The fight for our attention: How can sport broadcasters make themselves the most attractive option?"

Quote from BBC Sounds feature.
I see there is already criticism for the routine droppin(g) of 'g' by one of them....
Does it really matter?
Do the presenters offer enough - and relevant- information?

Whether it's sport or anything else I just want someone who knows something about what they are presenting. I get very irate about vacuous people exclaiming in amazement about something very mediocre. I don't care what accent they have as long as they have some knowledge to pass on.

Matt Baker, for example, gave up gymnastics at 14, presented Blue Peter, The One Show and now has the series about his family farm. He also commentates on women's gymnastics, which has a very different range of apparatus.
Sometimes I feel that importance is given to getting 'the right name' in the studio rather than the depth of their knowledge base and current experience (in judging, training, not necessarily competing).

Ii want them to say “Here is the 400metres. In Lane One (insert name) In Lane Two etc.

And then shut up!

If I wanted to listen to chatter I’d meet up with friends?

The real specialists I admire- the Dressage, Triathlon and skateboarding commentators imparted so much technical knowledge and passion for their sport and I find them fascinating.
I think it is because they don't' 'do' waffle or feel the need for general chitchat.

Really like Jill Douglas who's been covering the Olympic Rugby, she's really knows her stuff.
She's looks like a woman who pops up to do her commentary bit, while in the back she's been sorting out the children, organising the washing and doing an on line shop. Brilliant!

I cannot imagine anything that would make a sports commentator acceptable to me. I have no interest in any of it.

Actually, that’s not strictly true. I was a football fan for about two hours recently, but I have a short attention span and had got bored with it by the end of the evening.

That's just how I feel Peasblossom and as for the oft repeated friend and family interviews - enough already.

Poor woman criticised for dropping a ‘g ‘ it would be wrong if it was over pronounced like some accents do ( is it birmingham) where they put a ger on the end
As long as she’s saying the right facts in a pleasant voice what on earth gives that man the right to criticise

BlueBelle

Poor woman criticised for dropping a ‘g ‘ it would be wrong if it was over pronounced like some accents do ( is it birmingham) where they put a ger on the end
As long as she’s saying the right facts in a pleasant voice what on earth gives that man the right to criticise

So ok for her to drop g but not for Brummies to over pronounce, not an accent he was talking about, as in Brummie, but lazy English. If you are presenting to the world canoin , kickin, jumpin, runnin, are not in the sporting vocabulary. Does not taking longer to pronounce the g.