Topic Of Discussion: BBC Nixes Plans For “Debate” Telecast

BBC Reluctantly Drops Debate Plans After IOC Balks At Idea

The BBC “will drop plans for a TV program this month that would have presented the candidate cities for the 2012 Olympics” after it received another letter from the IOC “registering disapproval,” according to AROUND THE RINGS. Once proposed as a debate and then described as a discussion, the IOC this month sent a letter to reps from Paris, Moscow, Madrid, N.Y. and London “informing them that even a panel discussion” involving all the cities would violate IOC rules. BBC spokesperson Kevin Young said the decision to cancel was reached “very reluctantly,” adding that the BBC was “disappointed over the IOC refusal to grant its approval to a format the [BBC] thought had once been approved.” Young: “We feel that anything other than the original format would not serve the best interests of our global audience. We are very disappointed, particularly as the five bidding cities have all supported the programme we had proposed” (AROUNDTHERINGS.com, 1/18).