Posts in the category: Debate

X Factor or X Rated?

Sunday night saw Rihanna take to the stage for the X factor results show.  The singer was rapped for last years ‘raunchy’ and explicit performance and from Monday’s headlines it appeared that she returned to controversial form with swear words scrawled across her shoes.  Although not as x-rated as last year’s performance, it meant that once again; the X-factor hit the headlines in a controversial manner.
However, surely this is something that the X-factor needs?  With dwindling viewing figures and Strictly Come Dancing winning the battle of Saturday night TV in terms of popularity, the X-factor seems to be pushing the boundaries in whatever way it can to remain front of mind. Remember, that this is a show that had Frankie Cocozza as a contestant – a young man who appeared to worship Pete Doherty and spend more time in the pub than actually singing.  We have also had stories of bullying, back stage bitchiness and boybands changing their line-up on a daily basis and the series isn’t even finished yet.  Is this what the show needs to pull in viewers?  Do we tune in to hear young people sing or see which judge can come up with the best insult to a fellow panel member?
I personally didn’t see the shoes (apart from in the paper) and wouldn’t label Rihanna’s performance last year as ‘explicit’ but surely X factor needs these types of artists on their show to deliver audiences?  Year on year, the X-factor appears to be more about the headlines and the controversy on-air (and off it) rather than the contestants and their singing ability.   

What is it about sport that makes men go giddy?

Now, I truly believe men and women should be equal in everything, sport viewing included but the one sport that doesn’t seem to have a huge female fan base is Cricket.

I like my sports but I will tell you the knowledge I, as a girl, know about cricket. It goes on FOREVER. It is slow. There’s this thing called ‘leg before wicket’ that is shortened to LBW but apart from that all I know is there is a bat and a ball involved.

Maxus, as you will be aware, have moved into a swanky new office with all new mod cons and the one thing that is an eye opener is how well received our new TV’s are. We have one everywhere. We can pick whatever we want on them but for the last week the screens have been dominated by… you’ve guessed it. The bloody cricket. Indeed, it’s the cricket world cup and I am sure it is interesting for some people but unlike other sports that have managed to get a following from both genders; cricket remains predominately male.

I understand The Cricket World Cup has grown as a media event with each tournament. The International Cricket Council has sold the rights for broadcasting of the 2011 Cricket World Cup for around US$ 2 Billion to ESPN Star Sports and Star Cricket. The tournament is being broadcasted all around the world in about 220 countries. These are massive figures and very impressive considering that only 1 in 325 (approx.) women take any interest in the sport at all.

I’m asking my girls, can any of you tell me the appeal? Please. If Maxus are anything to go by, it’s purely a male sport.

Football's coming home - on foot!

Last's nights brilliant, albeit easy, 6-0 performance by England against Andorra pulled in 9.7 million viewers at peak time. TV viewing figures perhaps somewhat higher than predicted due to those with Wembley tickets being forced to watch from home. All this down to the RMT union leading strike action on the tube.

As we all know, the city becomes somewhat paralysed when any transport is affected, and apparently the potential collective loss to London's business' caused by this strike could be as much as £100 million. Who knows how much of a loss Wembley stadium made last night!

However, I think there is a good point to take from all this chaos and that is that it may have alerted the commuters and Londoners that we could save collectively, millions if we were to seek alternative modes of transport to our places of work.

I was personally baffled at the sheer number of people walking the streets last night as usually they are hidden away underground and watching the riverboats cruise by, busier than ever with commuters precariously perching on deck due to the lack of seats inside.

I read about someone considering riding their horse into town and many using scooters - the foot powered variety to get to work and personally having spotted two children hitching a ride on the back of, what I hope was, their Grandmas mobility scooter, it made me wonder how many ingenious modes of transport were actually thought up yesterday?

Whether you struggled to get to Wembley to see England thrash the Andorrans or whether you were just trying to go about your normal day, how have you been transporting yourself during the strikes?

For gods sake think of the planet - and what people really want - return of the angry post blog

I think this may even have appeared in the BJKEshed before but it makes me so cross wanted to revent. I dont know about everyone else but I get masses of post every week which goes straight in the bin which is driving me crazy. Prime suspects are:

> £500 day "book now last chance for this great price" conferences on some obscure piece of marketing strategy

> Poorly thought out media owner promotional material - how many cardboard pen holders can I possibly make use of on one desk?

Now I know people have to promote themselves ... but in this age of online technology is it totally necessary to make me chuck reams of material away every week? Couldn't a little bit more imagination be used?

Grrrrrr

Race for the Title 08/09

With the new Premiership season starting this Saturday I thought it would be fun to see what people's predictions are for the coming season.  Now, as a die-hard Villa fan I would love nothing more than the boys in Claret and Blue to race to victory this year but as Steve Sidwell is not the complete player yet I don't think that's going to happen!

As usual the Big Four look likes staying as The Big Four, no matter how much our MD argues Spurs' case to the contrary.  To be honest if they can improve on last year's 11th I'll be impressed!  So, what I want to know is what will the Top 4 be and who will get relegated?

Here are my thoughts:

Top 4

1. Chelsea

2. Man United

3. Liverpool

4. Arsenal

Relegated

Stoke

Hull

Bolton

Think I've got it completely wrong?  Then Blog who you think will make the Top Four and get Relegated.  Whoever gets it bang on Wins..................................Pride

Virgin Territory - what should TIML call their new radio station?

Big news in the world of Media appointments this week is that Absolute Radio has poached Chris Lawson, Bauer Performance's digital media director, for the brand new role of brand director on the station soon to be formerly known as Virgin Radio.

Virgin Radio Holdings Ltd (including the radio station) was bought in May 2008 by TIML (Times of India Group) - India's largest music and ents group for £53.2million following its sale by SMG.

Lawson's responsibilities will include making an announcement on the new brand name for Virgin Radio, expected within a fortnight. So the big debate, BJK&E and friends is - what would you name it and why? Consider:

 - The station has to keep the same genre as previously in accordance with its licence

 - The station will still be located in Golden Square

 - There is no need for it to have an overt link to "Times of India" in the name

 - The "DAVE" phenomenon of TV (if you dont know what I'm talking about read my retrospective futures article) - name can be everything!

 - So the name needs to befit one of the UK's biggest commercial stations

 - Albion will be helping create the new name so no cheating and asking them

Best / closest answer gets a prize. Possibly.

Wimbledon, Silverstone and Henley - what a weekend for British Sport

Being a British sports supporter can often be something of a disappointment. Less said about recent football and rugby efforts the better. However, that doesn't mean that we cant host cracking, world class sports events.... and sometimes even produce the odd home victory...

Take this weekend.

Wimbledon's Mens Finals - not only is Wimbledon a staple of the British summertime but this year the epic Nadal / Federer final was about the most outstanding 5-hour 5-set nail biting game of tennis you could ever hope to see. Who cares that both finalists were from across the European pond? The TV viewing public clearly didn't with a peak of nearly 13million viewers as it stretched towards the post 9pm final - well up on 2007. What shone through was great tennis at a great venue.

Silverstone Grand Prix - Again, a TV ratings winner up on 2007 figures with a peak of 6million viewers cheering Lewis Hamilton to his first ever Silverstone victory. Silverstone has been described as the spiritual home of Formula 1, drawing some of the largest crowds of all Grand Prix events and for Hamilton to offer up a racing master class there is a great day for British sports.

Henley Regatta - anyone who's walked the length of the Henley race during Regatta week has enjoyed classic upper class Britain ... post knee-length dresses for the ladies, chinos for the men, champagne picnics by the riverside, Great Danes dressed in rowing ties, Pimms on tap and even the odd burst of sunshine. Glorious. Who can say who actually won most of the events ... we were too busy enjoying another brilliantly hosted British sporting event.

If the London Olympic Committee could just take a leaf out of these books - then 2012 will really be an Olympics to remember whether as host nation we cover ourselves in golden glory or not.

They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To

Today MCV (videogames trade press) published ew.com's top 50 games of all time. 

1. Tetris - PC (1985)

2. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - N64 (1998)

3. Doom - PC (1993)

4. Super Mario World - SNES (1991)

5. Guitar Hero - PS2 (2005)

6. Street Fighter II - SNES (1991)

7. Super Mario Kart - SNES (1992)

8. GoldenEye 007 - N64 (1997)

9. Grand Theft Auto IV - PS3 and Xbox 360 (2008)

10. Metal Gear Solid - PlayStation (1998)

11. Halo: Combat Evolved - Xbox 360 (2001)

12. Super Mario Galaxy - Wii (2007)

13. Final Fantasy VII - PlayStation (1997)

14. Resident Evil 4 - GameCube (2005)

15. Chrono Trigger - SNES (1995)

16. Gran Turismo - PlayStation (1998)

17. Sim City - Macintosh and Amiga (1989)

18. Half-Life - PC (1998)

19. Sid Meier's Civilization II - PC (1996)

20. Gears of War - Xbox 360 (2006)

Just goes to show that good games aren't all about textured polygons and wizzy framerates... 

Full list can be found here:   http://www.mcvuk.com/news/31033/EW-Our-top-50-games-of-all-time

BJK&E Debate - Best Summer Lunch Venues

Now the Summer sun is finally shining - at least for a week - some of my old lunchtime haunts are looking a little bit dark and dejected. It could be time to move onto places lighter and brighter.... being new to Holborn in the Summer where are the best places to indulge in a spot of outdoors media lunching?

My impressions to date:

Truckles : Very close but it's overpriced, under-portion-sized and refuses to allow outside reservations.

The Old Crown: This is probably my favourite local pub but the comforting winter exterior looks a bit dark and gloomy in the summer sunshine. Easier to get a table mind you.

The Plough: Again nearby with some outdoor seating (which gets over the slightly stale inside smell - to put it nicely) but the road tends to get covered in shade by the buildings and lets face it, unless you want your food fried not a culinary classic.

Collective media thoughts on nearby alternatives?

Bojo has the Mojo!

Is it wrong to vote for the next Mayor of our great capital based on the fact that they are rather amusing on 'Have I Got News For You?'

That's pretty much my justification at present for voting for Boris come May the 1st. I know little of each candidates respective manifestos but am drawn to Boris as he is the one Tory I can actually stomach. Fair play to Red Ken, he has done a pretty good job so far and London is at present apparently 'thriving', however I think its time to freshen things up, especially after you watch this......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWIUp19bBoA&feature=related