Is there too much sport on television?

WHEN will this nightmare of sport on television end? While I accept that some people like watching games played with a spherical ball, is it really necessary for the BBC to show every World Cup match with endless pre-match and post-match discussion by hangers-on? And it also insists on broadcasting matches at Wimbledon on BBC1 and BBC2 at the same time. The BBC must be paying millions for the rights to show these tournaments for a minority. It boasts that 30 million people were expected to watch the England vs Croatia semi-final, but that means roughly half of England didn’t. It could be argued that the BBC’s upbeat attitude towards British sport is being patriotic. No, it isn’t, it’s only bolstering its own status. rOBErT J. EVANS, Birmingham. WHY do people feel the need to moan about changes in TV scheduling to accommodate major sporting events? Yes, there has been a lot of coverage of the World Cup and Wimbledon on the BBC and ITV over the past couple of weeks, but if you are not interested in watching it, there are hundreds of alternative free channels. And if your favourite soap is moved, you can see it on catch-up TV when it suits you. Wimbledon is on for just two weeks a year, and it’s a glorious tradition. The World Cup happens only once every four years and, whenever the home nations do well, it brings us together. The change in the atmosphere across the country is palpable. So let’s revel in the spirit of celebration and sporting triumph while we can. Soap lovers — your usual schedule of doom and gloom will be back before you know it. T. NICHOLS, Basildon, Essex.