Latest RAJARs

[french frank]

On population percentage reach, I can't get too agitated about R3's possible/probable future transition from a rounded-up '4%' to a rounded-down '3%'.

There may be statistical objections to that. The overall reach in March 2001 was 90%, and in June 2015 it was 90%. Roundings up and down are insignificant when you achieve 90% (89%-90%-91%): they are considerably more significant when you only have 4% (March 2001 3.98886%) and gradually sink to 3% (3.49%). Cf Radio 2: if it loses 1m listeners one quarter, that's 'disappointing'; Radio 3 losing 1m listeners would be so cataclysmic it won't happen.

Whilst radio still 'reaches' 90% of the population, the number of hours being listened to continues on a significant long-term gradual decline, and markedly so in the younger (15-24 and 25-34 years old) sectors. Overall radio listening is down something like 7% since 2001.

But, as you point out, listening has changed dramatically in two important respects: the first is the amount of On Demand listening, on a number of platforms. And as far as Radio 1 is concerned, there is the arrival of 1Xtra (plus, less significantly, the Asian Network and 6 Music). The digital stations are bound to siphon off some listeners. Radio 3 has had no digital alternative, and its audience is somewhat less likely to make use of any online access than younger audiences.

What may or may not be significant (and without the detailed breakdown we don't know) is how far Radio 3 has been successful in engineering a different audience whose taste is for the very content that dissatisfies a 'traditional' audience. In which case, there will be more of the same and - what we've already seen - a diminution in the 'specialist' programmes. In which case, Rats! to increased listening hours - that's what marks out the popular music stations (6 Music, for instance, has soared to 9.1 hours, a share of 1.8%, never achieved by Radio 3.

[french frank]

Bit of a sigh of relief, no doubt, given some adventurous programming, over this quarter's figures. Quite comfortable for a December figure (2.051m), and the listening hours well up. Wonder what will happen in the next (this) quarter - with the New Year, New Music season …

Breakfast still down in the doldrums: in spite of the few immediate changes, these don't seem to have been enough to redeem the programme - one of the lowest figures ever (538k). Everything points to a Something must be done scenario. Might be a moment to offer some helpful general suggestions

[antongould]

Skellers

[Old Grumpy]

Skellers

[french frank]

Skellers

Yes, but not just who the presenter is: Even more interesting to see presenters given a bit of input as to what they want 'their' programmes to be like. It happens up to a point but the basic programme remains 'Breakfast'. I think IS (and listeners) gains a certain amount of amusement from the occasional sly undermining of the format/formula.

One idea would be to start off from 6.30-7am with something altogether different: perhaps an unannounced sequence of, say 19th-c/Romantic stuff and then spice things up a bit with a 2-hour 'Morning on 3' (like at the weekends) and see what a couple of intelligent, experienced broadcasters can make of it. Just up Skellers' street?

[doversoul1]

Yes, but not just who the presenter is: Even more interesting to see presenters given a bit of input as to what they want 'their' programmes to be like. It happens up to a point but the basic programme remains 'Breakfast'. I think IS (and listeners) gains a certain amount of amusement from the occasional sly undermining of the format/formula.

One idea would be to start off from 6.30-7am with something altogether different: perhaps an unannounced sequence of, say 19th-c/Romantic stuff and then spice things up a bit with a 2-hour 'Morning on 3' (like at the weekends) and see what a couple of intelligent, experienced broadcasters can make of it. Just up Skellers' street?

Couldn’t the BBC have Catherine Bott back? Her two-year programme on CFM must be coming to an end (or has it already?).

[antongould]

Yes, but not just who the presenter is: Even more interesting to see presenters given a bit of input as to what they want 'their' programmes to be like. It happens up to a point but the basic programme remains 'Breakfast'. I think IS (and listeners) gains a certain amount of amusement from the occasional sly undermining of the format/formula.

One idea would be to start off from 6.30-7am with something altogether different: perhaps an unannounced sequence of, say 19th-c/Romantic stuff and then spice things up a bit with a 2-hour 'Morning on 3' (like at the weekends) and see what a couple of intelligent, experienced broadcasters can make of it. Just up Skellers' street?

Does everyone think there are massive differences between weekday and weekend Breakfast? ....

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Does everyone think there are massive differences between weekday and weekend Breakfast? ....

Massive enough for me, Anton: no Brain Teasers - no Guest Chatter - no "Five Reasons to Loathe" - not as much tweetery - leth lithping - -

[mercia]

One idea would be to start off from 6.30-7am with something altogether different: perhaps an unannounced sequence of, say 19th-c/Romantic stuff and then spice things up a bit with a 2-hour 'Morning on 3' (like at the weekends) and see what a couple of intelligent, experienced broadcasters can make of it. Just up Skellers' street?

how many bits of 19-c stuff would one want in 30 minutes - presumably no more than 3 ?
when Skelly has been on weekday breakfast duties he seems to have been comfortable with the format but presumably the presenters have to do what they are told to do, like it or not

[french frank]

Does everyone think there are massive differences between weekday and weekend Breakfast? ....

People here have detected 'differences' but I was only really meaning a reduction of the weekday programme to 2 hours ('like at the weekends') which to my mind is about the longest a regular daily programme should be. [Next bit of choppery on Essential Classics, which for me, turned a more varied and interesting morning with some enjoyable listening into a 3-hour cringe. Total turn-off.]

[mercia]

2 hours .........which to my mind is about the longest a regular daily programme should be.

why ? [genuine sincere question, I'm not trying to be contrary just for the sake of it]

[johnb]

An update of the graph I have previously posted.

Please let me know if you spot any mistakes.

[french frank]

why ? [genuine sincere question, I'm not trying to be contrary just for the sake of it]

Well, it's only my view, but it ties up with what I said somewhere else: that I believe Radio 3 should have properly focused programmes with a clear subject, and which have a start and a finish so that you're clear what you've got from it (not always in the formal sense of having *learned* something like a student but a vague sense that you've been following some sort of thread, or narrative, that you've passed from A to B). But I'd suggest something more flexible in the early morning.

What I think [sic] it should NOT be is a seamless stream of bits of music emphasising variety, mostly short pieces, occasionally a bit longer, which people switch on at a time that suits them, switch off again when they have something else to do.

It's the BBC ethos (especially radio) to entice listeners in and coax them to keep listening for as long as possible. That's what the Essential Classics presenter 'trail' on Breakfast is for: tell them who the guest will be, a few pieces of music that you'll play; and why the beginning of the programme has a selection of short pieces, like Breakfast.

This, to me, is precisely the 'hum and forget' broadcasting that the controller accused CFM of. I want more from Radio 3 - many others don't.

And thanks, johnb - will study.

[mercia]

#328 - thanks I understand all of that - it was really your 2 hours "limit" I was querying - can't we cope with 3 or more ? or do you feel that 2 hours is sufficiently long to 'deal with' one subject/thread/narrative ?

[antongould]

Massive enough for me, Anton: no Brain Teasers - no Guest Chatter - no "Five Reasons to Loathe" - not as much tweetery - leth lithping - -

Wrong programme ferney .... now Essential Crassness ... even I could write a book ....