BBC NI defends heavy coverage of Republic game citing fanbase
BBC Radio Ulster host Noel Thompson said it was “obvious” why the broadcaster devoted so much time yesterday to the Republic of Ireland’s 5-1 home World Cup play-off defeat to Denmark.
Good Morning Ulster had extensive coverage of the game, which saw Martin O’Neill’s side fail to reach the finals in Russia next summer.
As well as match reports, the show was dominated by fans’ reactions from Dublin and Belfast, as well as analysis from sports journalists.
However, the programme seemed to annoy TUV leader Jim Allister.
He tweeted: “Think what GMU would have been like if RoI had won!”
At the end presenter Thompson said a number of listeners had been in touch about the coverage.
One, Joe, texted to ask why so much time was “devoted to covering a foreign football team”.
“Well, Joe, I thought it would
be obvious,” Thompson responded. “There are a lot of people who live in Northern Ireland who listen to this programme and who would be avid supporters of the Republic of Ireland team.
“Some would, of course, support both the Republic and Northern Ireland teams and the BBC is very happy, and in fact has a duty, to reflect those people’s interests and to let them know what is going on. They are our very valued listeners.”
The focus on the game even led former Alliance leader David Ford to tweet in exasperation whether the show really needed “to to speak to every Irish soccer fan” before interviewing a party colleague on the Zimbabwe crisis.
Meanwhile, a discussion took place on BBC Talkback yesterday about No Stone Unturned, the film probe into alleged security force collusion in the 1994 Loughinisland massacre.
The corporation had faced a backlash over its lack of coverage of the disturbing documentary.
John Finucane, who stood for Sinn Fein in the general election and whose solicitor father Pat was murdered by the UFF in another outrage linked to collusion, welcomed the discussion and interview with filmmaker Alex Gibney.
In September DUP MP Gregory Campbell accused the BBC of being “one-sided” over a Spotlight programme examining the delay into Troubles inquests.
He said the broadcaster needed to be “open and transparent” on its editorial practices.
In response the BBC said it was committed to a “high level of transparency”, adding: “We also have to protect the BBC’s editorial independence.”