The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[french frank]

Of course it does! I feel there's a certain amount of wilful non-deduction going on in this discussion.

The other non-sequitur on the Trelawny interview was that if people only listen for about 20 minutes, it's no good playing a "45 minute symphony because no one will hear all of it". If they only play a single movement from a particular work people are even less likely to hear all of it!

A typical Feedback programme segment: what makes for a "successful" Breakfast programme, which begs a few questions.

[Serial_Apologist]

The other non-sequitur on the Trelawny interview was that if people only listen for about 20 minutes, it's no good playing a "45 minute symphony because no one will hear all of it". If they only play a single movement from a particular work people are even less likely to hear all of it!

A typical Feedback programme segment: what makes for a "successful" Breakfast programme, which begs a few questions.

He probably means "because they will have departed for work" by that; however that could be said of any piece of music, long or short.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

They may have gone too far in the other direction - that's why I don't usually tune in, but I do know people who like it and are not idiots.

Part of the problem is that some presenters treat the listeners like idiots; Saturday mornings especially.

[kernelbogey]

Part of the problem is that some presenters treat the listeners like idiots; Saturday mornings especially.

I was interested to hear Lord Grade (ex-Chair of BBC) saying, in re Bashir scandal, 'The BBC always thinks it's right'.

This may not be the best thread in which to post this but it seems relevant to the discussion here - at least in respect of choice of items for Breakfast (and echoes some of ff's comments passim).

[Rolmill]

I was interested to hear Lord Grade (ex-Chair of BBC) saying, in re Bashir scandal, 'The BBC always thinks it's right'.

This may not be the best thread in which to post this but it seems relevant to the discussion here - at least in respect of choice of items for Breakfast (and echoes some of ff's comments passim).

Yes, you only have to hear the BBC's responses to listener complaints and queries on feedback programmes (or in the Radio Times) to realise that he is absolutely correct - there seems to be an institutional inability to admit error or misjudgement.

Rather like governments and civil service departments, sadly. Maybe one for the 'Phrases that set your teeth on edge' thread, but whenever I hear on the news a response to an accusation that starts "The government/minister/department/BBC insisted that..." I know that the accusation is true but the responder can't bring themselves to admit it.

[french frank]

Yes, you only have to hear the BBC's responses to listener complaints and queries on feedback programmes (or in the Radio Times) to realise that he is absolutely correct - there seems to be an institutional inability to admit error or misjudgement.

The problem is that the BBC has its aims, goals, targets, strategies &c and as long as this is what they are pursuing they are - on their terms - "right" because any resulting downside is not a concern. They never address the complaints themselves because all they'd be able to say would be, "Well, we did rather hope that wouldn't be a consequence but unfortunately it appears that it is. So we're afraid you must put up with it."

The other common reply used to be: "We're sorry to hear that some people don't like it but many people do." It was never: "We're sorry to hear that many people don't like it, but some people do." Never any proof that they had quantified the 'some' and the 'many'.

[LMcD]

I was interested to hear Lord Grade (ex-Chair of BBC) saying, in re Bashir scandal, 'The BBC always thinks it's right'.

This may not be the best thread in which to post this but it seems relevant to the discussion here - at least in respect of choice of items for Breakfast (and echoes some of ff's comments passim).

I suspect that some in the BBC are actually convinced that it is always right but affect a degree of humility by trying to give the impression that it only thinks it is.

[cloughie]

I suspect that some in the BBC are actually convinced that it is always right but affect a degree of humility by trying to give the impression that it only thinks it is.

Well they have never claimed to be wrong until Cliff proved in court that they were!

Back on topic - liked the McNair/Previn ‘Stormy Weather’ this morning. (Better than the real thing outside!)

[oddoneout]

Well they have never claimed to be wrong until Cliff proved in court that they were!

Back on topic - liked the McNair/Previn ‘Stormy Weather’ this morning. (Better than the real thing outside!)

Erm, that was EC and the lovely Suzy...
I see that today the heading is "Kate's classical rise and shine" rather than "classical commute".

[french frank]

I see that today the heading is "Kate's classical rise and shine" rather than "classical commute".

They ring the changes every day

17-23 May
Kate's: classical commute; classical picks; classical commute; classical alternative; classical rise and shine
10-16 May
Petroc's: classical rise and shine; classical picks; classical commute; classical alternative; classical mix
3-9 May:
Hannah's: classical rise and shine; classical mix; classical alternative; classical alarm call; classical commute
26 April-2 May
Petroc's classical alarm call; classical picks; classical alarm call; classical commute; classical rise and shine

and so on … Such inventiveness. Why not just: "Radio 3's classical breakfast programme", with Petroc Trelawny, Kate Molleson, Hannah French?

They think they fool listeners with all this variety - and they're right, apparently.

[LMcD]

They ring the changes every day

17-23 May
Kate's: classical commute; classical picks; classical commute; classical alternative; classical rise and shine
10-16 May
Petroc's: classical rise and shine; classical picks; classical commute; classical alternative; classical mix
3-9 May:
Hannah's: classical rise and shine; classical mix; classical alternative; classical alarm call; classical commute
26 April-2 May
Petroc's classical alarm call; classical picks; classical alarm call; classical commute; classical rise and shine

and so on … Such inventiveness. Why not just: "Radio 3's classical breakfast programme", with Petroc Trelawny, Kate Molleson, Hannah French?

They think they fool listeners with all this variety - and they're right, apparently.

Because it's not devoted entirely to classical music.

[antongould]

Presenters are way down the list of priorities. It’s the music that matters - not the endless jabbering, chumminess, patronisation, flirtation, padding and semi-accurate information. Personally, I don’t dislike any presenters, but I do dislike the style imposed upon them by their boss.

Who are we saying imposes this style ..... ???? ..... and are we saying that Cowan, Walker, Handley - the good guys - present it through gritted teeth ...... ?????

[french frank]

Because it's not devoted entirely to classical music.

So what's the difference between "Classical Breakfast Programme" and "Classical Commute", "Classical Alernative", "Classical Rise and Shine" from that point of view?

[LMcD]

Who are we saying imposes this style ..... ???? ..... and are we saying that Cowan, Walker, Handley - the good guys - present it through gritted teeth ...... ?????

I'm pretty convinced that Martin Handley's style is 'all his own work'. The same's probably true of Tom Service and Suzy Klein, but for me the result in the latter two cases is much less enjoyable.
As for what to call the weekday and Sunday 0630/0700-0900 slot, I'd be perfectly happy with 'The (Radio 3) Breakfast Programme with [name of presenter].' (They can call the Saturday edition whatever they like).

[Serial_Apologist]

Erm, that was EC and the lovely Suzy...
I see that today the heading is "Kate's classical rise and shine" rather than "classical commute".