H&N - just checking

[french frank]

As far as I can see, the announcement that H&N would be extended - anyone remember that? - failed to mention that Pre-Hear would, on the other hand, be discontinued, which seems to have been the case. H&N itself seems to have varied in length from 75 minutes to two hours. So this does not suggest that there is more time given overall to new music (and they announced that the special recordings would be reduced). My impression is that the 'extension' actually means that there have been cuts. Is that fair?

[Quarky]

Judging by the schedule this evening, with the greater part being given over to a Met broadcast,followed by drama, the new schedule must have been a figment of someone's imagination.

[Honoured Guest]

The press release said: "As part of Radio 3’s commitment to broadcasting new music, Hear And Now, the leading programme for contemporary music, will be extended by 30 minutes to a 10pm–12midnight Saturday slot."

I think the planned "usual" Saturday schedule is that of 28 December, with Live on 3 (or occasionally Opera on 3) at 7.30 followed by Hear and Now at 10.00.

It's been complicated this autumn by Between the Ears and the last commissioned series of The Wire being scheduled between these two regular programmes.

The announced extension was to the programme Hear and Now, and not to the genre of new music. Hear and Now is a specialist, presented and produced. programme with interviews and other contextualisation, whereas PreHear was just a title slapped on to broadcast music linked by a R3 duty annoucer. I much prefer the extended Hear and Now because I think it's a more rounded and informative way of presenting new music to an interested audience.

If you're just adding up minutes per week of new music, you should also take into account the autumn's new regular slot for new music recordings by BBC orchestras every Sunday evening immediately after Drama on 3.

[french frank]

Thanks for pointing out the post-Do3 slot, HG. I hadn't twigged it was mainly new repertoire. Even when something definite is announced, there seems to be a fair bit of chopping and changing for various reasons.