Some people may say that 284 microphones is a little excessive

Grab it while you can - this BBC show 'The Sound of Sport' is only on BBC's archive player for a couple more days, and it's very seriously well worth the listen.
It features sports sound designer, Denis Baxter plus a bunch of techniques and stories from other broadcast sound designers.

It's a one-hour show, with so many highlights that it's probably quicker just to listen to it - but here is a super quick fly-over of the gold:
*Vancouver Winter Olympics - bobsled run, creating emotion and perspective with extra microphones for each camera angle "some people may say that 284 microphones is a little excessive"
*The 'sound' of Wimbledon, as described by the BAFTA-nominated sound designer
*How intense the Oxford-Cambridge rowing race broadcast is (especially versus some 1933 archived footage).
*Using kick drum samples to enhance darts championships
*Strapping a wireless mic to each of a horse's four legs to help create up close and personal soundscapes for film
*Recording sound for 'video' games, and how this enhances TV broadcast sound

Do yourself a favour, and as your significant other is sitting down to watch the next episode of whatever is currently the flavour of reality TV, grab your headphones and listen to the 1hr episode. If you're at all interested in broadcast sound, sound design, microphone techniques or even if you simply posess a chronic case of general audio nerdness, this is a must-listen.

Unfortunately the archive runs out this weekend, so strap in and listen ASAP!