Steven Baxter

Patrolling the murkier waters of the mainstream media

Wince along with Ortis Deley

But Channel 4's problems aren't down to just one man.

By Steven Baxter Published 31 August 2011 19:34

We've all been there. That moment when you realise that you are hopelessly out of your depth can strike at any time. For some of us, the knowledge comes when you get asked a slightly awkward question in a meeting while you're peering out of the window and wishing you were somewhere else; for others, it happens live on television, in front of hundreds of thousands of people.

For poor Ortis Deley, sometime CBBC broom cupboard anchor and latterday likeable Gadget Show product demonstrator, that moment came this week when he presented Channel 4's World Athletics Championships coverage. Sit through this video - if you can - and wince along with the rest of us.

Oh, the poor man. I like him. I don't think he's a bad presenter, at all, but this really wasn't the thing for him. I don't want to see someone fail like that. I've been sitting there, willing him to succeed. But no.

To borrow an image from the athletics arena, it's been a little like watching a very fat man take an unlikely run-up at a 19-foot pole vault; you want it to happen, but you know, in all likelihood, that someone's going to end up with a pretty nasty graze rather than sailing triumphantly through the air and landing smack-bang in the middle of the cushion. You don't want to look, but you have to.

It's wrong, though, to think that Channel 4's problems have been down to one man. Deley's performances are symptomatic, rather than the root cause of the broadcaster's woes -- and installing Rick Edwards, a chisel-faced T4 clone, won't save them now.

So what went wrong? For one thing, Channel 4 were unlucky with the championships: the every-two-years format of world athletics means these games were never going to arouse the same kind of interest as others, and the presence of the Olympics less than a year away means all athletes have one eye on London.

As well as that, the big stars have failed to sparkle: British hopes like Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis have been pipped for glory, while Usain shot his Bolt and denied the world a moment of magic.

Bad luck, then, but it goes beyond that. The sheer amount of adverts -- accompanied by that rather irritating tune that reminds me of "Do you think I'm sexy" by Rod Stewart -- has irritated many viewers, used to seeing the flow of a championships develop on the ad-free BBC.

Channel 4 have done sport before, and done it very well: look back to those dim and distant days when you could actually watch live cricket on terrestrial telly, and they provided epic coverage of the Ashes series between England and Australia back in 2005. Since then, though, the channel's sports coverage has fallen away somewhat, apart from racing, which they continue to provide to a higher standard than their competitors.

That's a shame, because sports fans are left with rather binary options when it comes to their viewing pleasure nowadays. We're stuck with either the gloss of the BBC output -- which guarantees a roar of disapproval from the Corporation's critics in the broadsheets; how dare they spend money doing something properly, sending more than Hamilton Bland and two cocoa tins on a string to the biggest sporting spectacles in the world, etc etc etc - or never knowingly subtle Sky Sports. Must it be one or the other?

The trouble is, I suppose, that to do something actually well costs money. Sport costs a bundle before you've spent any money on the programme itself - just buying the rights sets broadcasters back an eyewatering amount - so by the time you've got around to thinking about what you're going to do with it, it might well be too late.

That's the reason for the mass of adverts during the athletics on Channel 4. I hope the rather limited success of Channel 4's Daegu coverage won't put them off having a bash in the future, but I rather fear it will.

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Tags: Channel 4

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41 comments

Tue, 2012-10-02 09:07 — thearaLyclara (not verified)

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Tue, 2011-09-06 22:52 — Amazed (not verified)

@Maw (and in fact Flashbucka and Jason R). There are few things more satisfying than when someone quotes an article and has clearly failed to read it all. This is from the first paragraph of the weblink Maw sent to me

''The Worldwide Pattern of IQ Scores. East Asians average higher on IQ tests than Whites, both in the U. S. and in Asia, even though IQ tests were developed for use in the Euro-American culture. Around the world, the average IQ for East Asians centers around 106; for Whites, about 100; and for Blacks about 85 in the U.S. and 70 in sub-Saharan Africa.''

Feel free to read the whole article. I particularly enjoy the bit ''East Asians average higher on IQ than whites both in the US and in Asia'. You see Maw? That's what we call a 'soundbite'. It sounds like a fact until you read the entire article - only then can you see the comment in context.

Flashbuck - you're a racist. FACT. By the way, the other guy is right, we're all ethnics you moron.

To anyone who works at Channel 4 or indeed any TV channel - Please could you advise us (with real facts please, not because you just 'know it' or you 'overheard it of these so called 'ethnicity quotas please? I will then happily send this to your employer quoting this webpage and your comments and you can wait for the inevitable sacking / lawsuit etc.

The worst type of conspiracy is one that feed peoples ideals. That's Maw, Jason R and Flashbuck.

Give up arguing. You're already lost.

Fri, 2011-09-02 00:31 — RichardA (not verified)

Ortis Deley was bad enough, but C4's whole package on these championships has been dire. I'm lucky enough to also have Eurosport and while their English-language coverage is necessarily pretty "bare bones" it's been far and away better than C4's - fewer advert breaks too: I think C4 have been running up to eight ad-breaks per hour. Eurosport have also been prepared to extend their broadcasts if events have overrun, whereas C4 have just stuck to the schedule and shown "Three in a Bed".

Fri, 2011-09-09 00:17 — Maw (not verified)

Amazed, what a strange answer to my post. I've known for 20 years that Asian (that's far easterners to us, not Pakistanis, Indians) have higher IQ levels than white Europeans. It doesn't bother me in the slightest. They are able to live in modern technological societies and get along well with all of us. Expecting hoards of sub-100 IQ blacks to somehow integrate is just asking for trouble with a capital T. This country will devolve into a third world shitehole within my lifetime (I'm mid- 40's)and your and my kids will suffer the consequences.

Fri, 2011-09-02 01:12 — Gonzo (not verified)

I honestly believe that if Ortis didn't represent an ethic minority he would not have got the gig.

Was the guy not screen tested for a live sport's broadcast?

Reading a piece to camera about the latest iGadget doesn't make him anywhere near good enough to be a live event anchor.

Face it, he got the job because of his skin tone. I think the guy has an engaging personality, but he has zero acumen for the task at hand.

Sun, 2011-09-11 14:54 — Maw (not verified)

JasonR. I firmly agree with you and would go further, advocating forced repatriation for 75% of immigrants from the last 25 years. We're going to have a population of 80million+ if nothing is done and the building over of Britain has just been given the green light to hold the "excess" population. Of course, all of this is deliberate and was conceived decades ago. No majority white countries are to be allowed, except Israel of course!!

Wed, 2011-08-31 20:10 — Alexander Parry (not verified)

yes, it must be one or the other as C4's coverage makes painfully clear.
Not blaming Deley but I am blaming C4 who were so pleased about getting the rights they forgot to put any thought into how to cover it competently - like, with an experienced sports broadcaster fronting it. Where's Jim Rosenthal?

Wed, 2011-08-31 20:21 — Rachel Green (not verified)

Channel Four used to be the home of minority sports, which made a lot of sense.

Fri, 2011-09-02 14:18 — Gerry Tierney (not verified)

Flashbuck - everyone is "ethnic". Fact.

Ortis has been a tv presenter since I was a wee boy, on TCC and Trouble, so your apparent idea that he was drafted off the street because he's black is utter tripe.

Yes he was crap at this, but I don't get where race comes in.

Please provide evidence that he was brought in to fill a quota. You "just knowing" doesn't count, by the way.

Fri, 2011-09-02 15:10 — Franky (not verified)

Oh, Flashback, what a complete wanker you are. You wouldn't know a FACT if you fell over one. Lack of any remote evidence on your part is not compensated in any way by referring to your sad rantings by capitalising the word "FACT". Come up with evidence and someone might listen to you...expect we'll have a long wait!!!

Fri, 2011-09-02 15:54 — Sue (not verified)

I've watched some of the live coverage and the highlights. C4 seems to have made a complete hash of it. I feel sorry for Ortis and, if he is having to fill some kind of ethnicity quota, it's dreadful for him, because he's going to take a long time to get over this drubbing, and for the viewers who've suffered along with him. It can't have been easy having to say 8-10 times per hour "we're going to take a break now" rather than letting us watch the action. I was extremely cross when we left the pole vault for "Three in a Bed" but the protagonists on that programme were all so frightful it was at least a good laugh.

Fri, 2011-09-02 16:29 — JasonR (not verified)

"Ortis has been a tv presenter since I was a wee boy, on TCC and Trouble, so your apparent idea that he was drafted off the street because he's black is utter tripe."

That's not what was claimed. It's sufficient that the man's ethnicity played a role in the decision to use him. I'm afraid you're the one who's denying an undeniable reality: the BBC and C4 employ some level of ethnic quotas. And, if you're honest, it's a policy that you support.

Wed, 2011-09-07 13:57 — JasonR (not verified)

One should certainly give up arguing with Amazed because his last post clearly dsiplays an amazing lack of comprehension skills. Maw was evidently talking about blacks, and not all ethncities, as the main beneficiary of affirmative action on TV. Whilst East Asians are certainly underrepresented on our TV screens, they somehow manage to get along very well in society without the patronisation of white liberals.

If being a racist means acknowledging the overwhelming evidence on racial differences in intelligence then count me in, as well.

Poor Amazed, I bet he thought he'd had the last word....

Thu, 2011-09-01 10:16 — swatantra

C4 should be for more highbrow stuff like BB, not Sport. And they should be commissioning more home grown films, like a decade back. And more ethnic intellectual stuff connected with the Arts, Science and Literature and Music, as they did a decade or two ago. C4 seem to have lost their way a bit and need to look again at heir Terms of Reference.
Make ITV 3 and ITV4 the Youth Channel and Sports Channel, like BBC3 and BBC4.

Thu, 2011-09-01 10:20 — swatantra

... ie let BBC3 and BBC4 start transmitting from 12 noon to accommodate Youth and Sport.

Sat, 2011-09-10 19:43 — JasonR (not verified)

But Maw, IQ shouldn't be the sole criterion of an immigration policy. Even if all immigrants were above-average IQ, I would still oppose mass immigration because it will undermine the country's ethnic heritage and decrease community cohesion.

Thu, 2011-09-01 14:07 — Amazed (not verified)

Wow Flashbuck - how phenomenally judgemental, idiotic and childish your comment is. I didn't think such ignorant opinions still existed! I am stunned by the stupidity of your comments as, I'm sure is everyone else...

Thu, 2011-09-01 14:21 — Ruby A (not verified)

Right on, Flashbuck! There aren't nearly enough white presenters on, um... every single mainstream TV channel. Nice of you to point out that he's an 'ethnic' when his ethnicity isn't the issue here - merely his shortcomings as a sports presenter. Twat.

Thu, 2011-09-01 14:38 — Amazed (not verified)

Ha ha well said Ruby A. I have to say, you have rather brilliantly summed up. I can't improve on what you have said!

Mon, 2011-09-05 18:11 — Charlie Brown (not verified)

I think those of you who are obsessed with his race are missing the much more likely reason in these superficial times...it's surely the fact that he's muscular young eye candy that he got the nod.

Look at those biceps flex! Those pecs! Perfect for a sporting commentator no? Who wants a lardy arse to report on fit athletes when you can have such physical beauty fronting your show?

Er yes but...it would help if he could follow the autocue as well as work on his lats...

Thu, 2011-09-01 15:01 — Bratva (not verified)

I like Otis he is a a good presenter in the right format but way out of his depth here. However, it is not only Otis that was bad a lot of the highlights programmes were pretty awful and confusing, missing commentary - double commentaries. Really anoying music between countless adverts - has anyone seen any viewing figures? Once the live action got going it was OK...

Thu, 2011-09-01 15:28 — Full Monty (not verified)

Bratva, I agree about the highlights programme. Inadequate in so many respects, quantity and quality. Hardly any coverage of heats ('You can see the full race on our website' - I wnat to watch on my TV,not my computer, twats!) and today, with two brit medals we gat a whole half hour of highlights. Bring back the beeb, please, all is forgiven.

Thu, 2011-09-01 16:17 — kevin (not verified)

And someone who seems to be getting away with shocking shortcomings is that "interviewer" who does the mix zone interviews. Utterly shocking, added together with the adverts, the sound when the adverts ara due (again) poor Otis who couldn't be any further away from a competent presenter and the sheer cheapness of it all. As an athletics fan I couldn't be more disappointed by C4. Please give all good sports events back to the BBC.

Thu, 2011-09-01 16:35 — JasonR (not verified)

BBC 3 and 4 can't transmit before 7pm because they share transponder space with CBeebies and CBBC which broadcast during the morning and day.

I agree with Flashbuck that the Beeb and C4 are continually pushing mediocre non-white presenters into their programming in an attempt to fill some level of quota. Unfortunately the demands of live broadcasting require a very bright and able mind, something which tends to be in short supply in certain ethnic communities.

Thu, 2011-09-01 17:11 — andyR (not verified)

i would say the covreage has also be poor. i like seeing hightlights, but please show more, cutting to a 400m race in the 100m and in a 200m race cutting to the last 100. you should have at least 1 hour time slot, 30 mins is too short. bring people like roger black and chris akabusi back, people who are passionate about athletics, the current presenters are
not really suited to athletics.

Thu, 2011-09-01 17:27 — JasonR (not verified)

If they're really desperate, C4 should bring back Mark Nicholas and Simon Hughes. I'd like to know how much money BBC and now C4 have spent on employing Michael Johnson. Granted, he's not a bad pundit, but you can bet they're paying him well over the odds compared to a David Moorcroft.

Thu, 2011-09-01 18:07 — Mike (not verified)

Channel 4 have blocked the clip. They must be really embarrased.

Thu, 2011-09-01 18:58 — Dominic (not verified)

The presentation has not been as good as BBC because they are doing this for the first time in a long time and it will improve by Paralympic time.

And the advert music: ("Supa Dupa" by UK hip hop artist Griminal) is an excellent beat and an excellent track as a wholw

Thu, 2011-09-01 19:09 — Denise (not verified)

Thank God they changed the presenter but the current one also has no knowledge of athletics. Whilst Channel 4 was having a shake up why oh why did they not get rid of Sonia her interviewing skills are terrible. Back to BBC please

Thu, 2011-09-01 19:44 — Franky (not verified)

Oh, dear, oh dear. wasn't expecting recist, D***head comments on here. well said, Ruby!!
Anyway, back to what I wanted to say. Was so looking forward to the W Champs; thought it would help take my mind off the chemo I'm having. Well, was nervous about Ch4 taking over from the BBC, but couldn't imagine what a dismal failure the broadcasts have been. Commentators have been wellmeaning, but way out of their depths with the exception of Michael Johnson - normally a BBC pundit. One commentator couldn't even pronounce the names of some competing countries, never mind some of the athletes names. Most annoying, however, have been the adverts. Last 2 days have seen adverts between almost every race. How much sport time are we missing? Few days ago we had 2:37 "gap" between adverts. Think the running is getting in the way of Ch4 making money to pay for the broadcast of the Champs - ironic, I think.
Please, Ch4, leave it to the experts. The 2012 Paralympics need all the help it can get to rightly promote para sport; a repeat of this week will turn sooooo many people off.

Thu, 2011-09-01 20:55 — Maw (not verified)

Well if you fill the schedules with ethnicities whose average IQ is well below 100 what the hell do you expect. Not racist, fact!!

Thu, 2011-09-01 21:49 — Amazed (not verified)

@ Jason R, Maw and Flashbuck.

Clearly you guys are missing the point. or you are just intergalactically ignorant. Race is irrelevant - as Ruby points out, its how good Ortis is as a presenter that counts.

Jason R - Hmmm..I don't believe Channel 4 have a 'quota' for black presenters? Perhaps they have one for ignorant web surfers?

Flashbuck - 'There's nothing wrong with ethnics as such'??? 'They are part of the agenda'??? Go to a tube station and share that conversation. Goodness me, you are one of life challenges aren't you?

Maw - Please publish on this page your conclusive evidence on the 'ethnicities whose average IQ is well below 100'. I assume you are the highest scorer in your MENSA group? Share your opinion with your ethnic friends....or do you not have any?

You people need to wake up and realise your opinions are an inappropriate and poorly veiled attempt to cover your racist views.

How very sad in 2011.

Thu, 2011-09-01 21:49 — Maw (not verified)

Affirmative action is anti-white racism pure and simple. What makes it even more incredible is the number of white people who support it. The denial is simply incredible!!!

Thu, 2011-09-01 21:56 — Maw (not verified)

Amazed , here you are

http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/04/26/9530.aspx

Don't shoot the messenger, me!!

Thu, 2011-09-01 22:40 — Will (not verified)

As an athlete and big athletics fan, my view is that there is trade off between channel 4 and the BBC. Would one prefer frequent adverts (that are shockingly bad and always the same) or Colin Jackson and Jonathan Edwards etc. endlessly talking about Usain Bolt (even if he isn't running) or some other nonsense when we'd all rather watch the field events that are happening instead.
For me, I'd rather the coverage on channel 4 with much less adverts (could they not do fewer breaks but charge more) as I think that's more likely than the BBC ever showing more than just three throws of the Javelin or Discus.

Thu, 2011-09-01 23:08 — JasonR (not verified)

I think the BBC ('hideously white' in the words of Greg Dyke) and Ch4, (both publicly owned bodies) most definitely have ethnic quotas. As most of their dramatic output is still white-dominated, they compensate by filling up the news channels and children's TV with non-white presenters.

Thu, 2011-09-01 23:13 — JasonR (not verified)

If I don't sound particularly bothered it's because I'm not a big athletics fan. It has very little sporting interest.