The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[antongould]

I wish we could stop playing their game - putting the presenters ahead of the music.

“Having switched on Radio 3 this morning, only to suffer Elizabeth Alkan’s more-of-the-same, I yearn for Playschool and other more mature efforts by the BBC.”

This is the start of the latest round of the Eternal Debate .......

[underthecountertenor]

“Having switched on Radio 3 this morning, only to suffer Elizabeth Alkan’s more-of-the-same, I yearn for Playschool and other more mature efforts by the BBC.”

This is the start of the latest round of the Eternal Debate .......

....though with a new twist - casually misspelling the presenter's name as that of a composer.

[Stanfordian]

....though with a new twist - casually misspelling the presenter's name as that of a composer.

It makes one wonder how R3 select its presenters, what criteria it uses.

[french frank]

It makes one wonder how R3 select its presenters, what criteria it uses.

Nowadays they tend to go for BBC presenters from other stations who quite fancy working for R3 for a change - all the better if they have a fan base which might be tempted to follow them in large numbers.

[LMcD]

Nowadays they tend to go for BBC presenters from other stations who quite fancy working for R3 for a change - all the better if they have a fan base which might be tempted to follow them in large numbers.

I guess a fan base would be useful should the wind suddenly strengthen and somebody's left the studio window open because of the heat.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I guess a fan base would be useful should the wind suddenly strengthen and somebody's left the studio window open because of the heat.

Never mind the quality. Just go for the whoever has the most Facebook friends.

[LMcD]

I don't know how the BBC's attempts to lure younger listeners TO Radio 3 are going, but this morning's 'Breakfast' included a breathlessly excitable trailer for BBC Sounds that was clearly aimed at young sports fans in general and young or potential followers of Formula 1 motor racing in particular.
There's a well-argued but depressing article in 'The Times' today about the BBC's apparent lack of interest in retaining older listeners and its ambitious but arguably misguided strategy for attracting younger ones. Unsurprisingly, it seems that the shortening of the national and local news bulletins at 10.00 / 10.27 p.m. and the associated promotion of the following 'youth stream' has attracted particular criticism both within and outside the BBC.

[cloughie]

I don't know how the BBC's attempts to lure younger listeners TO Radio 3 are going, but this morning's 'Breakfast' included a breathlessly excitable trailer for BBC Sounds that was clearly aimed at young sports fans in general and young or potential followers of Formula 1 motor racing in particular.
There's a well-argued but depressing article in 'The Times' today about the BBC's apparent lack of interest in retaining older listeners and its ambitious but arguably misguided strategy for attracting younger ones. Unsurprisingly, it seems that the shortening of the national and local news bulletins at 10.00 / 10.27 p.m. and the associated promotion of the following 'youth stream' has attracted particular criticism both within and outside the BBC.

I’ve not done it yet but I can see why older listeners switch to Radio 4 in the daytime to avoid the music on 1 2 3 and 6 which is now geared to the younger listener!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I don't know (or "know of") any "younger" listeners who would be attracted to what's on daytime R3 - nor do the examples of texts and tweets sent in sound to me as if they come from anyone under about 60. The decision to reduce the number of Late Junction broadcasts suggests exactly the opposite approach from that of "luring younger listeners" - instead, it strikes me that some kind of (mythical/semi-mythical?) "older", late middle-aged, middle-class, ClassicFM-type is being imagined by the corporation as the R3 ideal.

[Stanfordian]

I don't know (or "know of") any "younger" listeners who would be attracted to what's on daytime R3 - nor do the examples of texts and tweets sent in sound to me as if they come from anyone under about 60. The decision to reduce the number of Late Junction broadcasts suggests exactly the opposite approach from that of "luring younger listeners" - instead, it strikes me that some kind of (mythical/semi-mythical?) "older", late middle-aged, middle-class, ClassicFM-type is being imagined by the corporation as the R3 ideal.

Hello ferney,

You make good points. However, 'Late Junction' is a programme I avoid.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

However, 'Late Junction' is a programme I avoid.

Yes - but I think its reduction demonstrates that the idea that R3 is trying to attract a "younger" listener doesn't hold water. I'm not at all sure what kind of audience the Beeb imagines is suitable for R3 (beyond the "mythical/semi-mythical" one that I mentioned) - as I find myself attracted to less and less on the station, he policy often seems to me (in my no-doubt paranoid, elitist manner) to be "make the listener ratings so tiny that we can justify getting rid of it completely".

[cloughie]

Yes - but I think its reduction demonstrates that the idea that R3 is trying to attract a "younger" listener doesn't hold water. I'm not at all sure what kind of audience the Beeb imagines is suitable for R3 (beyond the "mythical/semi-mythical" one that I mentioned) - as I find myself attracted to less and less on the station, he policy often seems to me (in my no-doubt paranoid, elitist manner) to be "make the listener ratings so tiny that we can justify getting rid of it completely".

No ferney, that would require thinking it through, let’s face it they haven’t a clue and have totally lost the plot.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

No ferney, that would require thinking it through, let’s face it they haven’t a clue and have totally lost the plot.

There is that.

[oddoneout]

No ferney, that would require thinking it through, let’s face it they haven’t a clue and have totally lost the plot.

So it might happen by accident - which is arguably worse. Serendipity for the Beeb though?

[teamsaint]

There is that.

It is mostly about the careers of those involved. So it’s a new plot, rather than a lost one.

If they really want to attract younger listeners, a cross station collaboration with 6 Music to keep the LJ strand alive and strong might have been a good idea.