The public, and media, are fully entitled to attend most courts in the UK. With that in mind I don't get why anyone thinks it is, in any way, controversial for the case (only the sentencing) to be televised. If it's public it's public. Hopkirk asks if we should bring back public executions. Didn't see anyone executed. The courts are acting in our name. Only by seeing them in action can we gain some kind of understanding, and, if we are unhappy, we can, perhaps, do something about it. Same tired argument as televising the House of Commons. I haven't encountered anyone who now say it was a bad idea.