More Meades

[Thropplenoggin]

I would agree that it's a style of journalism (not uncommon) aimed at being interesting in itself. But I find it a bit self indulgent and irritating. The rationale for writing in that way is that I am almost certainly in a minority.

Self-indulgent. Le mot est juste. I want to know about Meades. I have no interest in the interviewer's thoughts, emotions, insecurities ('impossibly erudite') whatsoever.

[teamsaint]

Self-indulgent. Le mot est juste. I want to know about Meades. I have no interest in the interviewer's thoughts, emotions, insecurities ('impossibly erudite') whatsoever.

and presumably not a little photo of the journo either?

I find them to be an absolute boon, because if I see one wandering round the market place in Salisbury,I can recognise them immediately.

As long as they are in grainy monochrome, obviously.

[french frank]

so the 3 million people who managed to find BBC2 with their remote controls cannot also find BBC4 - extraordinary

Not really. As long as they're comfortably watching mainstream BBC2 and something entertaining comes up - why even bother to look for BBC4 to see what's on? That's why it's a 'self-fulfilling prophecy'.

[french frank]

A fine quotation, worth keeping dry for inclusion in FoR3's submission to Tony Hall's consultation, I reckon.

DCMS submission. We can say what we want there. In the BBC one we just had to answer the questions :-(

[mercia]

Not really. As long as they're comfortably watching mainstream BBC2 and something entertaining comes up - why even bother to look for BBC4 to see what's on?

so those 3 million weren't particularly discerning viewers, they just stumbled upon Meades accidentally and weren't so impressed by his programmes to follow him elsewhere i.e. he doesn't have a particularly loyal following or "fan-base"

[Wallace]

so those 3 million weren't particularly discerning viewers, they just stumbled upon Meades accidentally and weren't so impressed by his programmes to follow him elsewhere i.e. he doesn't have a particularly loyal following or "fan-base"

I think this would be an accurate description of 90 percent of those 3 million.

[french frank]

I think this would be an accurate description of 90 percent of those 3 million.

Probably an accurate description of 90% of the population. The fact is that if a programme is on a mainstream channel or station it gets more viewers/listeners than on a perceived 'minority' one. Hence jazz has a bigger audience on Radio 2 than Radio 3, even though Radio 3 is the 'specialist' station for jazz.

If you want more people to watch arts or music programmes, you put them on a popular channel.

[Serial_Apologist]

Probably an accurate description of 90% of the population. The fact is that if a programme is on a mainstream channel or station it gets more viewers/listeners than on a perceived 'minority' one. Hence jazz has a bigger audience on Radio 2 than Radio 3, even though Radio 3 is the 'specialist' station for jazz.

If you want more people to watch arts or music programmes, you put them on a popular channel.

Bit like the forthcoming London Jazz Festival then, from my experience every year of the past eight: uncommercial music? try squeezing into the Clore Ballroom (which I call Bore Claw Room) at the Royal Festival Hall () for any, and I mean any, of the freebie events, however off-the-wall and experimental, and then making your applause audible above the crowds of family-makers.

[mercia]

at one time there wasn't a BBC2, so presumably when BBC2 came along programme makers bemoaned their endeavours being transferred to the new unpopular channel

[Wallace]

at one time there wasn't a BBC2, so presumably when BBC2 came along programme makers bemoaned their endeavours being transferred to the new unpopular channel

Interesting point. I wonder if they did. Or was it new programmes for the new channel?

[Thropplenoggin]

Interesting point. I wonder if they did. Or was it new programmes for the new channel?

7.30 Mathematics '64
A series of twenty programmes reflecting new trends in mathematics and in the teaching of mathematics.

Now I'd happily watch that.

...

What a fascinating link - thanks, Wallace. BBC 1, 10.25 - The Julian Bream Consort plays music popular in Shakespeare's time.

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On BBC 1.

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At 10.25

(sigh)

[mercia]

Now I'd happily watch that.

even if it was on BBC4 ?

"introduced by Alan Tammadge" my old headmaster

[Thropplenoggin]

even if it was on BBC4 ?

"introduced by Alan Tammadge" my old headmaster

I have no problem with BBC 4 (see earlier post in which I state the only telly I watch all week is on BBC 4 (and is a repeat)) except the dross they put on it. It's full of the kind of lightweight historical documentaries Brian Sewell (and Meades) bemoan, with people on location waggling their arms around. Whatever happened to voice overs? Why do I need to see someone mooning up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to show me it is profound?

[mercia]

Whatever happened to voice overs? Why do I need to see someone mooning up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to show me it is profound?

totally agree - that's what I don't like about Meades's programmes - having to see him wandering about in his huge double-breasted and sunglasses

[Thropplenoggin]

totally agree - that's what I don't like about Meades's programmes - having to see him wandering about in his huge double-breasted and sunglasses

Hmm. But he plays with formats. His presentation is never staid or dull, but imaginative and often ironic. I don't count him among the arm-wagglers.