A love letter to BBC sports internet coverage

I can’t believe that the BBC is seriously thinking of doing away with its local radio sporting coverage as of 2013. It seems on the face of it complete insanity.

It has been a possibility for some time now, given the need for the BBC to keep trimming back. Now with the huge edicts imposed by the Conservative government, dear old Auntie Beeb is preparing to do more than trim. As a result there is a very real danger that the county cricket commentaries we all know and love will be one of the casualties.

First and foremost, there’s the issue of people losing their jobs. We shouldn’t lose sight of this amongst our own personal dismay at the possibility of not being able to keep up with the action on a ball-by-ball basis. Secondary to this, there’s the overwhelming feeling of being suddenly cut off not just from the sport we love but from the on-line community that has built up over the years. It really has become more than just a network of like-minded fans but almost a little family of our own, all brought together through being able to listen to the games via the internet. It may be melodramatic to use the word ‘heartbreaking’, but it does feel potentially like the end of something very, very special that just can’t be replaced.

Cricket coverage has been marginalised for years on terrestrial television. The redoubtable Test Match Special on the radio has continued to serve those who follow cricket at the highest level, but unless you have access to Sky you’re particularly screwed if you want to follow any county cricket at all. There seems to be a general feeling of ‘county cricket isn’t important,’ or ‘people only want to watch the national game’. Well, tell that to the supporters of county cricket, to whom the excellent internet coverage is a godsend. You may think that there aren’t many when you look round the near-empty stands during a four day game, but statistics don’t always tell the full story.

In my case I support Surrey. But I can’t just click my fingers and find myself in Kennington. There’s over three hundred miles between my home and London: nipping on a bus to catch an afternoon’s play is not an option. In fact the Oval may as well be on the moon as far as I am concerned. This is where the county cricket commentaries are invaluable. And it’s not just me: there are dedicated followers all over the world who are even less able to make the journey than I am.

Then there are the people who are not physically able to visit the Oval: those who are virtually housebound through reasons of illness or infirmity. Watching the numbers change on CricInfo is hardly a substitute for hearing the action. Add to the fact that the quality of the commentaries/standard of coverage is second to none and the idea that such a fine output from the BBC might be done away with seems nonsensical.

It might seem a difficult battle to fight and ultimately it may prove a futile one, but if enough people make their voices heard then perhaps we may yet keep our internet sports coverage. Put it this way: we can’t afford to lose it.

Once it’s gone, we’re never going to get it back.