BBC Berks Live commentary is no more....Oh yes it is!

[DaveM]

107FM is AWFUL, this is a great loss imo.

[Maguire]

BBC Berks can be heard in Wycombe, 107 can't

Yeah just about - I used to stick it on when I was working late, although you had to get over the hill back towards Marlow before it got really clear.

I also recall listening to Hoekstra bang a hat-trick past us whislt travelling to Paddington on the train, which I believe lasted for most of the journey.

I'm probably as disappointed about this as I have been regarding anything to do with RFC in recent times, a real shame.

[Only one Trevor Morley]

I seem to be the only person rejoicing that I'll never have to hear Joel Hufford ever again.........

[Bowman's Quiver]

I'm normally passionately defensive about the decisions the football club make. After all, they have to make hay whilst the sun shines.

But this is a shocking and short-sighted decision that does them no favours whatsoever other than in strictly financial terms. And as most local radio stations are losing money I can only believe there is some tax break behind all this for Mr Chairman or RFC as a company.

As others have pointed out, 107's frequency is limited compared to BBC Berkshire. They're also more professional (in a bumbling sort of way) and have stuck by the club when others (210 springs to mind) jumped off the overturned bandwaggon during the low points of the last 10 years.

Reading Football club may need Radio Berkshire in years to come. It would serve them right if Radio Berkshire decided they don't need Reading football club.

[Alan Partridge]

I seem to be the only person rejoicing that I'll never have to hear Joel Hufford ever again.........

He's ok much better than Tim Dellor. Reafirmed by the shocking commentary on the dvd.

[fozzy]

I seem to be the only person rejoicing that I'll never have to hear Joel Hufford ever again.........

The thing is, OOTM, you had/have an 'OFF' button, the problem is that now no-one can choose whether they listen to him or not.

I know a lot of this has been said by others, but here's my take:

In my opinion, RFCs decision to dump Radio Berkshire from commentary in favour of the (John Madejski-owned) Reading 107FM is both short-sighted and extremely poor.

Firstly (although this doesn't affect me, being that I go to every game home and away) not everyone can pick up 107FM. The wide-area coverage of BBC Berks means that listeners in (for example) North Hampshire can get coverage. Doubtless, in reply, the club will say that the commentaries are available over the Internet. Great, but this is at a cost of £35 to subscribe to 'Reading World' but even if you wanted to do that, not everyone either has a PC, Internet, or more likely, not everyone wants to sit in their kid's bedroom/office/study (or wherever the PC happens to be) on a Saturday afternoon listening to web-based commentary. No-one can tell me that firing up a PC and listening to the (often sporadic) coverage from the live web-feed can be either as reliable, or as enjoyable or indeed as good for the climate!

Joel and Tim (and Graham, Andy, Amanda etc) have provided excellent coverage over the years and this really must be one hell of a kick in the teeth. From the club's point of view, I simply cannot see what would be so wrong in allowing two local stations to broadcast coverage - surely the more coverage for the club, the higher the profile, the better? This can only help in the long run to generate interest locally and therefore help merchandise sales etc?

As for the words from Nigel Howe about 107FM "meeting the new valuation" then call me cynical but I refuse to believe that 107FM actually paid good (better than BBC) money for these rights. To me, it just smacks of "keep it in the family".

Talk about burning your bridges - BBC have been there through absolute thick and thin. Who's gonna be there to give the publicity when we are next playing in the Championship?!

Rant over - all the best to Tim and Joel and thanks for all the entertainment.

[Royal Bison]

Absolutely gutted!!

Having given my season ticket up a couple of years ago when we first had kids, have only managed to get to a few games per season, but despite living in Southampton, always listened to the games on Radio Berks, where the signal was fine.

Now, not only can i not go to the odd game as i wont be able to get a ticket, i cant even listen on the bloody radio!

[Stranded]

Can't see the fuss to be fair.

A much larger majority of our games will be covered live either by television on the national radio stations next year. Listen to them.

[TFF]

Tim and Joel, although at times bumbling idiots, care about the fortunes of RFC and came across as true fans. They, and the rest of BBC Berks' team, have been with us through thick and thin.

I don't do a lot of away games so BBC Berks was how I kept in touch. I'm sure they could do regular updates from the game, although I suspect I'll be driven grudgingly to 107 for dire live commentary.

I really hope that the BBC send the two of them to all our matches. I don't see why they can't then host a phone-in show immediately afterwards, and get the same access to players and coaching staff that they always did.

104.4 Bring It On

[Lieutenant Pigeon]

How far away can you pick up 107? In the past I've been able to pick up RB from as far way as North London.

Good point - when going towards London on the M4, 107 starts to break up at Maidenhead.

quote]

I've had trouble picking up 107 in parts of Thatcham!

C.

[Whistle]

YET again it comes down to money and not the benefit of reaching a wider audience.

Or the quality of the product.

Sometimes the club rub our faces in it with their public announcements.

[Dangerous]

107 normally disappears by the time I get to Newbury along the M4, with Radio Berks, I can listen to all the post match stuff most of the way back to Fairford ish, and then it disappears and then comes back when I head out towards the Forest of Dean, and then back on my drive I get an almost perfect signal, which is really bizarre, considering it's about 90-100 miles away.

No signal on the house radio though!

107 has been very poor in the past, 2 minutes of analysis and then Tina Turner, or some Phil Collins and then some adverts.

A sad loss for me personally, guess it'll have to be Sports Report and then 606 on my way home now. That is when we play at 3pm on a Saturday of course

[Alan Titchmarsh]

Daft idea. Hopefully BFM will still put some sort of decent coverage over though, previews, interviews, post match reports etc.

[Silver Fox]

As much as BBCRB often sounded like they didn't have a clue and would go straight to some strange fella talking about Henley rugby teams exploits after the final whistle it was passionate, entertaining coverage. I've never listened to 107's coverage because there was no need to change but from what others have said this will be an option I'll want but not have available next year.

[Warfield Royal]

I am a huge huge fan of BBC Radio Berkshire. Their programming supporting Reading FC ran through the whole week in their sports bulletins building towards the big game with a passion. I listen to the live commentary at every home game using a headphone radio and I love it.

How many other Premiership or Championship clubs don't allow their local BBC radio station to carry a live commentary. Reading FC must be in a minority.

I am very sad and very annoyed.

With the Premiership the whole atmosphere at Reading FC has changed and not all for the better.

[RoyalBlue]

Reading 107 have got the exclusive rights for next season ending the clubs long term partnership with BBC Berks. Apparently they wouldn't pay enough money.

B*STARDS!!

107 is the pits!

What's more, unless they're going to stream it over the web, I won't be able to hear it anyway as unlike Berks FM, I can't pick up 107 once I leave the immediate Reading area.

I wonder how much 107 are going to put into the club coffers? I hope they won't get it free just because of their connections.

As for being able to get commentary on Reading World, how many times last season did we see people oh HNA justifiably claiming that the coverage had dropped off/broken up and they were unable to receive what they had paid for.

Bring back Berks FM Nowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

[AthleticoSpizz]

We the customers get less say now than ever.

I will NOT be listening to 2107FM any more now than I was last season

Shove it

[Maguire]

Can't see the fuss to be fair.

A much larger majority of our games will be covered live either by television on the national radio stations next year. Listen to them.

1) More games does not equal all games.
2) Many Royals fans won't be able to pick up 107FM. This isn't just a problem when they want to listen to a game, but Radio Berks does a great job of promoting RFC across the county and beyond.
3) Radio Berks have been there through thick, thin, and really thin. It's a shame they get dumped the moment we hit the big time - what happens next year when we're back in the Championship?
4) 107FM is a massively inferior product. It's shit. Okay Radio Berks is a bit bumbling but those guys were part of what made it so good (stupid comments about northern fans being louder because they shopped at Matalan and ate chips out of newspaper etc). Hell i'll even miss the idiots texting in bollocks after very game - "Murty is the best. Doyle man of the match, says Geoff in Whitley" etc

This is a dark day - will 107 poach the commentary team?

[ScottishRoyal]

This is a really sad move by the club and something that presumably only offers financial gain (which may not even be the case in the long run if we were to get relegated).

BBC Berks offers great coverage. The build up is always thorough and devoted without constantly cutting in and out to go to adverts and 80's pop has-beens. The phone in after the game is always the first thing my mates and I tune into. Also as I think someone has already mentioned Tim and Joel were passionate. This will be sorely missed. They knew the players, they knew the game and they supported the team.

107 on the other hand is awful. I live in Nottingham and so often have to listen to their crap over the internet. The build - up is sketchy and at times very gimmicky. The coverage of the game is also extremely poor. If you walked into the room after a goal had gone in you wouldn't know who had scored such is the lack of excitement. They often get basic things wrong when talking about the team and they generally appear lacking the level of RFC and general footy knowledge that the BBC Berks commentary has. Finally there is no phone in which is mad. When not at the game you pick up a lot from the phone - ins.

Commentary aside the 107 coverage over the internet often cuts out for spells of 5-10 minutes (not my connection) and there is so much of a delay that I see the goals and goal reports on soccer Saturday before I get them from the radio.

Does anyone know if a footy phone - in will be allowed on BBC Berks now coverage has gone solely to 107?

[Freddy]

Radio Berks was part of my ritual and did a fine job in my view. Like everyone else, I'm very disappointed in the club