R2OK!

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

and Heart and a number of commercial stations are merging, becoming less local and trying to become National networks no doubt in competition with BBC Radio, mainly Radio 2.

But unless these stations start to expand their musical variety the only comparison will be with the daytime output Radio 2 is broadcasting during the daytime.

It could be Radio 2 is able to do more of the special events/specialist material in the evenings because of it's daytime schedule. The commercial sector always goes on about the BBC having an advantage, well, here's the chance for the commercial sector to do something different.

Can anyone really see Smooth/Heart etc...trying to do something different to how commercial radio has been for years?

It needs to strengthen it's rota of presenters and allow them to have a personality which is difficult because of time restraints with commercials and other interuptions and few commercial stations play the music in full talking over much of it.

Commercial revenue was easily obtained in the past especially for those stations based in a city or a big town so to some extent like the early days of ITV they didn't have to try...now with advertising revenue being squeezed this may be harder but more money should've been invested in the programming...

Why couldn't a commercial station broadcast live music? Why can't they produce documentaries and specialist programmes?

When it started decades ago the programming was more diverse but in time most have just been happy to have someone in the studio sticking to a safe playlist.

I have to admit that I do not listen much to commercial radio and am very much a BBC Radio person. Recently at least Planet Rock has tried to offer something different that others have neglected.

Unfortunetely stations like Saga did not survive and when taken over they started to sound like all the others...I could not hear Saga in my location so I have no idea how good/bad it was but it did seem to have a decent rota of presenters.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I think the problem is that it's a case of he who pays the piper calls the tune
The advertisers want to have exposure to the greatest audience possible so they clearly would not be keen on anything even slightly outside what they regard as mainstream
That is why I think it is true to say the BBC does have a big advantage but sadly with the way Radio 2 is going at present it either does not seem to realise this or if it does thinks its role is to compete with commercial stations for audience share
These are really 2 seperate and distinct markets
I do listen to commercial radio but only generally when the Radio 2 output is dire such as weekdays at breakfast time or on Saturday mornings but I really would prefer not to have to do this
However I am really looking forward to listening to Lynn Parsons on Smooth breakfast starting at the beginning of October and I also like Tony Blackburn on Smooth and of course they also have Mark Goodier a presenter who the BBC should never have allowed to slip through their hands
With Simon Bates soon coming on board I think Smooth poses the greatest threat to Radio 2 of all the commercial stations and to a large extent it's Radio 2s own fault

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

Well that's a start Ruddlescat...

I hope having signed up presenters with a reputation the controllers will also allow them some freedom and give them a wider musical remit.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

I can't see the new "capital radio network" - which is supposed to launching in 2011 challenging Radio 2, more Radio 1. They won't like the "Heart network" be able to bring documentries or specalist shows to there stations. You never know they may surprise us one day. "Smooth Radio" in the other hand do bring documentries to there network and are there to try and challenge Radio2.

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

Well Smooth does try to do some documentaries using the same production companies as the BBC.

I used to quite like the hour on Gold where a performer talked about their careers and picked their favourite music even though some were more articulate than others and sometimes they seemed to choose the same music Razz

Or the chart programme where they took a chart of a particular year and talked to an artist who perhaps had a hit in the chart or had a number one but I suppose you run out of guests at some point.

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

Radio stations have become more bland & formulaic. I recall when Capital FM played good music & had quality DJ's like Roger scott & Dave Cash
Capital even had a country music show back in the day

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

Clive I really wish we had had access to stations like Capital as it was when it started.

To some extent it probably had some rough edges to it but as you say it was diverse.

Even the commercials stations around here I listened to a lot.

I remember if I was travelling into London to change trains on holiday, I would struggle to hear LBC or Capital on an old portable radio.

These days radio stations are as you describe. That is why Radio 2 trying to be a bit different is precious and the BBC's speech output via Radio 4 needs some protecting.

It is to be hoped that should Smooth really hopes to be serious competition to the BBC it tries to offer something different rather than duplicating what Radio 2 is doing.

gutsygub · Joined: 15 Sep 2010 Posts: 111

ColinB · Guest

I absolutely deplore the way that the large commercial radio brands (or should that say "blands") have taken over independent local radio stations and merged them all into one great homogenous mass. Everything sounds the same (bland) and everything goes completely against what I consider the fundamental aim of local radio - which is to reflect and serve local interests in local communities.

I notice that down in my old home town of Plymouth, people are so sick of the fact that what used to be their ILR station, Plymouth Sound, received all its programming down the line from London that some broadcasters and businesspeople have set up another commercial station (imaginitively called "Radio Plymouth") to provide an alternative to the awful, bland "Heart" station that pretends to be the "loca station but is anything but local...

All those appalling radio brands (Capital, Smooth, Heart, etc) are about as different from each other as one packet of cornflakes is from the next and they should all be severely curtailed, in my opinion.

Pigs will fly, of course.

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

Yes they will take the safe route and so it will be new stations across the country that sound much the same so only the name changes.

If/when I get a better connection and decide who to go broadband with I'll be like you Clive, using the I-Player and searching fro the shows I have missed or the specialist ones that still exist. I tend to time shift a lot of stuff now to listen to later.

We've all but lost all specialist shows on our local BBC stations and it's been years since the commercial stations dropped theirs.

I tend to listen to particular programmes and documentaries rather than the daily schedule so I guess that means usually 7pm-8pm and 10pm-Midnight weekdays.

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Weekdays:

0.00 -6 Derek Webster
6-10 - Lynn Parsons until Simon Bates takes over in January 2011
10-1 - Mark Goodier
1-4 - Dave Lincoln
4-8 - Carlos
8-12 - Andy Peebles

Weekends for the next couple of weeks before Tony leaves

the weekend 9th & 10 October is:

0.00 - 6 Terry Underhill
6 - 10 Tony Blackburn
10 - 2 Steve Collins (Sat) Carlos (Sun til 1 then docs)
2 - 6 Derek Webster (Sat) Terry Underhill (Sun til 5)
6 - 8 Dave Brown (5 - 8 Sun)
8 - 12 midnight Andy Peebles (Soul Train Sat) Normal show Sun.

I wouldn't say weekends are really strong to take on Radio 2. I'm sure the station could have hired some well known national names. I wonder who will take over Weekend breakfast?

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Mark I think they will have a cover person until January and then offer the slot to Lynn if she has not been signed up by Radio 2 by then
By the way I assume you mean Andy PEEBLES rater than Pebbles

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Smooth promo.

http://www.smoothradioeastmidlands.co.uk/station/smooth-radios-new-lineup/jmbsce7l/

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

I hope the music is stronger than seemingly the presenters that have been chosen or that we'll be surprised and think well done.

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

most shows are 4 hours, that's too much of most DJs Rolling Eyes

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

I wondere if Smooth could get the Cheese Board as a sponsor? Surprised

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Clive that may not be quite as far fetched as it first sounds
When I was in the Channel Islands a while ago I bought a brand of cheese called Smooth Cheddar!

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

Rob · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 163 Location: Leicester

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Smooth has more listeners outside London. Graham Dene is too return in November to present weekend breakfast, once Tony Blackburn leaves.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Also Smooth will continue to play music like Magic & Heart do. If they are going to be like Radio 2 - the schedules should reflect on this. People tune to Radio 2 - because of the variety in the evening and at the weekends. It will be different, but will not be Radio 2

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

ColinB · Guest

However good or bad Smooth is or might be, it cannot hope to provide meaningful competition to Radio 2 (much as I'd like to see it) simply because the network is limited to DAB transmission.

DAB is a flawed system of distribution that will never be able to compete, in its current form, with FM and for as long as government, broadcasters and licensing authorities consider it ready to replace analogue transmission it's naive to think that stations like Smooth, etc., will ever be able to give their FM equivalents a run for their money.

In Germany, plans to expand DAB networks are now being reined in due to the simple fact that people hate it, and it's about time it was given a rethink here as well.

The real acid test is this: can you listen to a DAB broadcast in your car over even a short journey without having to suffer signal dropout or distortion in the way you'd be able to listen to FM?

Of course not, and the truth is that you're unlikely to be able to do so for many years yet. DAB simply isn't good enough and the fact that it's being rolled out nationwide to ultimately replace FM is scandalous.

The Great Gildersleeve · Joined: 17 Sep 2010 Posts: 249 Location: North East England

I'm only using DAB because of some stations that are unavailable on FN/AM and because I can manage to play it through my computer system and I can sometimes record to hard drive.

I hate it when signal is lost and you get that gurgling noise and sometimes it happens in the middle of a programme for no reason and sometimes even though the BBC signal is strong, I will find the transmitter site drops the signal strength even when there appears to be no technical work being done.

Oh and one othet point, the DAB radio only works in one location...my bedroom and even then it has to be one place in the bedroom otherwise the signal is lost altogether.

If Mark feels so strongly about Smooth(according to the Independent article)perhaps the station would like to commission more independent productions and/or farm out some of the programmes where a presenter just plays records as the BBC does or has to...I mean as an example why are Johnnie Walker's Sounds Of The 70's or Pick Of The Pops any different because they are not produced in house?

ColinB · Guest

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

I listen mostly on DAB. I have 4 DAB radios at home & I have a small personal DAB radio for when I'm out & about.
I don't drive so i don't know how it performs in a car.
I had a really poor DAB radio in the past, but I find Logic is very reliable

SantaFefan · Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 6:34 pm Post subject:

Yes, I had a poor (cheap) DAB radio a few years ago and was very disappointed, particularly as it wouldn't pick up any BBC stations ( it still won't ) but my Roberts radios are superb so maybe a lot of has to do with the quality of the radio?
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Looks like Mark Goodier is boasting, but still gets income from the BBC through his Wise Buddah company producing the Johnnie Walker show!

ColinB · Guest

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

The station has new sounding on air idents and jingles. I think they use trafficlink for breakfast and drivetime. The presenters mention the weather before the news. There is business news after some of the main news. Basically nothing much has changed the music sounds similar to what Radio 2 play, and it's national. Although apart from a lot of well known redundant DJ's waiting around the country for a job.

ColinB · Guest

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

I had a quick scan of the major breakfast shows this morning.

Radio 2 (Richard Madeley)
Smooth (Lynn Parsons)
Magic (Neil Fox)
Heart (Sam and Amy - local input)

All pretty indistinguishable from one another

Trent FM (Twiggy and Emma - local input), who don't let music get in the way of yakking and adverts

Absolute (Christian O'Connell) - music is a little bit harder edged

Planet Rock (Alice Cooper) - no, I'm sorry I can't take The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and the mention of Jonathon King over breakfast.
_________________
Ron

Rachel · Guest

Ron, where are you at? You forgot Radio 1. Smile