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ColinB
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 Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:32 pm Post subject: Olympic opening ceremony |
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| I have to say that the ceremony has been fabulous tonight - and what a superb job Danny Boyle has done. |
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John W
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:46 am Post subject: |
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Yes. I found it fascinating. I landed a babysitting task last night so I was sitting on my lonesome, watched whole thing up until the parade of the countries. Then when I got home we watched the lighting of the 'cauldron'.
There were a lot of very original ideas, quite fantastic really.
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:22 am Post subject: |
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Missed it all, by choice I'll add!
H
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 11258
Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:29 am Post subject: |
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I watched it all, including the parade, and yes it was fantastic entertainment... typically British and no doubt some the story lost to most of the world but who cares? well done to all involved..
I'm going to say it though....  is it time for Macca to retire???? his performance was nearly as bad as the Jubilee set... also, what on earth happened at the beginning to Hey Jude? something was out of sync.
But a great show and I'd have love to have been there..
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Blondehedgehog
Joined: 16 Sep 2010
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Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:21 am Post subject: |
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I missed the sheep.......where were they?
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Ian Robinson
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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Location: Chorley, Lancashire
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:11 am Post subject: |
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Fabulous show. Really quite wonderful. Anyone who didn't watch it missed an amazing treat of music, dance and storytelling.
| Blondehedgehog wrote: | | I missed the sheep.......where were they? |
They were in the "fields" for the 2-hour warm-up and the first ten minutes of the ceremony itself (up until the arrival of Brunel). |
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19299
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:14 am Post subject: |
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I can live with the fact I missed it Ian. 
H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!
I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005 |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:30 am Post subject: |
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and there were cows too.... plus a sheepdog.. 
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Blondehedgehog
Joined: 16 Sep 2010
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Ian Robinson
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Joined: 11 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Helen May wrote: | I can live with the fact I missed it Ian.
H |
I don't understand that. It had 60s songs and a bit about the NHS - that's like the Jeremy Vine show every other day! |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Being a tad "old school" , I went along with the Queen strolling out Buck Palace with Mr Bond, but the very un lady like jump from the helicopter went a step too far for me... I don't think the Queen should have allowed that.. but yes it was funny, just not in front of a world wide audience?
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John W
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: Warwickshire, UK
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Ian Robinson wrote: | | Helen May wrote: | I can live with the fact I missed it Ian.
H |
I don't understand that. It had 60s songs and a bit about the NHS - that's like the Jeremy Vine show every other day! |
Indeed, the soundtrack was VERY Radio 2, not just pop, there was some Elgar and Eric Coates too!
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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The "official" available-to-buy soundtrack is quite dance-heavy, but yes the ceremony itself had plenty of "Radio 2" music from the 60s, 70s and 80s, plus the classical and light music pieces.
| SantaFefan wrote: | | Being a tad "old school" , I went along with the Queen strolling out Buck Palace with Mr Bond, but the very un lady like jump from the helicopter went a step too far for me... I don't think the Queen should have allowed that.. but yes it was funny, just not in front of a world wide audience? |
Apparently the US TV commentators commended the Queen on her bravery of doing that at such an age! |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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why am I not surprised? 
I was surprised not to have seen Boris anywhere??
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Ian Robinson wrote: | | Helen May wrote: | I can live with the fact I missed it Ian.
H |
I don't understand that. It had 60s songs and a bit about the NHS - that's like the Jeremy Vine show every other day! |
Whoever or whatever was in it I still wouldn't have watched it, I don't like Olympics end of story.
H
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ColinB
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| What impressed me about the sheer scale and complexity of the show was that so much could have gone wrong but - thankfully - didn't. |
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| SantaFefan wrote: | | I was surprised not to have seen Boris anywhere?? |
Oh, then you missed this moment when he was sat behind the German ambassador!
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ColinB
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I would guess that this was a still framegrab and that the ambassador was actually waving. I'm amazed at how this picture has been doing the rounds. |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 11258
Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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Oh yes, thanks Ian, there he is... I would guess I was busy being amazed at what looked like the very near Nazi salute by the German fellow...  I couldn't believe it! and from the look of her boat, Camilla was too!
I wouldn't say it was a wave Colin, his arm went back and forth in an up and down fashion.. honestly...
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 11258
Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| ColinB wrote: | | What impressed me about the sheer scale and complexity of the show was that so much could have gone wrong but - thankfully - didn't. |
Just nit picking here a little bit...  I thought the sounds levels were a little off in places... in fact, if I'm honest, I thought the whole thing started a little dull soundwise, until a commentator said to turn up your TV volume to appreciate the atmosphere - which I did and nudged up the sub woofer and it was much better.
Trouble was when a commentator cut in they were way too loud!
Still a great night though...
Didn't anybody think McCartney was poor??
Much as I love Paul, Tom Jones should have been the man!
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becky sharp
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
Posts: 6791
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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The fabulous Red Arrows started off the show in their usual spectacular manner paving the way for this extravaganza..
Thought the transformation from a rural scene to an industrial one,culminating with the Olympic rings rising into the night sky,was stunning.
Was a bit gobsmacked with the Queen's entrance ...(loved the first bit of it) but she showed she's a good sport by joining in.
It was a good turn from the Arctic Monkeys with Alex showing off a great quiff,but a bit odd, I thought, choosing to sing a song from The Beatles's repertoire seeing as Macca followed
The lighting of the cauldron was the best I can ever remember.....truly spectacular..
Like Santa I would loved to have been there
Arise Sir Danny!
Last edited by becky sharp on Sun Jul 29, 2012 2:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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| becky sharp wrote: |
Was a bit gobsmacked with the Queen's entrance ...(loved the first bit of it) but she showed she's a good sport by joining in. |
She could have acknowledged the whole skit with a smile afterwards - what a miserable old thing she looked to be. At least Charlie and his Missus seemed to be enjoying it all. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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| becky sharp wrote: |
Was a bit gobsmacked with the Queen's entrance ...(loved the first bit of it) but she showed she's a good sport by joining in. |
She could have acknowledged the whole skit with a smile afterwards - what a miserable old thing she looked to be. At least Charlie and his Missus seemed to be enjoying it all. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| becky sharp wrote: |
Was a bit gobsmacked with the Queen's entrance ...(loved the first bit of it) but she showed she's a good sport by joining in. |
She could have acknowledged the whole skit with a smile afterwards - what a miserable old thing she looked to be. At least Charlie and his Missus seemed to be enjoying it all. |
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iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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An achievement to mount such a show at all, never mind keep a generally high standard. The highlight in my book was Abide with Me. But the Rowan Atkinson stuff left me cold and the 90-minute procession in of the athletes was like watching paint dry. But credit where it's due for the thorough planning of such a colourful spectacle.
Ian. |
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FleetingEileenM
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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I thought it was terrific. It started off slowly and gently with the countryside scenes and I loved the whole concept especially the chimneys of the Industrial Revolution rising up, the ring being forged and going up to the roof to meet up with four others (made earlier) to form the Olympic symbol. Fantastic!
The saddest sight was Muhammed Ali, now almost unrecognisable, in his wheelchair.
I thought that the idea of seven Olympic stars of the past handing lighted torches to seven young aspiring athletes to light the cone-shaped jets which spread round to complete a circle which then slowly rose up and came together at the top to make one giant flame was quite moving.
I have to admit to snoozing through most of the teams' parade. I remember remarking: "How many more countries are there beginning with A?" then coming to in time for the USA!
Last edited by FleetingEileenM on Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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oldraver
Joined: 18 Dec 2006
Posts: 1170
Location: London
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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| ColinB wrote: | | becky sharp wrote: |
Was a bit gobsmacked with the Queen's entrance ...(loved the first bit of it) but she showed she's a good sport by joining in. |
She could have acknowledged the whole skit with a smile afterwards - what a miserable old thing she looked to be. At least Charlie and his Missus seemed to be enjoying it all. |
She had a smile and a twinkle in her eye, when she walked into the arena to take her seat. I'm sure she enjoyed the idea of being in the Bond sketch. Otherwise she would have said no.
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ColinB
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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| oldraver wrote: | | She had a smile and a twinkle in her eye, when she walked into the arena to take her seat. I'm sure she enjoyed the idea of being in the Bond sketch. Otherwise she would have said no. |
If she did it was very short-lived. My relatives in Australia made exactly the same observation about her looking a right miserable old so-and-so. |
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littlepieces
Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Posts: 1098
Location: Lowestoft
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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The event was good,but can we now put Macca out to a retirement home? Poor performance to say the least.Great to hear eclipse by pink floyd at the end
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becky sharp
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| My daughter -in-law enjoyed it so much she's thinking of doing a rerun opening ceremony party this Friday! |
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littlepieces
Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Posts: 1098
Location: Lowestoft
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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1.7 million have now watched it on i player and i think i might just join them
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oldraver
Joined: 18 Dec 2006
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Location: London
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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| ColinB wrote: | | oldraver wrote: | | She had a smile and a twinkle in her eye, when she walked into the arena to take her seat. I'm sure she enjoyed the idea of being in the Bond sketch. Otherwise she would have said no. |
If she did it was very short-lived. My relatives in Australia made exactly the same observation about her looking a right miserable old so-and-so. |
They're probably used to Dame Edna at those kind of things.
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Schizoidman
Joined: 20 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Like everyone here I thought the ceremony was brilliant and will watch again on i-player. My only gripe was that it could have started an hour earlier, thus giving all the athletes, some of whom had to start early the next day, a chance to appear in the final parade. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Schizoidman wrote: | | Like everyone here I thought the ceremony was brilliant and will watch again on i-player. My only gripe was that it could have started an hour earlier, thus giving all the athletes, some of whom had to start early the next day, a chance to appear in the final parade. |
The problem is that the transmission had to be timed to fit with the various world timezones around the world. |
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| ColinB wrote: | | The problem is that the transmission had to be timed to fit with the various world timezones around the world. |
No, it could have started earlier but Danny Boyle wanted it to be later so it was dark for the best effect. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| ColinB wrote: | | Schizoidman wrote: | | Like everyone here I thought the ceremony was brilliant and will watch again on i-player. My only gripe was that it could have started an hour earlier, thus giving all the athletes, some of whom had to start early the next day, a chance to appear in the final parade. |
The problem is that the transmission had to be timed to fit with the various world timezones around the world. |
That's a factor but the broadcast networks still had influence. I have a friend who's a satellite systems engineer for SISLive - the Milton Keynes based satellite and outside broadcast systems company that is currently managing the majority of the traffic and two-way feeds via its Kingston, Milton Keynes control centre and dish farm - and all of their clients worldwide negotiated timings to suit their preferred broadcast slots. This was especially so with Chinese, Australasian and north American networks (ie: the ones paying the most money).
However, I'm sure the final decision rested with Danny Boyle for purely creative reasons. |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 11258
Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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Somebody told me today of a newspaper heading "Paul McCartney - Time to "Let it Be?""
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