Sky yesterday claimed the live television rights to the glamorous Oscar awards, outbidding the BBC to broadcast the ceremony with a multi-million pound three year deal.
As well as this, Sky have also won rights to broadcast highlights of the event the following evening, as the Oscars are broadcast live in the UK when most of its residents have gone to sleep, so viewers are therefore more likely to watch the extended highlights the following day.
Barry Norman, who left the BBC to join Sky earlier this year (see Newsline) will host Sky’s coverage of the event, which will be broadcast in March 1999.
This is not the first serious blow to be dealt to the BBC of late. Last week saw the Group lose its rights to English Test Cricket, as Channel 4 snatched away the broadcasting rights in a deal worth £103 million. Channel 4 will share coverage with the giant of subscription sport, BSkyB (see Newsline).
Additionally, one of the BBC’s most respected and long-running children’s programmes, Blue Peter, was the subject of a scandal this week when one of its presenters, Richard Bacon, was given the sack after admitting to having used cocaine. The BBC’s head of children’s programming appeared on television before the start of the programme to explain the situation, and said that Mr Bacon had let down the programme, its team and its viewers.
Other trouble spots for the Group include BBC staff holding a three hour strike this afternoon to protest against above inflation pay increases for senior managers of the corporation, and Radio 4 is bracing itself for a wave of criticism, as Thursday sees the release of its latest listening figures. The station’s share of total radio listening has fallen from 10.3% to 9.3%
Sky: 0171 705 3200 BBC: 0181 743 8000
