Why don't the "Second Captains" have a regular slot yet?

Lenin Skynard

The lads that hosted "Off The Ball" on Newstalk for ten years or so still are in the wilderness. They got their own TV show on RTE but it appears very rarely.

It seems like such a shame. Their show was fantastically produced and presented, with a network of really top notch collaborators in every sport. I'm not even much of a sports fan but because of my job, I end up driving for large sections of the evening and their show was always such a relief, it was really excellent.

Now they just have a podcast and an occasional TV show. Surely Newstalk are complete idiots for not facilitating the return of this show? Or RTE are idiots for not giving them a show? The "Off The Ball" show is still decent in my opinion but not in the same league as it was with McDevitt, Early and Murph.

I suppose the post comes across as a bit of a rant, but it really was a very good show and Irish radio is a lot poorer without it.

Insidious

Lenin Skynard wrote: »

The lads that hosted "Off The Ball" on Newstalk for ten years or so still are in the wilderness. They got their own TV show on RTE but it appears very rarely.

It seems like such a shame. Their show was fantastically produced and presented, with a network of really top notch collaborators in every sport. I'm not even much of a sports fan but because of my job, I end up driving for large sections of the evening and their show was always such a relief, it was really excellent.

Now they just have a podcast and an occasional TV show. Surely Newstalk are complete idiots for not facilitating the return of this show? Or RTE are idiots for not giving them a show? The "Off The Ball" show is still decent in my opinion but not in the same league as it was with McDevitt, Early and Murph.

I suppose the post comes across as a bit of a rant, but it really was a very good show and Irish radio is a lot poorer without it.

Pretty much sums up my feelings exactly.... Bring back the lads!!

DEFTLEFTHAND

They tried playing hardball with a billionaire and got blown out the door. Maybe they believed their own hype to an extent. Ger Gilroy, Wooly Parkinson, Gizzy Lyng and the rest of the lads have certainly filled the gap imo.

Radio in Ireland is a small world, now the the lads stock has fallen the other stations don't see the value in guys who could start acting up if things don't go their way.

newcavanman

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

They tried playing hardball with a billionaire and got blown out the door. Maybe they believed their own hype to an extent. Ger Gilroy, Wooly Parkinson, Gizzy Lyng and the rest of the lads have certainly filled the gap imo.

Radio in Ireland is a small world, now the the lads stock has fallen the other stations don't see the value in guys who could start acting up if things don't go their way.

you hit the nail on the head. I used to really enjoy their show despite not being a big sports fan, and while . Wouldnt be mad keen on ger Gilroy etc, they are more than adequate replacements for the Second Captains. The moral of the story is, dont go head to head with a billionaire unless you have a signed binding offer from someone else in your back pocket.
The boys should have the first rule of Irish Media, " Dont be another Marty Whelan, unless you want to spend ten years in the wilderness "

Hesh's Umpire

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

. Maybe they believed their own hype to an extent.

It's as simple as that. They're not as good as they think.

LeinsterDub

Aren't they contracted to write and podcast for the it. I don't think they are allowed look for a radio option.

wnolan1992

Funny thing is, they're probably pulling in close to the same amount of listeners to the podcasts as they did on NT. They seem to average around 18,000 SoundCloud plays per episode, and I assume that doesn't take into account iTunes where they are regularly top of the charts.

pconn062

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

They tried playing hardball with a billionaire and got blown out the door. Maybe they believed their own hype to an extent. Ger Gilroy, Wooly Parkinson, Gizzy Lyng and the rest of the lads have certainly filled the gap imo.

Radio in Ireland is a small world, now the the lads stock has fallen the other stations don't see the value in guys who could start acting up if things don't go their way.

While Gilroy is OK (although a bit bland), Parkinson and Lyng are the two of the worst presenters I've ever listened to. I have to turn off every time they speak. Joe and Ger are not bad interviewers (not a patch on McDevitt) but the other two are intolerable.

soc160

Lenin Skynard wrote: »

The lads that hosted "Off The Ball" on Newstalk for ten years or so still are in the wilderness. They got their own TV show on RTE but it appears very rarely.

It seems like such a shame. Their show was fantastically produced and presented, with a network of really top notch collaborators in every sport. I'm not even much of a sports fan but because of my job, I end up driving for large sections of the evening and their show was always such a relief, it was really excellent.

Now they just have a podcast and an occasional TV show. Surely Newstalk are complete idiots for not facilitating the return of this show? Or RTE are idiots for not giving them a show? The "Off The Ball" show is still decent in my opinion but not in the same league as it was with McDevitt, Early and Murph.

I suppose the post comes across as a bit of a rant, but it really was a very good show and Irish radio is a lot poorer without it.

What station would they move to? RTE are the only other national broadcaster who would offer them such a large audience reach, then if it is RTE where do they fit in, they have a sports show already on 2fm at 7 onwards.

The other side to this is why would they want to go back to live radio. The podcast has a sizeable reach, they have over 100 thousand subscribers on Soundcloud, an average of about 20 thousand listeners on their, add that to itunes downloads and they are pulling in a very sizable audience, the best thing about it is they ease of access, you can listen anytime you want or is convenient. If they move back to radio they become less accessible to the audience because they are on at a certain time. It makes it easier for them too, they can fit recording around other schedules they have or depending on where the need is for a news, this week they released a show on Wednesday for the Roy Keane press conference instead of waiting until Thursday. The TV show never would have happened if they had stayed with newstalk, the schedules would have clashed.

I think it would be difficult to get them to come back to radio considering they are providing the same service but it is easier for them and the listener.

Loafing Oaf

soc160 wrote: »

The other side to this is why would they want to go back to live radio.

Are they making a living wage from the podcasts? I don't know, genuinely asking the question.

Ol' Donie

I wish they'd get back on the radio. I've said it loads of times, but it's not the same when it's not live.

Although I still love the lads, having thought about the whole thing, I'm a bit pissed off with them. I've heard both sides of the story, and the ultimate losers as far as I can see are the fans who liked to liked to listen to proper OTB from 7-10 in the evening. The lads weren't happy with the time slot, but I (and i suspect many fans) were.

I wonder would they have been happy with the current state of affairs at Newstalk - the weekend shows being under the OTB brand? Would that have kept them happy?

One other thing: how does their current show give them wider exposure? Didn't they have several podcasts on Newstalk?

soc160

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Are they making a living wage from the podcasts? I don't know, genuinely asking the question.

Well they work for The Irish Times so I guess they pay them, they are most likely considered journalists, I don't know what there involvement is beyond the podcasts, I know Ken writes but that's it. You would have to imagine they are being paid, that coupled with the TV money is surely enough to keep them going, probably some freelance work going for them too.

The podcast is a strange set-up, it's a platform for them that The Irish Times provide but seem to want much in return bar the odd mention. It's not like the Guardian and Football Weekly which is heavily on brand and "guardian" like. Maybe The Irish Times are just letting them build a brand before they cash in on their publicity.

Aside from my argument I would like to hear them on radio again but I guess they are more concerned with new-media, they even mention online radio and tv as the future in their Football podcast from Tuesday. It's a trend in Ireland and the UK now, radio is a medium that creates more "celebs" for TV to expose and the general public to consume.

DublinKev

pconn062 wrote: »

While Gilroy is OK (although a bit bland), Parkinson and Lyng are the two of the worst presenters I've ever listened to. I have to turn off every time they speak. Joe and Ger are not bad interviewers (not a patch on McDevitt) but the other two are intolerable.

I couldn't agree more. Ger is very good and Joe has improved a lot but I actually turn off any night that Wooly is on. Cannot understand how anyone in NT can consider that good radio.

Loafing Oaf

soc160 wrote: »

Well they work for The Irish Times so I guess they pay them, they are most likely considered journalists, I don't know what there involvement is beyond the podcasts, I know Ken writes but that's it. You would have to imagine they are being paid, that coupled with the TV money is surely enough to keep them going, probably some freelance work going for them too.

The podcast is a strange set-up, it's a platform for them that The Irish Times provide but seem to want much in return bar the odd mention. It's not like the Guardian and Football Weekly which is heavily on brand and "guardian" like. Maybe The Irish Times are just letting them build a brand before they cash in on their publicity.

Aside from my argument I would like to hear them on radio again but I guess they are more concerned with new-media, they even mention online radio and tv as the future in their Football podcast from Tuesday. It's a trend in Ireland and the UK now, radio is a medium that creates more "celebs" for TV to expose and the general public to consume.

I'm sure they're getting paid something but would be the IT be paying five guys a living wage for two hours per week of a 'product' that's pretty marginal to the paper's main mission? AFAIK the tv series was just a one-off four episode thing, no idea whether RTE plans to commission any more. IMO Eoin, Ken & Richey would be the ideal replacements for Billo et all but again I have no idea whether RTE have any plans in this direction.

The new media thing is all very well but how many people have been able to make a buck out of it? If the lads were to set up on their own as the second captains daily podcast or whatever, do you think they would be able to live off it?

Expunge

So the conundrum of how to make traditional newspapers make money online has been solved!!
Just get five lads who spat the dummy from the pram with their employers to host a podcast loosely attached to your brand and all will be well!

Why didn't anyone think of it before?
Unless these lads have other jobs, this does not seem sustainable. Nice hobby though.

They are, of course, much better than the FAS course lads doing Off The Ball now. It's a shame they are not still on it.
A podcast should be offered as an add on to a live radio show - especially a sports show.

Radio5

Would UTV be interested one wonders?

Bard

Seems like stating the bleedin' obvious but... Who wants to pay 5 salaries for just one show?

mike65

Quite, if a radio enterprise was ever overmanned its the Seciond Captains.

wnolan1992

It's really hard to make a case for all five of them being necessary. I mean, I'm sure Simon and Mark do a lot behind the scenes but, realistically, their jobs could probably be done by an existing producer at where ever hired them. I think Eoin, Ken and Ciaran are essential to what makes their style works. When either one is missing, the show loses something.

super_furry

The problem for them is that there was never really anywhere for them to go. RTE radio has Game On in what would be their slot doing nicely and with Denis O'Brien owning Spin, Today FM and 98fm, and them wanting three to four hours to be dedicated to their show daily, their options were all but nonexistent.

wnolan1992

super_furry wrote: »

The problem for them is that there was never really anywhere for them to go. RTE radio has Game On in what would be their slot doing nicely and with Denis O'Brien owning Spin, Today FM and 98fm, and them wanting three to four hours to be dedicated to their show daily, their options were all but nonexistent.

I thought they'd get the Game On slot when they left tbh.

foxtrot101

Bard wrote: »

Seems like stating the bleedin' obvious but... Who wants to pay 5 salaries for just one show?

Including the presenter, 4 people are working on Game On. So that's 4 salaries for a one hour show with an audience of around 20,000. Off the ball was a 3 hour show. Newstalk presenters list off the production staff at the end of each show. The Breakfast Show, Pat Kenny, Moncrieff and the Right Hook all have at least 6 people working on them(presenter included). RTE shows, simply because it's RTE, probably have more.

The 5 of them wouldn't have to be employed directly by RTE. It could all be done via an independent production company. RTE is mandated to a have a certain number of these type of shows in any case.

L1011

foxtrot101 wrote: »

Including the presenter, 4 people are working on Game On. So that's 4 salaries for a one hour show with an audience of around 20,000. Off the ball was a 3 hour show. Newstalk presenters list off the production staff at the end of each show. The Breakfast Show, Pat Kenny, Moncrieff and the Right Hook all have at least 6 people working on them(presenter included). RTE shows, simply because it's RTE, probably have more.

The 5 of them wouldn't have to be employed directly by RTE. It could all be done via an independent production company. RTE is mandated to a have a certain number of these type of shows in any case.

Its likely that the production staff on Game On work on other shows than just it. So unless they were willing to either work on other content or for an indepedent production house to suck up the costs, its still an added cost.

soc160

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

I'm sure they're getting paid something but would be the IT be paying five guys a living wage for two hours per week of a 'product' that's pretty marginal to the paper's main mission? AFAIK the tv series was just a one-off four episode thing, no idea whether RTE plans to commission any more. IMO Eoin, Ken & Richey would be the ideal replacements for Billo et all but again I have no idea whether RTE have any plans in this direction.

The new media thing is all very well but how many people have been able to make a buck out of it? If the lads were to set up on their own as the second captains daily podcast or whatever, do you think they would be able to live off it?

Sadlier already has work there as we know but the lads wouldn't just slot in like that, Ken would be fine as a panelist but there isn't a need for a host, Murph would have no role and two prdoucers can't just walk in and take over. Also, the joy of them as a group is the variety of sports they cover, at RTE people seem to be pigeon holing them as football pundits.

Expunge wrote: »

So the conundrum of how to make traditional newspapers make money online has been solved!!
Just get five lads who spat the dummy from the pram with their employers to host a podcast loosely attached to your brand and all will be well!

Why didn't anyone think of it before?
Unless these lads have other jobs, this does not seem sustainable. Nice hobby though.

They are, of course, much better than the FAS course lads doing Off The Ball now. It's a shame they are not still on it.
A podcast should be offered as an add on to a live radio show - especially a sports show.

Ye, in the long run it may not be sustainable, but IT might be able to build off the publicity the lads generate. The problem is that they don't want to work on radio it seems, it doesn't suit and they have more flexibility with podcasting, we have to take it at face value and assume they get decent money for their work because they still do it.

Expunge

I wouldn't take it as a given that they don't want to work in radio anymore. I heard that they - or some of them - had been in to the last Head of 2FM to see if something could be arranged.
Taking on 5 people for one strand even in RTE was not a runner.
They're trying to get fellas out the door over there - not take on more.

They are young men. It's time for each of them to go their own way and develop themselves professionally in their various ways back on the traditional media and see what happens in the future.

Loafing Oaf

soc160 wrote: »

Sadlier already has work there as we know but the lads wouldn't just slot in like that, Ken would be fine as a panelist but there isn't a need for a host, Murph would have no role and two prdoucers can't just walk in and take over. Also, the joy of them as a group is the variety of sports they cover, at RTE people seem to be pigeon holing them as football pundits.

I believe Billo is retiring after next year's World Cup, and Giles is in his mid 70s. Seems to me like the right time for a total overhaul of football coverage. It's really the dynamic of the OTB Football Show I want to see replicated on tv, and Eoin as host Ken as panelist seems the way to do that, possibly with Richie and one other panelist.

soc160

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

I believe Billo is retiring after next year's World Cup, and Giles is in his mid 70s. Seems to me like the right time for a total overhaul of football coverage. It's really the dynamic of the OTB Football Show I want to see replicated on tv, and Eoin as host Ken as panelist seems the way to do that, possibly with Richie and one other panelist.

But... my point above was that people are pigeon holing them into being football people, Ken is the football pundit, Eoin is a host but beyond that the other 3 won't fit in... We also have to take into account that this is the national broadcaster we are talking about, it's about seniority there, I just cannot see RTE bringing in a new host above the heads of the guys who have been there for years and bring in 2/3 producers with very little TV experience and give them one of the biggest gigs in the place...

It is plausible that Ken could work there as a pundit. Eoin could be a host but would need to start off at the bottom and work his way up, but that's it. Some people glorify the lads and say they can do this and that, but in reality Irish Media is small and they have burnt bridges with one sector already. They are good at what they do but the next move for them isn't clear and what they have now is a good deal.

Loafing Oaf

soc160 wrote: »

But... my point above was that people are pigeon holing them into being football people, Ken is the football pundit, Eoin is a host but beyond that the other 3 won't fit in... We also have to take into account that this is the national broadcaster we are talking about, it's about seniority there, I just cannot see RTE bringing in a new host above the heads of the guys who have been there for years and bring in 2/3 producers with very little TV experience and give them one of the biggest gigs in the place...

It is plausible that Ken could work there as a pundit. Eoin could be a host but would need to start off at the bottom and work his way up, but that's it. Some people glorify the lads and say they can do this and that, but in reality Irish Media is small and they have burnt bridges with one sector already. They are good at what they do but the next move for them isn't clear and what they have now is a good deal.

But there is going to be a vacancy for presenting internationals and CL if Bill retires. And Eoin has fairly extensive experience presenting for Setanta at this stage. Accepted that RTE generally goes by seniority so it'll probably be Daragh Moloney stepping into Bill's shoes, but I wouldn't say it was out of the question that Ryle Nugent, as an ex-commentator himself, would take a punt on Eoin as a more incisive, 'street' type of presenter than Moloney or Collins. And to get the best out of Eoin you need Ken as his sidekick.

Re the rest of the Second Captains posse I don't really care, well I quite like Murph but don't really see where he fits in on tv, unless they do more Soccer AM type stuff. And Ken is almost exclusively a football guy and Eoin, while a jack of all trades, is a master of most of them too and would have much expertise in presenting football tv as anyone I can think of in Irish media.

heybaby

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

But there is going to be a vacancy for presenting internationals and CL if Bill retires. And Eoin has fairly extensive experience presenting for Setanta at this stage. Accepted that RTE generally goes by seniority so it'll probably be Daragh Moloney stepping into Bill's shoes, but I wouldn't say it was out of the question that Ryle Nugent, as an ex-commentator himself, would take a punt on Eoin as a more incisive, 'street' type of presenter than Moloney or Collins. And to get the best out of Eoin you need Ken as his sidekick.

Re the rest of the Second Captains posse I don't really care, well I quite like Murph but don't really see where he fits in on tv, unless they do more Soccer AM type stuff. And Ken is almost exclusively a football guy and Eoin, while a jack of all trades, is a master of most of them too and would have much expertise in presenting football tv as anyone I can think of in Irish media.

Billo said publicly when he was promoting his autobiography this time last year that Darragh will be his replacement and that he supports that decision.

Expunge

Football TV pundits are all now ex-pros. Earley is not an ex-pro, so he won't end up there.
Bill O' Herlihy had a 20 year career under his belt in news, current affairs and print journalism before he started anchoring football coverage on RTE TV. He was and is considered to be a heavy-weight.
Eoin McDevitt is a cult success and a presenter I like, but 'street' is probably not a consideration for such a position as O'Herlihy's.
Their well known problems with authority as demonstrated by their mass resignation from Newstalk will dog them for a while yet.
RTE middle and upper management, with the very odd exception it seems to me, do not take punts. They protect their arses and fill their pensions.

The best thing those lads could do now is apply for jobs in RTE news and current affairs the next time they advertise - like the rest of the great unwashed - and take it from there.

A P

Expunge wrote: »

Football TV pundits are all now ex-pros. Earley is not an ex-pro, so he won't end up there.

Don't forget Ken's a Marseille trialist - that has to count for something

Temaz

They are just not that good. Early is easily the biggest and most pompous jackass to be on Irish radio in many a year.

The TV show was just terrible.

Having them off mainstream radio/TV is win win for me.

foxtrot101

Temaz wrote: »

They are just not that good. Early is easily the biggest and most pompous jackass to be on Irish radio in many a year.

I know it may come as a bit of a shock, but a lot of people actually like him.

I'm happy enough with the podcasts, for me, another two football shows per week would be ideal. The obvious way for the Irish Times to make the podcasts pay for themselves is to have adverts in them. There was one for liberty insurance when they first went to four shoes a week, but none since. Surely an exact number of a specific demographic group wouldn't be that hard to sell to advertisers.

Swiper the fox

Ken is a brilliant football journalist but he's not a natural radio presenter, he won't be stuck for work in the print field. Eoin was/is a very good front man and likeable to boot, something Ger Gilroy will never be, sometimes I wish Cian Murtagh would give him a box, he treats him like an idiot. Murph was just pointless, his speciality was supposed to be GAA but despite their many deficiencies Wooly and Gizzy are better at that particular task, I just wish they wouldn't involve themselves in everything else, Christ they are a pair of annoying fools.

The upshot as I see it is that there is nowhere for the second captains to go, they had a great show but they threw their toys out of the pram and their replacements are perfectly adequate.

Temaz

Swiper the fox wrote: »

The upshot as I see it is that there is nowhere for the second captains to go, they had a great show but they threw their toys out of the pram and their replacements are perfectly adequate.

It's always great to see people who got a bit big for their boots brought back down to earth.

foxtrot101

Temaz wrote: »

It's always great to see people who got a bit big for their boots brought back down to earth.

We all get our kicks in different ways, I suppose:rolleyes:.

This "too big for their boots" thing has been leveled at them a lot since last march. I don't see it that way. They were on a late evening radio show being paid feck all. They took it as far as it could go and left to try something else, which may or may not work out in the long term - best of luck to them.

soc160

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

But there is going to be a vacancy for presenting internationals and CL if Bill retires. And Eoin has fairly extensive experience presenting for Setanta at this stage. Accepted that RTE generally goes by seniority so it'll probably be Daragh Moloney stepping into Bill's shoes, but I wouldn't say it was out of the question that Ryle Nugent, as an ex-commentator himself, would take a punt on Eoin as a more incisive, 'street' type of presenter than Moloney or Collins. And to get the best out of Eoin you need Ken as his sidekick.

Re the rest of the Second Captains posse I don't really care, well I quite like Murph but don't really see where he fits in on tv, unless they do more Soccer AM type stuff. And Ken is almost exclusively a football guy and Eoin, while a jack of all trades, is a master of most of them too and would have much expertise in presenting football tv as anyone I can think of in Irish media.

I wouldn't agree that he has extensive experience, he has some, but not fronting a major sports show with up to a million people viewers, he is never going to walk in as the main presenter. Like it or not someone like Craig Doyle has more experience in that field from covering rugby. It's not a dig at Eoin, he spent years in radio not tv.

I suppose your second point is probably one a good few people have but they aren't going to seperate like that after so many years together.

Strongbow10

McDevitt would be a great replacement for Bill O'Herlihy, but as other posters pointed it out, it doesn't work like that. Not enough "paying your dues" unfortunately.

Maloney is a perfect middle of the road (solid if unspectacular) anchor in the world of RTE.

RTE have a terrific opportunity to revolutionise their football coverage and move with the times. No more insulting the viewers with Dunphy's guff and Giles agreement that folks label "top quality entertainment".

You can be entertainining and confrontational aswell as genuinely insightful and good at your job. The current incumbents have mastered the former but never the latter.

McDevitt as host, Ken Early (who although im not a huge fan, id love to see him nail Dunphy to the wall and calll him out on some of his nonsense live on air), Richie Sadlier and Brian Kerr would be a good combo in my opinion.

Temaz

Strongbow10 wrote: »

McDevitt as host, Ken Early (who although im not a huge fan, id love to see him nail Dunphy to the wall and calll him out on some of his nonsense live on air), Richie Sadlier and Brian Kerr would be a good combo in my opinion.

Early was exposed on the TV show. Sat there staring into space, a complete non entity. Hopefully the disaster of the TV show will see them consigned to podcast land for good.

wnolan1992

Temaz wrote: »

Early was exposed on the TV show. Sat there staring into space, a complete non entity. Hopefully the disaster of the TV show will see them consigned to podcast land for good.

I disagree actually. I thought that on the second episode of the show Early was actually given a chance to speak (he did a segment with old RTE clips if I recall correctly) and it was one of the highlights for me. He was really underused in the TV show IMO, which I think was because there was so little soccer coverage.

Now, I could be completely wrong, maybe he'd be utterly awful, but I wouldn't write him off based on what were essentially four pilots.

And anyone who can't see that McDevitt is one of the most talented sports hosts and interviewers on the scene right now is deluded tbh.

Strongbow10

Temaz wrote: »

Early was exposed on the TV show. Sat there staring into space, a complete non entity. Hopefully the disaster of the TV show will see them consigned to podcast land for good.

Early is excellent when giving his own opinion therefore the role of pundit would suit him far better than acting as a host. You are quite right, he looked like a fish out of water on the live show but the role was mainly a presenting role.

When he is being pushed for an opinion himself (as the guests were on that show) then that's where he is comfortable.

Temaz

I'm sure what the country needs is Ken Early reciting William Blake while pontificating to the dumb Irish football fan about his views on the 4-3-3 formation:rolleyes:

Or he'd continue his form so far on TV and stare into space.

podmu80

Temaz wrote: »

I'm sure what the country needs is Ken Early reciting William Blake while pontificating to the dumb Irish football fan about his views on the 4-3-3 formation:rolleyes:

Or he'd continue his form so far on TV and stare into space.

Couldn't agree more. I enjoy kens rambles, but they are most definitely suited to radio. Would not work on tv. Eoin would make an excellent anchor imo.

ballsymchugh

no one should take their RTE stint as an example of what they should aim for. that was commissioned by the comedy or entertainment dept. look at the stints they did on italksport on setanta about 3 or 4 years ago. eoin regularly presented, and ken was regularly a pundit. it was a very good show without any bells attached. the RTE stint was just entertainment, not really a sports show.

agree with the previous poster re having ken early have a proper interview with dunphy to call him out on the shyte he comes out with. i mentioned it over on the podcast thread but the plamasing that EMcD did in front of dunphy a few weeks ago when ken was away was extremely cringeworthy. sounded like 2 lads who had gripes against denis o'brien giving each other pats on the back.
EMcD is a very good interviewer, but lost some kudos that time.

Mumha

Temaz wrote: »

Early was exposed on the TV show. Sat there staring into space, a complete non entity. Hopefully the disaster of the TV show will see them consigned to podcast land for good.

Nonsense, it was an odd format that got better each show. Early is an excellent interviewer as well but the format on that show gave him little chance to show what he's good at.

If they get the chance to do further episodes after Christmas, I expect them to have refined things further.

soc160

Mumha wrote: »

Nonsense, it was an odd format that got better each show. Early is an excellent interviewer as well but the format on that show gave him little chance to show what he's good at.

If they get the chance to do further episodes after Christmas, I expect them to have refined things further.

It was only a few episodes and your right in saying it was an odd format. It's not fair to judge ken on that, bring a pundit is much different. We seen in the series that Eoin is a good interviewer on TV but neither of these points should necessarily be used to promote or demote the argument for them to anchor the soccer coverage on RTE, there are other factors, mostly beyond their control that mean they won't make that switch.

The_Captain

It's a shame because OTB was one of the best shows on radio. I don't buy into the whole too big for their boots stuff, they were working in an appalling timeslot and yet managed to smash it out of the park ratings wise. I cant blame them for wanting a better timeslot or more money.

I don't listen to newstalk at all anymore, they have absolutely nothing to make me want to switch over

Henwin

what timeslot wud you give them. I reckon tats the best they cud hope for. no radio station wud give them any prime time slot for sport before 6.

I wud love if RTE gave them a show on Saturdays similar to Sports Stadium years ago. anyone remember that. It was such a great show for sports enthuasts. I was a young one back in the day watching it.
It used to be on from 12 to 6 I think.
It covered a wide range of sports, i can honestly say that i knew how every rugby club in the country was doing because of the coverage they gave it.
This cud be a great opportunity for the off the ball team to have a tv show.
each of them cud concentrate on their own sports with a results section for the last half hour. RTE are reallty losing out now as they dont have premier league highlights anymore so this cud be an option where they are giving live scores and opinions on how each game is going.
they cud still do their podcasts during the week

foxtrot101

Henwin wrote: »

what timeslot wud you give them. I reckon tats the best they cud hope for. no radio station wud give them any prime time slot for sport before 6.

Talksport has had a drivetime sports show since 1998. It works from then, so it's not such a mad idea.

The_Captain

A drive time sports slot would be too male-focused, and it's no secret newstalk are desperate to get women listening in.

foxtrot101

The_Captain wrote: »

A drive time sports slot would be too male-focused, and it's no secret newstalk are desperate to get women listening in.

This is true, but a compromise of a 6.30pm start (while still keeping the Right Hook at 3 hours) would have been the way to go. A second captains show starting at 6pm on 2fm would work I think. It's just desperate for listeners full stop.