BBC Scotland again brings Glasgow Green to the world
They say that the best way to improve the World Pipe Band Championships most years would be to put a roof over it, and once again BBC Scotland will allow enthusiasts to stay warm and dry in the comfort of their home by providing umbrella Internet coverage of the event via live video streaming of the Grade 1 competitions.
The prospect of the UK taxpayer-funded BBC Scotland streaming the event again was in doubt after substantial budget and job cuts took place over the last year, with funding for the extensive project questionable.
Last year the BBC said that there were approximately 40,000 total visits to its World’s website on the day of the competition. The city of Glasgow has said that about the same number of people attend the World’s, including the approximately 8,000 pipers and drummers competing.
The program will again be hosted by Jackie Bird and Bob Worrall, who will also provide commentary for a subsequent television special on the competition.
The BBC has for several decades recorded the competition from its mobile unit for radio broadcasts. The master recordings are also used for the RSPBA’s commercial CDs and DVDs, which are believed to be, at least before last year’s Internet streaming of the event, among the best-selling piping and drumming recordings annually.
pipes|drums reported in June 2010 that the live streaming of the event was a go, citing sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The BBC then said that the project was still not confirmed.
This great news. Like last year, I’ll get up at 2:00 A.M., make a pot of coffee, plug the laptop into the Bose Wave, sit in my comfortable chair and watch the entire grade 1 contest from qualifier to results. And, like last year, I’m sure there will be lots of texting and calls made throughout the day to compare notes about the performances. If one can’t be there in person, this is a terrific option. And, I’d be more than willing to pay a reasonable fee for this. Cliff Davis
This is awesome! Getting the chance to kind of be there when it” happens although you do not have the funds to physically go there is great. Thanks BBC and thanks all you British tax payers. I will by a few of you a beer next time I meet you. Peter Knopp”