Originally Posted by tahiti:
“Personally speaking I do, which is why I know how awful LBC'S breakfast show is. Why can't LBC get a properly-informed show host ? I thought Ian Payne was fine when he covered over Christmas. Tim Marshall would be even better. Or if LBC have the money they could maybe entice someone from the BBC over, eg Dotun. Instead we seem to be stuck with this Jeremy Kyle-does-the--news proposition.”
I think Ferrari is as well-informed as any of the other LBC hosts. And I've said it time and time again, that's why Ferrari has correspondents and experts on his show to give the audience pointers or ideas for the discussion because Ferrari openly admits he doesn't know everything. Just because Nick adds his own opinion in too along with a joke or two, people are up in arms!
James O'Brien meanwhile continues to pontificate at great length with his infamous monologues taking up half his programme and not an expert or guest in sight!
I notice that LBC have now added a "Best of James O'Brien" podcast to their website where you can listen to James' monologues! Spare me!
Originally Posted by
gurney-slade:
“Judging by the audience figures, it's what the regular listeners want and expect. And as LBC is a commercial station, which relies on advertising revenue to keep it ticking over, that's what the listeners are going to get. If they don't like it, there are plenty of alternatives.
Morning all.
”
Quite right here g-s. Listeners want to listen to good radio and will vote with their choice of station as to what they want to listen to. Record figures for Nick Ferrari at Breakfast suggest that he is the most popular show in London. As you say, TalkRADIO, Radio 4, Radio 5 Live and TalkSPORT are all national stations with speech based breakfast shows so there are plenty of alternatives. But the point is, most people don't need an alternative because they enjoy LBC in the mornings!
Originally Posted by soma_:
“legend? thats rather ott. competent? how can one not be competent in talking. hardly provides any intelligent commentary with sarcasm and snidey asides passed off as wit.
what he does provide to the lbc target demographics is right wing bias and prejudices. for this he is lauded by other right wing commentators and orgs.”
I mean competent in the way he presents his programme (the interweaving of callers, experts, reporters, interviews, texts and emails, jokes, paper reviews, news updates and Nick's opinionated asides). No other presenter on LBC is capable of that. I really don't think his political persuasions matter on 90% of the stories he covers, and when they do matter he open about his opinions and callers are free to challenge them (and they often do) which makes for an even more interesting debate.
Originally Posted by Supersoul:
“That's right. Some people (a lot judging by the Rajar figures) want a presenter not afraid to express opinions. It's almost like people have been conditioned to assume that radio has to be impartial; it doesn't.
Personally, I like Ian Payne and Dotun Adebayo as presenters, but I prefer Nick because he feels comfortable giving his views an airing.”
Spot on here Supersoul! Opinions drive good discussion and speech radio I think.
Originally Posted by gurney-slade:
“I think it's 'horses for courses'. Nick is perfect for the breakfast slot. He keeps it lively and fast-moving. I can't really imagine his style at any other time. In fact, it might even irritate me to have him on later in the day, when more measured discussion is appropriate.”
I think Nick could suit a Drivetime slot or perhaps when he leaves the breakfast show (although hopefully that won't happen for a long time yet) he could do a weekend show, but I agree that Nick's style of show wouldn't suit an evening slot or afternoons. In the same way, I can't imagine Shelagh Fogerty presenting a breakfast show very well (although apparently she did present 5Live breakfast for many years!).