Today FM Megathread Mod warning post #1 / #1401

marno21 · 03-05-2017 06:04PM

New news jingles on Today FM this evening, sound like news jingles from a CHR package compared to the last ones.

At 6pm there Matt was playing the "it's on" money winning competition with a listener. Sounds seriously out of kilter with his show.

Trebor176 · 03-05-2017 06:34PM

marno21 wrote: »

New news jingles on Today FM this evening, sound like news jingles from a CHR package compared to the last ones.

At 6pm there Matt was playing the "it's on" money winning competition with a listener. Sounds seriously out of kilter with his show.

And the next step in the dumbing down process nears completion. The new jingles don't sound great, and do not suit a station like Today FM.

This isn't Today FM anymore. It's more like Yesterday FM at this stage. It is becoming a shadow of its former self, and will certainly be once the whole dumbing down process is complete.

It's not entirely bad, but I fear that in time, we'll lose the alternative shows, which are saving graves, in favour of more hours of charty stuff.

I don't mind the presenters at all, bar Porter, but the music is not what Today FM used to be during the day.

marno21 · 03-05-2017 06:46PM

Trebor176 wrote: »

And the next step in the dumbing down process nears completion. The new jingles don't sound great, and do not suit a station like Today FM.

This isn't Today FM anymore. It's more like Yesterday FM at this stage. It is becoming a shadow of its former self, and will certainly be once the whole dumbing down process is complete.

It's not entirely bad, but I fear that in time, we'll lose the alternative shows, which are saving graves, in favour of more hours of charty stuff.

I don't mind the presenters at all, bar Porter, but the music is not what Today FM used to be during the day.

The alternative shows are safe, as I far as I know, there's a requirement for them as part of Today FM's licence.

Ursus Horribilis · 03-05-2017 07:17PM

I'd love to know what's in the licence now. They don't appear to be obliged to broadcast in Irish - I assume Splanc on Newstalk is there as a box ticking exercise.

They also don't have an Irish music program which you'd think they'd have been made do. Are their alternative radio programs (excellent though they are) really part of their remit?

IUA14 · 03-05-2017 10:15PM

Trebor176 wrote: »

This isn't Today FM anymore. It's more like Yesterday FM at this stage. It is becoming a shadow of its former self, and will certainly be once the whole dumbing down process is complete.

It's not entirely bad, but I fear that in time, we'll lose the alternative shows, which are saving graves, in favour of more hours of charty stuff.

I don't mind the presenters at all, bar Porter, but the music is not what Today FM used to be during the day.

Haven't heard the new jingles yet but I think as far as the changes go there might be a settled period ahead. Iano is front and centre in their new ad campaign that must be costing a fortune...Matt also prominently featured so I think its safe to say they will be there for a while yet! All the other daytime presenters feature along with Louise Duffy and Paul McLoone. I think with all the schedule changes there needs to be a bedding in period for a year to see how things are going.

I agree about the music, mostly crap during the day...long gone are the days of Arcade Fire out the wazoo. I don't forsee too much dumbing down really. As for the presenters, my one big issue is Porter...but Muireann is in for him every few weeks so far so long may that continue at least...

The Parish Priest. · 03-05-2017 11:23PM

Below is an old tv ad for today fm which was made shortly after Ray Darcy joined the station www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJZIJTZUjU&itct=CBAQpDAYACITCLi-uarf1NMCFZuRVQod_joGXTILYzQtdmlkZW9zLXVaGFVDbTdYNXFRRHZtTE5CTUliSkZreWZNZ

03-05-2017 11:42PM

IUA14 wrote: »

Haven't heard the new jingles yet but I think as far as the changes go there might be a settled period ahead. Iano is front and centre in their new ad campaign that must be costing a fortune...Matt also prominently featured so I think its safe to say they will be there for a while yet! All the other daytime presenters feature along with Louise Duffy and Paul McLoone. I think with all the schedule changes there needs to be a bedding in period for a year to see how things are going.

I agree about the music, mostly crap during the day...long gone are the days of Arcade Fire out the wazoo. I don't forsee too much dumbing down really. As for the presenters, my one big issue is Porter...but Muireann is in for him every few weeks so far so long may that continue at least...

i must say whoever thought switching from decent playlists from Arcade Fire and others and now to Ed Sheeran has lost the plot completely - Hope they don't get rid of the McCloone show as its the best thing on the station.....

freddiemoore · 04-05-2017 01:24AM

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

Below is an old tv ad for today fm which was made shortly after Ray Darcy joined the station www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJZIJTZUjU&itct=CBAQpDAYACITCLi-uarf1NMCFZuRVQod_joGXTILYzQtdmlkZW9zLXVaGFVDbTdYNXFRRHZtTE5CTUliSkZreWZNZ

Glorious 140p but pretty cool. What was the Last Word with Eamon Dunphy like? Twas before my time - hard to imagine him in the Matt role though I'm sure the show has changed a lot in the 15 years or so

hufpc8w3adnk65 · 04-05-2017 07:40AM

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

Below is an old tv ad for today fm which was made shortly after Ray Darcy joined the station www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJZIJTZUjU&itct=CBAQpDAYACITCLi-uarf1NMCFZuRVQod_joGXTILYzQtdmlkZW9zLXVaGFVDbTdYNXFRRHZtTE5CTUliSkZreWZNZ

That link is giving me a 404 error?

Buford T. Justice XIX · 04-05-2017 07:46AM

freddiemoore wrote: »

Glorious 140p but pretty cool. What was the Last Word with Eamon Dunphy like? Twas before my time - hard to imagine him in the Matt role though I'm sure the show has changed a lot in the 15 years or so

Imagine Dunphy talking about Saipan fulltime.

Only worse.

_Brian · 04-05-2017 07:55AM

freddiemoore wrote: »

Glorious 140p but pretty cool. What was the Last Word with Eamon Dunphy like? Twas before my time - hard to imagine him in the Matt role though I'm sure the show has changed a lot in the 15 years or so

Dunphy was gas, listening was fun as you'd not know what he'd come out with, he was also on the sauce heavy enough which brought another dimension

JoeA3 · 04-05-2017 09:06AM

...

Ursus Horribilis · 04-05-2017 09:56AM

_Brian wrote: »

Dunphy was gas, listening was fun as you'd not know what he'd come out with, he was also on the sauce heavy enough which brought another dimension

He used to have comedy sketches in the show, written and performed by Stuart Carolan who went on to write Love Hate. Navan man and the drunken politician.

JoeA3 · 04-05-2017 10:10AM

MrMac84 wrote: »

That link is giving me a 404 error?

Here it is, in all its HD glory...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJZIJTZUjU

vkid · 04-05-2017 10:13AM

Still have no idea what they were thinking with al porter. Up there with newstalk breakfast as one of the worst shows out there. Just awful..really awful

johnire · 04-05-2017 10:16AM

Excellent post. I agree wholeheartedly about Porter. He's a huge mistake but you can tell he has absolutely no commitment to the job. He's off again doing his own thing. He's more than likely going to be missing too over Christmas and New Year as he's in the Olympia Pantomime.
I imagine by this time next year he'll be gone permanently.

IUA14 wrote: »

Haven't heard the new jingles yet but I think as far as the changes go there might be a settled period ahead. Iano is front and centre in their new ad campaign that must be costing a fortune...Matt also prominently featured so I think its safe to say they will be there for a while yet! All the other daytime presenters feature along with Louise Duffy and Paul McLoone. I think with all the schedule changes there needs to be a bedding in period for a year to see how things are going.

I agree about the music, mostly crap during the day...long gone are the days of Arcade Fire out the wazoo. I don't forsee too much dumbing down really. As for the presenters, my one big issue is Porter...but Muireann is in for him every few weeks so far so long may that continue at least...

BPKS · 04-05-2017 01:52PM

Heard the new jingles over the last few days.

The new jingles, Dermot and Dave and Al Porter for 30 hours a week - they have morphed into 2 FM.

Does the new head man realise what has happened to 2FM over the last decade and a half?

Trebor176 · 04-05-2017 02:04PM

freddiemoore wrote: »

Glorious 140p but pretty cool. What was the Last Word with Eamon Dunphy like? Twas before my time - hard to imagine him in the Matt role though I'm sure the show has changed a lot in the 15 years or so

I kind of remember Dunphy in the slot. But, what I do remember were The Navan Man sketches that used to be great. I think Stuart Carolan did the voice. There were other characters, such as The Drunken Politician and Fr. Wishywashy.

Tom Dunne appeared in a number of them as Bill Cullen, aka Dr. Bill. These were hilarious. The sketches with Dr. Bill were released on CD, and I think are on YouTube as well.

When Matt took over, they did away with the sketches. I don't recall there being any. Though, I have a feeling that he'd play a repeat of that morning's Gift Grub.

threein99 · 04-05-2017 02:54PM

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

Below is an old tv ad for today fm which was made shortly after Ray Darcy joined the station www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTJZIJTZUjU&itct=CBAQpDAYACITCLi-uarf1NMCFZuRVQod_joGXTILYzQtdmlkZW9zLXVaGFVDbTdYNXFRRHZtTE5CTUliSkZreWZNZ

Was that recorded on a Nokia 3310 ?

pjohnson · 04-05-2017 03:14PM

BPKS wrote: »

Heard the new jingles over the last few days.

The new jingles, Dermot and Dave and Al Porter for 30 hours a week - they have morphed into 2 FM.

Does the new head man realise what has happened to 2FM over the last decade and a half?

Well Al forgets he has a job and gets replaced by Muireann so thats great.

BPKS · 04-05-2017 04:41PM

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Imagine Dunphy talking about Saipan fulltime.

Only worse.

Unfair and I can only guess you didnt listen to the Last Word much back then.

First off it was on from 5-7. 2 hours suited Dunphy I'd say.

Similar mix of topics to the Last Word as you'd hear today.

There were plenty of sketches as others have said. I have a Dr Bill CD somewhere and even a double cassette of Drunken Politician sketches! Many of these were very un PC and would not see the light of day less than 20 years later.

Sport played a big part in it, always an hour on Friday like now.

He used to have Robert Fisk on regularly and there was one infamous interview with Fisk and some Israeli politician where Dunphy just kept stum cos, as he admitted afterwards, he was totally out of his depth!

I also recall Dunphy and BP Fallon on air for an hour talking music near the end of his time on the show and it was obvious that both of them were stoned.

I liked Dunphy, maybe a matter of taste. He wasnt afraid to call a spade a spade. He was a bit of craic. He was far removed from the leftie, robot-type presenters that are all too common now on Today FM and Newstalk.

Buford T. Justice XIX · 04-05-2017 04:57PM

BPKS wrote: »

Unfair and I can only guess you didnt listen to the Last Word much back then.

First off it was on from 5-7. 2 hours suited Dunphy I'd say.

Similar mix of topics to the Last Word as you'd hear today.

There were plenty of sketches as others have said. I have a Dr Bill CD somewhere and even a double cassette of Drunken Politician sketches! Many of these were very un PC and would not see the light of day less than 20 years later.

Sport played a big part in it, always an hour on Friday like now.

He used to have Robert Fisk on regularly and there was one infamous interview with Fisk and some Israeli politician where Dunphy just kept stum cos, as he admitted afterwards, he was totally out of his depth!

I also recall Dunphy and BP Fallon on air for an hour talking music near the end of his time on the show and it was obvious that both of them were stoned.

I liked Dunphy, maybe a matter of taste. He wasnt afraid to call a spade a spade. He was a bit of craic. He was far removed from the leftie, robot-type presenters that are all too common now on Today FM and Newstalk.

I don't think it's unfair. I listened all the time and enjoyed Robert Fisk but if Dunphy had a viewpoint, he did tend to ram it down your throat and i felt there was a lack of balance in the interviews a lot of the time.

Saying that, current affairs on the station has gone very left of center and PC since.

nc6000 · 04-05-2017 09:50PM

pjohnson wrote: »

Well Al forgets he has a job and gets replaced by Muireann so thats great.

I think Muireann is quite good.

RocketRaccoon · 04-05-2017 09:53PM

I cannot understand the thinking behind giving Al Porter such a high profile slot. Who are the demographic he is being aimed at?

Ursus Horribilis · 04-05-2017 10:22PM

The yoof of Ireland, not the crusties who post on this board :pac:

04-05-2017 11:01PM

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

The yoof of Ireland, not the crusties who post on this board :pac:

Im in the age group they're looking for and I have never heard anyone raving about him - usually its more negative

04-05-2017 11:02PM

Trebor176 wrote: »

I kind of remember Dunphy in the slot. But, what I do remember were The Navan Man sketches that used to be great. I think Stuart Carolan did the voice. There were other characters, such as The Drunken Politician and Fr. Wishywashy.

Tom Dunne appeared in a number of them as Bill Cullen, aka Dr. Bill. These were hilarious. The sketches with Dr. Bill were released on CD, and I think are on YouTube as well.

When Matt took over, they did away with the sketches. I don't recall there being any. Though, I have a feeling that he'd play a repeat of that morning's Gift Grub.

The Dr Bill sketches are on Spotify if anyones looking for it

EI209 · 05-05-2017 01:55AM

I'm 17 so definitely in the age range they're targeting and I have to say I hate the 'new' Today FM. I used to listen back to the Ray Foley show podcast everyday after school years ago.

I know most of my friends who used to listen to Today FM every day have stopped.

I've heard a few people say that young people don't listen to radio ad much as older generations have done, this simply isn't true. It there was any radio that was good enough quality, people would listen regardless of age.

Today FM have got it completely wrong. I don't like Dermot and Dave, Al Porter or Fergal Darcy's shows at all.

I'm not sure what could be done with the 9-12 slot, I think the format it was in before with Anton and Ray Darcy was the right format, but it needed a different presenter. Darcy was becoming tiresome despite his high ratings (that were actually dropping) and I liked Anton and his cheerful personality, however his ratings didn't ever seem to pick up - although I do wonder if this was because he was to restricted and limited to what he could do by management, given his statement after leaving.

If it was up to me I'd like Ray Foley to be back on lunchtimes, however this is highly unlikely given his poor relationship with the station now., sadly. A show like his was perfect in this slot and to me, Dermott and Dave are a poor mans version of Ray & JP. Listening to how good Ray Foleys Red FM breakfast show is, where he is given the freedom to do what he likes, unlike when he was on 98, reminds me of how much of a loss to the national airwaves Foley is.

I also think Kelly Anne Byrne would be perfect for the 2:30-4:30 slot. Somebody who has a genuinely impressive music knowledge base and somebody who cares about the music they play to do a music based Tony Fenton type show.

I know Today FM have launched a huge advertising campaign but that won't make any difference without any quality output.

johnire · 05-05-2017 09:56AM

Then Ireland is doomed!!!

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

The yoof of Ireland, not the crusties who post on this board :pac:

Macy0161 · 05-05-2017 10:03AM

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Saying that, current affairs on the station has gone very left of center and PC since.

Not so sure about that. They've given that privatise everything GP his own soapbox every week.

Today FM Megathread Mod warning post #1 / #1401

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