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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 278
Location: Gloucestershire
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ColinB
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 Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:48 am Post subject: |
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I can't say I'm in the least bit surprised to read this. Let's forget that Chris Patten is now poised to take over the Chair of the BBC Trust - a man who confesses openly that he doesn't watch much television at all and who I can't imagine listens to any BBC radio output other than perhaps Radios 3 and 4. It doesn't bode well when somebody who has such little passion for broadcasting is put into such an infuential position. Will he be one of Cameron's stooges? Answers on a post-card.
So, what we have soon is the destruction of BBC local radio, the merger of what's left with 5Live and the merger between 6Music and Radio 2. Next will be the shutting down of either BBC3 or BBC4 TV (or a merger of the two) or possibly a merger between BBC3 and BBC2. And then, given the way that they've decimated the World Service, next on the list will be the BBC News Channel.
I think the game's up - the politicians have won. Get your cheque-book ready, Mr. Murdoch. |
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Rachel
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| ColinB wrote: |
I think the game's up - the politicians have won. Get your cheque-book ready, Mr. Murdoch. |
And so they should- since when did the BBC run our country? The BBC are our servants, not our masters- as much as they like to think otherwise. |
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 278
Location: Gloucestershire
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Absolutely! No need for BBC's 3 & 4, just give us two TV channels with quality programming, no repeats of recently broadcast programmes, along with four radio stations with a unique identity and quality presenters and shows.
Less dumbing down and reality tosh.
Just like it used to be really.
The BBC has become too big for its boots with a questionable political agenda. |
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Fred
Joined: 04 Apr 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:57 am Post subject: |
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I think its a terrrible idea! For a start, 5 Live has a much younger audience than BBC Local Radio. There are things that BBC Local Radio can do better, but a merge with 5 Live is not the right way to do so.
But this is only "an idea" at the moment: all this press coverage has come from a tweet by BBC Radio Nottingham's editor - http://twitter.com/mikebettison/status/45810489145565184, so might not come to anything much. But the unions are taking it seriously, and will do whatever they can to prevent it.
A couple of blog posts about it which show the general point of view on this. I've yet to read one from someone within the industry who actually supports it!
Bill Rogers (used to work at 5 Live): http://tradingaswdr.blogspot.com/2011/03/big-bad-idea.html
Adam Bowie (Absolute Radio): http://www.adambowie.com/weblog/archive/003093.html
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Rachel
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| Fred wrote: | A couple of blog posts about it which show the general point of view on this. I've yet to read one from someone within the industry who actually supports it!
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Well the Turkeys aren't going to vote for Christmas are they? |
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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Location: Gloucestershire
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| Fred wrote: | | There are things that BBC Local Radio can do better |
Maybe, but there is a massive cost involved, all for just a small listenership.
An opt out on the hour every hour for local news would be easily achieved on 5live, along with longer ones during bad weather etc.
The programming on local radio is bland and inferior to the BBC's national stations and is only acting as competition to those stations.
Both local BBC radio and television is overloaded with presenters and duplication, this is long overdue. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:57 am Post subject: |
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Somebody made the interesting point that folks do often turn to BBC Local Radio in times of crisis, emergency, 3" of snow, etc., and that's a reasonable point. However, if they're planning to convert the whole Local radio network down to "5 Live with am/pm opt-outs" then they might as well give up and shut all the stations down.
Personally I think that would be a pity; here in MK we have a very local breakfast-time sub-opt from Luton-based BBC 3CR and it's good for two reasons - (1) it does give very local news and info and (2) it gives a welcome alternative to Captain Ego over on R2.
If a total shutdown of BBC Local is indeed the ultimate plan (as I'm sure it is - they haven't the guts to hit us with it all at once) then I would like to see the availability of even more on-air licences to enable us set up our own radio stations (just like we were demanding in the 60s and the reason the ship-based pirates came to air).
Then again, there's always the internet - both for textual and video content but also for some excellent audio streaming "radio" content as well. |
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Fred
Joined: 04 Apr 2007
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Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19335
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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I'll listen to Fred's link later but my first thoughts are :-
| ColinB wrote: | Somebody made the interesting point that folks do often turn to BBC Local Radio in times of crisis, emergency, 3" of snow, etc., and that's a reasonable point.
Then again, there's always the internet - both for textual and video content but also for some excellent audio streaming "radio" content as well. |
Your first point is very true Colin, just think back to the floods in Cumbria in 2008.
I think the BBC and others too need to remember that it's going to be a very long time before everyone who needs to be able to hear local news will have access to the internet.
Another thing, will the internet always be available in emergencies? Today's dreadful earthquake in Japan brings it home. I think the internet has worked this time but who knows, but it could be cut off as well. I wonder if radio is more reliable?
H
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Cherskiy
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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I think I listened to Radio Newcastle more between November 2010 and January 2011 than I've done in the previous 30 years, simply to keep track of the numerous road closures, hold-ups and accidents caused during the snow chaos. Beyond that, I can't really stand the presenters much - especially one who seems to engage mouth before brain, you can hear him desperately waffling away whilst trying to think how to link the rubbish he's spouting into the next link or song. Almost reminds me of Radio Norwich and "Norfolk Nights"....
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ColinB
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Helen May wrote: | | Another thing, will the internet always be available in emergencies? Today's dreadful earthquake in Japan brings it home. I think the internet has worked this time but who knows, but it could be cut off as well. I wonder if radio is more reliable? |
That's a good point, Helen. That said, the current limitations are due only to lack of investment by the service providers. The internet's backbone is still trunk-cable based, whereas it could be "in the cloud" to a greater degree. It can also be delivered by satellite. Things are moving to a cloud-based system but - as you say - large-scale disasters highlight the limitations.
I'd like to see almost complete de-regulation of the airwaves so that almost anybody can start their own radio station in much the same way that anybody can create their own website and blog. The old 1960s arguments against have long since been proven wrong! |
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