The BBC and coverage of commercial events - Glastonbury?

[hairykrishna]

Oakey said:

Pardon? Tickets cost £225 these days? Wowsers

Given that a decent ticket to see a band like the Who or the Stones costs that much these days it doesn't seem unreasonable. I reckon they'd still sell out at double that.

[Bill]

dandarez said:

I'm fully with AJL308 on this. It's not broadcasting an event that is the issue, it's the bloody non-stop plugging of Glasto. I doubt a minute passed without its mention. It was simply one big long weekend advert which cost Michael Eavis nowt.

AIUI tickets sold out months ago, within 24 minutes of going on sale, so I think the Beeb needs Glasto much more than Glasto need the Beeb.

[CardinalFang]

Rude-boy said:

Just on that point I think that you are right in the short term but if there were on BBC coverage of the event, and no one else mainstream stepped in, I suspect you would find it about 1/2 the size it is today within 10 years, possibly 5.

Very few people actually give two figs about the lay lines man. It's all about the big event, the saying you've been and everyone knowing what you are talking about. The being seen to be right on and open minded whilst actually only going to the 'big name' sets other than the one band you fell upon whilst buying a burger.

IMO (and I was saying this in 1995 when I was looking at going as a student) it is like any of the Ascots, BGP, Wimbledon, etc's of this world. There are just as many, if not more, people who are there to say they went as there are people who would turn up if it wasn't 'a place to be seen to be.'

Fair point about the long term effect of coverage. whilst the others you mention have huge corporate presence (I mean companies paying for boxes/marquees to wine & dine their clients) Glasto is very much part of the "summer season" as far as the BBC are concerned. That means, yes, there are people who want to be seen, want to tick the box, want to be down with the kids etc...Not me obvs, my wristband is only on 'cos I said my godson could cut it off at the weekend. Honest...cough...