R2OK!

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

according to a tweet from the Guardian media journo
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Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:14 pm Post subject:

Yep, Mark's done a thread about it too but the changes are:

Midnight-3am: Janice Long Monday-Thursday, Alex Lester Friday-Saturday
3am-5am Monday-Friday: Repeats! (Sounds of the 60s, 70s, 80s etc)
3am-6am Saturday: Huey Morgan
3am-6am Sunday: Bob Harris

Richard Allinson gone altogether, although will continue to deputise.

It's clear this is all because of money but I'm staggered they would rather let Richard Allinson leave while still employing Anneka Rice.

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

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

Richard must be happy just floating around at Radio 2. Probably cheaper having him to cover shows, instead of celebrities?

I suppose Automation is a way forward, but Global Stations have live shows.

Nickbucks · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 100

But where are the deputising opportunities ? Sara Cox deputises for VF ,Evans won't have RA as he is to much of a popular threat so Zoe does it, the Ken Bruce slot is saved for the ladies i.e. Claudia Winkleman. The JV slot needs a news journalist so Paddy O'Connell steps in. Lisa T seems to be the deputy for Simon Mayo and I cannot see RA deputising for Jo Whiley. That leaves Steve Wright- well RA would be better than the present incumbent I guess.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

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

Ian Robinson · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:47 pm Post subject:

Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

Unbelievable...... Rolling Eyes

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Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

unclebuck · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 276 Location: Warwickshire

Utterly shambolic Radio 2.

For the UK's leading radio station to drop away from the remit to broadcast live/new material 24 hours a day is an admission of abject management failure. I don't believe this change will persist - it may be that someone is making a political point.

I have to wonder what the incremental cost is of having someone in a studio playing music for a couple of hours versus the cost of broadcasting a repeat show.

In this age of iPlayer, repeats of recent programmes have almost no use.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

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

Cuts to production staff have been happening over a few years. I can't see it costs that much for Alex or Richard shows with one producer and possibly a tech guy, The spending on new buildings and studios which has seen better sounding was needed.

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

Obviously central government are asking.for the BBC Trust to look at cut backs. You got to pay for talent to get the best possible shows. Graham Norton and Paul O Grady shows are very popular. Possibly they need to stop getting high profile presenters to dep for example Steve Wright or Ken Bruce as it doesn't matter who does it people will still tune in.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 10:22 am Post subject:

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Fog on the Tyne · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 1090

I wonder if it's dis-satisfaction to the changes that's making Alex Lester say that his show is" the most listened to through the night show in the country", recently.
I can't imagine that Alex can be that happy having his hours shortened after all of these years.

Richard "Dickie dawn" will be a miss at the weekends
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Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

I certainly will miss Richard, just as I did when the previous controller dropped him from his, then Saturday afternoon show. No, I don't imagine Alex liking shorter hours either. I shouldn't imagine Janice did when they chopped an hour off her show. Just what is the matter with these controllers? Come back Jim Moir, all is forgiven!
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Nickbucks · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 100

Agreed with all the points raised . Here is a station which has alienated almost as many listeners as it has gained, has an unadventurous music policy, has given up the remit to be on air live 24 hours a day, thinks hiring celebs is cool and yet axes good presenters. In business you would say ah yes ripe for a competitor to enter the market. Yet in 21st century UK there is no competition to middle of the road Radio 2 and no sign of anything on the horizon. Commercial radio gave up years ago and yet when the economy picks up , and hence the advertising revenue on which they depend should increase, not a murmer. The BBC knows it can do what it wants with R2.

As an aside RA had an excellent spell presenting an album show on BBC Oxford a few years ago. Perhaps he can be tempted back using his own producton company to cut down the costs.

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Red Baron · Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 119

That means there is only 1 show I will listen to now on R2, JW on SOT70's and that isn't as good as it should be.

Thank goodness for 6music - and their presenters really know their music!

http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/richard-allinson-radio-2-show-ends-bob-harris-moves-slot/058627

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

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

Richard is simply following in the footsteps of a number of quality presenters who have been designated as 'persona non grata' by the idiotic Mr Shennan including Lynn Parsons,Mark Goodier and several others

The man shouldn't be let anywhere near any BBC radio station - he's just about a third rate controller for what these days is a second rate station so I suppose some might say he's punching beyond his weight Rolling Eyes

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Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Unfortunately people like him are a familiar feature of today's BBC. I know several people who have worked for BBC Television for years and years, and without exception they all say that all core departments are now led by clueless idiots who have no passion for broadcasting but every commitment to serving their politically-enslaved masters and earning brownie points in order to climb the media career ladder.

In fact, all but a few of my friends have now left the corporation altogether. A long-time friend worked for the BBC for 21 years, ending up as a VT editor at TV Centre; as plans to close TVC were advancing and the head-count was being dramatically reduced, he received notice on a Thursday that his time with the BBC was ending the following Tuesday - and that was it. He loved working for the BBC and it was always his dream to do so, but the BBC just cast him aside. Thankfully, he's now well-establshed as a freelance editor and earning more money. He tells me that his story is a very common one right across the corporation, and morale among staffers and contract freelancers isn't very high.

People like Shennan are just continuing to make things worse - while continuing to collect their own generous salary and benefits package.

Very sad.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

When does this change happen?

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

Can i just add that as more of a night time listener,this hits me hard.Bob and Huey both moved to 3am which is normally my sleeping time i know the i player is there but i don't like it.Janice is fine with her 3 hr shift and i can listen to Alex for longer now

There are some good points above and i have to agree with Ian that R2 is very bland during the day
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I found out how you can hurt an insect.It's the bees knees

Ian Robinson · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 11:14 am Post subject:

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Thanks Ian. I'll just have to make the most of RA on iPlayer until then,not that I listen every week.

Of late I've not listened to R2 during the day, I switch back and forth to Smooth if I just want some background music. Since their changeover the music seems better, well for an hour or so at at time at least!

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

graham b · Joined: 23 Sep 2010 Posts: 211 Location: Wakefield

Given the amount of holiday that the star presenters have we may get a lot more of Richard in the daytime - some hope with Zoe et al in the wings.

TrickyTaylors · Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 46 Location: Glos

Bob Harris - the guy has introduced me to so much new music that I would never have heard but for him and his Saturday/Sunday show, and now he's to be demoted to a 3am-6am slot?
I don't really care about 'the future' and how we should be listening to music nowadays. I use the radio for my listening; I like the radio and it's staging posts through the day and the week and the Bob Harris Show at midnight is one of them. I'm really cross.
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I agree with you Tricky, I think they have forgotten how the radio is used by most people anyway! Not everyone listens again for most of the day, you gage your day's progress (or lack of!) by what is coming out of your radio, same thing goes for TV.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

As I said in a previous post, 'Come back Jim Moir, all is forgiven!' For me, that was when Radio 2 was at it's best, and I'd listen for most of the day, the playlist was much more imaginitive, even on the daytime shows.
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unclebuck · Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Posts: 276 Location: Warwickshire

Yesterday's Telegraph......

'BBC has a bigger team for Galstonbury than Brazil'

Bob Shennan, the R2 controller said 300 staff were being lined up for the weekend, outstripping the 272 that are set to head to Brazil in the coming weeks.

Aren't budget cuts a wonderful thing?

Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

Yes, but what it doesn't say is that most of the roster is made up of OB facility staff and other support personnel who will be working on shifts. Outside broadcast facility requirements for events like this is collossal - more so TV than Radio - but companies are contracted in for stuff like satellite links, etc. I don't know who's facilitating it, OB wise, but I think it's Milton Keynes-based SIS Live who have the largest and most up-to-date OB fleet (the company grew out of its acquisition of BBC Outside Broadcasts a few years back).

Don't forget, also, that the BBC earns more from the event that it spends because it distributes worldwide - it's big business now.

david1956 · Joined: 10 Sep 2011 Posts: 4 Location: United Kingdom

Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 8:39 am Post subject:

Good to hear Richard covering for Chris Evans this morning.

Meanwhile, the latest Private Eye has a report on the changes. It says that Vanessa Feltz's show rates (relatively) poorly and even those that listen hate it, so Shennan had proposed replacing her with the popular Alex Lester. However, the Powers nixed this because (thanks to Miriam O'Reilly) they're reluctant to get rid of 50-something women in case they sue.

So we're left with a schedule no-one wants - brilliant!

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

Surely Ian if they got rid of Ms Feltz on the grounds that listening figures had dropped on her watch it would be an entirely different situation from the Miriam O'Reilly scenario - she was dispensed with purely based on age - there was no evidence that Countryfile viewing figures had substantially dropped - so we're not talking about a comparable situation Smile

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Colin · Joined: 26 Sep 2013 Posts: 916

One thing her successful case against the BBC has achieved is that it has given the corporation a kick up the proverbial, with the result that more older women are being given prime presentation slots. One example is Angela Rippon (who was the Programme Editor on a 1970s TV series I worked on in the South West), who, along with her mate Gloria Hunniford, crops up in the BBC1 evening schedule much more frequently now. That's obviously a good thing for those who would otherwise be affected, but it does have knock-on effects for others.

The Beeb's senior management really is paranoid on all this. The Producer of a recent programme I was involved in for BBC4 (due for transmission in the Autumn) was faced with loads of "participation" forms to fill out at the time the final master was submitted to the Commissioning Editor. He had to tick loads of boxes relating to the proportion of men and women working on the production at all levels (even runners and edit assistants!), as well as the share of ethic minorities and even people with disabilities. He was tempted merely to fiddle the return until he was told that they reserve the right to undertake an audit!

It's nonsense, of course, but it supports Ian's theory that the Beeb is reluctant to kick Feltz into touch for fear of unticking those essential boxes that are conveniently ticked!