Why are there so many news bulletins on Radio?

kencoo

Most stations have news on the hour, every hour. Granted the listeners of RTE 1/Newstalk may want it that often but Im sure listeners of 104/98 dont. Is there a licensing reason for all these bulletins or just tradition or what?

neris

Its not just news, its news every half hour, "celebrity" gossip, film reviews, whats on, token irish words and anything else that means stations dont have to play music. But there is somthing that they have to have X amount of news/talk during the day

soc160

neris wrote: »

Its not just news, its news every half hour, "celebrity" gossip, film reviews, whats on, token irish words and anything else that means stations dont have to play music. But there is somthing that they have to have X amount of news/talk during the day

Its not so they don't have to play music, more so they have to have talk and current affairs. Most stations are required to have 20% current affairs output a day with a certain percentage between 7am and 7pm. No real alternatives to news. It's a staple of Irish radio now.

L1011

Licencing and nothing else. Every independent station would dump news if they could. Some derogations have been granted to reduce to 10% for specific reasons - you can usually tell which stations as they don't have a daytime talk show.

Five Lamps

MYOB wrote: »

Licencing and nothing else. Every independent station would dump news if they could. Some derogations have been granted to reduce to 10% for specific reasons - you can usually tell which stations as they don't have a daytime talk show.

I think that most of the original local stations would keep the 20% as they benefit from it - their listeners are older and like it. Most of the newer stations music stations would drop it in a heartbeat. Further more there's no reason why niche stations should have the burden of a news room.

I suspect that many of the older stations are happy to keep it as it becomes a barrier to entry for new players.

L1011

I think the ship has sailed for new services, the financial troubles of all the newer ones lead to the cancellation of the intended regional country & Irish services (which could have done serious damage to some of the 1988-90 ILRs)

Infoanon

Five Lamps wrote: »

I suspect that many of the older stations are happy to keep it as it becomes a barrier to entry for new players.

So cynical ! and probably true.

Radio listenership is falling and intenet radio is growing, the next decade will be interesting !

NIMAN

... and don't forget the incessant competitions.