What am I doing?

[cjdemooi]

I've already spoken to a few tv channels. However, the BBC4 programme was a very good one off as part of their cultural output, the problem lies in the viewer friendliness of chess as an engaging subject. It's exactly the same with the organisers of top level quizzing who've been trying to achieve the same goals for many years. The reaction from production companies for both these mind sports has been, understandably as they're wearing their professional hats, it won't work. This is frustrating when one is passionate about something and I mention snooker as a sport that was dying out before its introduction onto our tv screens.

Nevertheless, I do mention the ECF and chess in general in any of my tv, radio, magazine interviews and still mention it when meeting with anyone I feel could be useful. When I meet Evan Harris in a few weeks, we'll be discussing what we can do to bring chess to a more national audience. Although I will keep plugging away, I'm realistic enough to accept that no big commissions are going to be thrown our way. I do believe that a constant campaign highlighting the popularity of the game, especially with children, will be an effective tool (I'm hoping we won't have to wait until one of those juniors becomes a BBC Commissioning Editor though)

If anyone has any other suggestions or personal contacts, I'm always happy to consider them.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi CJ.

Please forgive me if you have been approached about this before.

In the BBC archives they have the entire Master Game Series.
If you could please see if you can get these released to the public this
would be an incredible coup.

I have a friend whose wife worked in the archive dept. but she could
not get them released.

I also had the whole series on betamax but these have sadly gone astray.

Cheers.

Geoff

[cjdemooi]

I haven't discussed this and I will approach them if necessary.

However, the BBC is a public broadcaster. If you ask them, they will provide a copy on a format of your choice of any programme in their archive. There is of course a fee for this, but if they have it, you can have it.

This has been the case for many years and I'm sure would apply to older programmes such as The Master Game as I assume these will have digitised for ease of storage.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi CJ

I'm sure this has been tried in the past but has drawn a blank.

I know they have them, well I have been told they have them.

I know Stewart Reuben is also after this collection and I'm sure I can
recall him too going down this path and coming up empty handed.

Be interesting to know if they do indeed have the entire series.

Thanks for replying.

Geoff

[Justin Hadi]

This brings us to an interesting question. Why not run a repeat of a series of The Master Game, and see what the reaction is? That way production companies don't have to get involved, and the BBC can try it out to see if there would be a market for watching on a regular basis. Ok, I don't know much about TV production, but would it be worth a shot? This in fact is Stewart Reuben's idea so I'm not sure if it's already been tried, but he said not when I spoke to him about this last year.

[cjdemooi]

I'll see what I can do

[Ian Thompson]

However, the BBC is a public broadcaster. If you ask them, they will provide a copy on a format of your choice of any programme in their archive. There is of course a fee for this, but if they have it, you can have it.

That's not what it says on the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/help.shtml#copy). You can only have a copy if you had significant involvement in the making of the programme.

[Leonard Barden]

I'll see what I can do

To make it simpler, try asking for just two programme repeats: Short aged 10 losing entertainingly to Hartston ("hasn't anybody told this boy not to take pawns from strange men?") and Short, aged 15, winning the Master Game (the final was against Miles but earlier wins against Byrne and Gligoric are quicker). These two could be condensed into a single programme for maximum effect.

[cjdemooi]

However, the BBC is a public broadcaster. If you ask them, they will provide a copy on a format of your choice of any programme in their archive. There is of course a fee for this, but if they have it, you can have it.

That's not what it says on the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/help.shtml#copy). You can only have a copy if you had significant involvement in the making of the programme.

I wonder if the point to consider is the use of the word 'give'...

[Ian Thompson]

However, the BBC is a public broadcaster. If you ask them, they will provide a copy on a format of your choice of any programme in their archive. There is of course a fee for this, but if they have it, you can have it.

That's not what it says on the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/help.shtml#copy). You can only have a copy if you had significant involvement in the making of the programme.

I wonder if the point to consider is the use of the word 'give'...

I doubt it. People who do meet the criteria for getting a copy have to pay for it (https://faq.external.bbc.co.uk/template ... butorTerms).

[Michele Clack]

It would be really interesting to watch the Master Game again. With extra digital channels surely the BBC could find room for them. With 70's retro being big at the moment they might even be a surprise hit, or were they early 80's. Perhaps we should all try lobbying. Who would be best to contact?

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Michael,

it was great in the late 70's but by today's standard it is way below par.

I fear the low quality of graphics and the whole presentation
may have the reverse effect.

Sometimes you see these 70's football games on the telly.
Great games but people only comment on the haircuts, moustaches,
the short shorts, poor picture quality, "Only one camera!".
I don't want the NCP's sniggering at chess.

The series was very good and we would all enjoy it but to the
average man in the street it would look awfully dated.

We need a new vamped up series and something better and more thought
out than the latest offering. It was great to see chess on the telly but....

...I won't post negative (constructive) comments about it.

Let's just say one fat bloke and one thin bloke sitting on a sofa
playing out some obscure and bland game did not quite fire my enthusiasm.

That is the image of chess that is set in non-Chess player's (NCP's) minds.
That is the image we must fight against not endorse.

[Justin Hadi]

Hi Geoff,

it was great in the late 70's but by today's standard it is way below par.

I fear the low quality of graphics and the whole presentation
may have the reverse effect.
.....

The series was very good and we would all enjoy it but to the
average man in the street it would look awfully dated.

I haven't seen the Master Game so I can't comment on it but the phrase "beggars can't be choosers" springs to mind. If you have a better idea, go for it.

Let's just say one fat bloke and one thin bloke sitting on a sofa
playing out some obscure and bland game did not quite fire my enthusiasm.

Pretty much everyone on here plus reviews at the Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-enter ... 47130.html and the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/ ... watch-this disagrees with you.

[Justin Hadi]

Who would be best to contact?

The guy I got in contact with on the BBC was John Das - [email protected]. Lobbying would be an excellent idea, the more people the better.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Justin.

"If I have a better idea then go for it."

Never one to shirk a challenge.

Format: A 60 minute programme.

Chess: The Quick Kill

Andrew Martin at the board and he will invite 30 players of all playing strength.
The fewer GM's and IM's the better. Club players, the normal guys.

Each guest has 3 minutes to show, in their own (scripted)* words their favourite
opening trap.

You are sneering....

Check out the most popular chess YouTubes......Opening Traps.

Remember, it's not what YOU want to see. It's what THEY want to see.

(And they don't want to see a fat bloke and a thin bloke playing out some
dross whilst sitting on a sofa.)

Three programmes 90 opening traps. There is your book of the series.

(Andrew can I be on it. It was my idea and I won't swear).

*Scripted:
Means Andrew fires them up before hand with some dry runs. "say this....say that...."
And the jokes and gags will fit in.

That will work and the running cost will be an attractive low.
One studio, grafix display screen. The club players will NOT get paid but get a free book.

Not bad for straight of the top of my head.

I saw all the other reviews. Good. It what you would expect. I'm glad.
We must put on a positive front.

Now I can feed you a link that show you people who did not like it. (I'll PM it).

You want my opinion on seeing it for a second and last time?

We manage to get chess sets delivered to every school in England.
The people behind this venture deserve to be Knighted.

Yet the first chess programme that happens along in years is dreadful.

Raymond Keene, who I quite like actually, is not to be the face of
British Chess. He relates very badly to most chess players, how do you
think he comes across to the kids and home and casual players,
the very people we want to hook.

King was OK, Rowson was better but we did not see enough of him.

Howell and Hunt are not going to reach these kids either.

You want Andrew Martin in a tee shirt and jeans giving you one his
'listen to me or I'll punch your lights out." looks.
Someone whose energy and love of the game simply oozes.

it's called TV charisma and Howell and Hunt simply don't have it.

Why did they have on that old postal playing geezer.
"I can tell if I'm playing a computer...."

The amount of real postal players these days is a small fraction to the
chess that is played on the net. Yet this programme was determined to
keep chess 40 years behind the times.

Boxing Chess is a joke and should not have been the given air time.

And I've already mentioned that awful game that was running through the
whole programme like bad smell.