TV ads scupper pilot's moment of glory (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
TV ads scupper pilot's moment of glory
12:10pm Friday 31st August 2012 in News
David Rawlins
A DISABLED war hero’s live flypast during the Paralympic opening ceremony was not seen by a TV audience of millions – because of advert breaks.
David Rawlins, 24, pictured below, had spent months preparing for his flight over the Olympic stadium but illtimed commercials meant his family did not see it live on Channel 4.
Only the last few seconds of his scene-stealing appearance over the skies of Stratford were shown.
A pre-recorded video about David, of Nursling , did not air either.
It was only when the pilot landed that he found out what had happened, ruining the chances of celebrating his historic flight with his family.
He said: “It’s quite disheartening really. You want people to see what you have been working on for the last four months.
“The rest of my family have all heard about the hard work that went into it and they didn’t get to see it.”
Only those among the 80,000 audience inside the stadium got the chance to see the flypast and video but not his family, including his girlfriend, Charlotte Carroll, 21, from Upper Shirley who were watching on TV.
“I think it was really poorly done,” said Charlotte.
“All family and friends in Southampton missed this once-in-a-lifetime event because of Channel 4.”
David, who served with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, lost the use of his right leg and hip in 2008 while the patrol vehicle carrying him in Afghanistan rolled in a ditch, crushing him in the process.
It was only last year that he got involved with Aerobility, a charity that helps the disabled learn to fly, and it was their Technam aircraft that he flew above the stadium.
The decision to show adverts during the ceremony caused a backlash from viewers, with many sections of the ceremony missed. While the teams entered the stadium some countries were missed due to the commercials.
David’s family were able to see more of his flypast later on the BBC News but not his pre-recorded video.
Charlotte added that other media outlets had showed footage of his flight – but failed to broadcast David’s correct name.
A Channel 4 spokesman said: “We took the decision to run less advertising during the opening ceremony than would usually be broadcast in our peak time programming but Channel 4 is a commercially funded public service broadcaster and advertising allows us to invest in original programming and events such as the Paralympics.”
Comments(23)
Ozmosis
says...
12:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12
cjsandom
says...
12:38pm Fri 31 Aug 12
andysaints007
says...
12:43pm Fri 31 Aug 12
cjsandom wrote:U donut
I have been disgusted with channel 4's coverage of the games. There area lot of very brave men and women performing feats that a lot of able bodied people could not do. To do this to a very brave serviceman is a disgrace and I will not be watching anything else on Channel 4.
Facewagon
says...
12:56pm Fri 31 Aug 12
mtdiablo
says...
1:31pm Fri 31 Aug 12
cjsandom
says...
1:53pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Allotment man 66
says...
2:12pm Fri 31 Aug 12
I have stopped watching the Paralympics because of all the commercial breaks, I think it's disgusting that there so many breaks on events like this ( about every 10 minutes) it only happens every 4 years,especially on this particular occasion when the Paralympics have come home.
Channel 4 should be ashamed of themselves.
Georgem
says...
2:29pm Fri 31 Aug 12
cjsandom wrote:Then they'd come under fire for "wasting the licence-payers money". No-win situation, really.
My comment about the coverage being a disgrace was not against Channel 4 as such. It is obvious that they have to have adverts to pay for programmes. I was commenting on the fact that it should have been shown on bbc.
andysaints007
says...
2:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12
cjsandom wrote:Why should it?? Where have the BBC been when it wasn't so 'popular' ?
My comment about the coverage being a disgrace was not against Channel 4 as such. It is obvious that they have to have adverts to pay for programmes. I was commenting on the fact that it should have been shown on bbc.
andysaints007
says...
2:38pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Allotment man 66 wrote:Don't watch it then - simple really!
I feel very sorry for this young man who worked so hard for this occasion, just have channel 4 have commercial break and not show any part of the display (but that's channel 4 for you money grabbers.)
I have stopped watching the Paralympics because of all the commercial breaks, I think it's disgusting that there so many breaks on events like this ( about every 10 minutes) it only happens every 4 years,especially on this particular occasion when the Paralympics have come home.
Channel 4 should be ashamed of themselves.
Allotment man 66
says...
3:02pm Fri 31 Aug 12
andysaints007 wrote:Like I said I don't watch it, you have missed my point, haven't you.
Allotment man 66 wrote:Don't watch it then - simple really!
I feel very sorry for this young man who worked so hard for this occasion, just have channel 4 have commercial break and not show any part of the display (but that's channel 4 for you money grabbers.)
I have stopped watching the Paralympics because of all the commercial breaks, I think it's disgusting that there so many breaks on events like this ( about every 10 minutes) it only happens every 4 years,especially on this particular occasion when the Paralympics have come home.
Channel 4 should be ashamed of themselves.
Stillness
says...
3:20pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Georgem
says...
3:25pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Stillness wrote:I give in. Who is this mysterious solitary satisfied Echo reader?
"Only seen by 80,000 people". Freakin heart breaking. I do not believe for one moment that this young man has an ego so easily dented as The Echo is portraying. Come on 80,000 is like what, 80,000 times the number of satisfied Echo readers?
Stillness
says...
3:46pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Georgem wrote:The editor?
Stillness wrote:I give in. Who is this mysterious solitary satisfied Echo reader?
"Only seen by 80,000 people". Freakin heart breaking. I do not believe for one moment that this young man has an ego so easily dented as The Echo is portraying. Come on 80,000 is like what, 80,000 times the number of satisfied Echo readers?
Stillness
says...
3:50pm Fri 31 Aug 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
4:29pm Fri 31 Aug 12
minnie64
says...
5:00pm Fri 31 Aug 12
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Should have been shown on BBC 1 as per before - looks like it has been brushed aside - so much for a nation of equal equality
My opinion is that it should not have been given to Channel 4, apart from the annoying commercial breaks, the coverage is poor in all respects and self indulgent uninformed commentators aren't helping.
BillyTheKid
says...
5:06pm Fri 31 Aug 12
minnie64 wrote:Agree.
OSPREYSAINT wrote:Should have been shown on BBC 1 as per before - looks like it has been brushed aside - so much for a nation of equal equality
My opinion is that it should not have been given to Channel 4, apart from the annoying commercial breaks, the coverage is poor in all respects and self indulgent uninformed commentators aren't helping.
Dasal
says...
5:15pm Fri 31 Aug 12
minnie64 wrote:Well said that person-SPOT ON.
OSPREYSAINT wrote: My opinion is that it should not have been given to Channel 4, apart from the annoying commercial breaks, the coverage is poor in all respects and self indulgent uninformed commentators aren't helping.Should have been shown on BBC 1 as per before - looks like it has been brushed aside - so much for a nation of equal equality
tomw1234
says...
6:35pm Fri 31 Aug 12
userds5050
says...
9:09am Sat 1 Sep 12
mtdiablo wrote:Yeah, because Sky show ads in the middle of the matches? The fact is the terrestrial stations weren't giving football and other sports the coverage they deserve. Only showing the first half because Eastenders is on in a minute ect... One last point. Channel 4 should have lost their right to broadcast the Paralympic, after they refused to apologise for Frankie Boyle's comments about the disabled.
Ban commercial stations from showing national events (olympics, national sports games, etc.). It's ridiculous that (for example) England games can be shown on Sky Sports. The BBC is there for a reason.
Huffter
says...
3:52pm Sun 2 Sep 12
Allotment man 66 wrote:I don't suppose it much matters whether you missed David Rawlins' flight because of the adverts or because you'd switched off in protest at the adverts. Channel 4 is free to view so take it or leave it.
I feel very sorry for this young man who worked so hard for this occasion, just have channel 4 have commercial break and not show any part of the display (but that's channel 4 for you money grabbers.) I have stopped watching the Paralympics because of all the commercial breaks, I think it's disgusting that there so many breaks on events like this ( about every 10 minutes) it only happens every 4 years,especially on this particular occasion when the Paralympics have come home. Channel 4 should be ashamed of themselves.
Dasal says...
12:17pm Fri 31 Aug 12
They must have been watching a different broadcast than me then................
.