The Good & Bad Of Radio In The 2000's - Radio

frank james · 30-11-2009, 11:14

Coming to the end of the decade. What have you liked & disliked about Radio in any aspect this decade?

mw1 · 30-11-2009, 11:18

The number 1 pet hate in my opinion, more networking

. Don't get me wrong i understand Radio Stations like any other business have to live within their means but having a networked show at 1pm in the afternoon is pure crap.

The other thing i dislike about Radio in the 2000's would be the amount of 'safe' Radio Presenters, some like Iain Lee on Absolute are superb and know to create an excellent Radio Format but can't stand the chat when a presenter says 'oh here's the noisettes, up next more songs to sing along to = zzzzzz

Tabbythecat · 30-11-2009, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank james

Coming to the end of the decade. What have you liked & disliked about Radio in any aspect this decade?

The removal of "personality presenters" replaced by "robots" I am sorry to say this, but thats how it has become, when you get a broadcaster telling you who you are listening to on every link, just sounds like hospital radio to me, l

However its not all doom and gloom in the catbox, I have and will continue to enjoy the excellent Keith Skues on Sunday nights in the eastern counties, although he is 70 years old he can still cut it with thre young bucks

As an aside Frank, do you think that some presenters using nicknames are desperate? for example there is somone calling himself "The Whispering Groyne"
pain in the groin more like

Tabbythecat · 30-11-2009, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by mw1

but can't stand the chat when a presenter says 'oh here's the noisettes, up next more songs to sing along to = zzzzzz

Or when its a request show robot presenter "we'll get that on for you in just a moment" and the babble between presenter & sidekick

The Difference · 30-11-2009, 18:03

For me, the best thing to happen to UK radio this decade has been the inception of talkSPORT.

talkSPORT has been a very welcome addition to the radio landscape IMO and has completely changed my listening habits in its first ten years.

In the 1990s I would generally tune to Five Live or my local BBC station to get my sporting fix, with both stations offering 3-4 hours of coverage (if that) on an average weekday. Since Talk Radio was relaunched as a sports station in January 2000, I've known that I can tune in at almost any time during daytime hours and football/sports news and discussion will not be far away.

Its presence in the radio market has forced other stations to up their game and review their sports coverage - I think I'm right in saying that there are now more hours of sport (and far more sporting discussion programmes) on Five Live than there was in 2000, and their approach to sports broadcasting does seem to have changed since a national competitor arrived on the scene.

You only need to look at a few of Five Live's recent sports programmes to see that it has been influenced by the talkSPORT style.

Granted, talkSPORT is not perfect and has had its ups and downs over the years, but on the whole I'm really glad of its presence on the airwaves and couldn't imagine UK radio without it.

andy.saunders · 30-11-2009, 18:20

Radio has changed alot in the last 10 years, 10 years ago I was on 107.7 WFM in Weston super Mare live from 7pm Monday to Friday, most local stations VT or are automated these days, It was great having the interaction with the listeners on the show.

Wouldn't it be good to rewind and do it like we used to, Local and live!

Martin_S · 30-11-2009, 18:38

Bad: Networking increased to a point now when local stations have effectively closed down being replaced by Heart FM relays up and down the country. I can hear 7 Heart FM's here what a waste of frequencies and 'local' licences!

Good: None I can think of. If I can think of anything...

wrexham103.4 · 30-11-2009, 19:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin_S

Bad: Networking increased to a point now when local stations have effectively closed down being replaced by Heart FM relays up and down the country. I can hear 7 Heart FM's here what a waste of frequencies and 'local' licences!

Good: None I can think of. If I can think of anything...

I couldn't agree more, such a shame.

Ive listened for 2 days in a row now, pure shite! music to kill yourself too.

*awaits being trampled by the herd of Heart lovers*

howard h · 30-11-2009, 19:48

FM radio....bad, getting even badder, with only the occasional noteable exception, such as Pure FM (Stockport)
DAB....a total let-down (here in the NW anyway, at least in London you get Gadar), if it wasn't for Amazing, BFBS and TMS on 5 extra, I'd pull the plug.
INTERNET radio....thank you, whoever you are, for saving the radio! From 1club.fm through DI.fm to 365 and Shoutcast, a very hugemungus THANK YOU!!! Now, any chance of getting you in my car....

Jim (B) · 30-11-2009, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank james

Coming to the end of the decade. What have you liked & disliked about Radio in any aspect this decade?

Bad:

The number of stations that have closed due to the recession or the sheer incompetence or ineptitude of their owners.

The failure of DAB in the UK and the lack of balls on the part of the powers that be to set a decent standard for digital radio like DAB+

The decline of once great stations like Invicta, Essex, Chiltern and so on….

The loss of Mike Dickin and his excellent late night phone ins.

Good:

Planet Rock ,Jazz FM and NME Radio hanging on in there along with Solar and Caroline - just wish the last 2 were available on DAB.

Nick_G · 30-11-2009, 22:15

I actually find the most interesting radio outside of the UK, eg RNE 3, WFMU, Studio Brussel, and some of the local, indie stations in France and Belgium. Internet stations like the 4 streams from Intergalactic FM are a god-send too as they do well to serve my music tastes.

franchise · 30-11-2009, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Difference

For me, the best thing to happen to UK radio this decade has been the inception of talkSPORT.

talkSPORT has been a very welcome addition to the radio landscape IMO and has completely changed my listening habits in its first ten years.

Ask me in 1999 what I thought about the change, I'd have been completley negative, being as fan of the station where you had speech geniuses such as Tommy Boyd and Nick Abbot, but now, TS is one of the first stations I tune to on a morning.

It's not perfect, Brazil is still a waste of airtime for one, but, especially with presenters such as Danny Kelly, Mark Saggers and Stan Collymore - then only time I listen to Five Live over it is Saturdays 9am to midday.

wavejockglw · 30-11-2009, 23:05

The Good: BBC Network Radio especially BBC Radio 2 as the UK's most popular full service radio station with the highest profile presenters and a great variety of popular music. BBC specailist services like Radio 4 deserve mention.

Commercial services worth noting are the ones that have moved with the times. The big branded services like Heart, Galaxy and Magic are the hits of the decade pushing the heritage stations into the background because they deliver what listeners want. Forget all the tripe about 'networking', it does not matter if it's done well and local listeners can relate to the shows on offer. The new generation of networked radio draws on the model of BBC TV and the old ITV, offering local shows when they are needed and bigger name presenters across a wide area than a local station could provide. The big brand statons will continue to prosper on FM and as DAB gradually replaces analogue radio. Community Radio has some bright prospects and offers good access for local communities and speacialist programming for minorities not served by mainstream stations.

The Bad: BBC Radio 1, it's lost the plot and it's not really it's fault as it has been hammered for competing with commercial stations so it's now forced to output lots of speech which the i-pod generation probably don't want to listen to regardless how worthy it is. Hybrid commercial stations including heritage ones that safe-play to the 25-54's daily with boring straplines and predictable playlists. Small scale commercial stations that try to replicate bigger local and regionals already providing the same service within the same area. Those deserve to go bust as they are surplus to requirements. Dupicate DAB services need to be sorted. Too many similar services chacing the same audiences, more variety is required and there is now a danger that cash will determine the programme output on DAB populating the available bandwidth with US style religious broadcasting that a tiny minority will bother with.

The Difference · 01-12-2009, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by franchise

It's not perfect, Brazil is still a waste of airtime for one, but, especially with presenters such as Danny Kelly, Mark Saggers and Stan Collymore - then only time I listen to Five Live over it is Saturdays 9am to midday.

Extend that to including the odd Up All Night show at the weekend (primarily for the excellent World Football Phone-In), and the occasional football commentary when a match I want to listen to isn't on talkSPORT or local radio round my way, and that's pretty much the sum of my Five Live listening these days too.

I would not have believed you if you'd told me in the 1990s that a decade on I'd listen to Five Live as little as I do today, given the way I'd call upon them for national football news/coverage back then, but talkSPORT and especially shows like the old Football First 'Around the Grounds' show from Saturdays before Matchday Live have really changed my listening habits - it has become my first port of call for football.

As you say it's not perfect but the premise of the station, much like Five Live was in the 90s as a rolling news and sports station, is a brilliant one that will keep getting people like me listening. They are the only radio station doing the kind of radio I want to listen to throughout the day as well as at night.

James Martin 2 · 01-12-2009, 01:00

Good bits?

Chris Moyles being given Radio 1 Breakfast. Should have happened 2 years previous to when it did.

The continued repositioning of Radio 2. Could have been better timed to coincide with the Bannister overhaul but it's happened and that's the main thing.

The resurgence in the late 00s of small players in the market - the efforts in Oldham, Banbury, Southampton, Winchester and elsewhere must be applauded.

Bad bits?

Too many smaller stations turning into breakfast opts. Poor show.

Laser Broadcasting and it's endless spinoffs.

As for Heart? No, it's not a bad thing. But would I have rather seen the Hit Music network rolled out? Yes.

frank james · 01-12-2009, 12:03

Good

Being able to listen to Radio in other ways other than Analogue Radio (although this started before 2000) more people now have access to other forms of Radio.

Bad

The end of a lot the heritage stations and the Capital/Classic Gold merger.
The fall of traditional music DJ's and the rise of celebrity or basic announcement DJ's.
The Official Chart Show just becoming another Radio 1 show and also a lot of other specialist shows on various stations disappearing to be replaced with a couple of hours of the same old songs.
The amount of crossover songs between stations increasing to the point that there are only a few Radio formats on FM now
Also many of the great broadcasters who have died during this decade (though this happens every decade sadly).

30-11-2009, 11:14	#1
frank james Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 896	The Good & Bad Of Radio In The 2000's Coming to the end of the decade. What have you liked & disliked about Radio in any aspect this decade?

30-11-2009, 11:18	#2
mw1 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Coventry Services: Sky Digital, Freeview, NTL 1MB, NTL Phone Posts: 3,110	The number 1 pet hate in my opinion, more networking . Don't get me wrong i understand Radio Stations like any other business have to live within their means but having a networked show at 1pm in the afternoon is pure crap. The other thing i dislike about Radio in the 2000's would be the amount of 'safe' Radio Presenters, some like Iain Lee on Absolute are superb and know to create an excellent Radio Format but can't stand the chat when a presenter says 'oh here's the noisettes, up next more songs to sing along to = zzzzzz

30-11-2009, 18:03	#5
The Difference Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,151	For me, the best thing to happen to UK radio this decade has been the inception of talkSPORT. talkSPORT has been a very welcome addition to the radio landscape IMO and has completely changed my listening habits in its first ten years. In the 1990s I would generally tune to Five Live or my local BBC station to get my sporting fix, with both stations offering 3-4 hours of coverage (if that) on an average weekday. Since Talk Radio was relaunched as a sports station in January 2000, I've known that I can tune in at almost any time during daytime hours and football/sports news and discussion will not be far away. Its presence in the radio market has forced other stations to up their game and review their sports coverage - I think I'm right in saying that there are now more hours of sport (and far more sporting discussion programmes) on Five Live than there was in 2000, and their approach to sports broadcasting does seem to have changed since a national competitor arrived on the scene. You only need to look at a few of Five Live's recent sports programmes to see that it has been influenced by the talkSPORT style. Granted, talkSPORT is not perfect and has had its ups and downs over the years, but on the whole I'm really glad of its presence on the airwaves and couldn't imagine UK radio without it.

30-11-2009, 18:20	#6
andy.saunders Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 290	Radio has changed alot in the last 10 years, 10 years ago I was on 107.7 WFM in Weston super Mare live from 7pm Monday to Friday, most local stations VT or are automated these days, It was great having the interaction with the listeners on the show. Wouldn't it be good to rewind and do it like we used to, Local and live!

30-11-2009, 18:38	#7
Martin_S Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,138	Bad: Networking increased to a point now when local stations have effectively closed down being replaced by Heart FM relays up and down the country. I can hear 7 Heart FM's here what a waste of frequencies and 'local' licences! Good: None I can think of. If I can think of anything...

30-11-2009, 19:48	#9
howard h Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Gtr Manchester UK Posts: 1,095	FM radio....bad, getting even badder, with only the occasional noteable exception, such as Pure FM (Stockport) DAB....a total let-down (here in the NW anyway, at least in London you get Gadar), if it wasn't for Amazing, BFBS and TMS on 5 extra, I'd pull the plug. INTERNET radio....thank you, whoever you are, for saving the radio! From 1club.fm through DI.fm to 365 and Shoutcast, a very hugemungus THANK YOU!!! Now, any chance of getting you in my car....

30-11-2009, 22:15	#11
Nick_G Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Whitchurch, Hampshire, England Services: Sony XDR-F1HD (modified), Onkyo T-4970, Triax FM5 horizontal beaming east Posts: 1,523	I actually find the most interesting radio outside of the UK, eg RNE 3, WFMU, Studio Brussel, and some of the local, indie stations in France and Belgium. Internet stations like the 4 streams from Intergalactic FM are a god-send too as they do well to serve my music tastes.

30-11-2009, 23:05	#13
wavejockglw Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glasgow/Scotland Services: TalkTalk Broadband, Sky HD, Freeview, DAB, Vodafone Posts: 4,871	The Good: BBC Network Radio especially BBC Radio 2 as the UK's most popular full service radio station with the highest profile presenters and a great variety of popular music. BBC specailist services like Radio 4 deserve mention. Commercial services worth noting are the ones that have moved with the times. The big branded services like Heart, Galaxy and Magic are the hits of the decade pushing the heritage stations into the background because they deliver what listeners want. Forget all the tripe about 'networking', it does not matter if it's done well and local listeners can relate to the shows on offer. The new generation of networked radio draws on the model of BBC TV and the old ITV, offering local shows when they are needed and bigger name presenters across a wide area than a local station could provide. The big brand statons will continue to prosper on FM and as DAB gradually replaces analogue radio. Community Radio has some bright prospects and offers good access for local communities and speacialist programming for minorities not served by mainstream stations. The Bad: BBC Radio 1, it's lost the plot and it's not really it's fault as it has been hammered for competing with commercial stations so it's now forced to output lots of speech which the i-pod generation probably don't want to listen to regardless how worthy it is. Hybrid commercial stations including heritage ones that safe-play to the 25-54's daily with boring straplines and predictable playlists. Small scale commercial stations that try to replicate bigger local and regionals already providing the same service within the same area. Those deserve to go bust as they are surplus to requirements. Dupicate DAB services need to be sorted. Too many similar services chacing the same audiences, more variety is required and there is now a danger that cash will determine the programme output on DAB populating the available bandwidth with US style religious broadcasting that a tiny minority will bother with.

01-12-2009, 01:00	#15
James Martin 2 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,016	Good bits? Chris Moyles being given Radio 1 Breakfast. Should have happened 2 years previous to when it did. The continued repositioning of Radio 2. Could have been better timed to coincide with the Bannister overhaul but it's happened and that's the main thing. The resurgence in the late 00s of small players in the market - the efforts in Oldham, Banbury, Southampton, Winchester and elsewhere must be applauded. Bad bits? Too many smaller stations turning into breakfast opts. Poor show. Laser Broadcasting and it's endless spinoffs. As for Heart? No, it's not a bad thing. But would I have rather seen the Hit Music network rolled out? Yes.

01-12-2009, 12:03	#16
frank james Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 896	Good Being able to listen to Radio in other ways other than Analogue Radio (although this started before 2000) more people now have access to other forms of Radio. Bad The end of a lot the heritage stations and the Capital/Classic Gold merger. The fall of traditional music DJ's and the rise of celebrity or basic announcement DJ's. The Official Chart Show just becoming another Radio 1 show and also a lot of other specialist shows on various stations disappearing to be replaced with a couple of hours of the same old songs. The amount of crossover songs between stations increasing to the point that there are only a few Radio formats on FM now Also many of the great broadcasters who have died during this decade (though this happens every decade sadly).