There have been talks in the Snooker world about the broadcasting of matches on the BBC network, with renowned player Shaun Murphy expressing his concerns about the current format. In a recent interview, Murphy revealed that he had conversations with high-ranking officials at the BBC regarding the way snooker matches are televised.
The Masters champion believes that the decision to move parts of sessions behind the red button is detrimental to the sport. Murphy stated, “The Beeb putting sessions behind the red button is ruining the game.” This change came into effect in recent years, where the first part of afternoon sessions would be shown on BBC One or BBC Two, followed by viewers having to manually switch to the red button or iPlayer for the second half.
Even during a tense World Championship semi-final between Jak Jones and Stuart Bingham, host Hazel Irvine interrupted the commentary to announce that the coverage would be cut off and shifted to Richard Osman’s House of Games quiz show. This abrupt change left viewers perplexed, as Jones and Bingham were engaged in a marathon frame, only to have it prematurely ended.
Murphy further criticized the tactic of taking unscheduled breaks during matches, likening it to gamesmanship. He mentioned that players deliberately take bathroom breaks to disrupt the flow of the game and throw off their opponents. The issue of disruptions between frames has been a point of contention in the snooker community, with Neil Robertson suggesting a trial to address the issue.
In response to the proposed rule changes, the World Snooker Tour declined to comment. Despite the ongoing discussions, Murphy remains adamant that the current broadcasting format and interruptions during matches need to be addressed for the betterment of the sport. The future of snooker on the BBC and how matches are presented to viewers continues to be a topic of debate in the snooker world.
