BBC live link misses Games announcement

Published on Friday 9 November 2007 15:45

THE BBC apologised today for missing the live announcement of Glasgow’s victorious Commonwealth Games bid.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers across Britain tuned in to watch Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell read out the winning city this lunchtime.

But when BBC Scotland switched to the Sri Lankan hotel where the vote was taking place, it had missed the moment by seconds and instead showed the Glasgow delegation jumping for joy.

The special BBC Scotland programme was being broadcast across the UK on News 24.

A spokesman for BBC Scotland said: "We were trying to get the announcement itself. But we got little warning when the announcement was made.

"We were broadcasting live from a school and quickly cut to get the result.

"They actually missed the announcement itself by a few seconds."

He added: "If viewers felt disappointed at not getting the announcement, then that is something we are sorry for.

"It is a live situation and it is unfortunate that sometimes things like this happen.

"Overall the programme captured the mood in the run-up to it."

As well as coverage from Sri Lanka, the BBC was also broadcasting from its studio in Glasgow, as well as three outside locations in the city.

BBC Scotland presenter Jackie Bird was anchoring the coverage from Sri Lanka next to a swimming pool.