Unfortunately this is modern TV.

Control Rooms and switching centres full of large plasma displays showing a myriad of channels, but with nobody listening.
As has previously been written in this topic, when a programme is being broadcast live, there is usually a human actually monitoring it.
It would normally sound better than a
squeezed,
processed,
edited-on-headphones-by-computer
concoction
purporting to be "British Television At Its Best"

That transmission of "Saints And Scroungers" was the epitome of a good idea destroyed by the appaling sound and with content streched beyond reality.
It was simply boring.

This is taken from the Daily Telegraph:

BBC turns down the volume on Professor Brian Cox programme after viewer complaints
By Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor 6:44AM GMT 14 Mar 2011

The BBC is re-editing its flagship science series, Wonders of the Universe, after bowing to viewer complaints about the show's incessant background music.

Profsesor Brian Cox presents the BBC Two programme but hundreds of viewers complained that his commentary was drowned out by the booming soundtrack.

As a result, the corporation has agreed to turn down the volume.

Jonathan Renouf, the show's executive producer, said: "Clearly none of us set out to make programmes where we can't hear the presenter, so if we have got that wrong then we need to do something about it. There's been enough volume of complaints [sic] about this that I think we clearly have made an error of judgment.

"So we are remixing the sound for all the films to pull down the music and effects levels during the segments where Brian is talking, and we are very hopeful that will correct any problems that the audience have had."

The viewer complaints were endorsed by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Master of the Queen's Music, who is waging a campaign against the insidious creep of "muzak".

Sir Peter said: "Viewers of this programme have not tuned in to listen to a musical performance. I find the whole thing dreadful. Why do serious scientists and programme-makers feel the need for such wallpaper? It really does come to something when even a science programme is being drowned out by muzak.

"We are being driven from even serious television programmes by this incessant need for background music. I remember having to turn off an otherwise fascinating David Attenborough wildlife programme because some muzak moron had decided it was a good idea to play background music to the animals' antics. It just made the whole thing ridiculous.

"When there are complaints that a scientist is being drowned out by background decibels, it just shows how far this culture has terrorised every aspect of our lives. The wonders of the universe should be seen and their science heard - not overwhelmed by a deluge of meaningless muzak."

Viewers have dubbed the programme 'Wonders of Brian Cox and his Orchestra' and likened it to a rock concert. On the BBC website, one viewer wrote: "Yet again a programme we have been looking forward to utterly ruined by music that drowns out the words. Why does the BBC think its viewers need to have every second filled with noise? We haven't got the attention span of a gnat."

Another said: "Surely it is within the bounds of 21st century technology to put this 'music' or background noise on the same basis as subtitles? In other words, like subtitles, give the viewer the option of turning it on or off."

The BBC has experimented with such 'red button' technology in the past but only on a trial basis. Other programmes to draw complaints for noisy soundtracks include Coast, The Nature of Britain and several of Sir David Attenborough's natural history series.

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf said the issue needed to be addressed. A spokesman said: "This is probably the thing that incenses our members the most. A lot of people have hearing loss in just one ear and for them it's difficult to differentiate between different sounds. Loud background music affects their ability to hear.

"We have talked to a lot of programme-makers about this and it is worst in news and factual programmes. Wonders of the Universe is so dramatic anyway, you don't really need the soundtrack. The news headlines also really irritate people - why does a serious message need dramatic music behind it?

"All broadcasters are equally guilty but public service broadcasters should have an obligation to change this."

The Daily Mail has picked the story up.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1366102/Wonders-Universe-Brian-Cox-...

The Guardian is now running a blog on the subject.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/mar/15/tv-background-...

299 comments so far.


And the BBC web-site is also featuring the item:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tv/2011/03/is-the-background-music-too-loud.shtml#dna...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/12744756

Dickie, do you mean this Radio Times item?

http://www.radiotimes.com/blogs/1212-viewers-complain-wonders-of-the-universe-lo...

Lots more adverse comments.

Good luck with your 38 Degrees petition.

Remember:-

M.I.M.E.

Music Impairs My Enjoyment.

"Ariel" features letters from various members of staff appertaining to this subject.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/12896281

Latest from on-line Ariel:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ariel/14079661


I quote:-


"The BBC has launched a research partnership with five UK universities that will focus on areas such as spatial audio and speech recognition.

The initiative will run for at least five years and benefits will be shared across the industry to boost innovations such as the online Radio Player and HD audio.

Graham Thomas, who leads BBC R&D's Production Magic section, said: 'One area we are looking at is spatial audio, which could be the next big step beyond 5.1 surround sound. This allows sounds to come from above and below, providing a truly immersive audio experience."

OK.

Please may we have some research into audibility?
I'd like to hear dialogue clearly.I do not want to be immersed in the sound- I want to hear what the actor / presenter is saying!!!

"Beyond 5.1 surround sound"?? please may I have the "0.1" bit so I can make sence of the programme?

I do not want to have music and effects all over EVERYTHING. I don't need to be told what 'mood' I'm in.
(Frustrated- in common with many other viewers- I can't use the word 'listeners' because we can no longer listen).

A classic last week was "The One Show".
Presenter:- "Listen- you can hear the birds".
Me:- "No I bl**dy can't! All I can hear is the music that some untrained idiot has laid over the live sound"

Come on, stop wasting licence-payer's fees on such bizarre research. Concentrate on making programmes that viewers and listeners can actually enjoy. If any reserch needs to be done, let BSKYB or some other wealthy organisation do it.

How about some clever software that will take the "Music and effects" track and add it to the programme 'out-of-phase' so that all we hear is the dialogue?

How about a "Red Button" option (already tried) which is ONLY the dialogue?.

If the track is there, let us have it!

There has been research- so what is the result? A memo to producers:-
"Stop actors mumbling"?
How about a memo to producers:-
Unless I can hear your dialoge you won't get paid for the programme?

Nothing arty-fa*rty, just let me hear the words, please.