A friend watching Live 8 at home on TV just IMed me to say that MTV's coverage has been terrible. I only have access to AOL's video feed here in Philly, but he says they're only showing excerpts of the already all-too-brief sets, and are padding out their coverege with tons of interviews. If you're at home watching, weigh in - how do you feel about the coverage you're watching? What are they doing wrong, and what are they doing right?
How's your Live 8 TV coverage?
Reader Comments
(Page 2)22. CANADA
That is too bad about MTV. Here I was thinking their coverage must be awsome. We have had a couple of short questions with the performers but I am pretty happy with the coverage. I have been watching on AOL too so I don't miss anything but then they end up showing it on CTV way to go.
Posted at 6:41PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Lesley Sony
23. The MTV/VH1 coverage is absolutely horrible. Whoever organized the coverage somehow decided that the veejays were to be the stars of the show. I had it on for several hours and saw three songs broadcast in their entirety. I think that for the musicians donating their time, it's a travesty. If, as tv watchers, we're supposed to participate in the event, it would be much more successful to show us the event instead of having the on-air personalities telling us how great the event is. Utterly disappointing coverage of a great cause.
Posted at 6:13PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Ann
24. Actually just go online to bbc.co.uk and see what is reported then try aol. cnn etc and you'll see what I mean.
Posted at 6:15PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by gillian Campbell
25. Yes, I totally agree. MTV has had the worst TV
coverage of such an important event. I actually
am trying to watch the concert, MTV - Not hear
your news hosts and vj's talk about how cool
the concert is. So I decided just to switch to
watch AOL's feed, which is amazing. Thanks
AOL for realizing that we're actually trying
to watch and hear Live 8, not hear about your
news hosts! Nice Job AOL - I LOVE THE VIDEO AND
SOUND QUALITY. THEY ARE MUCH BETTER THEN MTV or VH1 EVEN HAS!
26. Gillian,
What makes you think we're under the impression that we think we have "free, undoctored" TV? We're just pissed, that's all.
Now that I've done all this complaining, MTV seems to be showing the entire Pink Floyd set...so far, anyway....
Posted at 6:18PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Mark Rabinowitz
27. Our coverage is awsome on ctv, for the most part its jus the stuff here in barrie but srill awsome, and i've also been watching on aol and its pretty good
Posted at 6:26PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Victoria De
28. this really reminds me of Woodstock '99. totally missing the point! not good coverage of either the music (rarely does a whole song get played) or the cause. What we do see is commercials for diet pills and upcoming VH1 shows. I hope the ABC coverage is better tonight!
Posted at 6:53PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Jim Zoyiopoulos
29. Mark
Pure Class..........We have our harmon kardon speakers linked to tv and are blasting it out to the philistines...so there!!!!!
Posted at 6:31PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by gillian Campbell
30. I can't BELIEVE they cut off Comfortably Numb. Thankfully I had the internet on in the background to catch the rest of it. MTV SUCKS!
Posted at 6:31PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Kristen
31. Here in Argentina we are listening to pink floid from the radio ROCK AND POP it is a excellent transmision but from internet the server of aol is to busy mtv is slowest than radio
Posted at 6:30PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Andres Vald?
32. Gillian,
Hunh? Pure class? What does that mean? I have my speakers linked and am right now balsting an irritating commercial to myself.
Oh how nice. MTV just went back to the show just in time to catch the last 30 seconds of Stevie's "Jammin'" so they could show some more ads.
Feh.
Posted at 6:30PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Mark Rabinowitz
33. Here in Argentina we are listening to pink floid from the radio ROCK AND POP it is a excellent transmision but from internet the server of aol is to busy mtv is slowest than radio
Posted at 6:36PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Andres Vald?
34. THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT FOR THE NEXT YEAR I WANT TO SEE THE CONCERTS ALL ARROUND THE WORLDALL DAY LONG
Posted at 3:50PM on Jul 13th 2005 by Andres Vald?
35. Unbelievable is what I call MTV's coverage. You guys over there in Britain are lucky. I am sickened by this. This is perhaps of the most amazing, important, and best overall concerts in history.. And they go to commercials every few minutes? They cut to interviews in the crowd and with celebrities? C'mon.. make that part of your damn mtv news website..
This is a disgrace. I have a feeling MTV is going to get a lot of justified flak from this. Thank goodness I know about the AOL streams.. those are fantastic.
Pink Floyd reunited for the first time in 24 years, and MTV cuts off Comfortably Numb? Absolutely sickening.
Posted at 6:38PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Chris Evans
36. I've had my computer on AOL all day and on MTV/VH1... I would have to say that I have not been pleased with the MTV/VH1 coverage... way too many commercials and cutting off bands... AOL Music has had some great coverage though... Thanks AOL... :-)
Posted at 6:38PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Cristina R.
37. MTY - Horrible!!! They talked all over Pink Floyd. How great it was to hear them. Can't hear them when MTV is talking, They were not true fans or they would have known better!!
Posted at 6:51PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by schliewe@comcast.net
38. I agree that the coverage is terrible. I hate when songs are cut off.
But... Pink FLoyd made up for all of that.
They ROCK!!! I cried when Roger said 'wish you were here' was "especially for you Syd"
Posted at 5:52PM on Jul 3rd 2005 by wondermonger9
39. I have to agree with most of u, MTV and VH1 are identical doing a really crappy job. They are cutting away to go to the MTV host/vj's waaaaay to much and panning the crowds(which is neat to see all the people but continuously showing is a bit much). I understand they are explaining what the cause is for but... Why cant they just let one band finish one damn song or group of songs before cutting out to the vjs or even worse The COMMERCIALS!!!! I just said to my husband, u would think MTV/VH1 could have gone thru this without any commercial interuptions. ITs rediculous!!! Coverage sucks!!! Very disappointed!!!
Posted at 3:59PM on Jul 5th 2005 by Deana
40. it was really bad. the only good coverage was of Pink Floyd and thats it. They didnt even cover the shows from France, Rome, Canada, and Moscow. i ws very upset. i wanted to see the Cure.
and MTV and VH1 didnt need those commercials
Posted at 6:47PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by Britt
21. Do you US citizens think now you have free undoctored TV? Perhaps your media have been influenced by YOUR government with regard to coverage of this.
Posted at 6:12PM on Jul 2nd 2005 by gillian Campbell