bhowells

It was much better in the days of having only three channels, less was more. There was a certain magic about putting BBC2 on about 2 in the afternoon in readiness for the Saturday matinee, to be greeted by the test card and its selection of relaxing music.

Happy memories of sitting in my bedroom watching my black and white portable.

bhowells

If we did bring back the test card and reduced broadcasting hours I would like to see Pebble Mill at one brought back on BBC1 and trade test transmission films on BBC2.

Over on ITV we could have racing from Haydock Park or wherever some intelude slides and the return o Houseparty.

rskershaw

Hopefully it will be the end of 'Loose Women', a load of self opiniated fish wives talking drivel.

(or is that me?).

And what's all this about me having me leg off?

bhowells

Totally agree absolute garbage!

Edward G

Now you're talking BH.
The great and occasionally just plain daft trade test transmission films, the test card /music itself and the improvised chat on close-down by a human being.
Saturday matinee double bills on BBC 2.
Pure telly magic.....

I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

David Challinor

I'm not for getting rid of any media jobs, being in one myself, but re cutbacks in the BBC can anyone tell me what purpose BBC Local Radio serves? I remember in 1978 listening to a version of Dickens' Great Expectations on Radio Merseyside, which helped get through my English 'O' level, but I guess those days are long gone...from what I can tell this 'public service' today mostly comprises of music and travel reports/local news bulletins...just the sort of stuff which commercial local indie radio does. The BBC doesn't have to service Every audience, just those areas it does best in

ringsider

Having recently promised myself not to rise to these open questions (because of a previous disagreement), I find this one too tempting to miss. So...

You mention local news bulletins - isn't that a very important factor in itself? Despite the impression given all too often on mainstream TV and Radio news, the world does not begin and end at Watford Gap. Lots of stuff happens outside of the capital, and I say that as a Londoner. Local TV and Radio is surely the best place to reflect that fact.

Whether their budgets could ever stretch to local drama, I am not so sure, but why not? I think the Licence fee is too low and would be happy to see it increase if we could have more drama and less B list celebrity shows (dancing, skating, jungle dwelling, etc, etc) and less house and garden make-overs (apologies if these are on commercial stations).


Regards - Bernie

Steve Crook

They're a good training ground. Kate Adie started off at BBC Radio Durham

Steve

David Challinor

I'm happy to pay for education through my taxes, especially for my daughter, but not for training people in BBC local radio. Why couldn't Kate Adie start her broadcasting life with commercial radio, then her dulcet tones wouldn't have cost me a penny.
Is there any good programmes on BBC local radio...

bhowells

I have always disliked my local radio station Radio Wales, it just provides work forf naff local celebrities, there is a hal decent Folk/Roots programme but that's about it. I only ever put it on if I want to hear travel information if its snowing.

Now again I dip into other local radio stations on the net, some are better than others.

I was passing through the North of England on my return from a coach holiday in Scotland and I heard Radio Lancashire, there were some Women on there who appeared to be doing a radio version of Loose Women.
There was great exitement on one local BBC radio station when a mouse was wandering round the studio (Yawn)

bhowells

I prefer to listen to community channels in the U.SA. and Canada they provide a fine service to the areas they serve. The presenters are all volunteers some of them are former professional broadcasters and others are rather bumbling amateurs but they have an eclectic music policy and are not slaves to the dreaded playlist.

EHV_Emmetts

Local commercial radio stations sound exactly the same. The same format, the same presentation style and the same advertisements.