Brunel FM - club now wants opinions

[The_Plagiarist]

Smith & Smith      

[axs]

     :shock:

[Colin Todd]

Smith & Smith      

We all dream of a team of smiths

Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick indeed

[Phil_S]

FWIW, this is what I've sent back :

Ben, thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my opinion. I only wish that this had been done prior to the deal with Brunel fm !
I can't pick up Brunel fm in Chippenham, where I live, but can on the M4 driving too and from the CG.

In answer to your questions:

Pre match is not I find, very good. Too much music, & adverts. I still listen to the BBC despite the fact that they also cover other clubs in the county, seem to have more information, knowledge & opinions. I also really miss the 6-7 pm slot on a Friday when at leats 30 mins was always devoted to STFC.
During the match, I have only heard 15 mins of commentary. I am usually at the game or at home working around the house where I can't pick it up. The commentary I DID listen too seemed passionless, & not very inspiring. I do however understand that Alan Mac has been co commentating & have been told he was good.
Post match. Again, too much Music, Adverts & stuff on Premiership matches.  Very little on fans opions on the game etc. I now don't bother & tune into BBC which I can listen too ALL of the way home
All, in all I would like to add that in my humble opinion this is a big own goal for STFC. I do not blame Brunel, & if they could get the same coverage as the BBC, no doubt they could improve the other areas. But as it stands, it is STFC who are losing out big time on the "Free" publicity that they used to get from the BBC.
I would make several points to support this opinion.
Many people, who are "closet" supporters are now unable to listen to STFC. Three groups spring to mind, teenagers, old people, & those with very young children. These people are very unlikely to subscribe to STFC world, even if they have a computer/ broadband. Although a supporter since the 1970's I was one of these when my chioldren were born, & did not go to the CG for approx 6 to 7 years. I did however listen to the coverage on the radio, until one day my son picked up on the atmosphere from the coverage & said he would like to go to a match. This was 10 years ago, & I have missed very few home games since. My son is now a teenager (18), & has stopped coming with me for now (says he can't afford it), but still follows the club. I would like to think that in the future, he will go to the County ground with HIS children & not a Bristol Club !
Our nearest Rivals in my area, Bristol City, in particular & Bristol Rovers, have both enjoyed promotion last season (Along with us of course). Bristol City in particular are now advertising on GWR, trying to attract "neutrals".
I feel that the club has made a poor decision here, lowering the profile, & reducing the potentiil audience of STFC, at the very time when we should be looking to INCREASE our profile as the regions best football club ! ( As a marketing man, I am sure that you were NOT party to the decision)

I'm sorry to be going on here, but if you can in any way get the coverage back to a REGIONAL broadcaster, I know that the vast majority of town fans will see this as a positive move for the club.

[tans]

Tell that cunt lambert i will reply to that email when he replys to the 2 emails i sent him

I waited 2 weeks for a reply on mine macca. Got one eventually.

[Reg Smeeton]

Absolutely awful.

No Friday night sports talk phone in- this was always a good half hour on the town and fans phone in.

 You're Brian from Larkhill aren't you Bart?  Go on own up

[pumbaa]

Having listened to every game so far this season on Brunel and most games last season I can honestly say the pre match build up is non existent in comparison to BBC which was not exceptional but it was passable.

The in game commentary is very very poor, even with the many different commentators and guest commentators...like Tom...err err urm err umm Jones, the only professional one was Alan Mac who was very good, so often during games we get...oh and theres a goal, at first they dont say who scored it, they dont say the build up, often it has happened they dont even say which team scored it! thats amateur and very unprofessional.

They often chat about mundane stuff without giving us any idea whatsoever of how the game is progressing, whos playing well and more so what is happening on the pitch, it can take literally 1 minutes commentary to find out who scored and for which team, and confused scorers like the Brentford game when Adams scored...or is that Cox oh no it looks like it was Blackburn, WTF thats just plain terrible.

After match....well its again pretty non existant, and please stop playing adverts for taxis in Frome and Warminster, I know the partner station is 3TR for there but we dont need or want to listen to the adverts.

End of rant.

I rely on this service, through my subscription to STFC World for the last four years, to listen to STFC games as I live overseas, so I'd like to think I'm well positioned to pass comment.

I'd like to firstly state that I didn't receive an e-mail from Ben Lambert asking for my opinion, despite as I said above being a subscriber to STFC World for 4 years. Nonetheless, Ben will be receiving my feedback in due course whether he wants it or not. I'll be making that point to Ben in my response.

I've not listened to all the games, as some I've been away for (Northampton, Bournemouth or the midweek evening games as I can't log onto STFC World from work). I have listened to all, or at least attempted to listen, to every other game.

In summary, the overall coverage is of a worse standard than that of the BBC.

What I've heard of the pre-match build-up, its probably a little worse than BBC RS, mainly because they insist on playing music, something BBC RS did not do in the hour before kick-off. I'm not saying BBC RS coverage was all that great, but it was better than the service Brunel FM currently offers. I'd give it 4 out of 10.

Now on to match day commentary. I have to say what I've heard so far has frankly been amateur, and much lower than the standard offered by BBC RS. Generally, the lead commentator has been dull, soulless and passionless with respect to STFC, often is unable to describe the action in detail, is unable to recognise the Swindon players, and on more than one occasion showed more passion when the opposition scored. With the exception of Alan McLoughlin (who was excellent), the co-commentators have been awful - that is when there is one (e.g Hartlepool, which was by far the dullest 2 hours I have spent listening to STFC commentary). I'll be generous and offer up 3/10.

I've given up on post match coverage. jj's post above hits the nail on the head. 1/10.

Overall, much worse than BBC RS. I know BBC RS weren't perfect (and you'lll have read plenty of complaints about Ed Hadwin if you trawl through previous match day threads), but it was much better than this shower.

Of course, I'll not dwell on the service offered by STFC World, via Premium TV, although I will point this out to Ben in my reply. Once again, I could not receive the STFC commentary from today's game against Millwall, which is not the fault of Brunel FM. This is the 2nd time this season that I'm aware of (the other being Luton) when STFC commentary was totally unavailable due to 'technical problems'.

[Panda Paws]

Well I managed to tune in for the first time today as was at my parents in Cirencester - and guess what? Could barely pick the station up! Inbetween the constant fizzing, I just about heard the first goal, and ... guess who was summeriser? Arthur Hunt! Remember him?

[spacey]

The reception in Ciren is usually okay, but it was shite today. I blame you, you are obviously cursed.

[Panda Paws]

The reception in Ciren is usually okay, but it was shite today. I blame you, you are obviously cursed.

Probably. It was fucked.

[sonic youth]

the commentary was woeful today, sounded like they plucked some random old bloke from a retirement home and gave him a microphone.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Arthur Hunt! Remember him?

Jesus wept!

Yes I remember him only too well.

Oh dear God.

Awful. Just awful. Sorry of you're reading this Arthur but it's true. You may well be a very nice man in real life and for all I know, a life long Town fan. But please, PLEASE, for your sake, DON'T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB :shake:

[Ardiles]

I have a feeling that this consultation exercise is the first step towards moving the commentary back to the BBC.  Not before time, it seems.

[Barnard]

As I was stuck with my Wonderful STFC World service yesterday in sunny Calne, I wasn't able to listen to Brunel as for the 2nd or 3rd time this season there were technical issues.

Instead I listened to the Millwall commentary. The Millwall commentators had an obvious passion for the club, they got excited when Millwall were on the attack, shouted when they scored and got stuck into the officials every time they gave a decision to us.

On the occassions that I've been able to listen to Brunel, you would have struggled to work out that you were listening to the 'Swindon' commentary. Wheres the passion?

[pumbaa]

I've posted a transcript of my response to Ben Lambert below. Its a bit long and actually encompasses some of my previous points, but I'm happy for others to plagurise its content for your own purposes (I've borrowed a bit of jj's comments, hope you don't mind mate!)

Ben,

I've been led to believe that you are soliciting opinions via e-mail regarding the quality of service offered by Brunel FM. Firstly, I'd like to point out that I was extremely disappointed not to receive a direct e-mail from you requesting my opinion despite being an STFC World subscriber for 4 years. Secondly, I'd like to refer you back to our earlier e-mail correspondence on 21 and 22 August 2007 following the significant technical problems encountered during the home game with Luton Town - if you'd like me to remind you of that conversation, I'll gladly do so on request. Thirdly, and finally, I'd like to point out that being a Swindon Twon FC fan living overseas, I am totally reliant on the STFC World Matchday service every week, so I would like to think my perspective holds substantially more weight than those who sporadically listened to the service provided by BBC Radio Swindon in the past and listen to Brunel FM at present.

I am going to take the opportunity to once again address these issues with you. I'll start with addressing your specific points regarding Brunel FM, then I'd like to add again the ongoing issues with the overall matchday service offered by Premium TV. I'll start with your questions:-

1. Pre-match 2-3 pm – how informative is the pre match build up, team news etc?

What I've heard of the pre-match build-up, in my opinion it is not of a similar standard to BBC Radio Swindon, mainly because Brunel FM insist on playing music, something BBC Radio Swindon did not do in the hour before kick-off. I'm not saying BBC Radio Swindon coverage was perfect, but it was significantly better than the service Brunel FM currently offers. I'd give it 4 out of 10. As it happens, I rarely listen to Brunel FM pre-match, and rather listen to BBC Radio Swindon then switch over to STFC World at kick-off.

2. The match itself 3-5pm – your comments on the commentary team, the co-commentator, at both home and away games

I have to say what I've heard so far has frankly been amateur, and much lower than the standard offered by BBC Radio Swindon. Generally, the lead commentator has been dull, soulless and passionless with respect to Swindon Town FC, often is unable to describe the action in detail, is unable to even recognise the Swindon players, and on more than one occasion showed more passion when the opposition scored (which in my book is a cardinal sin). With the exception of Alan McLoughlin (who was excellent), the co-commentators have been shockingly awful - that is when there is one (e.g Hartlepool, which was by far the dullest 2 hours I have spent listening to STFC commentary). In summary then, generally unprofessional, but I'll be generous and offer up 3/10.

3. Post match 5-6pm – Paul Sturrock’s post match interview and post match analysis.

The after match coverage is again pretty non-existant. On more than one occasion I sat waiting for a hour after the game for some post match reaction and just got a load of 80's music and a load of adverts for taxis in Frome and Warminster - I know the partner station is 3TR, but we don't need or want to listen to the adverts every 3 minutes! I've given up on post-match coverage, and switch back to BBC Radio Swindon, who seem to be able to interview Paul Sturrock and key players much quicker than Brunel FM - and ask much more pertinent questions as well. Frankly its rubbish, and so I can only offer 1/10.

So overall, in summary, I find the overall Match Day service offered by Brunel FM as shoddy and unprofessional, and certainly well below the standard of BBC Radio Swindon.

Now can I tackle you once again on the overall package offered by Premium TV. You'll be aware from our earlier correspondence on 21/22 August that I was extremely disappointed by Premium TV's service during the Luton game earlier this season, compounded by the lack of service for the first 55 minutes of the last game of last season against Walsall. Regretfully, I have to inform you that after a minor blip (in the positive sense) in the service, normal service was resumed this past weekend for the Millwall game. Once again I and all STFC World subscribers that I know were unable to listen to the dedicated Swindon Town commentary offered by Brunel FM due to 'technical difficulties' suffered by Premium TV. I reported the problem to Premium TV at 1508 on Saturday, received an automated response at 1514 claiming, and I quote "Currently we are having some technical problem with the commentary and we trying to fix it ASAP, please bear with us". I followed up with three further e-mails to Premium TV Customer Service at 1516, 1557 and 1649 on Saturday, to which I have had no response to date. I consider that to be appalling Customer Support.

I am getting really close to cancelling my contract with Premium TV, which expires on 28 November, and demanding a full refund, because they currently can't provide the service I'm paying for. I shall certainly not be renewing my subscription to STFC World after this weekend's events.

Best regards