BBC Radio Scotland breakfast presenters Martin Geissler and Laura Maciver have defended the broadcaster's coverage of the Commonwealth Games after listeners accused journalists of “manufacturing discontent” and criticised the corporation for failing to secure live broadcast rights.
Reading out text messages on air, Geissler pushed back at claims that reporters were the only source of negativity about Glasgow’s hosting of the Games, insisting they were “just reflecting on the Games and asking valid questions”.
When reading out text messages about the Commonwealth Games, Geissler asked for people to add their names as one had called out journalists.
The text stated: "Glasgow did a great job. The city was buzzing, great to see the volunteers, hotels often full, busy bars and restaurants, our friends loved the events they attended. Taxi drivers benefitted too.
"The only negativity I heard was from journalists. Why manufacture discontent?"
Geissler responded: "Not sure we are. We're just reflecting on the Games and asking valid questions. Nobody else wanted them, was it a success that Glasgow held them and kept the whole thing alive?"
His co-host Laura Maciver: "Yeah, and pointing out that there were, at some events, lots of empty seats and unsold tickets as well."
This year's Games were scaled back, after Glasgow stepped in at the last minute to host the event, as it features 10 sports compared to the 17 that took place 12 years ago.
Maciver read out another which said: "Will you be mentioning the BBC's shameful decision not to secure live broadcast rights? If the Games had a lower profile, the state broadcaster must take some responsibility."
She responded on air: "Well, BBC is the public service broadcaster and lost out on the bidding".
It was further explained that the broadcaster had bid for the rights for an undisclosed sum but "money is famously tight at the BBC at the moment," Geissler said.
Live coverage of the Commonwealth Games from Glasgow was exclusive to TNT Sports after the Warner Bros Discovery-owned channel outbid the BBC, which until this year, had shown every edition of the Games since 1954.
The BBC was only showing the Games live in Gaelic on BBC Alba .
Another part of the reason the event was not on the BBC is because it is not protected on free-to-air TV.
