BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels (poss SPOILERS)

[23skidoo]

ED: note. Although this post contains no plot spoilers, it occurs to me it's possible the simple fact there's a cliffhanger at the end of the episode might be a spoiler to those unaware that it's a two-parter. If a mod wants to slap a "possible spoilers" notation to my subject head, I have no objection.

The Doctor Who News Page reports that the BBC's decision to drop an animated banner on the screen just at the cliffhanger to last night's Time of Angels has critics and fans screaming -- including actor Simon Pegg of Long Game and Star Trek fame. The ad was to promote some new reality show and is done in the same cartoonish style that BBC One introduced earlier this week as part of "updating" its branding.

Before I give you the URL that unusually for the news page (perhaps it was posted by someone who was particularly pissed off about it) it almost completely spoils the cliffhanger from Time of Angels because it includes a vidcap of the banner ad. Anyone in Canada, North America or Australia are spoiler-warned.

For everyone else, there's a link to where you can lodge complaints with the BBC. Although I'm in Canada I'd strongly advise making this complaint otherwise the ad's likely to become a regular occurrence. And people wonder why so many viewers are abandoning broadcast TV in favor of DVD/BD and online viewing. Hell, I could see this BS end up sparking a bunch of downloads of the Canadian and American versions of the episode when they air in a couple of weeks...

http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/04/return-of-norton.html

Alex

 

[ATimson]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Hell, I could see this BS end up sparking a bunch of downloads of the Canadian and American versions of the episode when they air in a couple of weeks...

No need - the available UK version is based on the BBC HD broadcast, which didn't get the banner ad.

 

[Cutter John]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Us American fans who've seen the episode should probably stay out of this one.

*checks the link* Wow, that is pretty dreadful. Though its kinda cool to hear that Simon Pegg is a fan.

 

[The Doctor]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Us American fans who've seen the episode should probably stay out of this one.

*checks the link* Wow, that is pretty dreadful. Though its kinda cool to hear that Simon Pegg is a fan.

He was in a 1st season episode, The Long Game if I remember correctly.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

It someone at the BBC thought that such an annoying, ill-placed banner was going to make people want to watch the ultra-treacly "Over the Rainbow", what the hell were they smoking?

 

[captcalhoun]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

they used one with a cartoon Dalek on the end of Total Wipeout to advertise Who as well...

 

[Cutter John]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

It someone at the BBC thought that such an annoying, ill-placed banner was going to make people want to watch the ultra-treacly "Over the Rainbow", what the hell were they smoking?

Especially considering they squish the closing credits to plug the damn thing again less than a minute later.

 

[WillsBabe]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Especially considering they squish the closing credits to plug the damn thing again less than a minute later.

I always think that is so disrespectful. Either show the credits or don't show them. Don't pretend by sqwishing them. I think there might be a union clause to show them, though.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

they used one with a cartoon Dalek on the end of Total Wipeout to advertise Who as well...

If I watched that show I'd be just as annoyed - I think complainants ought to make sure to say they're complaining about the practice in general, and pointing out that the Dr Who complaint is because of the context of it being a dramatic climax, so the beeb get that it's a bad idea overall and not just something "anoraky" they can ignore

 

[C.E. Evans]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

If it's any consolation, when the finale to "End of Time" aired on BBC America and US audiences saw David Tennant regenerate into Matt Smith, an animated banner came down right then and there to take us right out of the pivotal scene...

Onscreen clutter. It's an international problem.

 

[23skidoo]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

The BBC must have been FLOODED. They've already issued an apology on their News site. (Again, steer clear of this link if you're outside the UK and want to avoid the big spoiler as they include a screen capture of the offending image.)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8642854.stm

Alex

 

[nebogipfel]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

I would encourage UK viewers to register a complaint here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/homepage/

Comments on forums isn't going to get their attention.

Selecting the email option makes it all very easy. Keep it brief and to the point. There is also a telephone number which is a good way (just remember to keep it polite - I pity the people who pay the rent by answering that!)

The BBC will only take this seriously if they receive significant numbers of actual complaints via the above link from UK residents. I'm not sure overseas residents making a complaint out of solidarity is going to help. I think it best that they see a cross section of UK society don't like this sort of thing on any type of programme, rather than that they have rattled the cages of a few anoraks (like me)!

 

[23skidoo]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

^ Since they've already issued an apology (see my note above), I'd say the message got through. I'm in Canada and I sent a complaint as well. (The original news page included the link you just posted).

What needs to happen is ongoing comments to the BBC that such things aren't acceptable, so they don't do it again. Over here in Canada, several channels became unwatchable because they went nuts for these animated promos - in particular YTV. The US networks aren't much better, and I'd love to see some research done to see if there's any link between what I consider to be intrusive ads (i.e. ones that affect enjoyment of a show) and people deciding to simply stop watching network broadcasts and either download illegally (usually either raw feeds or international broadcasts -- for example I'm willing to bet someone's looking for a copy of the BBC Scotland version of Time of Angels) or get the DVD later. Lots of people don't care - or at least the network believes this because people don't complain.

Alex

 

[DimesDan]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

I'm in Canada and I sent a complaint as well.

Why? If you're in Canada and you didn't see the broadcast yesterday "live" then why complain? Did it interfere with your viewing pleasure?

If it was reversed, say an advert like that was shown on a Canadian broadcast of it I wouldn't complain, I'd just let you over there deal with it.

 

[nebogipfel]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Unfortunately the BBC have only apologised for the "timing" of the animated trailer. They have not acknowledged that this entire type of trailer is entirely unacceptable.

So, yes, a continuing flood of complaints about the very use of this type of thing during the show (any show, not just Doctor Who), would be a good thing.

Grrr... I remember returning from my first trip to the states and telling my wife how grateful we should be that our TV isn't like theirs!

 

[Pat]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Even more pleased I'm able to watch on BBC HD after all the consternation over this. Beyond the substantial jump in PQ with the excellent 1080i image; and thus far superb DD 5.1 sound mixes - it's also banner free!

 

[23skidoo]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Why? If you're in Canada and you didn't see the broadcast yesterday "live" then why complain? Did it interfere with your viewing pleasure?

I think I explained myself quite fully. The practice itself is objectionable, and also it called attention to the fact this has been reported internationally. I'm not the only one. And yes it did interfere with my viewing pleasure because it sparked multiple website reports that SPOILED THE CLIFFHANGER for me and anyone else in North America who happened to be just looking for non-spoiler news. And that's not the DW News Page frakking up - the BBC did it too in their news report. My little blurb here is probably in the minority that doesn't include an image of the thing. And I did probably spoil things a little for the people who might not have been aware The Time of Angels was a two-parter (sorry 'bout that).

And besides, you tell me what harm would have come from it. Their website clearly has an "Outside UK" option for complaints, and that's what I did. I didn't claim I was in West Hartlepool or anything.

Anyway, more updates: last tally 3,000 phone calls alone. Unknown number of e-mails. BBC PR flack* now scheduled to discuss the incident on BBC Radio Five tomorrow!

http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2010/04/bbc-apologises-for-advert-intrusion.html

Alex

*I got in trouble for using this term once by people unfamiliar with it. Journalism jargon for spokesperson or sacrificial lamb; probably going to be the latter in this case!

 

[diankra]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Us American fans who've seen the episode should probably stay out of this one.

*checks the link* Wow, that is pretty dreadful. Though its kinda cool to hear that Simon Pegg is a fan.

He was in a 1st season episode, The Long Game if I remember correctly.

He is very much a fan, not just of Who, but all our sort of stuff. In one of my jobs as editor, we met at a League of Gentlemen launch event and talked about about him contributing to a run down of the Top 50 Buffy episodes, but the deadlines didn't work out.

 

[Samurai8472]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

 

[Cutter John]

Re: BBC getting complaints over ending of Time of Angels

Engish fans should complain. They pay for that crap after all.