What am I doing?

[Justin Hadi]

CJ,

Good work on your progress so far, this Kasparov dinner sounds like an excellent initiative and hopefully some substantial funds can be raised.

I was wondering if you had made any progress on talking with TV producers/the powers that be on getting more chess on TV? There was the success of 'How to win at Chess' on BBC4 and now there will be the programme about junior talents (I think?) and the British Championships to be broadcast on BBC 2, so things are looking positive at the moment. Now would be a good time to keep the momentum going after these successes.

Cheers,
Justin

[cjdemooi]

I've spoken to a few production companies who supply BBC2, BBC4 and Channel 4 but have encountered the same sort of problems as when I've tried the same sort of thing with quizzing... it's not engaging or televisual. However, I'm hopeful someone will come to the dinner (if only to record the games) but then there's the problem of getting a broadcaster to take it (which usually means paying money)

The raffle is an interesting idea but we'd need to guarantee getting enough people to take part to make it viable. Would anybody be willing to take part at £5 or £10 a go? It's easy enough to set up on eBay so if people would like to do it, I'm perfectly agreeable.

Update on the consultation games (anybody want to bid to accompany a GM?) we have Kasparov v Short and Adams v McShane.

[Justin Hadi]

I've spoken to a few production companies who supply BBC2, BBC4 and Channel 4 but have encountered the same sort of problems as when I've tried the same sort of thing with quizzing... it's not engaging or televisual.

Thanks for trying anyway, it seems a difficult thing to achieve.

[John Moore]

I wonder what it would be like being Kasparov's consultation partner - perhaps he'd let you move the pieces

CJ and Justin - I seem to recall the television discussion at some length on another thread. I suppose there's no chance of interesting Sky. After all they've got enough channels!

[Justin Hadi]

I had asked CJ earlier in this thread to talk to some TV contacts to see what could be done. I think the problem with Sky is you have to pay them to get chess on TV, much like the recent bridge programme, which apparently wasn't very good.

[Mike Truran]

Justin - correct! Higher visibility sports like pool and poker get some money from Sky. The also ran sports with close to zero telivisual impact and therefore close to zero viewers (from Sky's point of view anyway) like chess and bridge have to pay to be shown. To state the blindingly obvious, it's all about how much advertisers are willing to pay. No viewers, no advertising revenue.

[cjdemooi]

The Staunton Memorial Dinner will feature the consultation games Kasparov v Short and Adams v McShane

[cjdemooi]

I've had no interest in a raffle for the tickets so I think I'll just continue to sell them normally (although I may have to cancel some of the invitees in order to release a few more as they're proving rather popular!)

The GMs currently confirmed to attend are Garry Kasparov, Nigel Short, Michael Adams, Luke McShane, David Howell, Stephen Gordon, John Emms, Daniel King and Raymond Keene. Gawain Jones is a probable and I'm still waiting to hear from 2 others.

[Gavin Strachan]

perhaps a little late in the day for raffle and it would have to be widely advertised I suppose. one for the future maybe.

[cjdemooi]

I'll be doing an interview on the Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show at about 1.30 on Thursday. It's primarily to talk about junior chess but I'm sure the British Championships and Staunton dinner will get a mention too.

[Eoin Devane]

Sounds good. I'll try and listen out for it. I guess it'll be available on iPlayer afterwards for anyone who misses it.

[Jon Mahony]

I'll see if the women in the office will let me put the interview on

I enjoyed your talk at the Middlesbrough congress the other week CJ, keep up the good work.

[benedgell]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/radio2/

CJ's interview coming up in about 10 mins.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

I hope the interview is good as I've had to sit through a Thompson Twins song waiting for it.


Edit: Wow! That was excellent, CJ was so enthusiastic that I feel like taking up chess myself.

[Stewart Reuben]

CJ's interview was very good and it caused me to listen to Radio 2, possibly for the first time.
There is an interesting point. He encourages people to be taught the game at a very young age. This is good for generating world class players. However, for lesser mortals, unless given considerable back-up to help develop understanding of the game, they will pretty quickly abandon it. Richard James has (or had) the opinion that teaching chess, to children unable yet to access material by themselves, probably has a negative effect.
I would like to think the Certificate of Merit Scheme will help here. The Level Two and Three booklet is out today. But 6 and 7 year olds will still need help initially accessing the material online.

Stewart Reuben