70th Anniversary D-Day - No Coverage???

[maple_leaf_eh]

The Canadian public (ie. state) TV broadcaster had two of its usual suspects blathering on and on during live coverage of the ceremonies. Some interesting colour commentary, but not high enough quality to hold my undistracted attention. The CBC can learn a thing or two about broadcasting parades from the BBC's coverage of the Trooping of the Colours. Youtube it for curiousity.

There was one interesting visual for me at least. During the Minute of Silence, I spotted a 95-yr old veteran and his personal assistant, both of whom I had spoken to a month ago. Stanley Fields landed at H-Hour minus 5 to defuse mines and explosives on the beach obstacles before the main parties landed. The sections got ashore and sheltered under the sea wall for two hours under fire. His 5th Field Company had sections on each of the Juno beaches with the mission of clearing the way for others.

There was a similar celebration at the Aviation Museum in Ottawa over the weekend for anyone who couldn't travel overseas. Although there were no AFV's or HMV's, several warbirds and other piston driven planes did their flybys.

[Private_collector]

There was live coverage of at least two ceremonies, through the day. I watched them.
Don't remember if it was ABC or SBS. Most news programs did a piece on the event.

I was actually pleased with coverage this year.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Brian Williams reports: Journey to Normandy

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...rmandy-n125211

(Have not yet watched it myself.)

H.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

I was actually pleased with coverage this year.

I agree, it was absolutely top class coverage this year. The entire ceremonies and speeches live on ABC with Scott Bevan hosting, and he didn't put a foot wrong all day. He knew his facts and he was perfectly in tune with the occasion. I watched the whole thing live and I was up during a lot of the replay as well. My TV is always on ABC 24 unless I'm watching a movie recorded on one of the commercial networks, which is all they're good for.

I'm surprised to hear people say there was minimal coverage, evidently you're all talking about the commercial networks. I wouldn't know myself as I haven't watched commercial TV for 30 years or more, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were screening re-runs of Hey Dad or Home and Away on D-Day or Anzac Day.

[Little Jo]

HI Guys

I agree with Tony. ABC had good live coverage, though I flipped between the ABC and CNN all was very good. I was not so sure about the "Ballet" type show on the beach, But then, some people may have liked that.

Cheers

Tony

[Private_collector]

Oh yeah, I had forgotten about the choreographed 'ballet' sequence.
I hated that bit! What was the deal there?
Nazi Atrocities & Occupation, the musical?

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

Oh yeah, I had forgotten about the choreographed 'ballet' sequence.

I think we're all trying to forget about it Tony! I think the expressions on the faces of world leaders forced to watch it said it all. I'd be interested to know what the vets made of it, I bet they never thought they'd live to see an interpretive dance of WW2!! Somehow it doesn't quite capture the horror of war.

[Marc Montgomery]

CBC-Newsworld coverage (canada) was pretty good in terms of amount. Peter mansbridge was -as usual- about as exciting as drying beige paint. But RDI- (french equivalent of CBC Newsworld) which had similar but less coverage, had some dismal "expert" commentator making several absurd comments. such as describing the Typhoon..as being not a very good, or useful aircraft.