Page 78 - Introduction to Electronic Commerce and Social Commerce

Televised Sport • 67

identifiers of players and coaches appeared at the foot of the screen accompanying
close-ups.
What is remarkable in considering the early analysis provided by Buscombe and
Ryall is the minimal difference in the codes used to televise football in 1975 and
now. Since 1975, television technology has advanced rapidly; nevertheless, the con-
ventions of televised football in Britain have remained largely constant. Despite a
greater number of cameras available, the normal shot type remains, with the supple-

mentary shots also fulfilling similar roles. The 180 degree rule is also largely still in

operation. On the rare occasion that it is flouted, a reverse angle indicator appears in
the corner of the screen to avoid confusing the viewer.
The sounds of the crowd were identifiable beneath the commentary in both

matches, but certain ambient sounds were clearer during the men’s match. For ex-
ample, during England versus Russia, it was possible to hear the names of the teams
being introduced to the crowd. Each match featured a commentary team, with one
commentator focussing on play-by-play action and the other supplying colour. How-
ever, this division of labour was more sharply made during the women’s match,
where Guy Mowbray followed the action and his partner, Lucy Ward, provided a
personalised perspective on the match. Using comments such as ‘you can see the
nerves of the girls’, Ward was able to demonstrate her empathy with the players.

Studio Discussion

During half-time in the men’s match, three pundits, Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and
Alan Hanson, all dressed in sharp suits and ties, joined the anchor, Gary Lineker, to
discuss the action. Against a plain red background, with the England logo and the
stadium visible through a large picture window, Lineker introduced the section direct
to the camera, using ironic understatement—‘That was really rather good’—to set
the light-hearted tone of the discussion. One of the England players in the match,
Shaun Wright Phillips, is the adopted son of Ian Wright and the subject of much
banter among the pundits, indicating that this was knowledge assumed to be shared
by the TV audience. For example, Alan Shearer, placing a hand on Ian Wright’s
shoulder, joked, ‘We would have been 3 nil up if Shaun Wright Phillips could head
the ball.’ While this relationship created an unusual intimacy among the presenters,
the discussion maintained a focus on the match. The pundits were animated and
relaxed in their roles. Each presenter had his own chair, and they were positioned
comfortably around a low table littered with paper. Despite the laughter and jokes,
they appeared well organised, speaking at the appropriate cue and talking in turns.
The relaxed tone was also evident in the half-time discussion of the England ver-
sus Japan women’s FIFA World Cup match. The anchor, Gabby Logan, addressed
her opening remarks not to the camera, but turned towards the pundits, as if the
viewer had come upon a conversation in flow. Nevertheless, the three pundits (Karen