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WHY THE BBC NEEDS GAMERS IF IT WANTS TO SURVIVE by Mr Biffo

15/10/2015

21 Comments

 
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Today is a big day for the mainstream acceptance of gaming: from now until Sunday, BBC Three is going to be  streaming the League of Legends Championships live from Wembley.

Of course, they're streaming it online - still there remains a reluctance to show any sort of gaming coverage on proper TV - but it's an important and significant step nevertheless.

It's the first time a major broadcaster has filmed any sort of gaming content in aeons - unless you count the GTA drama on BBC2 last month. You know: the one that didn't quite have the confidence to show games development as it actually is, almost as if it was trying to paraphrase or sex-up everything for people who don't really understand gaming. 

More pertinently, the League of Legends thing is a collaboration between BBC Three and BBC Sport, giving it some degree of real mainstream legitimacy. It's long overdue... but for the sake of the BBC, I sincerely hope it's the start of a trend for the corporation.

YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE THE PROBLEM
The BBC and other broadcasters have a problem; younger people - the ones who would've in the past been groomed as the next generation of TV viewers - aren't watching TV like they once were. Instead, they're watching YouTubers, playing video games, talking to friends on WhatsApp and Instagram and Twitter, or building things in Minecraft. 

Viewing habits are changing, and they're changing rapidly. So rapidly, that TV executives don't entirely understand what's going on, or how to keep pace with it. I speak as someone who has first hand experience of how the BBC operates: there's a reluctance to let go of what worked in the past, and what is familiar to programme makers.

​Broadly speaking, what's happening is that while parents and pensioners are still watching telly, many viewers are deserting TV once they're past CBeebies age... and it's all so new that nobody yet knows whether they're ever going to come back. How is the generation behind us going to consume their entertainment in the decades to come? It's a question that only time can answer.


I believe that part of the issue why it's changing so fast is that the online world is so immediate. TV, generally speaking, moves at a glacial pace. In part it's because there are lots of cooks involved, and huge sums of money. Podcasters, vloggers, and websites don't need to hold multiple commissioning meetings: they can have an idea, and act - or react - upon it that day. There's a symbiotic relationship between online celebrity and its audience.
​

The sense I get is that the establishment is scared of what's happening online in the same way they were scared of punk. Punk music spoke to a generation that felt excluded and convinced them they could be in a band. YouTube is - for all its Zoellas and FilthyFranks and Nerdists and Smoshes - this generation's punk. But unlike punk, I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon.

By comparison, the BBC looks old, slow, and stuffy. Safe, like a parent. And parents aren't cool - kids reach a certain age and have to kick against that. Before they didn't have another option: they were a captive audience. Now a whole other universe is sprawled out before them, inviting them in.
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LOVE
Don't get me wrong: I adore the BBC (and not just because the BBC gives me work from time to time).

​I think it's invaluable, has united the country over the past century, and is a brand that's rightly respected and envied around the world. 

It's not perfect - no huge organisation could be - but when the BBC is at its best there's nothing to touch it. Most of my favourite TV shows growing up were BBC shows, and I probably watch more BBC stuff than anything from any other British broadcaster. Although, if I'm honest, I watch just as much YouTube (and I'm 78 next birthday)...


But the BBC does need to evolve, if not organisationally, then it needs to change creatively. Turning it into a commercial organisation, or diminishing it in any way - as a sop to Rupert Murdoch's friends in the government - is not the solution. Frankly, let's not pretend that the current debate surrounding the BBC is about anything other than keeping people like Sky and The Daily Mail happy - they'd all benefit commercially if the BBC went down. But there is a debate worth having there.

For me, the League of Legends screening is more a step in the right direction for the BBC than any repurposing of the license fee. The conversation surrounding the corporation should be about the types of content it's producing, and how to retain and speak to its audience. Anyone with kids knows that they're not watching TV as they once were. Gone are the days when we'd all go into school and discuss the previous evening's episode of Grange Hill. The audience has fragmented.


The BBC should speak to all of Britain, but it has struggled to recognise that there are huge swathes of potential viewers that it isn't speaking to. It can't be all things to all people - there's an entire nation to serve. However, the BBC's remit allows it to take chances, and at least speak to audiences that would be ignored by commercial broadcasters.

Basically, one of those audiences is us: the geeks.

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GENERATION PEWDIEPIE
​When you look at how video games sell, when you see the viewing stats that the likes of PewDiePie get, the economic contribution that the games industry makes, the sense of community you get at the cons and expos, it's bizarre how gaming still somehow feels like this underground thing.

​It's like John Carpenter's They Live - the aliens are already living among us, the invasion is over. And the aliens won. And - plot twist! - we're the aliens. But the establishment doesn't see that yet, or is generally turning a blind eye to it... fingers in ears, and "Tra-la-la", for... reasons.


What makes this doubly frustrating for those who want to see a proper games show on TV - one bolstered by the budget and behind-the-camera talent that only a big broadcaster can offer - is that there used to be games coverage on telly. 20 years ago we had GamesMaster, Bad Influence, Games World... regular gaming slots on the radio. What the hell happened?

Gaming TV doesn't have to be dull. A Top Gear or Great British Bake-Off for gamers is crying out to be made: something that speaks the language of its main audience without excluding other people. Something that's just good telly, and is enjoyable to watch in its own right. Basically, the sort of show the BBC excels at.

That's my biggest worry about the League of Legends streaming - that it's the very definition of hardcore. I mean, I don't want to watch a load of people playing some game I'm not familiar with - and I love video games. But it's better than nothing, and I really hope more than just a sop.

I want it to be a legitimate attempt to reach out to an audience, and pray that the BBC doesn't slap that audience's hand away the second it's over. 

FROM THE ARCHIVE:
10 FACTUAL INACCURACIES IN THE BBC'S GTA DRAMA​
VG TIPS: GAMES JOURNALISTS ARE IDIOTS TOO by Mr Biffo
STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT BETA: I'M NOT INTERESTED by Mr Biffo
21 Comments
Nedwin Kirk
15/10/2015 11:33:35 am

That GTA drama was pure shite.

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Mr Biffo
15/10/2015 11:40:48 am

Yeah, the sense I get is there aren't enough programme-makers who understand games, and the culture around games.

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lilock3
15/10/2015 11:58:13 am

I would dearly love to see more gaming coverage on TV. A gaming news/reviews show, or a gaming gameshow would both potentially be compulsive viewing for me. As per Mr Biffo himself I have no interest in League of Legends, or in watching other people play games in general - though that might not be typical of everyone.

I have to confess I've never understood the appeal of being a spectator to sports. If you like a sport, go and play it. If I wasn't a pathetically fragile weakling then I might enjoy playing football, that I understand, but I'll never fathom why people watch other people play football...

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Chris link
15/10/2015 12:10:21 pm

Definitely agree on the sports spectator issue. Never seen the point myself either, yet it's apparently considered weird to not support a football team.

Challenge used to show quite a good games show (which I've forgotten the name of). They axed it a while back. I think they still have one, but it's shit.

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Mr Biffo
15/10/2015 12:27:22 pm

Oh yeah - I never wanted to watch people playing games, or doing sport.

Granthon Ko
16/10/2015 08:11:36 pm

"If you like a sport, go play it" is a bit like saying "if you enjoy watching films, stop it and go be an actor."

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Chris link
15/10/2015 12:15:01 pm

"I speak as someone who has first hand experience of how the BBC operates: there's a reluctance to let go of what worked in the past, and what is familiar to programme makers."

You could say the same about the games industry. Why bother coming up with original ideas, when you know the 200th incarnation of FIFA will sell well, even though the only change you've made is mildly tweaking the colour of the footballer's hair? Or making anything other than the FPS map-mopper Call of Battlefield 9, because that'll be a sure-fire hit?

At least the BBC does make the effort to make shows that appeal to a niche unlike, say, ITV.

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Allard & Reggie's Lovechild
15/10/2015 12:17:25 pm

Any content that is overly reliant on a stream of a game is going to exclude the vast majority of any potential audience by its very nature. And even then you have the likes of YouTubers like pewdiediedie or Lirik on twitch to contend with. People tune into them regardless of what they're playing. BBC Three will only really appeal to LoL players with this content anyway.
Anyway, I'd rather play a game than watch someone play it...

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Mr Biffo
15/10/2015 12:28:13 pm

Totally agree. But... the BBC3 thing is a step in the write direction at least.

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John
16/10/2015 03:47:15 pm

The watch direction, I think. And maybe the listen. In fact, it's for the 'stop, look, listen' direction. Yes, it's the Tufty club. And what has happened to the Tufty club? That's right, it's in the bin of time - it's Dusty Bin!

Terrence McPringles
15/10/2015 12:18:21 pm

Unfortunately TV networks seem to be unwilling to grasp that that games shows should be more like Videogaiden and less like Gamezville.

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Hamptonoid
15/10/2015 12:51:41 pm

Didn't charlie brooker make a comment along the lines of "bbc wouldn't commission a second episode of gameswipe because it was too niche, even though it got better viewing figures then screenwipe etc". Perhaps sums up the commissioning mentality at the bbc? Although presumably this may all change once bbc3 goes on line permanently.

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Mr Biffo
15/10/2015 12:55:45 pm

I think he did, yeah. There's a definite touch of snobbery. I mean... commissioners and producers seem to know there's an issue, but because none that I know are familiar with the territory they seem reluctant to go there - or relinquish control to someone who does get it.

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CallMeDave
15/10/2015 03:07:09 pm

After recently viewing the supposedly bias-free BBC for the first time in several years I can safely say id be chuffed to see the terminal demise of this establishment mouthpiece... Although as Biffo states a Murdoch monopoly on propaganda may be even worse. The sooner the entirety of old state run media (tv and newspapers) disappears the better, they are incapable of change.

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Terrence McPringles
15/10/2015 08:11:55 pm

It seems like the BBC gets equal amounts of flak from the left and right over its supposed bias both towards and against the establishment. I can't help but feel it's doing something right.

Come to think of it, didn't Digitiser used to get accused of both Nintendo and Sega bias frequently?

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Koozebane
15/10/2015 03:55:55 pm

Videogame nation on Challenge TV is worth a watch. The most recent episode dealing with videogames and mental health was one of the best things on telly this year.

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Mr Biffo
15/10/2015 07:18:23 pm

I'll try and do that. But that's the issue - games coverage is tucked away there on a channel that only about five people watch...

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Kelvin Green link
15/10/2015 07:44:14 pm

There is Ginx, but I can't stomach watching that. I'm not sure why.

When I got my PS4 I didn't have any games for it -- long story, not relevant -- so I spent a good amount of time watching the livestreaming channels on that. There's something quite compelling about the setup there -- perhaps to do with the live iteraction with the audience -- but I don't know how you could translate that to "proper" TV.

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Stay
15/10/2015 09:46:54 pm

My wife does the most TV watching in our house and consumes stuff from lots of channels but its all soaps and grand designs type stuff. the majority of TV I watch is on the BBC with me only straying over to the other channels to watch films or some comedy on 4. As great as the BBC is they did cancel House of Fools. Fools.

Videogame Nation is good and is repeated on Sunday nights after the wrestling. Oh and I really enjoy watching old Bullseye waiting for the sexy 80's polyester people and prizes on Bullies Prize Board.

The kids are different watching a mix of CBBC, CITV, POP, Netflix and youtube. My son (8) watches lots of youtube quicklooks and gameplay videos featuring the usual subjects. The problem with youtube is you need to keep a very big eye on watch as the channels are not curated and I have had to tell him to stop watching as what appears to be a clean video turns to feature some choice language not suitable for him 8. But I think as they get older they will be used to on-demand TV so in, say, 15 years the TV channels will have to change to meet their expectations (and sort attention spans).

I think the BBC should give live coverage of CS tournaments ago as the rounds are short and generate their own little narratives. Such as watching the last player hunt down the last remaining 4 CT's on cs_747 through stealth and cunning can create a lot of tension (well I was tense and certainly felt the drama at the time). Whereas DOTA is very complex with a lot of meta game.

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Granthon Bor
16/10/2015 07:58:25 pm

Two more important contributions to the TV gaming schedules of yore were Channel 4's Thumb Bandits, and Bits; respective examples of "how not to" and "how to" do it.

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Scott Ross
12/1/2016 06:38:38 pm

I just can't share this positive view of the BBC or the grossly unfair way it's funded.Especially when,with the space year 2016 A.D. now upon us,we're still awaiting a magazine show dedicated to gaming.Simply not good enough.

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