Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Quoting a previous miamigorocks Geoff contribution:-
As i've
said before we've all got differing opinions about everything, but in
this instance it's "free radio", whatever you perceive "free radio" to
be.
(Moving on a bit from commenting on all the bullying stuff)
Free radio. What is free radio? That's a good question. It would be good to find out what everybody thinks 'free radio' actually is.
To me, 'free radio' would be radio free from the petty restrictions that sanitise the content. We do need some form of restrictions or regulations to govern transmission and transmitters and therefore forcing 'good practice', but I don't think we need it when it comes to what is broadcast.
Free radio would be radio that was free to say what it wanted, when it wanted. I especially want radio to be as free as TV to use naughty words. It cannot be right that I can have a TV docudrama broadcast with seven 'fucks' (and their derivatives) and one 'cunt' said in it (first one airing at about 9:10pm), and all it needs is bumper announcements warning of very strong language, yet one 'fuck' on the radio even at 1 in the morning would solicit a sanction from Ofcom. We need to be free from that.
Speaking of sanctions, I'd agree with my current hero Zak de Luxe that Ofcom shouldn't even bother responding to malicious complainers. These are the mad people who sit through the bumper warnings about strong language, watch the programme, and then complain about strong language. Ofcom should round these people up and have them killed for daring to try to mute freedom of speech.
The other thing that pisses me off is this need for 'balance'. Now, the 'right of reply' is one thing, but not being allowed to broadcast an extreme opinion about something without pro-actively seeking out some way of expressing an equal and opposite viewpoint, is pure madness. Strangely, the only subject not forced to present the opposing argument is religion. Religious loonies can broadcast their propaganda without the need to also present the alternative views of opposing religions or the views of free thinkers and atheists.
Have I missed anything?
Anything else that should be 'free' to help create real 'free radio'?
Why not challenge the
Radio Bill of 1990, what about article 19 of the declaration of human
rights does that not count anymore? I hope neil gets some money and his
project comes on air, I would be nice to see it come on in Nov this
year, what an 18th anniversary that would be.
As Neil's voice was the very last one ever on European offshore radio, it would be kind of cool if it was the first on any new station.
—
* Christopher England just said that *
Christopher England wrote:
:
: Free radio. What is free radio? That's a good question. It would be
: good to find out what everybody thinks 'free radio' actually is.
:
: To me, 'free radio' would be radio free from the petty restrictions
: that sanitise the content. We do need some form of restrictions or
: regulations to govern transmission and transmitters and therefore
: forcing 'good practice',
Do you mean those restrictions that don't currently work if a listener wants some diversity and result in legal stations playing the same 300 pop songs over and over?
A "Free Radio" station is one that is without suchlike. I do realise not all pirate operators are as responsible as some and I agree that they should be taken off if they are causing interference – PROVEN interference, not just the usual Ofcom BS.
: but I don't think we need it when it comes to
: what is broadcast.
I'm with you on that. If Channel 4 can say the C**t word on TV why can't it be said on radio? Not that I'd want to of course. However as you point out, it is an obvious disparity of regulation.
:
: : Why not challenge the
: : Radio Bill of 1990, what about article 19 of the declaration of
: : human rights does that not count anymore? I hope neil gets some
: : money and his project comes on air, I would be nice to see it come
: : on in Nov this year, what an 18th anniversary that would be.
:
: As Neil's voice was the very last one ever on European offshore radio,
: it would be kind of cool if it was the first on any new station.
Agreed, and I sincerely wish Neil all the best. I have already volunteered to be aboard.
: —
: * Christopher England just said that *
http://mar.exilenet.org:9042/listen.pls
You know, it's at times like this when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young! "Why, what did she tell you?" I don't know, I didn't listen!
– Douglas Adams
Hi All
We have seen a number of e-mails coming from what we believe is a spammer doing the most outrageous thing possible.
They claim to be from the British Heart Foundation and are offering a part-time job.
Check the trace route and you'll see why it clearly isn't from the BHF. I have reported the e-mail to the ISP in question!!!!
This may not be new, but it is new to us.
Yes I have spoken to the BHF Press Office
Regards
Eric
In article <...>, ... (Christopher England) wrote:
Damn it. Sussed. However, I have offered this before via these very
pages. A lovely Production House is happy to match GBPound for
GBPound any monies raised for such a venture. I seem to recall I
ended up having the pee taken out of me for the suggestion. And,
nobody came forward to talk about it seriously. Anoraks, eh?
Actually, I recall a similar idea being muted on LBC one night when I was working with Steve Allen and the lubly Mandy.
A lot of listeners thought it was a great idea, not sure about seeing me in the morning.
Trouble is, to some degree, radio is already reality TV. On yes.
Most stations have live video streams now – if I walk in the studio 10:1 someone will write hello to me via the chatroom.
Argh, yes the good old days when all DJs were perfect weight/height all looked fantastic and nobody ever saw them expect for the publicity shots
:-)
Ah, but the gamble is whether or not it would sell in to the lovely
Commissioning Editors. Are anoraks on a ship that interesting? I
guess we'd also need to know if it could become a series of monthly
visits, or a single package at the end. The dream placement could
include 'live' footage from the ship on a nightly basis. Sigh.
Tis how you talk it up, as has been mentioned.
Reality TV, in one form or another, still has massive appeal.
Now you knew this was coming :-) You could even make a show about people from over here now doing XYZ over there – especially as the focus could be a radio station. Yes people would watch just to see how ex-pats make out. Oh yeah that idea is copyright Eric.
Let's face it we have all the right bits, pretty girls, ugle blokes, and an amazing backdrop for cut-aways
Regards
Eric
From thos nice pepes at radiotoday
========================================================================
*Radcliffe questions Salford move*
Veteran BBC radio presenter Mark Radcliffe has raised concerns about the decision to move BBC Radio 5 Live out of London, and said the move to Media City at Salford Quays near Manchester would radically change the station's character.
========================================================================
Why?
I fully understand most of the bigger companies are in London village and the Olympics will be there, but what's wrong with using modern technology to speak to people – after all it is radio.
At one time people said our location would never get people from Bratislava, but they use modern technology to stay in touch – maybe it's me.
Or are they saying the required talent isn't in Manchester?
Eric
Quoting a previous Steve Leyland contribution:-
Do you mean those restrictions that don't currently work if a listener
wants some diversity and result in legal stations playing the same 300
pop songs over and over?
This 300 songs on rotation thing:
I'm confused by all this. We the anoraks say it's wrong. We also scream and shout about how safe and boring the 300 songs actually are. Don't get me wrong, I am also one of the 'we', BUT, the facts are that 300 boring songs on rotation seems to make for good RAJAR. Indeed, when in London I've noticed more and more places like cafes, market stalls, shops, etc., seem to have mainly Magic, secondly Smooth, and thirdly Heart on. It's very rare to hear Capital, Kiss, or any BBC station. Now, me frequenting these places is not really a scientific study, of course, but it does seem that something is attracting people to listen to stations playing 300 boringly safe songs.
So, one could argue that WE are the ones out of step with 'the people' by saying that 300 songs on rotation is wrong. In the days of Laser or Nova or Atlantic we didn't complain and thought it was wonderful.
So, I'm confused as to why we now think it's wrong as a radio format, and yet the public clearly don't.
—
* Christopher England just said that *
I think the fundamental differences between unauthorised Offshore Radio and landbased authorised radio, are these 1 The "feel" from the studio from the ship through the ether to our ears, you don't have that excitement on legal stations. 2 No adverts paid for by government agencies, like the police, the Inland Revenue, The Benefits Agency or whoever else wants to "enlighten you". 3 At least the dj has SOME choice in the music output of his programme. 4 Long before all these fly on the wall things started on TV, I'm a celebrity and all that stuff, offshore radio had that, people were enthralled by the happenings on board, the daily life on a radio ship, and off course the music. 5 Even the Irish pirates didn't have the "certain appeal" that offshore radio had, they were warm and comfortable in a nice studio, unlike their offshore counterparts, who were battling more than just the elements. 6 Short Wave Pirates have certainly played their part in the history of British and Irish broadcating. I listened to loads of stations on Short Wave, especially when Caroline sank in 1980, that was the only "free" radio available, and to a certain extent the only "free" voices now. There you go fellow anoraks, radio enthusiasts, listeners, dx ers, or radio fanatics, there's my 50p worth. LA and 73s
