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UK regulator presents broadcaster with stump microphone challenge.
Elizabeth Ammon.
Elizabeth Ammon.
The Times.
Tuesday, 17 December 2019.
PTG 2975-14763.
The UK’s Sky Sports will be reviewing their use of the stump microphones and sound equipment attached to on-ground cameras following an UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) ruling that found them in breach of regulations regarding the broadcasting of obscene or foul language before the 9 pm watershed. Ofcom received complaints about audible offensive language in three matches during the last northern summer, two of the incidents from live audio from the stump microphones, once in an Ashes match and once in a live Twenty20 Blast match.
In the live coverage of the third Ashes Test from Headingley in late August, one player who had just been dismissed could be heard shouting “f*** off . . . f****** prick . . . f*** you” as he walked off the pitch. Sky said that the obscenities were picked up by one of their camera’s microphones. And in early September, during a live Blast match, a player was heard via the stump microphone shouting “f***”.
The third incident happened when David Gower, commentating during the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval — his final Test for the company — believed that his microphone was not live and said “haven’t got a f***ing clue”. Sky were cleared of this complaint because it was made in error and an on-air apology was made immediately.
The first two incidents were deemed by Ofcom to have breached their rules that state: “The most offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed” time and “in applying generally accepted standards, broadcasters must ensure material which may cause offence is justified by the context . . . such material may include . . . offensive languague”.
Last year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) changed their regulations which mean that broadcasters have discretion over whether viewers are able to hear what players say to each other in between deliveries (PTG 2498-12622, 3 July 2018). Before that the ICC had decreed that stump microphones had to be turned off between deliveries but it is now up to the broadcaster and the amended rules were part of the ICC’s attempt to clamp down on bad behaviour. The international players’ union is not happy about the situation either (PTG 2729-13638, 16 February 2019).
The ICC’s reasoning was that if players realised what they were saying could be heard by the viewing public they may tone levels of on-field abuse. Leaving the volume turned up gives the viewer some insight into what is being discussed by the wicketkeeper and slip cordon and if anything is being directed at the batsman. However, broadcasters cannot have any control over the language used by the players and have to be mindful of Ofcom regulations.
Having been found in breach of these regulations, Sky will be cautious about keeping the microphone levels on the stumps and their in-ground cameras turned up and broadcast live and are likely to err on the side of caution, only using the audio in replays meaning that any bad language can be cut out.
In the first Test match between Australia and New Zealand in Perth this week, the commentators decided at one point to not talk for a whole over so viewers could listen to the audio from the stump microphones. Radio broadcasters took a similar approach at times and later discussed what they were hearing.
Congratulations to Tom Moores who gained a Lions T20 selection for the 50 over leg of the Australia tour next year - one for future quizes: the same squad contains two players named Ollie Robinson.
Lets hope an apparent Outlaws Lions curse doesn't extend to Tom after it has struck Paul Coughlan, Joe Clarke and Zak Chappell recently in varying ways.
The UK’s Sky Sports will be reviewing their use of the stump microphones and sound equipment attached to on-ground cameras following an UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) ruling that found them in breach of regulations regarding the broadcasting of obscene or foul language before the 9 pm watershed. Ofcom received complaints about audible offensive language in three matches during the last northern summer, two of the incidents from live audio from the stump microphones, once in an Ashes match and once in a live Twenty20 Blast match.
In the live coverage of the third Ashes Test from Headingley in late August, one player who had just been dismissed could be heard shouting “f*** off . . . f****** prick . . . f*** you” as he walked off the pitch. Sky said that the obscenities were picked up by one of their camera’s microphones. And in early September, during a live Blast match, a player was heard via the stump microphone shouting “f***”.
The third incident happened when David Gower, commentating during the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval — his final Test for the company — believed that his microphone was not live and said “haven’t got a f***ing clue”. Sky were cleared of this complaint because it was made in error and an on-air apology was made immediately.
The first two incidents were deemed by Ofcom to have breached their rules that state: “The most offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed” time and “in applying generally accepted standards, broadcasters must ensure material which may cause offence is justified by the context . . . such material may include . . . offensive languague”.
Last year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) changed their regulations which mean that broadcasters have discretion over whether viewers are able to hear what players say to each other in between deliveries (PTG 2498-12622, 3 July 2018). Before that the ICC had decreed that stump microphones had to be turned off between deliveries but it is now up to the broadcaster and the amended rules were part of the ICC’s attempt to clamp down on bad behaviour. The international players’ union is not happy about the situation either (PTG 2729-13638, 16 February 2019).
The ICC’s reasoning was that if players realised what they were saying could be heard by the viewing public they may tone levels of on-field abuse. Leaving the volume turned up gives the viewer some insight into what is being discussed by the wicketkeeper and slip cordon and if anything is being directed at the batsman. However, broadcasters cannot have any control over the language used by the players and have to be mindful of Ofcom regulations.
Having been found in breach of these regulations, Sky will be cautious about keeping the microphone levels on the stumps and their in-ground cameras turned up and broadcast live and are likely to err on the side of caution, only using the audio in replays meaning that any bad language can be cut out.
In the first Test match between Australia and New Zealand in Perth this week, the commentators decided at one point to not talk for a whole over so viewers could listen to the audio from the stump microphones. Radio broadcasters took a similar approach at times and later discussed what they were hearing.
Audio from stump microphones led to a four-match suspension for Sarfaraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain at the time, for a racist comment he made towards the South Africa all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo in January (PTG 2713-13560, 2 February 2019). The West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was suspended for four One Day Internationals for an apparently homophobic remark he made during an exchange with Joe Root in the third Test against England in St Lucia in February (PTG 2726-13620, 14 February 2019).
Congratulations to Tom Moores who gained a Lions T20 selection for the 50 over leg of the Australia tour next year - one for future quizes: the same squad contains two players named Ollie Robinson.
Lets hope an apparent Outlaws Lions curse doesn't extend to Tom after it has struck Paul Coughlan, Joe Clarke and Zak Chappell recently in varying ways.
But still ok in football matches to broadcast swearing in the crowd?
ReplyDeleteFamously in a rugby league match in the 80s, the crowd shouted “ the referee’s a w....ker” and commentator Ray French responded “ the crowd really getting behind Warrington now”
ReplyDeleteWe had so much more polite swear words in the old days !
ReplyDeleteAnyone recall BIG Fletch and his classic gaffe with Dave"double corset" Bracegirdle when he didn't realise he was live on the radio ?
ReplyDelete