LOS ANGELES – The BBC has compiled a dedicated complaint page for viewers who were fed up with its coverage of the death of Prince Philip.
“We receive complaints about too much TV coverage over the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” reads a statement on the BBC Complaints Page inviting disgruntled viewers to submit an email address to register a complaint .
Shortly after the news of the prince’s death took place on Friday afternoon, the BBC was quick to clear its entire schedule until 6pm. Later in the day, first programs such as the “MasterChef” finale – not to mention cult favorite “Gardeners.” World “on BBC Two – were also pulled to make way for news presentations and tribute programs for the 99-year-old duke.
Evening programs on the BBC, across many of its channels, included ‘HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Remembered’, as well as two broadcasts of ‘A Tribute to HRH Duke of Edinburgh’, featuring interviews with Prince Charles and Princess Anne, which were allegedly performed . shortly after his death.
On BBC Four, from 10:45 on Friday night, there was simply a blank screen with the caption “Programs on BBC Four have been suspended. Please switch to BBC One for a big news story.”
The British did not approve of having the royal programming telephone number work on Friday night.
“Just realized that the BBC had pulled everything on BBC1 and 2 (including the Masterchef final), to show exactly the same Prince Philip tribute. The exact program is being offered on both channels at the same time. It’s really bizarre,” the announcer Maïa Dunphy said.
Some said the corporation’s strategy ‘feels like Eastern Europe’ 40 years ago ‘, while others likened the Beeb to a’ state propaganda channel ‘.
Others were simply unhappy about the absence of soap on the Friday schedule.
ITV’s first time schedule was not far off, with shows such as Prince Philip: Fondly Remembered and Prince Philip: A Royal Life, along with ongoing news coverage.
Elsewhere, although it aired a few hours of Prince Philip’s coverage earlier in the evening, Channel 4 got a bit of heat to air its main Friday night shows – including ‘Gogglebox’ as well as ‘The Final’ final keep.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster said on Friday night: “As an alternative public broadcaster, Channel 4 is also obliged to offer an alternative to others, and although we have marked this sad news appropriately in our schedules and in All 4, we will also continue to show viewers most of our regular peak schedule, including ‘Gogglebox’ and ‘The Circle’ tonight. “