CHANNEL 4 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4th 2012
THE WINDS OF CHANGE FELT BY THE LOYAL CHANNEL 4 HORSERACING TEAM
RACING POST GRAHAM GREEN BRINGS US AN UPDATE ON THIS SITUATION (RP Tuesday
October 30th 3012)
FRANCOME "I was never joining new
C4 team.
"John Francome yesterday
revealed he rebutted overtures from
Channel 4 retaining his services as a member of it's new-look racing team.
"I never had any intention of
joining," said the former
seven-time champion jockey. "You don't want to be riding Frankel and then be going back to riding something
else."
"Francome was speaking as it
emerged the commercial broadcaster's loss has proved the Injured Jockeys Fund's
gain following his appointment as the new public face of the charity.
"By accepting the post of
president in succession to IJF founder and former Channel 4
colleague
Lord Oaksey, who died last month, the communication skills and charisma that
have been the hallmarks of Francome's successful TV career will now be utilised
to ensure the organisation retains its high-profile standing among the sporting
world's charities.
"Francome
ruled out continuing as a pundit when it was announced in August that although responsibilities for Channel 4 Racing output
was passing from Highflyer to IGM from January 1, and although subsequently
encouraged to change his mind he insisted that was never an option.
"Commenting
on the line-up of presenters announced last week - Derek Thompson, John
McCririck and Mike Cattermole were jettisoned to make way for BBC recruits-
Francome said: "It is very good. You can't keep everybody happy. One or
two of the choices are a little bit of a surprise, but one thing is certain and
that is they won't have the team spirit we have.
"The
team spirit at Channel 4 came from [Highflyer's Executive producer] Andrew
Franklin. Everybody who came to work for us said exactly the same thing; they
had never worked on a television program where everyone got on so well."
"With no
regrets over his decision, Francome is now concentrating on the future and
doing his best for the IJF, which has expended £20 million in charitable
assistance and benefited more than 1,000 individuals since launching in 1964.
"He said:
"I'm very honoured to take on this role, especially following in the
footsteps of John Oaksey, I hope I can do it justice and carry on the great and
essentialwork the Fund does, although, unlike the indomitable Lord Oaksey, I shan't be standing out in the cold selling Christmas Cards.
"Every
other sport in the country looks up to racing as an example of how a charity
can look after its participants and I am determined that will continue to be
the case."
"IJF
chairman Brough Scott said: "John is not just a famous name. I've always
been struck by how often he's done things for other jockey's in ways that
usually go unreported.
"I
couldn't be more thrilled that he is becoming president and I know Lord Oaksey
would be too. John is still worshipped by current jockeys and connects us to
the future."
"Lesley
Graham, who like Francome did not wish to be part of C4 Racing without Franklin
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
"CHANNEL 4 SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HOW IT DEALT WITH RESHUFFLE"
Racing Journalist of the year Lee Mottershead brings us update
(Racing Post Monday October 29th 2012)
"The
end result is that Channel 4 has assembled an impressive team for the start of it's life as
racing's excusive terrestrial
broadcaster. The sadness is in getting to that result the broadcaster has
treated some of its longest-serving and most popular servants in a manner that should leave it
feeling apologetic and embarrassed. It is often said television can be a cruel,
heartless business. That may or may not be fair, but certainly the process
through which Channel 4 assembled its future cast has been one in which the
personal feelings of those being dispensed with have been shown scant
consideration.
"Channel 4 and IGM knew that
when taking on the Grand National, Derby
"Simon Holt, Channel 4's principle
commentator since 2000, was a shoo-in to stay in the role and deservedly does
so, while other existing Channel 4 personnel will be joined by some interesting new recruits, none more
able than the superb Graham Cunningham, for whom a terrestrial elevation had long been overdue.
"All those mentioned above
received good news and most of them received the news, pending the signing of
contracts, a number of days in advance of the official announcement . Those for
whom the outcome was less positive were not so lucky.
" In this column last week, six of the principle Channel 4 appointees were named. It was possible to do so because they had been told that the jobs were theirs. This became common knowledge within the Channel 4 family, including among those who had heard nothing for weeks and were therefore resigned to disappointment. In most cases, their sadness is not so much due to being axed but the way the axe was wielded .
"It is inexcusable that John McCririck and Derek Thompson, both of whom had worked for Channel 4 since it began broadcasting racing more than quarter of a century ago, were told of their sacking just minutes before the press release was issued. It is inexcusable that Mike Cattermole and Alastair Down, accomplished and popular main presenters for the Flat and jump racing had the truth hidden from them until moments before the public was told of their fate. It is inexcusable that other , younger, but still valuable members of the Channel 4 team, faces very familiar to viewers , were not granted the courtesy of a phone call even after the press release was sent out to the world. They learned of their fate in that press release.
"That cannot have been the right way for them to be informed their association with the network was coming to an end. Not surprisingly, many of them have been left feeling deeply hurt and let down.
" In this column last week, six of the principle Channel 4 appointees were named. It was possible to do so because they had been told that the jobs were theirs. This became common knowledge within the Channel 4 family, including among those who had heard nothing for weeks and were therefore resigned to disappointment. In most cases, their sadness is not so much due to being axed but the way the axe was wielded .
"It is inexcusable that John McCririck and Derek Thompson, both of whom had worked for Channel 4 since it began broadcasting racing more than quarter of a century ago, were told of their sacking just minutes before the press release was issued. It is inexcusable that Mike Cattermole and Alastair Down, accomplished and popular main presenters for the Flat and jump racing had the truth hidden from them until moments before the public was told of their fate. It is inexcusable that other , younger, but still valuable members of the Channel 4 team, faces very familiar to viewers , were not granted the courtesy of a phone call even after the press release was sent out to the world. They learned of their fate in that press release.
"That cannot have been the right way for them to be informed their association with the network was coming to an end. Not surprisingly, many of them have been left feeling deeply hurt and let down.
"Communication throughout the
reshuffle process has been inadequate, even between Channel 4 and IMG. In
Channel 4's defence it was understandably obsessed through most of the summer
with the Paralympics, while it was found some key decisions hard to make, none
more so than what to do with McCririck.
"Channel 4 boss Jay Hunt was
accused of ageism when sacking Countryfile's Miriam O'Reilly during her time at the BBC. She received similar unwanted headlines when
removing Arlene Phillips from Strictly Come Dancing.
Now she is accused of age discrimination by John McCririck, but the impact of
Hunt's move would have been afforded the courtesy of basic manners. Channel 4
has shot itself in the foot. What should have been the positive announcement of
an exciting new team has turned into a public-relations mess.
"Also
complicated has been the formal transition process from incumbent production
company Highflyer staff, who question whether IMG has correctly adhered to TUPE
legislation that they believe required IMG to re-hire them in their existing
roles. It will inevitably be resolved but the wrangling has added a further
unfortunate aspect to a different document.
"Soon
enough we will be at Cheltenham on January 1,
by which time we will have waved goodbye to both the BBC and Channel 4 Racing
as we have known it up to now. The BBC's departure will earn more column inches
as we march towards the end of the year,
but it would be remiss not to mark the contribution made to the terrestrial
coverage of racing by those aligned to Channel 4 who are about to exit the
stage. Some have been almost universally admired by viewers, others have divided
opinion,but all are deserving of our thanks.
"It
would also be wrong not to recognise the
work of Highflyer, its behind-the-scenes staff and, in particular, executive
producer Andrew Franklin, who helped to revolutionise the broadcasting of
racing and whose dignity since the appointment of IMG has been commendable.
"Times
change and from the turn of the year we will watch racing on Channel 4 that
will undoubtedly be produced and presented with real aplomb. With Balding and
Luck at the helm of a ship boasting a seriously talented crew, Channel 4's
IMG-produced programming has the potential to be excellent. Soon enough we can
concentrate on that "Had the hiring and firing been done with a touch more
class, we might be doing so already."
J Margaret Clarke Turfcall Comment
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