BBC shows a re-run of Argentina v England at #86Mexico, but with a twist
World Cup Fever has set in, it’s official. London pubs have hauled out their grubby international flags, Time Out has done a feature on 52 places to watch the footie, and Dave has mysteriously commissioned comedians Mark Watson and Henning Wenn to travel around South America to meet old World Cup heroes, as they tediously embarrass themselves.
On Wednesday 4 June, the build-up escalated, quickly. BBC online went for a classic rerun of the Argentina v England game from Mexico 1986, as part of their World Cup Rewind series. For England fans older than myself, this is the most notorious game in living memory. Think: hand of God, a mazy Maradona run taking apart the entire England team culminating in the greatest goal ever scored, and a heartfelt England comeback. Viewers were even treated to a punditry team of Barry Davies, Jimmy Hill, Des Lynham and Terry Venables. Those were the days.
But BBC World Cup Rewind has gone one step further. They showed the game with their Live Reporting feature rolling underneath, as if this were a live World Cup game from 2014.
Live Reporting at its historic best
For the uninitiated sports fan, many media outlets run live online reporting for major sporting events, so that those without access to a television or radio can get real-time updates. Usually the live feed is a summary of the key points in the game, peppered with people’s tweets, pictures, commentary highlights, with the occasional terrible pun and dubious YouTube link.
Before the Argentina v England game began streaming, the BBC Live Reporting feed provided some useful preview context, such as, ‘In Gary Lineker [Bobby Robson] has unearthed a striker of world-class potential, his team have played better and better each game and they are now just 90 minutes away from the semi-finals.’ There were some inspired Gossip Column headlines – ‘The Sun leads with “It’s War Senor” and “Bring on the Argies!” evoking memories of its infamous “Gotcha” headline from 1982.’ And then the obligatory survey – ‘Just How Good is Diego Maradona?’ Well, we were about to find out.
Spoiler alert, England don’t win
The feed featured contributions from special guests with unique perspectives on the action, including Gary Lineker, himself. Viewers were also implored to tweet and ‘join the debate’ using the hashtag #86Mexico with their thoughts on the game and how it was panning out.
Some tweets were more prescient than others.
The BBC has pulled off an impressive feat of taking meaty, historic content, such as a classic football match, and making it more exciting and accessible to the modern day viewer. They have exploited their rich and trusted communications platform to maximise impact, thereby building affinity for the BBC in general, and its upcoming World Cup coverage. For the contemporary fan, watching these remarkable matches in this alternative format is the only way to get fully motivated for this month’s upcoming endeavours.
Next up is England v W Germany at Italia 90. Think, Pavaroti, Gazza, tears… penalties. Oh it’s too much to bear.
Writer:
Oliver Kay, Account Executive, Edelman Oliver joined Edelman in September 2012, and sits in the Edelman Brand team as an Account Executive. An avid aficionado of the footballing kind, Oliver currently manages, chairs and captains Edelman FC on their quest to become the most fluid, free-flowing six-a-side team Brixton has ever seen, this side of 2013. |