|
||||||||
Smooth National Radio Thread |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#301 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,111
|
Quote:
It's a problem with technology I suppose - remember the problems MNA had when Telford FM became the Severn
![]() Still it's not about making good radio is it, it's about doing it cheaper |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#302 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,475
|
Quote:
Yes, it's a common problem with networking, which is why networking is a bad idea. Especially for station like Smooth that wants to be seen as a real alternative to R2.
Still it's not about making good radio is it, it's about doing it cheaper It's rare for this to happen with Heart so it isn't inevitable - Smooth will sort it out before long. GMG Radio only made a profit of £600,000 last year (after a large loss the previous year) which doesn't cover their share of the group's interest payments. Bringing back five fully-staffed regional stations in England just isn't an option, it's far too expensive. |
|
|
|
|
|
#303 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,568
|
Whats the new weekend schedule????
|
|
|
|
|
|
#304 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,111
|
Quote:
It's a better idea than having to pay salaries to five people to do the same job though.
The quality of the output should be #1 & this wouldn't happen (And never did) on local shows. Quote:
It's rare for this to happen with Heart so it isn't inevitable - Smooth will sort it out before long. GMG Radio only made a profit of £600,000 last year (after a large loss the previous year) which doesn't cover their share of the group's interest payments. Bringing back five fully-staffed regional stations in England just isn't an option, it's far too expensive.
Things like this are damaging to the product & loose listeners & advertisers. If they can afford to run locally, lets have them sold to local groups who would run them properly |
|
|
|
|
|
#305 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,867
|
Quote:
It's a better idea than having to pay salaries to five people to do the same job though.
It's rare for this to happen with Heart so it isn't inevitable - Smooth will sort it out before long. GMG Radio only made a profit of £600,000 last year (after a large loss the previous year) which doesn't cover their share of the group's interest payments. Bringing back five fully-staffed regional stations in England just isn't an option, it's far too expensive. I'm surprised there has been problems as Smooth has been doing networking for three years and the only problems I can remember hearing are a couple of seconds silence between the end of adverts and start of jingle which could easily have been due to the presenter. |
|
|
|
|
|
#306 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,867
|
Quote:
No it's not.
The quality of the output should be #1 & this wouldn't happen (And never did) on local shows. Depends on how much value you put on your product doesn't it. Things like this are damaging to the product & loose listeners & advertisers. If they can afford to run locally, lets have them sold to local groups who would run them properly It's a technology issue not just a network one and can be easily sorted out. In fact I've heard more errors on standalone stations running automation then on network shows. However I wouldn't call for the dropping of automation as I know these stations need it to keep afloat. |
|
|
|
|
|
#307 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,111
|
Quote:
The groups are normally quite quick to get problems ironed out, it's the smaller operators where the problem seems to stick around.
I'm surprised there has been problems as Smooth has been doing networking for three years and the only problems I can remember hearing are a couple of seconds silence between the end of adverts and start of jingle which could easily have been due to the presenter. |
|
|
|
|
|
#308 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,111
|
Quote:
If they were sold to local groups it does not always transfer they will be run properly and any technology problems will disappear - again look towards the problems MNA had with The Severn.
It's a technology issue not just a network one and can be easily sorted out. In fact I've heard more errors on standalone stations running automation then on network shows. However I wouldn't call for the dropping of automation as I know these stations need it to keep afloat. Automation will always work better as machines can play on their own. Networking takes screw-ups into a whole new universe |
|
|
|
|
|
#309 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,867
|
Quote:
I have no idea why you keep bringing up MNA stations, unless you have an axe to grind with them.<snip>
Quote:
Automation will always work better as machines can play on their own. I do think in both cases it can be people not checking the system as nothing is fool-proof and wouldn't always be even if someone was there.
Networking takes screw-ups into a whole new universe |
|
|
|
|
|
#310 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,475
|
Quote:
If they can afford to run locally, lets have them sold to local groups who would run them properly
I believe one of the Nation presenters is also doing a show on a digital station (NME?) at the same time. How can he do that and produce great radio? |
|
|
|
|
|
#311 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,111
|
Quote:
Unlike others I have no axe to grind at all, just pointing out it's not just networking that has problems with an example I know you are aware of.
They are far less than networking though & IF Automation is done properly, it works fine....unless windows crashes. Very often, Automation is not done properly Networking is far far worse |
|
|
|
|
|
#312 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Gravesend, Kent
Posts: 565
|
Quote:
Hang on a minute - not so long ago you were saying that the changes at Smooth were destroying something which people knew and loved. Now you're saying Lynn Parsons - on a national station - is preferential to Eamonn Kelly.
If you're in the East Midlands, that would surely include Eamonm Kelly, who is far from "just another ILR jock". The point about many of the Smooth presenters - like those on Magic - is that they make the format sound easy to do, when in fact it isn't. Talking a little less than your competitors, maintaining the flow of music, and coming up with the right link at the right time is actually quite tricky. There's a skill, and in my opinion Eamonn has that. What's more, he didn't just land on Smooth from nowhere. As others have pointed out he worked on Capital Gold and was one of the pioneers of legal commercial radio in Ireland. All you've proved is that radio presenters are a very subjective thing for the listeners. You like Lynne, I like Eamonn. It doesn't mean the new Smooth is going to be a diasaster, as you've hinted at before. Also his Saturday afternoons on Capital Gold holding the sports show together was top notch. |
|
|
|
|
|
#313 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,111
|
Quote:
Nation Radio & the Coast are examples of regional standalone stations. The only way they can balance the books is with automation and presenters doing ridiculously long shifts, such as a breakfast show from 6-11am.
I believe one of the Nation presenters is also doing a show on a digital station (NME?) at the same time. How can he do that and produce great radio? The standard in the US is 5am-11 for breakfast Nothing wrong with automation IF it's done properly, which i do except it often isn't But seriously, if you are telling me that you couldn't run a regional station in London, Birmingham or Manchester Live & locally 6am-12am & make cash, you cannot be serious |
|
|
|
|
|
#314 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 73
|
A song was cut short before the news just to fit in T+T etc., and after the news a Steve Collins namecheck was played when it's not him that's on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#315 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
|
Quote:
Whats the new weekend schedule????
--------------- |
|
|
|
|
|
#316 |
|
Guest
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,895
|
Quote:
smoothradio.co.uk. Tony Blackburn will be there until Novemeber when he leaves, and Graham Dene returns to present weekend breakfast.
--------------- Re the music, been listening for 40 minutes, don't think I have heard a song that's not been crudely faded or just cut short. No explaination going into the Seal interview either, just a Bee Gees song then straight in to the interview. |
|
|
|
|
|
#317 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
|
Questions
Who sings the jingles? Are they resings? Is Wise Buddah involved?
The Music will sound like Radio 2 play, but I havn't heard any new stuff yet. The station won't deliver programmes like Radio 2. If so I can't wait for the documentries during the evening and weekends. I can't wait for all the celebrities covering show on Smooth. I can't wait for News and Current affairs show. ![]() I noticed the news sounds like someone is reading it from a tunnel on London 102.2fm. Mark talks over the songs Thats what radio 2 presenters do. ![]() Lynn P had Beverley Knight in. Doesn't she present on radio 2? |
|
|
|
|
|
#318 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
|
Eammon Kelly presented on London 102.2 when Russell Pocket was at the station. He used to cover shows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#319 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
|
Just listening to Dave Lincoln on Smooth London. Does he know it's a National Radio now? He seems to not mentioned this. YET!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#320 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 92
|
I don't think any of them now whats going on.
Does the newsreader now have to record several bullitens for broadcast each hour? |
|
|
|
|
|
#321 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,028
|
Have they changed the scrolling text on D1 yet? It was still showing the whilst we prepare for our Autumn launch message this morning....
|
|
|
|
|
|
#322 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 162
|
its all a bit lifeless isn't it ? ....Smooth Radio or Snooze Radio. Perhaps I'm being a bit unfair on day 1 but actually Smooth Radio to me was actually sounding pretty good this time last week. The new jingles are worse than the previous ones and don't have the "bright and uplifting" sound of the previous ones. In fact there is something of the old Saga Radio sound to this re-launch.....
Oh ...and I've noticed the London service has effectively been shut down. Probably no surprise given the strength of Heart and Magic but at least we still have Jazz FM here !! (sounding far brighter too) |
|
|
|
|
|
#323 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sussex
Posts: 25,513
|
Dave has now mentioned the national ID. I still think there maybe a bigger response from the listeners in those areas the presenters were before going national. The producers and presenters just will need to get to grip reading out emails and texts from other areas. I don't think Mark, Lynn & Andy will have a problem, as they have been broadcasting national for years, even before Smooth.
I think this is a major problem when you don't have well known National DJ's. They need to start to make promos for there shows too, as listeners will not know who they are. A picture on a website doens't help. They may need to explain more about themselves on air. Just an idea. |
|
|
|
|
|
#324 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwy
Posts: 215
|
Quote:
its all a bit lifeless isn't it? / there is something of the old Saga Radio sound to this re-launch.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
#325 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: London
Posts: 20,280
|
Tuned to to Smooth on D1 this morning to hear Lynn Parsons pre-rec interviews, Beverley Knight chooses America which was rudely interrupted for a travel bulletin, which consisted of two London streets and rather bizarrely Birmingham! The Tube strike was briefly mentioned with no mention of line or station closures.
The 'local' news bulletin consisted of two national and one London story. As I was commuting this morning, I had to retune to BBC London for travel news as the bulletins are next to useless on Smooth. I didn't hear Mark Goodier, so retuned at 1pm to hear Dave Lincoln, a solid personality jock who doesn't sound bored unlike the previous permanent presenter on Smooth London. (Not cover presenter Nigel Williams who is as good) who just had enough personality to blend in with the music and a long last an audience participation game! Fingers crossed Carlos can blow the cobwebs off the normal Smooth London snooze drive fest we had last week. |
|
|
|
![]() |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 23:48.




