[Murray Mint]

To counteract the ongoing Radio 2 "young versus old" debates on here, I think Radio 2 should axe its entire Light Programmes and move them to Radio 3. This will then stop people accusing the BBC of ageism.

Radio 3 could broadcast light music during day and the more serious stuff at night.

That said, I will more than likely be shot down in flames for suggesting BBC Radio 3 is relaunched as a similar format that is carried by RTE's Lyric FM.

[GeorgeS]

Still as obsessed as ever with BBC Radio 2 i see?

[Murray Mint]

Example of the new Radio 3:

7.00am Sarah Kennedy
10.00 Ed Stewart
1.00pm Classic Comedy Hour
2.00 David Jacobs Collection
3.00 Alan Titchmarsh
5.00 Michael Parkinson
7.00 Desmond Carrington
8.00 The serious stuff (Radio 3 classical)
11.00 Late Junction
1.00 - 7.00am Through the Night

[Murray Mint]

Originally Posted by GeorgeS

Still as obsessed as ever with BBC Radio 2 i see?

No. Not really. But as you haven't been contributing to the ongoing debates, you wouldn't know why I have started this topic.

[Love retirement]

Sorry Murray Mint, but RTE's Lyric FM was based on Classic FM which is a light weight classical music station. Radio 3 is for the more discerning listener. In Tune with Sean Rafferty extremely popular.

[Martin Phillp]

It's taken you 1,800 posts to get to what you really want on R2 Scott, well done.

[Murray Mint]

Originally Posted by Love retirement

Sorry Murray Mint, but RTE's Lyric FM was based on Classic FM which is a light weight classical music station. Radio 3 is for the more discerning listener. In Tune with Sean Rafferty extremely popular.

People are accusing Radio 2 of being ageist as it does not broadcast Light Programming during its daytime schedule. Some people question the purpose of Radio 3 as it attracts a very small audience.

Some people are calling for the BBC to launch a national specialist/light music station to appeal to the older demographic, but as there are no available FM frequencies and the BBC has not got the funds to launch another digital service, then why not relaunch Radio 3?

The suggestion of moving Radio 2's current daytime output to 6 Music (as per John Wright) and replacing it with Light Programming is not the best remedy for what is an ongoing debate.

[Murray Mint]

And, for the record, I do agree that the BBC is being ageist by not having a radio service dedicated to the older demographic. Like I pointed out on another thread, the BBC has launched digital stations for youth, black and Asian listeners - so why nothing for the older demographic?

Saga FM was a failure because of its presentation. The BBC would be able to do a much better job than Saga.

[Ramsay Ladders]

Originally Posted by Martin Phillp

It's taken you 1,800 posts to get to what you really want on R2 Scott, well done.

Approx. 1700 posts less than his last creation too I think. Must try harder Scott.

[Ramsay Ladders]

Radio 3 will never be changed in the way you want. Next topic.

[Murray Mint]

Originally Posted by Ramsay Ladders

Radio 3 will never be changed in the way you want. Next topic.

Okay then - just like Radio 2 will never be changed in the way John Petters and John Wright want.

There.

[Ramsay Ladders]

Originally Posted by Murray Mint

Okay then - just like Radio 2 will never be changed in the way John Petters and John Wright want.

There.

I agree with that comment totally.

Their views are extreme beyond belief.

[Murray Mint]

Originally Posted by Ramsay Ladders

I agree with that comment totally.

Their views are extreme beyond belief.

Ramsey,

Without getting drawn into an agrument with you, I posted this topic in response to Wright and Petters insisting that Radio 2 should tamper with its popular daytime output so it can accomodate for Light Programmes.

John Wright suggested that Steve Wright should be axed and replaced with an Alan Titchmarsh / David Jacobs style programme.

It's ludicrous, it really is. Perhaps my suggestion of relaunching Radio 3 is just as ludicrous, who knows.

[dpb]

Radio 3 may have the lowest audience figures of the five analogue networks but some of that audience is very influential and I imagine a few words in the right places would kill this idea off quite quickly should it ever want to be adopted (look at the uproar when the BBC proposed turning Radio 4 long wave into a rolling news channel).

Also it’s beneficial for the BBC to have Radio 3 in its portfolio of services. They can point to the network when the corporation faces accusations of chasing ratings and dumbing down. The programming is the kind of output that a government wants to see a public service broadcaster doing.

[Norbert5]

Originally Posted by Murray Mint

To counteract the ongoing Radio 2 "young versus old" debates on here, I think Radio 2 should axe its entire Light Programmes and move them to Radio 3. This will then stop people accusing the BBC of ageism.

Radio 3 could broadcast light music during day and the more serious stuff at night.

That said, I will more than likely be shot down in flames for suggesting BBC Radio 3 is relaunched as a similar format that is carried by RTE's Lyric FM.

Radio 2 is the Light Programme.

Radio 4 is the Home Service. My Uncle still calls it that.

[Murray Mint]

Originally Posted by Norbert5

Radio 2 is the Light Programme.

Radio 4 is the Home Service. My Uncle still calls it that.

Radio 2 isn't the Light Programme anymore. It's evolved since then!

The Light Programme content is mostly confined to Sunday nights after 7.00pm.

[Love retirement]

Originally Posted by Murray Mint

People are accusing Radio 2 of being ageist as it does not broadcast Light Programming during its daytime schedule. Some people question the purpose of Radio 3 as it attracts a very small audience.

Some people are calling for the BBC to launch a national specialist/light music station to appeal to the older demographic, but as there are no available FM frequencies and the BBC has not got the funds to launch another digital service, then why not relaunch Radio 3?

The suggestion of moving Radio 2's current daytime output to 6 Music (as per John Wright) and replacing it with Light Programming is not the best remedy for what is an ongoing debate.

I am not interested in what radio 2 plays during the day as I don't listen to it after 7.30am but I do listen to Radio 3. It is the only serious classical music station on the airwaves. Classic FM (which I also listen to in small doses) is geared towards 'popular' classic music.

I don't know what the demographics are but lots of young people listen to Radio 3 (anything from age 11 upwards).

Please leave Radio 3 alone and find another station for your Light Music Programmes.

[Murray Mint]

Originally Posted by dpb

Radio 3 may have the lowest audience figures of the five analogue networks but some of that audience is very influential and I imagine a few words in the right places would kill this idea off quite quickly should it ever want to be adopted (look at the uproar when the BBC proposed turning Radio 4 long wave into a rolling news channel).

Also it’s beneficial for the BBC to have Radio 3 in its portfolio of services. They can point to the network when the corporation faces accusations of chasing ratings and dumbing down. The programming is the kind of output that a government wants to see a public service broadcaster doing.

On the Radio 2 side of this debate, surely it's beneficial for Radio 2 to retain its generic pop format during the day and specialist programming in the evening?

People continuously accuse Radio 2 of ageism because the older end of the demographic feel disenfranchised. The suggestion of Radio 2 broadcasting Light Programming during the day is not going to happen, hence why I suggested that Radio 3 is relaunched.

[Murray Mint]

Love Retirement said:

Please leave Radio 3 alone and find another station for your Light Music Programmes.

I suggested on another thread that 6 Music is relaunched into a Light Programme network and Radio 2's Light Programming is transferred there. In return, Radio 2 could broadcast 6 Music's programmes.

Some people did not like the suggestion of older programming only being available on DAB.

[malcyb]

In my opinion, a new Radio station Radio 8 would be the place for light music and easy listening music ranging from light classics to James Last, Herb Alpert, Burt Bacharach and a never ending roster of easy listening vocalise like Jack Jones, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, The Carpenters, Matt Monroe, Shirley Bassey etc, etc. But for some unknown reason the BBC just don't want to cater for this audience. If they did it would take a lot of pressure of Radio's 2 and 3 and everyone would have a place for tuning in and remaining for the whole of their listening duration.

[RTD259]

Originally Posted by Murray Mint

And, for the record, I do agree that the BBC is being ageist by not having a radio service dedicated to the older demographic. Like I pointed out on another thread, the BBC has launched digital stations for youth, black and Asian listeners - so why nothing for the older demographic?

Saga FM was a failure because of its presentation. The BBC would be able to do a much better job than Saga.

While I agree there should be a station for over fifties, Saga was not a failure. It had a decent audience, the problem was the sales people didn't know how to sell it.

[Martin Kayne]

Originally Posted by RTD259

While I agree there should be a station for over fifties, Saga was not a failure. It had a decent audience, the problem was the sales people didn't know how to sell it.

You mean like the 'Hallmark Of Quality' " Britain Radio"..hehe (joke!) I was an avid listener to Saga's Primetime Radio, I was very disappointed when it closed. People over 50 do respond to advertising, with the right approach, dayime TV ads are very much aimed at seniors. A lot of elderly people do feel there is very little on daytime radio for them these days. You don't seem to hear any instrumentals anymore...

[Murray Mint]

Originally Posted by RTD259

While I agree there should be a station for over fifties, Saga was not a failure. It had a decent audience, the problem was the sales people didn't know how to sell it.

I stand corrected about Saga. You're right; the network failed due to sales.

I do think the BBC would do a much greater job at promoting a light music station.

[Martin Kayne]

Originally Posted by Murray Mint

I do think the BBC would do a much greater job at promoting a light music station.

The classic BBC response to this is that having a 'Radio +' for OAP's would consume revenue and damage the audience figures for the existing Radio 2. Meaning that they accept a reasonable proportion of Radio 2's listeners are simply there by default.

[Murray Mint]

Originally Posted by Martin Kayne

The classic BBC response to this is that having a 'Radio +' for OAP's would consume revenue and damage the audience figures for the existing Radio 2. Meaning that they accept a reasonable proportion of Radio 2's listeners are simply there by default.

To be honest I don't think Radio 2 would suffer a huge audience decline if it axed its Light Programmes. Popular programming from 6 Music such as Marc Riley, Guy Garvey, Steve Lamacq, Bruce Dickinson's Rock Show, Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone, Guy Garvey and Dance Anthems could replace the existing Light Programming Radio 2 broadcasts, particularly on Friday and Sunday nights.

The 6 Music programmes would probably attract more listeners than the current Light Programmes.