Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

IRE60

kevmy85 wrote: »

Interesting graph. Have you got similar ones for other stations?

I was referring to percentages of people listening to the radio at the time, i.e. between 7-10 there are much less people listening to the radio 39,000 could be 50% , whereas between 4.30-7 131,00 could be only 20% of listeners.

Yes - some of the other stations here

http://www.ilevel.ie/media-blog/radio/102448-national-listnership-by-station-2012-q4-jnlr

It does highlight that radio is really abandoned after 6:30/7:00 (in relative terms)

Ol' Donie

The Newstalk graph seems to show that Hook's listenership drops away dramatically after six.

IRE60

Dave! wrote: »

What's Hook's female listenership figures? I wouldn't have expected they'd be terribly high considering he's a conservative, slobbering, chauvinistic pig.

68% Male 32% Female throughout the show.

Meathlass

I'm a woman and can't stand GH. Usually listen to Matt Cooper and then switch to Newstalk at 7pm for 3 glorious hours with the lads. I know I'm probably in a tiny minority but there are some women listening to Off the Ball.

tbh

Meathlass wrote: »

I know I'm probably in a tiny minority but there are some women listening to Off the Ball.

6000 female listeners apparently

Meathlass

tbh wrote: »

6000 female listeners apparently

Yeeah! I knew I wasn't the only one! I've been to two of the live shows and in both I was the only woman there.

Actually woke up last night in the middle of the night feeling depressed that the lads have left.

heybaby

Well even if OTB were on 39k listeners after 7 , its almost 3 times what 2fm are on after 7pm, think someone in a previous thread said their figure was 16k

IRE60

Cienciano wrote: »

Well, it's directly comparing 2 different time slots for a start. He says Off the Ball loses 100k listeners who switch off when hook if finished. Well, that's wrong, look at the graph you posted yourself, the graph is going down well before George signs off. Radio listenership goes down at that time on all stations. Poorly written, and I think sarcastic phrases like "Their fantastic plan was to take an hour off hook..." when the facts aren't out makes the writer look like a bit of a tool.
As for your views on both sides of the story aren't out, that's how journalism works, well, your right. Sort of. That's how poor tabloid journalism works. Joe Duffy does it all the time. One side won't come on so he'll slate them. Decent journalism waits for both sides of the story and reserves judgement/remains pretty much neutral until then.

I was referring to average Listnership - which was very apparent from the context of the article.
The other graph revers to quarter hour averages - a different metric again and was there to support/not support a tailing off of listnership - which is not available in the average metric - again, patently obsious from the context.

Yes - it does tail off - as does every time slot.

The Irish Times, Indo, Examiner, Guardian et al all refer in their articles to the proposed reduction of an hour in GK's program - so we're all tools together on this one.

And seriously- if you think that a story will 'stop' because one side wont comment you are deluded.

To be honest - I started this to give it something analytically as opposed to some of the emotional rhetoric seen in many posts and I don't really care or g.a.f. if you think I should or shouldn't 'quip'.

pappyodaniel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NeXTRucSGg

heybaby

Dont know if anyone else has seen this but on Simon Hicks Twitter account :https://twitter.com/hicksimon

Just under his twitter name it reads : The chemistry must be respected.

???? Did newstalk want to break them up ?

IRE60

Ol' Donie wrote: »

The Newstalk graph seems to show that Hook's listenership drops away dramatically after six.

And he's not alone

Larbre34

heybaby wrote: »

Dont know if anyone else has seen this but on Simon Hicks Twitter account :https://twitter.com/hicksimon

Just under his twitter name it reads : The chemistry must be respected.

???? Did newstalk want to break them up ?

Good job impressing any new employer on his flexibility and obedience.

servicecharge

IRE60 wrote: »

And he's not alone

There you have it. Otb between 7 and 8 is the highest rated programme. All stations collapse after 6.

IRE60

No disagreement there - stats dont lie. Figures collapse from about 6:30pm. From there you are fighting for scraps.

Big Game

Dave! wrote: »

What's Hook's female listenership figures? I wouldn't have expected they'd be terribly high considering he's a conservative, slobbering, chauvinistic pig.

Much as I think Hook is a bit of a bell end, you could hardly call him conservative after seeing him passionately arguing for the right for gay people to have full marriage rights on the late late last month...

Dont be at yourself

IRE60 wrote: »

And he's not alone

That graph ([url=https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/198456/243754.png[/url]) also shows that OTB is better at retaining viewership figures than the other stations.

kevmy85

IRE60 wrote: »

Yes - some of the other stations here

http://www.ilevel.ie/media-blog/radio/102448-national-listnership-by-station-2012-q4-jnlr

It does highlight that radio is really abandoned after 6:30/7:00 (in relative terms)

Very interesting. OTB is comfortably the most listened to programme in it's time slot.

GH competes with Today FM and 2FM but gets hammered by Drivetime.

While I can see the argument from Newstalk management I wouldn't say the figures are overwhelming to either side of the argument. Surely taking half an hour off Hook as a tester could have been tried?

Radio5

I am a woman and I listen to OFB all the time. I wish people would stop assuming that all women dislike sport and sports programmes.

I wouldn't listen to George Hook if he was the last broadcaster left on earth so if he lost an hour of airtime to sport, I would've been pleased. Advertisers would see it differently of course.

Nwm2

Radio5 wrote: »

I am a woman and I listen to OFB all the time. I wish people would stop assuming that all women dislike sport and sports programmes.

I wouldn't listen to George Hook if he was the last broadcaster left on earth so if he lost an hour of airtime to sport, I would've been pleased. Advertisers would see it differently of course.

That would be OTB, dear.

Joking of course, we're all in this together.

wonderboysam

one more chip!

ah I'll miss the show, todays jog just wasnt the same without ken & eoin

themont85

Part of it is that NT simply do not want to lose being the number 1 after 7 o’clock, the only area where they enjoy some leadership. They obviously reckon Gilroy and co financially won’t affect them that much in lost listeners.

themont85

heybaby wrote: »

Dont know if anyone else has seen this but on Simon Hicks Twitter account :https://twitter.com/hicksimon

Just under his twitter name it reads : The chemistry must be respected.

???? Did newstalk want to break them up ?

Breaking Bad quote

Lord Trollington

Surely to God some sort of compromise can be found.

There has been absolutely no reaction or comment from the 3 presenters or 2 producers.

Does anyone else find it strange that at least one sports journo hasn't got some sort of quote from them?

armchair fusilier

Statement from the lads


Hey everyone, Eoin McDevitt, Ken Early, Mark Horgan, Simon Hick and Ciaran Murphy here. Sorry we couldn’t make the show last night.

Over the last 18 months we have been in discussions with Newstalk about ways to develop our programme. Unfortunately there are fundamental differences of opinion between management and ourselves about the show’s future potential and its ability to grow an audience at an earlier time.

We’re gutted to leave behind something we love but after eight years we feel it’s vital that our product continues to evolve and improve.

We would like to sincerely thank Newstalk for giving us a chance to put the show together.

We won’t have the opportunity to say goodbye on air, so thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years and over the past 24 hours - particularly our listeners, who are the best in the country.

The five of us are determined to be back on air together as soon as possible.

@The2ndCaptains

dulpit

Lads have posted from @thesecondcaptains:

https://twitter.com/The2ndCaptains/status/308975772201283585

Hey everyone, Eoin McDevitt, Ken Early, Mark Horgan, Simon Hick and Ciaran Murphy here. Sorry we couldn’t make the show last night.

Over the last 18 months we have been in discussions with Newstalk about ways to develop our programme. Unfortunately there are fundamental differences of opinion between management and ourselves about the show’s future potential and its ability to grow an audience at an earlier time.

We’re gutted to leave behind something we love but after eight years we feel it’s vital that our product continues to evolve and improve.

We would like to sincerely thank Newstalk for giving us a chance to put the show together.

We won’t have the opportunity to say goodbye on air, so thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years and over the past 24 hours - particularly our listeners, who are the best in the country.

The five of us are determined to be back on air together as soon as possible.

@The2ndCaptains

trebormurf

http://twishort.com/IGXcc

kumate_champ07

just think of it as a holiday, they'll be back and with the changes they wanted to make, which should mean a better show ,not that it wasnt great as it was.


I do hope its on FM radio tho but they would do well on any format.

ballsymchugh

surely they mean ger gilroy's project?? :P

so they've nothing lined up? that's a bad move i think.

gimmick

I am delighted to hear that I am numbered one of the best radio listeners in the country. Validated even.

sleepyman

According to the indo McDevitt can't take up new employment for twelve weeks.
They may have resigned together but I don't see them all working on a similar project on another station/platform unless they already have something lined up.
Really enjoyed the show and while I don't mind Ger Gilroy it won't be the same.