What am I doing?

[Stewart Reuben]

There is something that has stalled completely. The government legislated that mind sports activity could have charitable status even if not for juniors. Since then the charities commission have got not further now for two years. I am not saying it is anybody's fault.
Both the Friends of Chess and Hastings have not made appeals for funds, waiting for the change. This is because, after changing their status, people would be more likely to give money because of gift aid.
The ECF might well have to split off International and the British Championship and other professional activity.
Thus this has resulted in inertia. Getting it all moving again, would be valuable. I did speak to Angel Eagle about it and she's a Finance minister.

I quite agree that a TV programme or series where a strong player plus a junior played against another strong player + junior or media star, in separate rooms in consultation, would be good TV, albeit for chess. Another possibility is alternate moves, no consultation. There is nothing wong with the original Master Game concept. When I approached Channel 4, before they went live, about chess on TV, a commissioning editor phoned me back the following day. He said he wanted something different from the Master Game. Nobody, at that time, could think of a good alternative and there it languished. Only years later did a sports company, helped by me, come up with the idea of the World Blitz Championhip. But BMW pulled out when the TV stations said they wouldn't guarantee to show a pilot, nor would they contribute towards the production costs.

It is very difficult to think of additional benefits from paying a membership fee. When we have a decent website, there are a few things, which would become accessible only to members.

Having more than one grading list a year would increase activity. It is the graders who block that, or so we are told. FIDE have 6 and will eventually have 12; the USCF recalculates after each event is sent in.
England is the only country not to use 4 figure Elo numbers. When Sir Richard Clarke started the BCF Grading system, he was correct to use 3 figures and Elo wrong to use 4. The cost of printing 4 numbers was higher and people don't understand that one rating point is neither here nor there. Now is ther ideal time to change over to 4 figures. The grades have been recalculated and we have a new Board.

Free events taking place is shopping centres and outdoors in the summer, take effort, not money.

The Match of the Generations (20 and under against over 20) really did not catch fire in 2004 when it was held to celebrate the Centenary of the BCF. That was because of apathy. In the 1950s it was annual and hugely popular.

Stewart Reuben

[Ian Thompson]

There is nothing wong with the original Master Game concept. When I approached Channel 4, before they went live, about chess on TV, a commissioning editor phoned me back the following day. He said he wanted something different from the Master Game. Nobody, at that time, could think of a good alternative and there it languished.

Are there any countries in the world where chess TV programmes are regularly broadcast? If so, what format are they, and what audience are they aimed at?

[Michele Clack]

OK lets look at this from the other angle. What sort of TV programmes are popular at the moment? Yes reality TV. How about something along the lines of taking some juniors who are beginners but appear to have some natural talent, provide them with some top coaching for a few months and then enter them in their age group in the British Championships to see how they get on. You could add an element of boys v girls perhaps to see if the girls keep pace with excellent coaching.

[John Hickman]

OK lets look at this from the other angle. What sort of TV programmes are popular at the moment?

"Strictly Come Chessing"

A variant of Chessboxing where players alternate between the chess board and strutting their stuff in front of a voting panel

"Chesswatch"

From a hide in a Chess tournament, secretly observe the habits of chess players

"Have I got Chess for You"

A panel of comedians comment on the current chess affairs.

"Chessenders"

A soap based in a chess club from the east end of London, oh oh, mobile phone incident, there's going to be a rumble

"Monkey Chess"

Based on the format of the ever popular Monkey tennis

"The Chess Factor"

Chess hopefuls turn up at venues across the country at the weekend and hope to outperform other competitors, oh err hang on...

[benedgell]

Bit too tired to comment in detail, but I emailed the BBC on Friday to suggest a Master Game type show. Haven't had any success previously but maybe name- dropping CJ will help this time.

[Stewart Reuben]

It occurs to me that some of the posters here may not know that there is to be a TV progamme on BBC4, probably 2 December. I believe this is just teaching the rudiments of the game. That is a laudable project.
When this has appeared, please write in saying how much you enjoyed it. Only constructive criticisms please. Get your friends to do the same. 100 such letters should do the trick.
I thought the recent Bridge series was awful - at least the one programme I saw.

CJ, Ben and I writing in is less effective than a member of the apparent general public. We have a vested interest.

London Evening Standard. The paper relegated Leonard Barden's column to the online paper. The campaign to reinstate it was highly successful. It returned within the week. Recently it has become a free newspaper. But the chess column remains.
I used to read the paper more frequently when I had to pay for it than currently. But I admit, that is partly to do with finding where I can get hold of it.

Stewart Reuben

[Paul Buswell]

It occurs to me that some of the posters here may not know that there is to be a TV progamme on BBC4, probably 2 December. I believe this is just teaching the rudiments of the game. That is a laudable project.

Hadn't heard anything. Details several days beforehand requested from someone please, to alert my club's members.

PB

[benedgell]

http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php ... 28&start=0

has all the details of the programme.

To copy one of my posts from that debate: The more people that watch this, the greater the argument for chess having a regular programme.

[benedgell]

Should mention that on my original post on the Timeshift programme topic, I said that the time/ date wasn't definitive. I've emailed George Chan today to get confirmation.

[Stewart Reuben]

Somewhat inferior to Ernie' suggestion, but possibly easier to achieve nationally, is to offer local newspapers a syndicated column free. Somebody willing to spend 2 hours weekly could do this. When the ECF is in a less parlous state it could be paid for.
Ray Keene when Publicity Director did this. About 70 local papers signed up. It was usually a rehash of Ray's Spectator column. How many actually published them, I have no idea. Many newspapers like a chess diagram as that sets off the page nicely. This may be one of the reasons for the success of So Duko.
Of course the reason it is inferior is because Ernie is writing a column with an emphasis on local chess activity. I did one for a few years for the Islington Gazette.

Possibly there could be a similar way with local radio.
Few of you will know that TNAUK takes the ChessMoves material and changes it to audio for the Braille Chess Association.

Stewart Reuben

[Alex McFarlane]

Expanding on Ernie's post. As an organiser I have often thought it would be a nice idea to email local papers with details of people in their area who had won a prize at one of my events. However, I have been unable to find a website which gives a list of email addresses for local papers nor have I had much success in getting players to provide such info on their local paper.

If anyone can tell me of such a site it would be much appreciated. Failing which I am willing to collate such info as is posted here and display it on the Chess Arbiters' website.

Thanks for any help given.

[benedgell]

http://www.wrx.zen.co.uk/britnews.htm

is the site Stewart recommended to me. Not strictly the email addresses, but a list of sites and then just a case of finding the contact us link each time. Hope that helps.

[Leonard Barden]

I looked at your articles, Ernie. Excellent and informative writing!

[Alan Ruffle]

Alan Ruffle Post subject: PlanningPosted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 8:21 am



Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:52 am
Posts: 32 Dear All

There is much debate about fixture clashes, I suggest starting with a skeleton of events.

We already have a number of events and organisers of national standing who with ECF backing could be invited organise a framework of national competitions, which might raise the profile of our game.

Please view the below which is uncluttered with detail-

Olympic Chess Championships 2012– Birmingham Town Hall- Mark Hogarth

British Team championships –Liverpool-Involving at least one team from each country selected by its National body - 4NCL

English Individual Championships (Six players one of whom is the English amateur Champion, all play all) Simpson’s in the Strand – Raymond Keane

English Amateur Championships (Replacing the current British Championships) – Brighton – David Welch

England Junior Championships/Selection Tournaments- Michael Basman

County Championships- Regional events played at rapid play rates over one set weekend, Finals to be played over one set weekend at a Midland venue/Long play rates – Tony Corfe

Professional organisers and organisations should be allowed free reign to make a financial success of their involvement. Amateur organised events are expected to break even but in any case are to be underwritten by the ECF

Alan Ruffle

This is a copy of my posting from 12th June 2008, and only needs updating by my apologising to Peter Purland

More impotant than all of the above is the disgraceful situation whereby this forum is barred from direct access via the ECF this is a disgrace to democracy...............the board should be ashamed.

Alan Ruffle

[benedgell]

Have a few pages of this thread disappeared, or is it just me?