Newstalk - Breakfast Show

squonk

I heard about 10 minutes of the Newstalk Breakfast show this morning and wasn't too impressed. First off, Ivan Yeats was interviewing some guy from Donegal about the upcoming local/EU elections and would have given Boo Boo from Yogi Bear a run for his money in the yappy, excited, annoying stakes. The whole thing was far too animated and excited for that hour of the morning. I felt I was in work already with various people breathing down my neck looking for things to be done.

Next up was Chris with his exquisitely, painstakingly perfectly pronounced T's, rambling on about some court case in his drab D4 accent like it was actually important but it all ended up sounding very drab and forgetable.

I exited just before the sport and, while Christ was talking to the court reported, they obviously slipped some downers into Ivan's coffer because he sounded depressed and all tapped out when introducing the sports guy.

It's a fairly rubbish station in general. Not sure why anybody would want to listen to a bunch of middle aged guys drone on all the time. Nothing like some music to lighten the tone I always find.

maxwell smart

I like it.....I'll get me coat!

wandatowell

Yatesy is great. Knows how politics works and is able to decipher the crap that gets shoved down our mouths from other news outlets and papers.

Chris is just there to fill the gaps when Ivan manages to close his mouth.


I enjoy the show, it works well enough. I wont be switching over anytime soon.

SEPT 23 1989

Listening to Morning Ireland is like being stuck in a classroom

Newstalk breakfast treats its audience like adults

mike65

I listen to Radio 4 mainly.

byronbay2

OP, you sound like more of a 2fm/Today FM kind of person, rather than NewsTalk (the clue is in the Station name). Did you ever hear of a gentleman named Tony Fenton - he would rock your world!

YellowFeather

I like Newstalk Breakfast. It's informative enough and quite light - grand for morning listening. Admittedly it can be a bit cringy at times - particularly some of the 'banter' between the lads when you can hear Chris genuinely wants to poke Ivan's eyes out with a spoon, but overall I enjoy their presenting style.

Mr Pseudonym

I urge the OP to listen to the programme for longer than ten minutes, and to listen to Kenny and the weekend output, before branding the station "fairly rubbish in general".

wnolan1992

YellowFeather wrote: »

I like Newstalk Breakfast. It's informative enough and quite light - grand for morning listening. Admittedly it can be a bit cringy at times - particularly some of the 'banter' between the lads when you can hear Chris genuinely wants to poke Ivan's eyes out with a spoon, but overall I enjoy their presenting style.

Sums the show up for me.

I listen to it for about an hour each morning when getting ready for work. It's by far the best option at that hour as I don't really like Dempsey, wouldn't listen to the 2FM show if I was paid, and SPIN doesn't have enough talk for me.

Declan A Walsh

I often listen to Newstalk in the morning (when I'm not anoraking!). I quite enjoy Ivan and Chris, particularly when they are talking politics and especially when joined by Shane Coleman for the political analysis. I certainly would prefer that to listening to two or three people talking absolute rubbish and trying to be funny, and I'm not a great fan of Ian Dempsey's show - no problem with Ian himself. At times, when things get too heavy or involved on Newstalk, I will switch to music, usually TXFM or Nova.

A couple of clarifications for the OP: Chris is from Drimnagh (definitely not D4) and turned/turns 30 this year (barely middle-aged). The sports guy alluded to is none other than Richie McCormack, late of Phantom FM.

foxtrot101

I like it. Chris's diction does wreck my head at times though. I gave up on Morning Ireland when some idiot in RTE thought it would be a good idea to let Claire Byrne present it.

pc7

I really enjoy the breakfast show now Ivan is back, especially now with an election coming up. His poacher turned gamekeeper insight is great.

mikep

I often switch over from R1 for the paper review, I find Ivan would be better if he stopped trying to be "a bit of a lad" with the banter type stuff he comes out with sometimes, just going for a reaction, although he can do insightful interviews getting to the crux of issues where others fail. His insght into the workings of the dail and political parties is sometimes good.

ballsymchugh

breakfast show then. first post of millions.

//MOD

People this is not the off topic thread so please return to Newstalk Breakfast show or I'll be handing out bans esp. relating to the upcoming referendum...

//MOD

bbability

yes there is hence the closure of the megathread. If someone wants to discuss a particular show on Newstalk they can start a thread.

nicedryturf

Ivan on the meaning of NIMBY: "not in my back door" apparently.

Chris' response was pretty great: "People of Ireland, rise up and say... NOT IN MY BACK DOOR!"

leakyboots

Thought the presenter from Global Village who is having a baby with her lesbian partner spoke very well this morning. Kicked out of the house at 17 after she told her Jehovah's Witness parents she was gay, mother asks her recently 'Are you normal yet?'. Mind boggles

Claude Burgundy

leakyboots wrote: »

Thought the presenter from Global Village who is having a baby with her lesbian partner spoke very well this morning. Kicked out of the house at 17 after she told her Jehovah's Witness parents she was gay, mother asks her recently 'Are you normal yet?'. Mind boggles

1st time for everything, normally shes on a irish, white, man, non traveller bashing agenda.

McDave

Recent JNLR data rated Breakfast the most popular Newstalk show. Pretty impressive going, especially after it looked like the wheels were coming off during the Nora months.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/media-and-marketing/radio-1-audience-slips-as-tubridy-newstalk-breakfast-grow-1.1991313

Together with PK and Hook (to be replaced in due course by Shane Coleman?), Newstalk looks like a really serious proposition now. Breakfast has really settled, and Ivan and Chris have got the banter balance right, after the dodgy pre-Nora effort.

tampopo

leakyboots wrote: »

Thought the presenter from Global Village who is having a baby with her lesbian partner spoke very well this morning. Kicked out of the house at 17 after she told her Jehovah's Witness parents she was gay, mother asks her recently 'Are you normal yet?'. Mind boggles

Not surprising so that she has such a chirpy disposition, getting away from that pair of eejits. Fair play to her...Her name is not difficult to pronounce though. Apart from the bashing mentioned above, she goes on about this a lot!!!

Muff Richardson

jeez, this thread died a death since that power tripping mod needlessly closed the megathread.

if anyone is listening, did anyone hear yates take on that muppet bobby kerr this morning? very entertaining, calling him out for what he is. fair play to him.

anyone there??? anyone???

neris

Muff Richardson wrote: »

jeez, this thread died a death since that power tripping mod needlessly closed the megathread.

if anyone is listening, did anyone hear yates take on that muppet bobby kerr this morning? very entertaining, calling him out for what he is. fair play to him.

anyone there??? anyone???

yeah i heard it was a good filleting. got the feeling yates has no time for bobby

Also what is the point of the business show before breakfast? its a waste of a filler slot. theres about 15 minutes of an actual show. at 750 this morning bobby says he off for a traffic report which turns into an ad break he comes back and says thats it from me now lets take the traffic. Ian Guider use to do the same

Expunge

Has Ian Guider left Newstalk?
Heard him last Friday morning saying it was his last Business Breakfast show.
There is now no business reporter on during the Newstalk Breakfast, which is a weakness if left like that.
I liked that early business show from 6:30 and thought Guider was very good on it. A good business journalist if not the best broadcaster in the world.

It sure beats Shay Byrne playing with himself over on Radio One.

Also, I enjoyed Bobby Kerr becoming precious and defensive with Yeats over his role in this Post Office Talking Shop that he's chairman of, this morning.

When Yeats suggested that maybe selling Mars Bars might be the only way to save rural Post Offices, Kerr didn't like it much, calling for a bit of respect.
Yeats then reminded Kerr that he was a rural TD for 20 years and so the dick measuring continued. Enjoyable.

Claude Burgundy

Yeats really is a breath of fresh air on irish radio, he doesn't care who he talks about and what he says about them.

Listening to Hook climb up Aer Lingus arse the other evens just showed the difference.

nicedryturf

Expunge wrote: »

When Yeats suggested that maybe selling Mars Bars might be the only way to save rural Post Offices, Kerr didn't like it much, calling for a bit of respect.
Yeats then reminded Kerr that he was a rural TD for 20 years and so the dick measuring continued. Enjoyable.

That was enjoyable but for the most part his smart-alecky, contrary-for-the-sake-of-it routine just makes me tired.

Since Chris O'Donohoe got the gig with UTV he seems to be really ratcheting it up. Maybe he's trying to raise his profile and become a sort of Jeremy Clarkson-type hate figure.

Newstalk Breakfast is still better than most of the alternatives. I still listen. I'm half expecting Yeats to eventually push it too far with some extraordinary bad-taste joke that sees him adding "broadcaster" to his list of failed careers.

Itssoeasy

Expunge wrote: »

Has Ian Guider left Newstalk?
Heard him last Friday morning saying it was his last Business Breakfast show.
There is now no business reporter on during the Newstalk Breakfast, which is a weakness if left like that.
I liked that early business show from 6:30 and thought Guider was very good on it. A good business journalist if not the best broadcaster in the world.
.

He has he has joined the sunday business post.

foxtrot101

Expunge wrote: »

Has Ian Guider left Newstalk?
Heard him last Friday morning saying it was his last Business Breakfast show.
There is now no business reporter on during the Newstalk Breakfast, which is a weakness if left like that.
I liked that early business show from 6:30 and thought Guider was very good on it. A good business journalist if not the best broadcaster in the world.

Yeah he knows his stuff, but didn't have the best of voices for radio.

Muff Richardson

nicedryturf wrote: »

Newstalk Breakfast is still better than most of the alternatives. I still listen. I'm half expecting Yeats to eventually push it too far with some extraordinary bad-taste joke that sees him adding "broadcaster" to his list of failed careers.

He's coming close alright, this mornings offering was some kind of smug put down on eastern European cleaners and how Shane has one running around cleaning up after his mess in the house.

While I'm no big fan of Ivan as a person, he's very entertaining on radio and he does say what he wants, puts it up to waffling politicians always and doesn't suffer fools easily. It is also just a nice break from listening to Chris Donoghue's boring populist claptrap.

I don't agree at all with you saying he has a list of failed careers. People rarely exit politics in a whirlwind of glory, if ever, and considering the difficulties he faced as minister of Ag. with BSE crisis he did quite well, he was actually tipped to take over the party but bowed out of politics altogether...I would say that's as successful a politician he could have been and exited on a high. His Celtic bookmaker business was very successful until the downturn and its downfall was not related to his ineptitude as a businessman, he also did his best to keep the business afloat and keep his employees in work. The business failed, but it wasn't necessary a failed career of his. I should emphasise, I do think hes a bit of a b*llocks though, definitely not someone you would want as a husband or dad.

nicedryturf

Muff Richardson wrote: »

He's coming close alright, this mornings offering was some kind of smug put down on eastern European cleaners and how Shane has one running around cleaning up after his mess in the house.

While I'm no big fan of Ivan as a person, he's very entertaining on radio and he does say what he wants, puts it up to waffling politicians always and doesn't suffer fools easily. It is also just a nice break from listening to Chris Donoghue's boring populist claptrap.

I don't agree at all with you saying he has a list of failed careers. People rarely exit politics in a whirlwind of glory, if ever, and considering the difficulties he faced as minister of Ag. with BSE crisis he did quite well, he was actually tipped to take over the party but bowed out of politics altogether...I would say that's as successful a politician he could have been and exited on a high. His Celtic bookmaker business was very successful until the downturn and its downfall was not related to his ineptitude as a businessman, he also did his best to keep the business afloat and keep his employees in work. The business failed, but it wasn't necessary a failed career of his. I should emphasise, I do think hes a bit of a b*llocks though, definitely not someone you would want as a husband or dad.

Yep, point taken. In fairness, he wasn't a bad minister. My dad, a farmer himself, thought he was the best we've had in a while. Also, if I was drawing a pension of €70+ a year, I could hardly say it was failed career!

On the betting shops... I worked for an online gambling company for a few years there and even before Celtic went under, a lot of people thought Yates was mad to be opening shops instead of investing that money in an online presence. Again though, he tried to do OK by his staff even when things started to go a***ways.

Muff Richardson

nicedryturf wrote: »

On the betting shops... I worked for an online gambling company for a few years there and even before Celtic went under, a lot of people thought Yates was mad to be opening shops instead of investing that money in an online presence. Again though, he tried to do OK by his staff even when things started to go a***ways.

didn't realise that, I guess the business model of his was fairly flawed. its not like online gambling was in its infancy or anything. he's stuck in the stone age as far as an awful lot of things are concerned.

haven't had enough interest to get his book but may do at some stage, reviews are good on amazon but will probably until i see it in one of those cardboard boxes at a farmers market stall with a 50c sticker.

Meathlass

I've read his book. Interesting, enjoyed it. He didn't go into the online business as his long term goal was to sell the shops, hopefully to William Hill (I think) who already had an online presence and he didn't see the need to replicate it. He almost had a deal done when the recession started and they pulled out. Another 6 months and he would have been laughing. I would query all the debt he took on though he wasn't the only one.

I like his analysis and he's great on the election shananagians. He and Chris are a good match.

mikep

I seem to be in a minority here but I can't stand Ivan.
He really believes in the idea that he somehow still has the inside track on all goings on in Leinster Hse, particulalry in FG although he hasn't been involved in a meaningful way in almost 15 years.
He is quite happy to deride all and sundry but don't dare mention his €74 k pension.
The overwhelming impression I get is that his ego is massive and all he says is gospel and anyone who disagrees is a gob****e.
I don't think he adds anything to the show and I'd listen more if he was gone.
At the mo. I only switch over to the show for the paper review as I used to listen more but he drove me to switch.

Meathlass

I've heard Ivan say this before and he mentions it in his book so it may explain his radio 'personality'. He was coached by Carr Communications when he first went into media work a few years ago and Anton Savage told him that he had to be entertaining and say something memorable. Otherwise no one would remember who he was as he would be too bland and that's not how to play the game. He doesn't make any excuses and doesn't pretend that he's a journalist - I think he's the perfect foil to Chris and they work well together.

suicide_circus

Chris' forced way of making sure he pronounces every letter in a word is irritating.

Crumbs868

Was this week the first sign of Chris's burnout? Took the week off from breakfast show but continued presenting late news on utv? Can't be easy finishing work at utv so late and up so early the next morning for breakfast show.

Maybe sees his future on tv

Loafing Oaf

Crumbs868 wrote: »

Can't be easy finishing work at utv so late and up so early the next morning for breakfast show.

Pretty punishing schedule aye. Maybe sleeping during the day is the way to go for someone with those working hours...

Shiraz 4.99

I see their figures are up 31% yoy (12% alone last quarter). I enjoy Ivan & wonder if he's shines on Hook's seat when he goes.

wnolan1992

Shiraz 4.99 wrote: »

I see their figures are up 31% yoy (12% alone last quarter). I enjoy Ivan & wonder if he's shines on Hook's seat when he goes.

You'd wonder would they want to mess with Breakfast right now, when it seems to be working well. Would they risk breaking up the partnership when it's been proven in the past that there is little appetite for it (see Norah Casey...).

If they brought Matt Cooper over to Hook's slot, they'd have a pretty unbeatable line-up 7am-7pm in terms of talk radio IMO.

Bellerstring

Is that yer wan who does the radio ad for to switch to Eircell electricity or something?
You know, Angel feathers and Chopras and stuff...?

Claude Burgundy

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Pretty punishing schedule aye. Maybe sleeping during the day is the way to go for someone with those working hours...

Its not really. 5 am to maybe 12pm. Then 8pm to 11:30 ish. No worse than a split shift that any other worker would do.

He can easily get a full 8 hrs sleep during the day. I have a feeling his house move a while ago was to make the double job easier. He seems very career driven so he made a decision to do this.

Skid X

Claude Burgundy wrote: »

Its not really. 5 am to maybe 12pm. Then 8pm to 11:30 ish. No worse than a split shift that any other worker would do.

He can easily get a full 8 hrs sleep during the day. I have a feeling his house move a while ago was to make the double job easier. He seems very career driven so he made a decision to do this.

You can't compare doing two live high profile Broadcasting jobs to "a split shift that any other worker would do". It's not like stacking shelves in Supervalu. He will burn out very quickly if he keeps up both gigs.

Claude Burgundy

Skid X wrote: »

You can't compare doing two live high profile Broadcasting jobs to "a split shift that any other worker would do". It's not like stacking shelves in Supervalu. He will burn out very quickly if he keeps up both gigs.

Come on, something like a junior doctor doing 36 hr shifts, now that would cause burn out.

Reading from a prompter and listening to Ivan isn't life of death;)

wnolan1992

A former Justice Minister reviewing 50 Shades of Gray.

Ireland.

drogdub

wnolan1992 wrote: »

A former Justice Minister reviewing 50 Shades of Gray.

Ireland.

In France it would be an autobiography.

Loafing Oaf

Ivan said they've got a new full-time business guy starting, thought it a bit odd that Bobby Kerr was getting up at silly a.m. to do it put fair play to him for filling in I suppose...

mloc123

I heard the yes/no debates about the marriage referendum on Friday and this morning. I am for marriage equality but at the same time I felt the two speakers we not treated equally.

Last week the yes speaker was giving a fairly free run to talk but this morning whatever priest they had on was questioned and debated more by Chris. He seems to find it quite difficult to have a neutral point on most things.

hotmail.com

mloc123 wrote: »

I heard the yes/no debates about the marriage referendum on Friday and this morning. I am for marriage equality but at the same time I felt the two speakers we not treated equally.

Last week the yes speaker was giving a fairly free run to talk but this morning whatever priest they had on was questioned and debated more by Chris. He seems to find it quite difficult to have a neutral point on most things.

The bishop said today the jury is out on whether people are born gay or not. He then said that when some young people have trouble, they experiment with being gay and then went on to say that he had struggled with his own sexuality.

Just mad stuff really and mostly illogical and bigoted. What was Chris supposed to do? I thought he handled it quite well and let the bishop reveal his true bigotry.

Muff Richardson

hotmail.com wrote: »

The bishop said today the jury is out on whether people are born gay or not. He then said that when some young people have trouble, they experiment with being gay and then went on to say that he had struggled with his own sexuality.

Just mad stuff really and mostly illogical and bigoted. What was Chris supposed to do? I thought he handled it quite well and let the bishop reveal his true bigotry.

Chris's job as a journalist is to report and not become emotionally involved, charged and biased as he did. Whatever the bishop had to say, in your opinion being as bigoted, illogical or mad is totally irrelevant as to what Chris donoghues job in reporting on what should be a balanced debate.

He should've learned something from the slap on the wrist the BAI gave him a few months back for this. No doubt he works hard but he's a very poor journalist that seeks nothing more than to be liked on the airwaves and will scream the populist viewpoint from the rooftops on the airwaves in order to increase his popularity. He relishes in the Yeats bad cop role for this reason. He's a serious bottom drawer journo in my opinion.

It really doesn't matter whether his viewpoint is right or wrong, it's the job he has to do and he fails miserably in every single interview he does because of his inability to separate his emotions and thirst for acceptance and popularity with the public.

hotmail.com

Muff Richardson wrote: »

Chris's job as a journalist is to report and not become emotionally involved, charged and biased as he did. Whatever the bishop had to say, in your opinion being as bigoted, illogical or mad is totally irrelevant as to what Chris donoghues job in reporting on what should be a balanced debate.

He should've learned something from the slap on the wrist the BAI gave him a few months back for this. No doubt he works hard but he's a very poor journalist that seeks nothing more than to be liked on the airwaves and will scream the populist viewpoint from the rooftops on the airwaves in order to increase his popularity. He relishes in the Yeats bad cop role for this reason. He's a serious bottom drawer journo in my opinion.

It really doesn't matter whether his viewpoint is right or wrong, it's the job he has to do and he fails miserably in every single interview he does because of his inability to separate his emotions and thirst for acceptance and popularity with the public.

I thought he was quite reserved and could have been a lot tougher on the bishop - so much of what he said was illogical, baseless and bigoted. Journalists are meant to give tough interviews, especially if the interviewee is coming out with illogical nonsense. The same can't be said for the Yes campaigner. Could you imagine a Yes campaigner saying the jury is out on being born straight.

A lot of people found what was said by the bishop as offensive. I think this is the bigger issue than Chris' interviewing style.

Dirty Dingus McGee

I was forced to listen to this show (on the bus) for the first time ever this morning and really they need to cut out the tiresome pre rehearsed banter and Yates banging on about Man Utd like anyone gives 2 sh1ts.Terribly unprofessional in my opinion for a man in his 50's on current affairs show to be sneering about a soccer team in england losing .You'd expect a 16 year old to behave like that.

Claude Burgundy

I have to say i'm impressed with how Chris tackled the SF justice spokesman.

On a side note, SF justice spokesman is as credible as a Nazi "we love jews" spokesman.