A question of taste

The BBC is not the only media organisation in the firing line over their coverage of the funeral of the Queen Mother. Spanish state television has also come in for criticism for being one of the few TV channels in Europe which did not show the event live on Tuesday. I must admit I was quite amazed at the coverage outside Spain and Britain and due to some technical difficulties I ended up watching the funeral live on a German satellite TV broadcaster who did a first class job. Praise must also go to CNN and although I was unable to see the BBC's special programme I am told that it was first rate. Better late than never some may say. But coming back to Spanish TV1 I was amazed that they did not follow their European counterparts eventhough King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia attended the funeral and were given prominence by the other non-Spanish TV stations. TV1*s coverage, I am afraid to say, was terrible, interrupting their daily dose of South American soap operas to show brief instances of the funeral and then return to their normal programming. And then to add insult to injury coverage of the funeral was shown on their afternoon entertainment and celebrity programme which follows the news. Not exactly tasteful.