BBC1 viewers cry foul at TEN hours of sport in ONE day

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But hundreds of other disgruntled viewers felt that more than ten hours of sport in one day deserved a red card.

The station's entire afternoon and evening output was dominated by rugby and football with only brief news bulletins and a single show dedicated to blunders and out-takes from the Weakest Link quiz being aired between midday and midnight.

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Television for all the family was not on the BBC's agenda this weekend

And the misery is to continue in two weeks' time when the BBC plans to pack its schedules with games from the ongoing Six Nations rugby championship and the FA Cup quarter finals.

Yesterday there were a number of comments on viewers' websites and to the BBC's complaints line about the coverage, with many saying it was "unacceptable".

Roberta Adams, 62, of Knutsford, Cheshire, said: "This is a moneymaking exercise at the cost of the taxpayer.

"I do not mind sport on a Saturday afternoon but for those of us who do not want to go out and like to watch light entertainment programmes on a Saturday night, it is a disgrace.

"That is not what we pay our licence fees for."

Another viewer said: "I watch and enjoy sport on TV but the total domination of the Saturday schedule is not acceptable."

The schedule has been forced upon viewers because of the way the Six Nations tournament is now organised.

Games which used to be played simultaneously are now staggered to maximise broadcasting fees.

There will be some relief this weekend as coverage will be restricted to five hours on BBC1 and 90 minutes on BBC2, but the following weekend will again be a disappointment for those expecting drama or light entertainment.

On Saturday, March 8, sport coverage begins at 12.10pm on BBC1 with Football Focus, followed by more than four hours of Six Nations rugby and 90 minutes of FA Cup football.

The following day there will be another five-and-a-half hours of football.

A BBC spokesman said complaints figures were not available, adding: "The ratings were tremendous and we had an audience of nearly 15 million during the Six Nations."

Paul Sackey touches down to give England the lead against France in the Six Nations game in Paris - but many viewers found BBC''s sporting marathon too much to endure