The end of Questions and Answers on RTE

giftgrub

RTE is ending Q and A at from June 2009

from here

http://www.businessandleadership.com/marketing/news/article/12665/marketing/questions-and-answers-to-end-in-june

RTÉ Television has announced its decision to end production of Questions and Answers when its current season concludes in June 2009.

It says it has taken the decision with the agreement of presenter John Bowman, who has been contracted by the broadcaster to write a history of RTÉ television to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of Telefis Eireann in December 1961.

Bowman will also present a series of documentaries on television’s impact on modern Ireland and act as consulting editor in other initiatives being considered to mark this anniversary.

According to RTÉ, it has decided to end the programme’s run because of these commitments.

Bowman has been presenting Questions and Answers for 21 years, making it the second longest run in RTÉ’s history.

“When I was initially persuaded to take on Questions and Answers in 1988 for one season, I never envisaged that it would enjoy such a prolonged run,” said Bowman. “However, despite the difficulty of such a decision, I concluded some time ago that once I had completed 20 years, it would be time to concentrate on my other interests within television. With summer 2009 marking my ‘21st birthday’ presenting the programme - and eager to devote more time to the marking of the 50th anniversary - I agree with RTÉ’s decision on the timing of this change.”

“Given John’s central importance to its success, RTÉ has decided it will not continue the series but will - instead - seek other ways of continuing its commitment to highest quality debate on, and engagement with, matters of current public interest,” said RTÉ’s director-general, Cathal Goan.

RTÉ said that Bowman will continue to be involved in television programming for elections and other national events and will produce further television documentaries in the field of 20th century Irish history. He will also continue his radio commitments, including producing and presenting his weekly archive programme, Bowman Sunday Morning.

Seems like a cutback to me, whatever way you dress it up!!

tbaymusicman

do you genuinely like that show:O:O:O:O:P:P got to say i really dislike it haha one of rte's many bad shows ha

Utopia Parkway

RTE couldn't find a replacement presenter then?

FlutterinBantam

Run it's course in my opinion.

What was it?

Audience packed with vested interests based on the topic in discussion and the usual warhorses trotted out to defend the point made.

Totally outlived it's usefulness and ended up as just a platform for gimps and malcontents and bell voiced angries to get a platform on the national airwaves.

Had it's day, but no great loss really.

K4t

Keep the people ignorant.........:pac:

Bowman seems fed up half the time to me. Who wouldn't having to listen to the same crap being spewed out of politicans' mouths every week.

cuckoo

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Totally outlived it's usefulness and ended up as just a platform for gimps and malcontents and bell voiced angries to get a platform on the national airwaves.

That's what i liked about it!

Individual in the audience would lash into whatever political party, claim to be "just an ordinary voter", would be pushed on it by Bowman "no, really, are you a member of a party?" then would 'fess up.

I sometimes play a game where i'd try and guess what party they were before they opened their mouth...

The rantings and ravings on Q and A are a bit more intelligent than the Joe Duffy/etc radio that RTE will continue to broadcast. It's just once a week that RTE caters for viewers with an interest in political discussion - 'the week in politics' has it's moments, but it's main strength is as a cure for insomnia.

FlutterinBantam

Me too:D

Whenever there was an industrial relations issue,I took great pleasure picking out the skanger voiced commies who wanted anarchy and the way they spoke in the arcane diction so beloved by the "brothers":D

I'll miss it.

KerranJast

I can't see why they can't just copy Question Time on BBC with
(a) NO party hacks in the audience. Actually way easier to implement in Ireland as everyone knows everyone else.
(b) NO questions seen by panelists before the program starts. If they get caught on the hop so be it. It'll sort the spoofers from the genuinely talented politicians.

Linku

I'm rather enjoying all the political programs on TV at the moment, Q&As is all a bit too rehearsed, but I'll miss it.

Didn't think I'd be saying this, but maybe RTÉ should poach Vincent Browne back for TV, his show is an entertaining look on the news at least, but let down by shoddy TV3 production values.

Aidric

I'll miss it. Politicians are shrouded enough from the public, this was the one public broadcast where they were challenged.

1966

K4t wrote: »

Bowman seems fed up half the time to me. quote]



- couldn't agree more!

fourfiveone

Even with a flawed format Q&A has given the public a chance to see a variety of ministers attempt to explain the inexplicable and defend the indefensible. I find the timing of this to be questionable.

Elmo

I think a show that runs for 20 years has been on the air too long. Perhaps a new presenter would have been an easier decision to make.

do you genuinely like that show:O:O:O:O got to say i really dislike it haha one of rte's many bad shows ha

I think from a Current Affairs perspective it meets all of the requirements for a good show. Often it can be funnier then The Panel, but then relaxed humour is always more genuine. Do you watch many Current Affair shows?

Save cost get Vincent Browne to host News On Two

I can't see why they can't just copy Question Time on BBC with
(a) NO party hacks in the audience. Actually way easier to implement in Ireland as everyone knows everyone else.
(b) NO questions seen by panelists before the program starts. If they get caught on the hop so be it. It'll sort the spoofers from the genuinely talented politicians.

(a) yeah we all know each other living the stereotype
(b) Yeah I never understood why they needed to see the questions first.

But then when you think back to 1988 and Ray Burke's treatment of RTÉ you could see why they where careful of such a show.

Diabhal Beag

For the last few years it was more like "Questions and Replies" tbh

SoupyNorman

Although I agree that it is a tired oul Horse I will miss it.

I think the participants being briefed on the questions before their appearance is a cop out although I dont think there is a single politician that would appear on the show if it was any other way (except Willie O Dea).

deisemum

I for one will be glad that John Bowman will finish up on this programme and I think there should have been a change of presenter a long time ago.

I have always found him to be extremely ignorant and have on occasion forwarded my view about him to RTE. From speaking with some friends and family I know I'm not alone in my opinion of him and I cannot think of anyone in RTE that's more ignorant than him.

I only hope that he will not be a regular on other programmes.

Jip

It was an awful program. How can you have a genuinely insightful political program when all the questions are supplied upfront giving the guests time to rehearse their answer ? There was no chance for people to be ambushed so we can see, as has been said, how talented a politician actually is rather than how good they are at learning the party mantra.

As much as I hate to say it but something along the lines Nightly News with Vincent Brown on TV3 is much better but maybe have things a little more impartial. But his show does leave the doors open for a proper debate rather than something every school kid in the country knows how to do, how to give a rehearsed answer.

Elmo

deisemum wrote: »

I for one will be glad that John Bowman will finish up on this programme and I think there should have been a change of presenter a long time ago.

I have always found him to be extremely ignorant and have on occasion forwarded my view about him to RTE. From speaking with some friends and family I know I'm not alone in my opinion of him and I cannot think of anyone in RTE that's more ignorant than him.

I only hope that he will not be a regular on other programmes.

I have to say I find John Bowman quiet a good presenter, perhaps a little bored on Q&A. I think he hosts the Election and Budgets excellently, he knows his stuff often he will interupt the guest by telling that they said the opposite a few years a go, very few people have his memory for facts.

I don't think he is ignorant at all actually he is quiet the opposite.

Elmo

Jip wrote: »

It was an awful program. How can you have a genuinely insightful political program when all the questions are supplied upfront giving the guests time to rehearse their answer ? There was no chance for people to be ambushed so we can see, as has been said, how talented a politician actually is rather than how good they are at learning the party mantra.

As I said you can see why RTÉ let the politican's know the question before hand, when the started the show back in 1988. Ray Burke was possibly the worst and most corrupt Minister of Communications and Justice ever.

cuckoo

Jip wrote: »

It was an awful program. How can you have a genuinely insightful political program when all the questions are supplied upfront giving the guests time to rehearse their answer ? There was no chance for people to be ambushed so we can see, as has been said, how talented a politician actually is rather than how good they are at learning the party mantra.

As much as I hate to say it but something along the lines Nightly News with Vincent Brown on TV3 is much better but maybe have things a little more impartial. But his show does leave the doors open for a proper debate rather than something every school kid in the country knows how to do, how to give a rehearsed answer.

True, but with the topical nature of the program anyone with half a brain appearing on the panel should be able to guess what'll be coming up, ie, there's social partnership talks happening, cue question about benchmarking/role of unions/etc. Do agree that it would be better if the questions weren't seen in advance though, if only to give it a bit more spontaneity. Although, most party hacks in this country are so polished and practised at spouting the party line they could do it in their sleep.

I think Q and A is at it's best when there's an interesting non-politico (or two) on the panel, with no party agenda. It's a good foil for demonstrating just how smug and rehearsed so many of our politicians are.

Think Bowman will be wasted on programs about RTE's history ('reeling through RTE's years' as a possible title?), while he's probably a little bored with the Q and A format i'd prefer to see him sticking with current affairs as i find him an intelligent and informed presenter. These are 'interesting' times, the viewership for Q and A has increased this year (heard on a radio interview that Bowman gave today that it doubled).

Has there been any word about what RTE are planning to replace Q and A with?

Milky Moo

I always felt when Bowman felt strongly for one side of the argument he was very quick to cut the other sides supporters time short when they were making a point or maybe I just read too much into it

ben bedlam

I always felt Bowman to be condescending, abrubt and downright ignorant of some of his audience's opinions and points; whenever he disagrees with someone, he immediatly moves on to cut them off.

Elmo

ben bedlam wrote: »

I always felt Bowman to be condescending, abrubt and downright ignorant of some of his audience's opinions and points; whenever he disagrees with someone, he immediatly moves on to cut them off.

I think you mixing up Ignorant and Obnoxious and perhap Arrogant.

He does cut people off but generally it is the so-called "party hacks" but he is well up on his politics, which makes him the opposite of Ignorant.

Obnoxious and Arrogant perhaps but to be honest I don't see it, Vincent Browne can be both and often forgets what he is talking about.

I like both presenters TBH.

SoupyNorman

ben bedlam wrote: »

I always felt Bowman to be condescending, abrubt and downright ignorant of some of his audience's opinions and points; whenever he disagrees with someone, he immediatly moves on to cut them off.

Bowman is the chair, he promotes a balanced argument to the best of his ability. Remember also that he is under a very strict time constraint, I find that he does a fantastic job a moving the debate forward. He may come across as abrupt but in some cases he must as alot of the time audience members comments go off on rambling tangents.

deisemum

bravestarr082 wrote: »

Bowman is the chair, he promotes a balanced argument to the best of his ability. Remember also that he is under a very strict time constraint, I find that he does a fantastic job a moving the debate forward. He may come across as abrupt but in some cases he must as alot of the time audience members comments go off on rambling tangents.

A lot of the time he's not promoting a balanced argument, quite the opposite. He leaves the audience in no doubt as to which side of an argument he backs and is very quick to cut someone off he doesn't agree with which in very unprofessional. This has nothing to do with time constraints.

Elmo

deisemum wrote: »

A lot of the time he's not promoting a balanced argument, quite the opposite. He leaves the audience in no doubt as to which side of an argument he backs and is very quick to cut someone off he doesn't agree with which in very unprofessional. This has nothing to do with time constraints.

Often he cuts people by saying "You have already said that" which they have, or "That's another discussion coming up in the next question". I don't see why we should listen to the same arguments twice or even 3 times. He does it to the panel as well. Often he is right.

Podman

Having to watch politicians blah all the party brainwashing makes me want to hurl, but will there be no more opportunities to ask them some tough questions in front of the media?

Is it really an issue of "we can't find anyone who wants the job", or was it fast-tracked out of production on a friday afternoon while no-one was around to argue it?

Who really runs the country?

Bring back Bull Island!

Elmo

chompy wrote: »

Having to watch politicians blah all the party brainwashing makes me want to hurl, but will there be no more opportunities to ask them some tough questions in front of the media?

Is it really an issue of "we can't find anyone who wants the job", or was it fast-tracked out of production on a friday afternoon while no-one was around to argue it?

Who really runs the country?

Bring back Bull Island!

Both the Week In Politics and Vincent Browne do help prevent Politican's escaping questions on TV, you also have Morning Ireland and Matt Copper on Radio.

I don't think Bull Island should be brought back, it was too nice to the politicans that they impersonated and was not cutting enough to be called good satire.

Xit Poll/File or even Scratch Saturday provided better policatical satire or even bring back Hall's Pictorial.

Minister for Hardship Lehihan.