The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[french frank]

His pace of delivery has mellowed, Alps - I’ve not always thought so but now I do think he is a really good broadcaster and his acquired knowledge has clearly helped his delivery. I think that he deserves more credit than given by some on the forum.

But again you're talking about the presenter not the programme, as if they were one and the same thing.

[oddoneout]

But again you're talking about the presenter not the programme, as if they were one and the same thing.

In this case I think that is inevitable. He has presented the programme for 10 years so for the listeners Breakfast is Petroc is Breakfast. As far as I'm concerned over that time it has improved considerably and at least some of that is surely down to the presenter. The eternal question as to whether it is suitable R3 content is a different issue in my view.
Even in "straight" programmes the presenter can make or mar and I don't see that there is much that can be done about that since it is down to individual preferences for the most part, in the same way that a performer may evince very different reactions in listeners to a given piece of music.

[french frank]

In this case I think that is inevitable. He has presented the programme for 10 years so for the listeners Breakfast is Petroc is Breakfast. As far as I'm concerned over that time it has improved considerably and at least some of that is surely down to the presenter. The eternal question as to whether it is suitable R3 content is a different issue in my view.
Even in "straight" programmes the presenter can make or mar and I don't see that there is much that can be done about that since it is down to individual preferences for the most part, in the same way that a performer may evince very different reactions in listeners to a given piece of music.

I don't think it's inevitable, since what I know of Breakfast these days has little to do with the presenter and more to do with looking at the playlist or reading listener comments unconnected with the presenter. Thus people mention particular features. Petroc may well be as good as Penny Gore or Andrew McGregor but the content would be the same even if those presenters were to return.

I agree that a presenter can 'make or mar' a programme, but on the whole documentaries and features are presented by people who have particular interests in the specialist content, whereas generalist programmes suffer from the 'any competent/popular broadcaster can present that' manner of thinking.

[cloughie]

But again you're talking about the presenter not the programme, as if they were one and the same thing.

I see no problem with that. I have only come back to listening to R3 since Covid messed up R Cornwall last year - I have found it much more to my liking than previously and have no objection to the presenter being part of the programme when another presenter is substituted they have mostly been either as good or sometimes better. I don’t necessarily like or always listen to everything they say or the music they play and the off switch can be handy at times.

[antongould]

I see no problem with that. I have only come back to listening to R3 since Covid messed up R Cornwall last year - I have found it much more to my liking than previously and have no objection to the presenter being part of the programme when another presenter is substituted they have mostly been either as good or sometimes better. I don’t necessarily like or always listen to everything they say or the music they play and the off switch can be handy at times.

My thoughts exactly cloughers …… and ff has thought me mad these many years. I would also say that, like others, I found Petroc’s Yorkshire week a thing of wonder …. IMVVHO no other presenter, past or present, could have done as well ….. not even Skellers.

Happy New Year to all including R3 presenters and Lord Stockton …. thanks for the company …..

[Old Grumpy]

My thoughts exactly cloughers …… and ff has thought me mad these many years. I would also say that, like others, I found Petroc’s Yorkshire week a thing of wonder …. IMVVHO no other presenter, past or present, could have done as well ….. not even Skellers.

Happy New Year to all including R3 presenters and Lord Stockton …. thanks for the company …..

[french frank]

I see no problem with that. I have only come back to listening to R3 since Covid messed up R Cornwall last year - I have found it much more to my liking than previously and have no objection to the presenter being part of the programme when another presenter is substituted they have mostly been either as good or sometimes better. I don’t necessarily like or always listen to everything they say or the music they play and the off switch can be handy at times.

I know. This is the problem. "I" like it so "I" have no problem and "I'm" happy with how it is. Oddoneout, who I think is similarly pretty happy with how things are, does bring up the point "The eternal question as to whether it is suitable R3 content". Is there even any agreement as to what is 'suitable R3 content'? Or, even more, whether there is such a thing? That to me is the eternal debate, not whether X, Y and Z are happy with it.

[oddoneout]

I know. This is the problem. "I" like it so "I" have no problem and "I'm" happy with how it is. Oddoneout, who I think is similarly pretty happy with how things are, does bring up the point "The eternal question as to whether it is suitable R3 content". Is there even any agreement as to what is 'suitable R3 content'? Or, even more, whether there is such a thing? That to me is the eternal debate, not whether X, Y and Z are happy with it.

Yes I am pretty happy with the Breakfast slot but I'm not happy to accept responsibility for a perceived or actual problem because of that. If all the Breakfast audience suddenly disappeared it wouldn't result in anything "better" taking its place,let alone the resurrection of the golden days of morning programmes. Hearing only part of longer works may not be ideal, a succession of short pieces without much apparent connection ditto, but it's music that otherwise many probably wouldn't hear at all, and in a more accessible form (short pieces,and untechnical, non-threatening presenting style) than the conventional concert/recital format.
However beyond the Breakfast slot I get less happy and much less accepting. As I've said before Essential Classics is a missed opportunity, but Dumbtime, the proliferation of "tracks wot I like" programmes, erosion of TTN, and more recently the messing up of Afternoon Concert are in my view very much problems.

[cloughie]

Yes I am pretty happy with the Breakfast slot but I'm not happy to accept responsibility for a perceived or actual problem because of that. If all the Breakfast audience suddenly disappeared it wouldn't result in anything "better" taking its place,let alone the resurrection of the golden days of morning programmes. Hearing only part of longer works may not be ideal, a succession of short pieces without much apparent connection ditto, but it's music that otherwise many probably wouldn't hear at all, and in a more accessible form (short pieces,and untechnical, non-threatening presenting style) than the conventional concert/recital format.
However beyond the Breakfast slot I get less happy and much less accepting. As I've said before Essential Classics is a missed opportunity, but Dumbtime, the proliferation of "tracks wot I like" programmes, erosion of TTN, and more recently the messing up of Afternoon Concert are in my view very much problems.

Don’t get me wrong I’d prefer to listen to the 7-9 fare I heard 20-40 years ago but we have what we have now - we can listen or not - we have the choice! As we enter 2022 - A Happy New Year to all on the forum!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I see Breakfast as a virus. If contained, it may be harmless, but if allowed to infect other parts of the day, it becomes unstoppable. Sadly, we’re already well into the pandemic.

[oddoneout]

I see Breakfast as a virus. If contained, it may be harmless, but if allowed to infect other parts of the day, it becomes unstoppable. Sadly, we’re already well into the pandemic.

Running with that a bit further, the virus originated in a management office, almost certainly as the result of government experiments. At first contained, then allowed limited spread, but now showing several mutations (due to BBC Sounds) and permitted free access to the whole domain. I don't know if the aim is herd immunity, whereby the existing audience, following infection, simply carries on listening having lost critical faculties (analogous to long covid), or if it's weeding out the vulnerable to make way for adapted replacements - all listening "in new ways" such that it doesn't matter which station was the originator/first broadcaster of the material. Running down the BBC performing groups would free up finance (for private investment obviously); there's plenty of choice on alternative platforms so no need for in-house.

Baby Queen chooses

Inspiring soundtracks to fill you with courage

Music to make you feel like an action hero

So, an Infanta(yes I know it's not actually her) thinks this is what we should be absorbing at 1am and 2am. I don't think that can be blamed on Breakfast.
As with the real virus the R3 year ahead will be full of uncertainties.

[french frank]

I don't know if the aim is herd immunity, whereby the existing audience, following infection, simply carries on listening having lost critical faculties (analogous to long covid), or if it's weeding out the vulnerable to make way for adapted replacements

Very apt

[kernelbogey]

Running with that a bit further, the virus originated in a management office, almost certainly as the result of government experiments.

Mind you, it could have originated in an open-air market, where a couple of producers were chatting at a vinyl records stall.

[Crowcatcher]

Moving a little away from the virus problem of, not just Breakfast, but most of current R3, I have discovered the fate of Schrodinger's Cat - it's dead for the simple reason that I turn Breakfast OFF more than I turn it on because I can't stand all the inept trailers and the intrusion of so much non-classical music (and especially the excess of piano performances of Bach and Scarlatti - I simply don't understand why producers and presenters hate the harpsichord so much!!!!!).

Fortunately there are a good number of internet stations far superior to R3 and therefore a far better substitute.

I wonder if others of you have noticed that the BBC is (almost) the only publicly funded broadcaster without a dedicated classical music station, for example ABC Australia has two (and a dedicated Jazz station).

[Quarky]

Moving a little away from the virus problem of, not just Breakfast, but most of current R3, I have discovered the fate of Schrodinger's Cat - it's dead for the simple reason that I turn Breakfast OFF more than I turn it on because I can't stand all the inept trailers and the intrusion of so much non-classical music (and especially the excess of piano performances of Bach and Scarlatti - I simply don't understand why producers and presenters hate the harpsichord so much!!!!!).

Fortunately there are a good number of internet stations far superior to R3 and therefore a far better substitute.

I wonder if others of you have noticed that the BBC is (almost) the only publicly funded broadcaster without a dedicated classical music station, for example ABC Australia has two (and a dedicated Jazz station).

Thanks for the link to ABC Australia, Crowcatcher. I agree that the Australian stations are pretty good, including the Jazz Station. However the second item on a Lunchtime Concert I listened to, after a Gabrieli fanfare, was a swinging blues march, followed by a composition for two marimbas! I don't think you can escape non-classical in this day and age, IMHO.

Don't agree with your analysis of Breakfast. I seem to be able to close my ears to trailers - and I still haven't heard a trailer for New Music, which is annoying folks so much.