henson and Church?
A: Here's a revelation. In a two-hour live programme, not every single thing works. This joke didn't, but the show as a whole was watched by more than 8 million people - and our research suggests that Sue Barker and Gary Lineker were very highly rated by the audience for their presentation. I agree with that view: they're terrific. You'll always get a degree of carping from newspapers about Sports Personality because it's such a big show in every sense, but the viewing figures built up strongly through the two hours and that's one indicator of success. Another is the stellar cast list that the programme attracts.

Q: Do you regret making the England cricket team stay up and then lose the next day's international?
A: Well, I noticed that we were blamed for the loss in the second match - but someone else must have been to blame for the even bigger defeat in the third one-dayer! But seriously: I heard Andrew Strauss on Radio Five Live saying it hadn't been a problem, and winning the main award is something for which most sportsmen and women would stay up. At every stage we liaised with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Q: Why was there not more sporting action, or why was it presented in such an arty way?
A: There's always a balance to be struck between simply broadcasting highlights of the year and making films that capture more of the emotion of sport. You can't please everyone, but we always factor in response to the programme when planning the next one. Personally I think this is a time of year when people can very rapidly tire of endless rehashes in all media of "what happened in 2005", so we do need to add something extra - and I thought there were some really imaginative touches in the way the films were made.

Q: Will you be changing anything for next year?
A: The programme will always change, yes. That's how it's thrived for more than 50 years. We're proud of what the programme does, but we're always looking to innovate. So watch this space.

Q: Why have you not shown a repeat or highlights of England v Argentina? This was an outstanding match and many people are extremely disappointed to not have a chance to see it again! Your competitors (ITV or SkySports) would certainly have done this...
Rachel Skelton, England

A: We share some of our contracts and in this case we had the live game and Sky had the rights to the repeat showing. That said, we did show highlights in Sunday Grandstand yesterday and in the World Cup next year we're planning to re-run most of the key games.

Q: How can John Motson be your No 1 commentator? I always turn the sound off when he's on. Barry Davies and Martin Tyler are head and shoulders above Motson. Apart from that BBC Sport provides excellent coverage.
Arthur Neat, England

A: Nobody will ever agree on a favourite commentator. My own view is Motty is one of the all-time greats and I was reading in a piece in one of the papers this morning saying how good he was in the Argentina game.

Equally, some people who called or emailed the BBC disagreed vigorously!

Q: The United States of America has a written constitution which protects minorities from the tyranny of the majority. Isn't it about time the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish public were protected from the BBC's obsession with England teams and England players ? Why has objective journalism and even-handedness been replaced by a narrow focused search for ratings? We all pay the licence fee.
Chris Tough, Wales

A: Yes, we should reflect the whole of the UK. But an observation: the BBC's commitment to the nations and regions of the UK means there are usually different versions of our output. For instance, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru as well as BBC Wales television will supply coverage of major Welsh sport - alongside the UK networks.

Q: I am disappointed that we don't have coverage of the England-Australia game live. It seems like I'm paying the licence fee for nothing?
Vince Pinhorn, UK

A: We don't have the live TV rights to the England autumn internationals, but three pieces of good news.

First, we have the other home nations' games - so we'll be in Cardiff next weekend for Wales v South Africa as well as in Dublin for Ireland v Australia.

Second, we do have highlights of the England Twickenham matches - so you'll be able to see England v New Zealand on BBC THREE next Saturday evening.

And third: the Six Nations will be exclusively live on BBC Television early next year - including the Twickenham games. That's not to mention our radio commentaries on all the top rugby on Radio Five Live.

Q: Why isn't the Test Match Special cricket commentary online?
Ricky, USA

A: It's a rights issue, I'm afraid: we have radio commentary for UK listeners to Five Live Sports Extra or Radio 4 Long Wave, but we haven't got an agreement to put this online.

However, TMS will be back online for next summer's home series in the UK.

Q: I'm an avid 5 live listener and regularly enjoy your live coverage of different sporting events. I am however often left frustrated as so many of your live coverage is UK only. Why is this and is there any way that I can get live commentary on more football, cricket and other popular sports?
Mark Chambers, Japan

A: Another rights issue. We always try to secure as much access as possible, but often coverage is restricted to the UK and is blocked to the rest of the world.

This is because rights-holders make separate deals for overseas territories, so you may find there's an alternative provider in Japan - or it may be worth looking at the rights-holders' own websites because sometimes they make commentary available there for worldwide audiences.

Q: Is the BBC going to bring back cricket to our screens like county matches, the Totesport League, the C&G Trophy or the 20/20 Cup (not including the world cup highlights in 2007).
Danny Lee, England

A: We've said we'd like to be back in live cricket when it's next available - which will be in 2010. It depends on the way the sport is divided up for television, and we want to be sure that we can schedule it and that it's available at a fair price.

But you're right that it would be good to have more cricket in addition to our radio and online commitments - and, as you say, our acquisition of the World Cup highlights for TV is a sign of how seriously we take the sport.

Q: I think your coverage of the rugby league Tri-Nations between GB, NZ and Australia has been somewhat disappointing. All we get is a highlights programme on a Sunday afternoon, hardly any mentions on news bulletins etc. How is our game expected to grow when it receives nothing in the form of media exposure?
Scott Mossop, England

A: I'm a rugby league fan myself and my personal view is that it is sometimes a bit low-down in sports news running orders. It's something we'll talk about internally.

As you know, our commitment to rugby league is mainly in live Challenge Cup coverage - but we'll also continue to offer highlights of other major games. I went to GB v NZ at Loftus Road, and it was a great game despite the result - so very good to see again on Sunday Grandstand.

We also do Rugby League programming specifically for the North of England: the Superleague Show and Rugby League Raw, which I can recommend if you haven't caught it.

Q: Hi, it's good to know that you're covering every major event. I personally think a idea would be to have your own BBC Sport channel and cover more wide range of sport too.
Chris Joyce, UK

A: In some ways I think what we're able to do now thanks to new technology - like interactive television and online streaming for broadband - is actually better than simply having a channel.

The main point is to offer people choice: hence the offer of up to 8 different sports at the Olympics, or the ability to switch between courts at Wimbledon.

We'll also be using our interactive services to bring extended coverage of major events like the Australian Open tennis, which otherwise wouldn't be available at full length on the regular channels. You'll increasingly find sports offered as an additional digital service during Grandstand, too.

Q: Will the BBC commit to putting a really competitive bid into winning some top flight league football? If not Premiership, then perhaps the Championship - anything. It would be good to see one top flight game a week on terrestrial TV, free to view for all.
Mark Turner, England

A: At the moment nobody can tell how the next football rights deal will be divided up, so we'll have to see what happens in the discussions between the Premier League and the EU and then in the contract negotiations that follow.

But BBC Television does have a good portfolio at the moment: the FA Cup and live England home internationals - plus, of course, Match of the Day... and I absolutely agree that it's good to have top-class sport free to all on terrestrial television.

The issue is providing value for money for licence fee-payers and balancing our range of commitments. The BBC invests heavily in sport, but needless to say we don't have infinite amounts of cash to spend.

Q: How did you manage to lose the best sports presenter on BBC to ITV - I'm talking about Steve Rider. As a viewer of sport I'm a little fed up with the overuse of Claire Balding, Craig Doyle etc and the underuse of Mr Rider. It is a great shame that the main anchor for Grandstand has gone to ITV. Why did you let this travesty happen, and who will anchor the Commonwealth Games, Olympics, rugby, golf etc etc know he has gone???
Andrew Charlton, England

A: I don't think there's much profit in debating what happened in the past. The main thing is we believe we now have a terrific line-up in BBC Sport. John Inverdale has become our main presenter on rugby; we'll be announcing our new face of golf tomorrow; and the major events next year will be presented by teams including Sue Barker, Gary Lineker and Hazel Irvine - who are all highly rated by our audience - along with some of our fresh up-and-coming talent.

Q: Can you please bid to show SPL highlights in Scotland? We have a dire show on STV and we are all fed up with it. With the SPL being a four-horse race this season it would attract a large viewing audience also.
Joe Woods, Scotland

A: I'll pass those thoughts on to colleagues in BBC Scotland. As a neutral, it's good to see the Old Firm having to battle on a wider front this year.

Q: I am very disappointed at the lack of tennis coverage. Apart from Wimbledon, the BBC shows almost no tennis at all, and fans have to rely on Sky - for those of us like me who cannot get Sky - it is especially appalling that I can't get to see my favourite sport more often. Hopefully, with the emergence of Andy Murray, you will take notice at the BBC and start covering a few more matches.
Gillian Arnold, UK

A: Well, we scheduled Henman v Murray at short notice - and, as I said in response to an earlier question, we'll be showing more of the Australian Open tennis next year on our digital services.

Then Wimbledon remains one of the jewels in our crown, with a long-term contract guaranteeing its future on BBC television and radio. My own view is the success of Andy Murray will give a massive boost to British tennis - as Tim'n'Greg have done in the past.

Q: Hello Roger. Do us all a favour and get the BBC bosses to get F1 back on BBC where it belongs. ITV coverage is a shambles. And then some!!!!
Mike, Wales UK

A: F1 is under contract to ITV for some years ahead. But I'm pleased to say we've just signed a new deal for F1 on BBC radio.

Q: Please show more snooker on the TV.
Danny Lee, England

A: A new five-year deal has just been signed between the snooker governing body and the BBC, so we'll be maintaining our present commitments. Additionally, interactive services means we'll be covering more snooker live than ever before - and we've also just carried out a successful experiment with reviving Pot Black as a special event for Grandstand.

Q: More (sorry, some) cycling coverage would be nice.
Rhodopsin, UK

A: It's coming up in the Commonwealth Games - and our hope is that cycling, like other sports, will achieve a higher profile in the UK ahead of London 2012.

Q: Your failure to cover martial arts in the UK is appaling. Martial arts practitioners in the UK out-number boxers by 4-1 !
Tony Skinner, England

A: I'd have to accept that as a technical knock-out.

Q: This has to be the best website in the world. My only criticism is that it's so good that I don't get enough work done!
Henry Johnson, UK

A: Thanks for all the kind comments we received. We really value feedback because it helps us to maintain the highest standards, so I'm happy to reply to emails.

Q: Ey oop - 'ow long as tha bin a passionate Bradford City fan?
Ernest Arkwright, Bradford

A: Sin' 'ah were nobbut a lad.