The dumbing down of RTE Radio 1 over 20 years

Doblin

One time RTE Radio 1 was similar to BBC Radio 4 as it had all sorts of things in the daily schedule, drama, a radio soap, arts programs, book readings etc, then such programs moved to evenings/weekends but have now started to disappear completely. What will it be like in 10 years time ? I think it will become more and more like newstalk and Ronan Collins will eventually be replaced with more talk/phones ins

lob020

Doblin wrote: »

One time RTE Radio 1 was similar to BBC Radio 4 as it had all sorts of things in the daily schedule, drama, a radio soap, arts programs, book readings etc, then such programs moved to evenings/weekends but have now started to disappear completely. What will it be like in 10 years time ? I think it will become move and move like newstalk and Ronan Collins will eventually be replaced with more talk/phones ins

Speaking of dumbing down,what about Ryan Tubridy !!

ford fiesta

why doesn't RTE Radio 1 play the national anthem anymore? Gone for many years now..

BBC Radio 4 continue to play theirs at 1 am

padd b1975

ford fiesta wrote: »

why doesn't RTE Radio 1 play the national anthem anymore? Gone for many years now..

BBC Radio 4 continue to play theirs at 1 am

Probably afraid of offending the "new Irish".

They still play O'Donnell Abù at 05.30, although I expect that to be pulled if one of the beards out there decide to get out of bed early.

riffmongous

padd b1975 wrote: »

Probably afraid of offending the "new Irish".

They still play O'Donnell Abù at 05.30, although I expect that to be pulled if one of the beards out there decide to get out of bed early.

Nonsense

Harry Palmr

padd b1975 wrote: »

Probably afraid of offending the "new Irish".

This sort "ad hominem" throwaway comment really is tiresome and the bane of the radio forum which appears to consist largely of right wingnuts.

padd b1975

padd b1975 wrote: »

Probably afraid of offending the "new Irish".

They still play O'Donnell Abù at 05.30, although I expect that to be pulled if one of the beards out there decide to get out of bed early.

i would say the more than likely one to be offended/kick up a fuss is an outraged wan on Twitter saying it "upsets" the new irish but i would say wont give a ****e ....its always some middle class white person with nothing on their hands who kicks up a fuss with trying to find offence

Joe_ Public

Doblin wrote: »

One time RTE Radio 1 was similar to BBC Radio 4 as it had all sorts of things in the daily schedule, drama, a radio soap, arts programs, book readings etc, then such programs moved to evenings/weekends but have now started to disappear completely. What will it be like in 10 years time ? I think it will become more and more like newstalk and Ronan Collins will eventually be replaced with more talk/phones ins

In fairness I'm all for criticism where its due, but the only one of those things that has disappeared completely is the radio soap and not sure what nostalgia people have for harbour hotel and the like, I guess it had its loyal audience. There is still a daily arts show and personally I think the evening schedule is best for it though others may well disagree. I don't like a fair bit about what's changed in the schedule, but all told I think its still fairly decent for the most part.

padd b1975

Harry Palmr wrote: »

This sort "ad hominem" throwaway comment really is tiresome and the bane of the radio forum which appears to consist largely of right wingnuts.

Love the irony Harold!

its_steve116

ford fiesta wrote: »

why doesn't RTE Radio 1 play the national anthem anymore? Gone for many years now..

BBC Radio 4 continue to play theirs at 1 am

Maybe because Fianna Fail is no longer in government and playing an anthem with their name in it wouldn't be right.

kneemos

Duffy, Darcy, Tubridy, the wake that is morning Ireland.
It's a holy walking ****ing disaster of a station.

padd b1975

padd b1975 wrote: »

Probably afraid of offending the "new Irish".

This is one of the most nonsense claims I've ever seen on this Forum -- that's saying a lot.

Singing the national anthem is part of the ceremony for the naturalisation of new citizens, as is an oath of fidelity to the People and of loyalty to the State -- which oath none of us born-citizens have ever sworn, nevermind considering how many of us even know the words to the national anthem: a glance around the stadium at any Irish rugby international suggests that we are more likely to know the words to Ireland's Call than to Amhrán na bhFiann.

I have been to one of these naturalisation ceremonies and the joy on behalf of these people on being invited to become citizens is something to behold. I also have a brother-in-law who has his naturalisation certificate hanging in his living room beside photographs of his kids and his degree parchment -- that's how proud people can feel about having become Irish citizens. This isn't a mod comment, but you really need to be called out on this nonsense, it's a daft statement that you should, frankly, be ashamed of.

elperello

Maybe it's a bit like boiling a frog but I have not noticed a dumbing down over 20 years.
Remember Mike Murphy in the morning slot?

odyssey06

Are there any book readings currently?

Aside from the sunday night documentary and drama slots, I dont see much else scripted but I find the schedule info unclear.
Did there used to be more?

Seems like BBC radio makes better use of Irish talents than RTE on scripted front.

Sleeper12

its_steve116 wrote:

Maybe because Fianna Fail is no longer in government and playing an anthem with their name in it wouldn't be right.

So we'll have to listen to it again after the next election?

Sleeper12

With so many other rte stations & podcasts it makes business sense to broadcast the most popular shows live during peak times. The more obscure stuff can be heard on the other stations and podcasts I guess

Joe_ Public

odyssey06 wrote: »

Are there any book readings currently?

Aside from the sunday night documentary and drama slots, I dont see much else scripted but I find the schedule info unclear.
Did there used to be more?

Seems like BBC radio makes better use of Irish talents than RTE on scripted front.

Not sure bout the readings, havent heard them for a while in their usual slot after the 11pm news and sport, but assume it is still on lengthy summer recess and will be back.

There's also Sunday Miscellany, i guess, and the odd one-off documentary or magazine type shows they tend to fill the summer evening slots with. There probably used to be more alright, though i doubt all that much, as seems to be the schedule has remained pretty much intact for 20 or even 30 years. I recall Ronan Collins used to have a show in the afternoons, but that was in the 1980s!

padd b1975

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

This is one of the most nonsense claims I've ever seen on this Forum -- that's saying a lot.

Singing the national anthem is part of the ceremony for the naturalisation of new citizens, as is an oath of fidelity to the People and of loyalty to the State -- which oath none of us born-citizens have ever sworn, nevermind considering how many of us even know the words to the national anthem: a glance around the stadium at any Irish rugby international suggests that we are more likely to know the words to Ireland's Call than to Amhrán na bhFiann.

I have been to one of these naturalisation ceremonies and the joy on behalf of these people on being invited to become citizens is something to behold. I also have a brother-in-law who has his naturalisation certificate hanging in his living room beside photographs of his kids and his degree parchment -- that's how proud people can feel about having become Irish citizens. This isn't a mod comment, but you really need to be called out on this nonsense, it's a daft statement that you should, frankly, be ashamed of.

Nonsense you say..

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1038106/ireland-ireland-flag-tricolour-foreign-nationals

CoBo55

elperello wrote: »

Maybe it's a bit like boiling a frog but I have not noticed a dumbing down over 20 years.
Remember Mike Murphy in the morning slot?

Rotten record, loved it!! Had to belt out to school after it was played.

Harry Palmr

So in a thread about rte you quote a people before profit "loon" as reported in the Express.

Ursus Horribilis

It's trying to be all things to all men and is competing against the many other options out there now. If they broadcast an arts program, a drama or a book reading on during Joe Duffy or Ray D'Arcy's time slot these days, it'd probably have the masses switching over to something else. It is a station with a confused identity though. Who is its music policy aimed towards these days? You've got Ryan Tubridy and Ray D'Arcy who used to be on youth oriented radio stations, rubbing shoulders with Ronan Collins and his over 75s shtick.

elperello

Lilian Smith, John Creedon and Ronan Collins all have quality play lists.

KaneToad

Ronan Collins in particular I find very good. It's fascinating listening to popular music from an era before I was born. While not universally to my tastes, there is a lot of quality music there.

ford fiesta

padd b1975 wrote: »

They still play O'Donnell Abù at 05.30, although I expect that to be pulled if one of the beards out there decide to get out of bed early.

I wouldn't really call that "O'Donnell Abu"...its a shtiee orchestral version that lasts 2-3 seconds before annoying Shay Byrne comes on air with all his hyperactivity.

I remember up until the late 90s/early 00s there was time signal pips going on for minutes, silences and a longer version of O'Donnell Abu on repeat for 5 mins..and the Angelus....continuity....and straight into the news ....now that was a proper opening!!!

http://www.intervalsignals.net/Countries/ireland-rte.htm

CoBo55

Was it RTE had a lovely Jews Harp for the opening?

JohnnyFlash

The Morning Ireland line-up of Audrey Carville, Samantha Libreri, Rachel English, and Bryan Dobson is the strongest I've listened to in many decades of listening to the show. The quality of the guests, the research, and the presentation of the show would be an easy subscription for me if I had to pay for it. €15 quid a month for Morning Ireland, John Creedon, and the Doc on One would be a bargain if it had to go behind a paywall.

Thankfully we live in a country where we pay far less for the running of a great public service broadcaster, and get access to huge amounts of TV, Radio, and online offerings as a result. My TV licence subscription is the best service I subscribe to. Speaking truth to power. Long may it continue and thrive.

padd b1975

Harry Palmr wrote: »

So in a thread about rte you quote a people before profit "loon" as reported in the Express.

The fact that it's reported in the Express is irrelevant-that just happened to be the first link to come up on Google.
The former councillor's comments were made in the council chamber so they will be on record there.

Unfortunately RTE is top heavy with like minded loons which in my opinion has probably been a factor in the removal of the national anthem from the airwaves, and indeed the outdated work practices which have led to the perilous financial position it now finds itself in.

padd b1975

CoBo55 wrote: »

Was it RTE had a lovely Jews Harp for the opening?

Radio na Gaeltachta.

20 years on

Ads in commercial breaks now exhort listeners more than ever to buy these once in a lifetime golden tickets online from Ticket Master.
Some of these shows can be seen at Bord GAISSSSS energy theatre
Ensure you have your TV licence.

CoBo55

padd b1975 wrote: »

Radio na Gaeltachta.

Thanks couldn't remember which station it was, it's very nice.

Ursus Horribilis

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

The Morning Ireland line-up of Audrey Carville, Samantha Libreri, Rachel English, and Bryan Dobson is the strongest I've listened to in many decades of listening to the show...

Morning Ireland is a program I would exclude from the "dumbing down" accusation. The same with Sean O'Rourke's morning show. It's what is going on around it that's another matter entirely.

Doblin

What is the point of the Tubridy hour apart from existing so that tubs will have a cosy job ?

NIMAN

People need to hear about the latest book releases, or how great a country Ireland is.

Joe_ Public

This thread came to mind last night when i turned on R1 after 10pm and there was some dirge about old clips from the 80s or 90s and then regular talking head Pauline McLynn and some other wittering on about them like two oul biddies. Pure utter dross, a desperate dumbed down version of the superb archives show hosted by John Bowman on the weekend. That 10pm slot is a real problem one for them, apart from the mooney wildlife on monday nights, which i adore, they cant get it right. Best just to stick the night politics show there and then at least they wont absolutely balls it up.

NIMAN

I think to be fair society has dumbed down dramatically over the last decade or so, and a lot of the media outlets are simply providing what a large section of the population wants.

padd b1975

padd b1975 wrote: »

Nonsense you say..

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1038106/ireland-ireland-flag-tricolour-foreign-nationals

I do, yeah.

Matthew Waine is a Trotskyite proletarian internationalist --which is a perfectly honourable political outlook to espouse, but it does oppose national identity, and that's where he's coming from on this.

It's an extreme minority view in Ireland which has no real political support. No migrants have supported his opposition to the Irish flag being flown, and it is indeed nonsense of the highest order to suggest trotskyite internationalists are behind this, let alone migrant opposition.

Don't panic chicken the sky isn't falling.

Dr_serious2

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I do, yeah.

Matthew Waine is a Trotskyite proletarian internationalist --which is a perfectly honourable political outlook to espouse, but it does oppose national identity, and that's where he's coming from on this.

It's an extreme minority view in Ireland which has no real political support. No migrants have supported his opposition to the Irish flag being flown, and it is indeed nonsense of the highest order to suggest trotskyite internationalists are behind this, let alone migrant opposition.

Don't panic chicken the sky isn't falling.

Perfectly honourable my arse. What would Ireland look like if he could make the decisions? I shudder to think.

Dr_serious2

Dr_serious2 wrote: »

Perfectly honourable my arse. What would Ireland look like if he could make the decisions? I shudder to think.

I shudder to think of thousands of children in homelessness and direct provision but I suppose we all have different standards. We're getting off the point a bit, perhaps -- it's probably safe to just say that immigrants aren't putting pressure on RTE to cease playing Amhrán na bhFiann.

NIMAN

I didn't want to start a new thread just to have a moan, but I would often listen to rte radio 1 early in the morning, Rising Time.

Last couple of weeks I have had the misfortune to hear Keith in the morning. I think it might be the guy who used to be on during the morning and perhaps was on Republic of Telly on tv? Not sure.

But jez he is woeful. First off, he sounds like he really couldn't be bothered. He has little or no enthusiasm. Sounds bored.

And this morning he did nothing but hit wrong buttons, get intros wrong, etc. Like a guy who got couple of minutes instructions on the desk, then let loose live on air.

Terrible.

Ready4Boarding

Not dumbing down, but slimming down, which has the same effect. It’s a lot cheaper and creatively less-taxing to produce successive “magazine format” programmes.

But, difficult as it is to accept, significantly fewer people would listen if Radio 1 (most closely resembling Radio 5 Live) tried to emulate BBC R4.

Hamsterchops

Both Radio 5 Live and Radio 4 are great stations, obviously for different reasons...

I find RTE Radio One a bit parochial.

ford fiesta

NIMAN wrote: »

I didn't want to start a new thread just to have a moan, but I would often listen to rte radio 1 early in the morning, Rising Time.

Last couple of weeks I have had the misfortune to hear Keith in the morning. I think it might be the guy who used to be on during the morning and perhaps was on Republic of Telly on tv? Not sure.

But jez he is woeful. First off, he sounds like he really couldn't be bothered. He has little or no enthusiasm. Sounds bored.

And this morning he did nothing but hit wrong buttons, get intros wrong, etc. Like a guy who got couple of minutes instructions on the desk, then let loose live on air.

Terrible.

He is on 2FM also at the weekends. Previously hosted the Breakfast show on 2FM with others. Seems to be standing in a lot on Radio 1 these past few months, even on Ronan Collins show which is not suitable.
He is very dreadful and sounds like he wears a set of dentures.

limnam

We live in a time where we have an abundance of choice.

Just listen to R4/5

Beechwoodspark

It’s become a cultural wasteland after 12 noon

Sean rourkes show is decent. He is nowhere near PK level but he is acceptable

After that we get a music hour which is passable.

Then the news. OK

Duffy’s liveline.

Darcy - absolutely dreadful radio. AWFUL stuff. Cancel it! Nowhere near the quality of Mike Murphy’s arts show.

Then another news show. Boring but wholesome.

Arts show - poor. Like a local radio production.

Creedon- decent for a music show in 2019 ireland.

Late debate - not bad depending on the presenter.

Music show - very bland and forgettable.

bobbyss

ford fiesta wrote: »

He is on 2FM also at the weekends. Previously hosted the Breakfast show on 2FM with others. Seems to be standing in a lot on Radio 1 these past few months, even on Ronan Collins show which is not suitable.
He is very dreadful and sounds like he wears a set of dentures.

Choice of music not suitable for RTE1. Too poppy and too loud. It sounds just like Radio 2 FM or whatever it's called these days.

NIMAN

Notice him on Rising Time again this morning.

Is this a permanent move?
Although I think they still said to email shay@rte.

GSF

bobbyss wrote: »

Choice of music not suitable for RTE1. Too poppy and too loud. It sounds just like Radio 2 FM or whatever it's called these days.

Or maybe you are just getting old. Radio 1 needs to move with the times too otherwise it will have no listeners under 70. Playing 1990s pop that is 20 years old is not what a youth station should be doing

poteen

NIMAN wrote: »

Notice him on Rising Time again this morning.

Is this a permanent move?
Although I think they still said to email shay@rte.

Very dodgy song selection this morning too...