The Eternal Breakfast Debate in a New Place

[mercia]

You mean there are some?

i'm sure frenchfrank can provide the listening figures for Breakfast if you're interested

[antongould]

I don't recall ever having said that to thropplenoggin, though I admit to having occasional lapses of memory

Who did say this i.e. "if you don't listen you have no right to express an opinion" - and who did they say it to? Generally if listening causes so much pain don't listen and mercs and I will keep you informed of any changes. The trails have been broadcast for years.......

[french frank]

Who did say this i.e. "if you don't listen you have no right to express an opinion" - and who did they say it to?

1. RW expressed himself in a letter to me as 'shocked' that I expressed opinions about Radio 3 since I had 'admitted' that I didn't listen to it. I suspect that he passed this information on to Roger Bolton just before I was on Feedback so that he could challenge me on it. What neither seemed willing to grasp is that if I (or anyone) say 'I don't listen to the Breakfast programme' I mean 'I don't routinely listen to Radio 3 first thing in the morning, as I used to, every morning.' It doesn't mean I haven't ever heard the Breakfast show - in fact I listen 'regularly' on the iPlayer to keep abreast of what it's like. (And since this forum began, I have secondhand information from those who do listen.) Plus I look at the playlist. If I see Gershwin's Walking the Dog again, my thought on that is 'informed'. 'I don't listen' does not have the same meaning as 'I haven't listened'.

2. The radio critic of the Sunday Times also said I couldn't 'criticise' if I didn't listen. Same response to him.

3. Re the under tens:

I have read a Facebook post from a listener who said he was 'not a music expert' (neither am I), but Radio 3 was now the 'family station of choice' with his two boys aged 8 and 5 enjoying it.

Another post about 'Ivan, aged 4' saying he was pleased they listened to Radio 3 in the mornings.

Another indicating that her 2-year-old was swaying to the music.

(One might almost suspect that a 'perception' was being created here of a younger audience with children.)

Many people no longer read children's books when they grow up; others do (which is not to say they are stupid, unintelligent: they just still enjoy childen's stories).

4. Re the listening figures. Hardly relevant since no one denies that there is an audience for programmes like this. Hence the success of Classic FM. But, for the record, last quarter's Breakfast figure was the second lowest since it began in its new format.

Yet the BBC also has the ability (and money apparently) to promote its programming widely to the entire nation via other radio stations and TV channels, especially those services where their 'broader audience' is likely to hear the plugs.

5. Your point about EastEnders 'not being good enough' because you don't like it is not similar. EastEnders is appropriate to BBC One, where it is 'right'. Placing a Classic FM-style programme on Radio 3 is not 'right', and presumes that there are no adults, without their children, who have a strong interest in classical music: this audience simply doesn't exist (apparently). It isn't 'good enough' for that audience.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I do know a couple of people who still listen to Breakfast fairly regularly, but apparently it's even trying their patience now. One of them has described it as becoming increasingly childish. Apparently its only the commercial adverts that stop them from switching to CFM permanantly at the moment.

[EdgeleyRob]

I occasionally listen in the seemingly folorn hope of catching some of these http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...-Playlists,but then usually switch off after a couple of minutes (sometimes seconds),the format and the presentation make me cringe.

If people on here enjoy the programme that's fine,each to their own.
I've no room to talk,I sometimes listen to Talk Sport and Barry White !!!

[antongould]

1. RW expressed himself in a letter to me as 'shocked' that I expressed opinions about Radio 3 since I had 'admitted' that I didn't listen to it. I suspect that he passed this information on to Roger Bolton just before I was on Feedback so that he could challenge me on it. What neither seemed willing to grasp is that if I (or anyone) say 'I don't listen to the Breakfast programme' I mean 'I don't routinely listen to Radio 3 first thing in the morning, as I used to, every morning.' It doesn't mean I haven't ever heard the Breakfast ...........

That's alright then who cares what RW may have said mercs is far more important and I was reasonably sure that he had never said it nor have I - would I have started this thread if I expected nothing but praise??

What does mildly puzzle me is when a non regular listener happens to tune in and hears a warhorse or a Your Call with a four years old who has lost her hamster and posts and we get a wave of outrage from Tunbridge Wells as only warhorses are played and this is your standard phone in.

This is not the case the programme has been the way it is now since before this thread started and I notice no real change - still trails, still calls, still headlines.....as ER has said each to his own.....let's have outrage by all means but accurate and up to date outrage if we can.

[french frank]

What does mildly puzzle me is when a non regular listener happens to tune in and hears a warhorse or a Your Call with a four years old who has lost her hamster and posts and we get a wave of outrage from Tunbridge Wells as only warhorses are played and this is your standard phone in.

Does this happen? I know, when I look through a playlist, what is being played and I can remember from one week to the next which Hall of Fame pieces are being played frequently.

But a subtle point: since I don't listen, I don't complain about details of that sort. But I do point out certain points whiich, in a general way seem to be long-standing causes for complaint unless you happen to be the new target audience. And I don't see why people who don't listen shouldn't complain that they no longer have an early morning programme to listen to because the current one is so completely horrible.

Back to mercia's point about EastEnders: if you don't like, generically, demotic soap operas, you won't want to watch. The crazy thing about Radio 3's current strategy is that they are making classical music programmes very unappealing to people who like classical music.

[Thropplenoggin]

Does this happen? I know, when I look through a playlist, what is being played and I can remember from one week to the next which Hall of Fame pieces are being played frequently.

But a subtle point: since I don't listen, I don't complain about details of that sort. But I do point out certain points whiich, in a general way seem to be long-standing causes for complaint unless you happen to be the new target audience. And I don't see why people who don't listen shouldn't complain that they no longer have an early morning programme to listen to because the current one is so completely horrible.

Back to mercia's point about EastEnders: if you don't like, generically, demotic soap operas, you won't want to watch. The crazy thing about Radio 3's current strategy is that they are making classical music programmes very unappealing to people who like classical music.

You have said exactly what I wanted to say but was struggling to formulate, FF.

[antongould]

Does this happen?

Yes

they are making classical music programmes very unappealing to people who like classical music.

Surely this should be ...."...to some people who like classical music.

[french frank]

Yes

You follow this thread more closely than I do. I know people complain about the repeats, but I don't know which ones never listen but still complain about the repeats.

Surely this should be ...."...to some people who like classical music.

Not necessarily. The lack of any article can signify 'some'. If I'd meant all of them, I'd have used the definite article - the people who like classical music. Though it does seem that those who do like Breakfast are therefore the ones who appreciate the non musical aspects: the interactivity, the presenters ... and obviously they don't mind the same old warhorses being repeated. Or the bleeding chunks.

Classic FM listeners like classical music too.

[Nick Armstrong]

Those words fatal to any attempt to give 'Breakfast' a chance:

"Coming up - Buckeroo Holiday"



It really is hilarious and tragic how those wretched rodeo pieces are wheeled lazily out...

Make me feel...






PS:

[Thropplenoggin]

Those words fatal to any attempt to give 'Breakfast' a chance:

"Coming up - Buckeroo Holiday"



It really is hilarious and tragic how those wretched rodeo pieces are wheeled lazily out...

Make me feel...

A most handsome array of emoticons! Vent that spleen! Purge that rage! If only my poor radio knew how close it comes each day to being hurled against the wall.

But we better hush now, or antongould will get all weepy on us.

[mercia]

I really don't understand this idea of listening to programmes one knows beforehand one is going to hate

is it a form of medieval self-flaggelation ?

[Nick Armstrong]

I really don't understand this idea of listening to programmes one knows beforehand one is going to hate

is it a form of medieval self-flaggelation ?

Cock-eyed optimism

[Suffolkcoastal]

The damage being done to Copland's reputation by R3s continual playing of the same two chunks of Rodeo and with the occasional other light work, continues to make me fume. When was the last time the Short Symphony, Statements, Piano Variations, Dance Panels, Piano Quartet etc broadcast? Certainly not for a couple of years or a lot more in same cases. Mind you Rodeo is still behind some works this year (e.g. Italian Serenade, Blue Danube, Danse Macabre), and we've already had 40 Hungarian Dances and we are only just in April.