Hoops

Complain, Complain, Complain to Ch 7

Just letting you know that I got a pathetic response from channel 7 to my complaint last week! In fact I got 2 responses to two of my complaints. Didn't take them long to respond considering I sent my letters in August!

Good job LC.

While I have bad feelings that it will be deflected again; I'd probably advise sending an email to that "Sunrise" show and 'politely' explain your disgust.

I'm sure Kochie can voice his opinion on the subject and explain in Financial terms "why?" you can't show Basketball on one of the four channels at Seven's disposal.

Here's my follow up letter to the one I sent channel 7 on Monday (due to the poor effort on Sunday): 13 August 2008 Seven Network Limited PO Box 777 Pyrmont NSW 2009 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing in follow up to my letter dated 11 august concerning my complete and utter dissatisfaction at your coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In addition to my previous areas of complaint, I am also wishing to express my further extreme displeasure at your broadcasting schedule for specifically the evening of the 12 August 2008, and early morning of 13 August 2008 involving the coverage of the Australian men's basketball game against defending Olympic champions Argentina. As was the case with the Australian men's game scheduled on 10 August 2008, your network presenters continually promised to show the basketball game later that evening. I therefore stayed up to watch the game that was due to commence at 12:15am AEST. Whilst the start of the game was missed due to the existing coverage of another sport, shortly afterwards your began to broadcast the basketball live which was greatly appreciated. Understandably, at the half time break your network crossed to another event (Equestrian) to cover the action there. However the coverage stayed with the equestrian and did not return to the basketball. There was no mention of the basketball at all, and no indication to advise whether or not the coverage would be crossing back. Bleary eyed, I hung on for another 20 minutes hoping to see some more basketball coverage, eventually falling asleep  bored to death watching animals jump over fences. So having stayed up all night to well after 1:30am in the morning to watch a game of basketball, I was yet again let down and left disappointed, missing out of the second half of a crucial contest. Absolutely flabbergasting! Your treatment of the Australian basketball teams and the Australian sporting public is both perplexing and disgusting. Your network's actions only reinforced my original conclusion that you are treating the 2008 edition of the Olympic Games and the Australian public with disdain. Despite by best judgment I gave your network another chance, and once again I end up being frustrated, disappointed and left feeling short-changed. You will not get another chance. I now remain committed to watching broadcasts of the Olympics exclusively on SBS on free to air television. I'm still also unable to do so online, as your Yahoo website is just as bad if not worse than your television coverage. I expect to receive a detailed response to my complaint, and remain intrigued as to what continues to drive your incompetence in covering the greatest sporting event in the world. Regards, LC *** Please feel free to plagiarise it and amend it for your own purposes. Unless we do something nothing improves. I have sent this letter via Express Post again. I'm still to get a responses to my first letter.

After proof reading my letter (and fixing up my grammar and spelling), I actually lifted my game and sent it via Express Post. I was that angry and frustrated I thought my $6 was worth it.
Will let you know if and when I get a response.

Unfortunately Channel 7 supports Sweet FA in regards to commentary variety.

"If you've played a sport, you can commentate it... and also another 12 sports you've never heard of."

That's basically the motto of Channel 7, do what you know and bullshit the rest.

I must admit I was watching since 6pm last night waiting for the game; finally giving up at 11:30 since I had an early start. I find it hilarious that between basketball and Gymnastics; they picked to air Gymnastics for 2 hours over starting a live BBall game.

All I wanted to watch that night was Basketball... and they can't even deliver. Only way Basketball will get better showings atm is to stick the lads in a 12ft deep swimming pool swimming 50m and then doing a layup.

Here's my letter to channel 7, please feel free to exploit and add value - weight in numbers: To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction at your coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As an avid supporter of Australian sport, the Olympic Games are held once very four years, and are widely regarded as the premier sporting event in the world today. Whilst it is acknowledged that event scheduling for broadcast will not satisfy every viewer, I feel that your efforts at the Australian broadcaster fall well short of the expectations for majority of all Australians. My complaint includes: " Broadcasting AFL games instead of Olympic Games coverage when Australians were competing (and not allowing SBS to Broadcast these events instead) " Failing to provide an accurate TV schedule of events that will be broadcast, and when something is promised to be shown (i.e. Basketball: Australia vs Croatia on 10 August  showing a few minutes of replayed footage was poor), then show it " Switching across to advertisements at the most inappropriate of times (i.e. on 9 August when the Opals were about to score a basket and then without warning switching to an advertisement) " Broadcasting far too many advertisements, and also far too repetitive " Showing events with non-Australian athletes competing when elsewhere at that same time Australians are currently competing " Showing the same event at the same time as SBS (i.e. mens cycling road race)  why not show something else with an Australian competing instead? " Providing commentators and/or presenters (i.e. Sonia Kruger) who have little if any knowledge or experience in sport or the events they are covering The unsatisfactory points listed above are just my main areas of complaint. Quite simply, your network in my opinion is treating the 2008 edition of the Olympic Games and the Australian public with disdain. Why you are not showing a greater variety of sports concurrently utilising your HD Digital channels confounds me, and probably every other viewer in the land. Your network would do well to mirror the dedication and commitment to sport that is and has been demonstrated by SBS. Their limited yet comprehensive coverage of essentially non-Australian competition has been exemplary and far superior to that of your network. I have now reverted to watching broadcasts of the Olympics exclusively on SBS on free to air television. Im unable to do so online as your Yahoo website is just as bad if not worse than your television coverage. I eagerly anticipate your response to my complaint, as I am intrigued as to what has driven your incompetence in your coverage of the greatest sporting event in the world. Regards, LC

No, No, No.
Ch 7 knows it, Australia knows it, & it's about time you knew it.
It's not a rating maker, showing a minority sport gettings it's arse handed to it.