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Post by Lawrence Jones on Jun 7, 2006 1:00:01 GMT -5
Channel 4’s intention to enter into the world of radio on a large scale made interesting reading in yesterday’s papers. I’m not sure if it intends to encroach on R4 territory, but I have a great suggestion. Why doesn’t it set up a competitive programme to R4’s Feedback, together with its own message board? I’d certainly be a regular contributor. The fact that Feedback refuses to set up a message board makes it clear that the programme makers are terriffied of upsetting R4 (1) and losing future commissions. Such constraints wouldn’t apply to Channel 4 and so all broadcasting issues (BBC and commercial) could be discussed openly. I’d nominate Mr. Chris Dunkley as the presenter.
Another suggestion would be a radio reviewers’ programme, comprising radio critics such as Miss Gillian Reynolds, Mr. Paul Donovan etc. This could be done in the style of R4’s Saturday Review
Notes
(1) The Listeners’ Line is no substitute, because the producer can still skew the programme in a direction that will not upset the R4 controller.
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Crusoe
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Post by Crusoe on Jun 7, 2006 9:36:50 GMT -5
I find it funny that the word “Radio” is used of an internet service: it seems that it has come to be a generic term for any form of audio-only broadcasting.
The initial forays proposed into Channel 4 “radio” sound most unpromising: the news reports I heard suggested that it would provide some news and, possibly, spin-offs from Richard and Judy’s bookclub and “Big Brother”.
Your suggestion, however is a brilliant idea: the opportunity for a truly impartial listeners’ programme would be most welcome. Sadly I fear it will never come about because the media seem to be full of the same old pals moving from job to job and they wouldn’t do anything to upset one of their friends, even at a rival company. Even if it did, BBC staff would probably refuse to be interviewed, making the programme as powerless to get responses as “Feedback” is.
I think that your idea of a review programme is more likely to have potential and it would be most enjoyable to listen to. Mr Donovan and Ms Reynolds are excellent writers with a clear love of radio.
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Post by Lawrence Jones on Jun 10, 2006 11:48:42 GMT -5
I find it funny that the word “Radio” is used of an internet service: it seems that it has come to be a generic term for any form of audio-only broadcasting. There was a time when the ether was regarded as sacrosanct, but I think anything goes now. When I was a child, I called the equipment that demodulated an AM signal a ‘wireless’ – as did my late parents. However, I found the grumpy old grocks who insisted on calling it ‘a wireless’ all the time so tiresome that I started to call it the radio! I’ve never really got over the fact that Ms. Jennifer Abramsky was quite prepared to prostitute the ether (in respect of her obsessive support for DAB), with no benefit, whatsoever, to the listener. It seems even worse now, given that societies should be seeking out low energy strategies, yet she’s supporting these inflationary gas guzzlers of the ether. I know, my heart sank when I read all this and - if I’m realistic – only expect to end up with a Radio 2 clone. Quite right and R4 is certainly a complete Oxbridge old boys’ girls’ network these days. I’ve been catching up with some newspaper reading this afternoon and apparently Ms. Martha Kearney is now the bookies’ favourite for presenting DID. Clearly a love or knowledge of music isn’t important for this post. Ms. Kearney wasn’t able to identify Magic Moments when played back-to-front on University Challenge. Similarly, the only pop music reference I’ve ever heard her make was the attendance of a Wreckless Eric concert! I love hearing their thoughts on radio and Mr. Donovan always replies with a most friendly and courteous email if you send him your own radio views and opinions. A great contrast to the way R4 MB contributors are treated! P.S. ’The Bottom Line’ has just come on and they’re going to be discussing this issue. I enjoy this programme (Mr. Evans responded when I sent him some comments about the programme). Of all the new R4 programmes, I think Last Word has worked perfectly, The Bottom Line(1) is second and the Profile programme is struggling somewhat. Notes (1) I loved that interview with the woman who’d started up her own bra company (after developing a new bra) – very interesting. |
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Crusoe
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Post by Crusoe on Jun 20, 2006 6:41:40 GMT -5
There was a time when the ether was regarded as sacrosanct, but I think anything goes now. When I was a child, I called the equipment that demodulated an AM signal a ‘wireless’ – as did my late parents. Hee hee, when I was younger, I could never understand the term “wireless” because when I took one apart it seemed to be full of wires. It’s funny that I should have been born in an age when it was considered normal that signals should be magically transmitted through the air. I suppose that for future generations the idea that you could look something up using an encyclopaedia, rather than “Google” will sound odd. I’ve never really got over the fact that Ms. Jennifer Abramsky was quite prepared to prostitute the ether (in respect of her obsessive support for DAB), with no benefit, whatsoever, to the listener. It seems even worse now, given that societies should be seeking out low energy strategies, yet she’s supporting these inflationary gas guzzlers of the ether. It’s incredible how much power DAB radios use. I suppose the problem is that they use power in decoding the signal, as well as amplifying the result. I’m sure that Ms Abramsky is infatuated with the idea of providing more “choice”, as are most people in the public services, at the moment. Unfortunately, no matter how many types of rubbish you get people to choose between they will still be rubbish. And the choice is pretty vague, anyway. 1Extra is not really very radically different from Radio 1 and 6Music is a close relation of Radio 2 with BBC 7 playing repeats of old Radio 4 programmes but making sure they weed out anything that might be too interesting: easy-listening pap is what’s wanted. But the BBC’s giving us “choice” so everything is well in the land of management. if I’m realistic – only expect to end up with a Radio 2 clone. I fear you could be right. Apparently Radio 2 has the largest audience of any radio station in the country, so I suppose it’s own particular brand of easy listening pap is viewed as a successful model. I love hearing their thoughts on radio and Mr. Donovan always replies with a most friendly and courteous email if you send him your own radio views and opinions. A great contrast to the way R4 MB contributors are treated! How very true.  R4 is certainly a complete Oxbridge old boys’ girls’ network these days. I’ve been catching up with some newspaper reading this afternoon and apparently Ms. Martha Kearney is now the bookies’ favourite for presenting DID. Clearly a love or knowledge of music isn’t important for this post. Ms. Kearney wasn’t able to identify Magic Moments when played back-to-front on University Challenge. Similarly, the only pop music reference I’ve ever heard her make was the attendance of a Wreckless Eric concert! Oh dear, what an uninspiring choice. And so, I suppose, particularly likely. What a contrast to Michael Berkley on “Private Passions” who seems to always be enthusiastic about his guests’ choices and to be able to have a very good discussion with them ,albeit that it’s based around music. ’The Bottom Line’ has just come on and they’re going to be discussing this issue. I enjoy this programme (Mr. Evans responded when I sent him some comments about the programme). Of all the new R4 programmes, I think Last Word has worked perfectly, The Bottom Line(1) is second and the Profile programme is struggling somewhat. Oh dear, I’ve not heard any of these programmes (although I did hear “The Bottom Line” talked about and it does sound quite a good concept). I shall have to do some serious listening: thank you for the tip-off. |
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Post by Crusoe on Jun 27, 2006 11:05:55 GMT -5
I don’t think it’s a joke, Lawrence, just “spam”. I’m not quite sure why it should appear when you’re posting but would guess that it’s just co-incidence. Unfortunately these things are a fairly frequent occurrence.
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