Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

DeanAustin · 05-03-2013 04:53PM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

surely they mean ger gilroy's project?? :P

so they've nothing lined up? that's a bad move i think.

Kamikaze I'd have thought.

Good luck to them if they believed that strongly in what they were doing that they took this course of action. I'm surprised that it's solely about an extra hour tbh.

Shame to see this happen - haven't listened to them much over the last 12 months but when I could, I did tune in over the years and they were excellent. Good bunch of lads with a real passion for sport and a good knowledge of it as well as a sense of humour (even if Ken Early is a twat). Massive loss to Newstalk.

Badabing · 05-03-2013 04:53PM

Newstalk are in very difficult position now, Is Ger 'no gravitas' Gilroy the permenant host of OTB? If so who takes over the weekend slot, and Tom Dunne is still performing very badly in the morning and that must be there top priority.

dulpit · 05-03-2013 04:57PM

Badabing wrote: »

Newstalk are in very difficult position now, Is Ger 'no gravitas' Gilroy the permenant host of OTB? If so who takes over the weekend slot, and Tom Dunne is still performing very badly in the morning and that must be there top priority.

Newstalk has gone down the swanny.

Breakfast is poor.
Tom Dunne is a bore.
Lunchtime is okay, but News at One is better.
Moncrief is good.
Hook is poor.
OTB...?
Late night is all over the place.

And Newstalk is home to Global Village... :mad:

armchair fusilier · 05-03-2013 05:02PM

sleepyman wrote: »

According to the indo McDevitt can't take up new employment for twelve weeks.
They may have resigned together but I don't see them all working on a similar project on another station/platform unless they already have something lined up.
Really enjoyed the show and while I don't mind Ger Gilroy it won't be the same.

A station source told the Independent that a contract clause states that employees Ken Early, Simon Hick, Ciaran Murphy and Mark Horgan will work out a four week period at Newstalk Radio.
However, the sports programme’s host McDevitt must adhere to a 12 week notice period before being able to join any rival station, meaning that he will not be able to take on a position elsewhere until at least May.
The source continued:“It’s unfortunate that it all came to this and we are extremely regretful of their decision.
“There have been rumours that pay increases were also demanded, but that was never an issue.”
He said it was a “purely factual decision” over potential JNLR loss as the station was concerned it would lose female listeners if ‘Off the Ball’ occupied the coveted drivetime spot.
“We’re hopeful we can get some of them back individually, when the dust has settled.”
RTE has not made an offer to the former ‘Off The Ball’ team, despite intensive speculation.
Senior sources at the station have told the Irish Independent the national broadcaster was "highly unlikely to be hiring anybody at the moment", let alone a team of sports presenters.
RTE has been predicted by uninformed speculation as the natural new home for the team who resigned enmasse from Newstalk on Sunday.
The decision is being seen as a major miscalculation by media experts.

http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/off-the-ball-presenter-eoin-mcdevitt-cant-join-another-station-for-12-weeks-29111150.html

Looks like 2fm is not an option. The leaks from Newstalk seem to be designed to cause a split between the five of them.

Dubh Geannain · 05-03-2013 05:02PM

Hey everyone, Eoin McDevitt, Ken Early, Mark Horgan, Simon Hick and Ciaran Murphy here. Sorry we couldn’t make the show last night.

Over the last 18 months we have been in discussions with Newstalk about ways to develop our programme. Unfortunately there are fundamental differences of opinion between management and ourselves about the show’s future potential and its ability to grow an audience at an earlier time.

We’re gutted to leave behind something we love but after eight years we feel it’s vital that our product continues to evolve and improve.

We would like to sincerely thank Newstalk for giving us a chance to put the show together.

We won’t have the opportunity to say goodbye on air, so thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years and over the past 24 hours - particularly our listeners, who are the best in the country.

The five of us are determined to be back on air together as soon as possible.

http://twishort.com/IGXcc

Imhof Tank · 05-03-2013 05:09PM

"The five of us are determined to be back on air together as soon as possible" - best news since this whole debacle broke.

GSF · 05-03-2013 05:10PM

Radio5 wrote: »

I am a woman and I listen to OFB all the time.

You are one of the 6,000 women in the entire country who do listen to Off The Ball. To put things into perspective!

GSF · 05-03-2013 05:13PM

dulpit wrote: »

Newstalk has gone down the swanny.

Breakfast is poor.
Tom Dunne is a bore.
Lunchtime is okay, but News at One is better.
Moncrief is good.
Hook is poor.
OTB...?
Late night is all over the place.

And Newstalk is home to Global Village... :mad:

Only Future Talk really interests me on NewsTalk now. The Sunday morning shows are pretty dull too (Bobby Kerr & the Shane Coleman ones)

Loafing Oaf · 05-03-2013 05:15PM

Badabing wrote: »

Newstalk are in very difficult position now, Is Ger 'no gravitas' Gilroy the permenant host of OTB? If so who takes over the weekend slot, and Tom Dunne is still performing very badly in the morning and that must be there top priority.

I'd imagine this could all be stretching the Malteser's patience to breaking point, which was probably already tested by the Harney libel Malarkey. Plus if he listens to his own stations at all, you'd imagine classic line-up OTB would have been one of his faves...

heybaby · 05-03-2013 05:30PM

Stunned and gutted in equal measure and I'm not put at ease by the lads' statement. It seems they walked away through frustration at the lack of cooperation from newstalk management. Alas and I hate to say it , the lads are up against it now. Collectively it's exceptionally unlikely they will work together again because what station can afford to employ all five ? The only likely station money-wise would be 2 fm but the powers that be in montrose haven't made a sensible decision in years.

I hate to say it but there are no winners here , off the ball will certainly lose listeners myself included and the 5 lads have lost their show as have the listeners. Gilroy may continue on but for me there's little difference between gilroy and o meara on 2fm, it's a crying shame when the one decent radio show in a wasteland of mediocrity ends in such a way. Good luck to the lads and thanks for the memories .

copacetic · 05-03-2013 05:47PM

I'll miss it, great show, but the lads are nuts to think they can dictate station policy. They have a relatively small listenership that isn't that popular with advertisers. No other station is going to put them on in drivetime and no other station is going to pay so many people as a team for likely little or no increase in listeners.

I hate to say it but they look to have over estimated their importance, Newstalk could lose 20% of their listeners at that time now, but that would only be 10k people. They would have lost many more than than moving them to George Hooks slot, many of them women.

GSF · 05-03-2013 06:03PM

copacetic wrote: »

I'll miss it, great show, but the lads are nuts to think they can dictate station policy. They have a relatively small listenership that isn't that popular with advertisers.

I thought the average listener was a young professional male in an urban area, so not a bad audience for advertisers, but just not as many of them as they think. Just because they are all online all day makes them more visible than Hooks audience.

TheOldHand · 05-03-2013 06:04PM

copacetic wrote: »

I'll miss it, great show, but the lads are nuts to think they can dictate station policy. They have a relatively small listenership that isn't that popular with advertisers. No other station is going to put them on in drivetime and no other station is going to pay so many people as a team for likely little or no increase in listeners.

I hate to say it but they look to have over estimated their importance, Newstalk could lose 20% of their listeners at that time now, but that would only be 10k people. They would have lost many more than than moving them to George Hooks slot, many of them women.

Their ratings are impressive when you consider the slot. They've no real captive audience at that time unlike the day time slots. Their demographic would be quite attractive as well. I did a lot of focus groups last year and they nearly always wanted the 25-35 year old male.

copacetic · 05-03-2013 06:08PM

GSF wrote: »

I thought the average listener was a young professional male in an urban area, so not a bad audience for advertisers, but just not as many of them as they think. Just because they are all online all day makes them more visible than Hooks audience.

It's not a 'bad' audience, just not that popular for big advertisers. They are likely young, not that well paid and often not the decision maker. Advertisers like to hit a wider demographic if possible with a mix of news, sport, business etc being ideal at time. Most of the big advertisers aren't aiming at a lot of that market.

Drummerboy2 · 05-03-2013 06:13PM

Will miss this programme. I also enjoyed McDavitt when he was on ITalkSport on Setanta at the weekends. I emailed Setanta a while ago and they said they had plans to bring it back. But nothing ever happened. There are lots of gaps in Setanta's programming to allow a topical sports show.

omerin · 05-03-2013 06:16PM

Now that 24hrs has past and with that statement from the lads I feel less sympathy for them. Why they would give their notice because of a time issue is beyond me. Everyone can have principles but for something as petty and non sensical as this, why not compromise. Really poor judgement call and one thatt they will regret. On the other side of the coin, its 5 less redundancies to pay for a station performing poorly.

Big Game · 05-03-2013 06:17PM

Drummerboy2 wrote: »

Will miss this programme. I also enjoyed McDavitt when he was on ITalkSport on Setanta at the weekends. I emailed Street etanta a while ago and they said they had plans to bring it back. But nothing ever happened. There are lots of gaps in Setanta's programming to allow a topical sports show.

Lots of gaps in their budget these days.....

themont85 · 05-03-2013 06:19PM

copacetic wrote: »

I'll miss it, great show, but the lads are nuts to think they can dictate station policy. They have a relatively small listenership that isn't that popular with advertisers. No other station is going to put them on in drivetime and no other station is going to pay so many people as a team for likely little or no increase in listeners.

I hate to say it but they look to have over estimated their importance, Newstalk could lose 20% of their listeners at that time now, but that would only be 10k people. They would have lost many more than than moving them to George Hooks slot, many of them women.

It's pretty standard in radio for a show that has been doing well in the ratings for a while to get a bump into a better slot. OTB has been on top for a long while now.

Of course it's not a like for like thing for sports/music ect but they're pretty justified in looking for something better after a long period of being no 1 in their slot.

Looking at the figures I'm not sure how much worse off they would do than Hook who seems to drop massively from 6. Not really sure how come a compromise couldn't have been found, Hook talks sport for close to 2 hrs a week as is, just not very well.

TheOldHand · 05-03-2013 06:21PM

Thinking aloud here but I wonder would the guys be looking to get branch out into more general broadcasting?

starviewadams · 05-03-2013 06:32PM

Wonder will Sadlier be on tonight as usual?

themont85 · 05-03-2013 06:35PM

TheOldHand wrote: »

Thinking aloud here but I wonder would the guys be looking to get branch out into more general broadcasting?

I hope not. Sick and tired of the jack of all trades culture in Irish broadcasting.

Ol' Donie · 05-03-2013 06:44PM

TheOldHand wrote: »

Thinking aloud here but I wonder would the guys be looking to get branch out into more general broadcasting?

Report on sport!

Diabhal Beag · 05-03-2013 06:56PM

I love that it's been taken as certain that they only wanted the time change and had no backup plan whatsoever. We know sweet **** all so it's stupid to write them off as stupid or guarantee they had something sorted.

Frankie Lee · 05-03-2013 06:58PM

TheOldHand wrote: »

Thinking aloud here but I wonder would the guys be looking to get branch out into more general broadcasting?

Eoin McDevitt is an excellent interviewer, I remember when he interviewed Dewey Bozella on ITalksport and did a great job at letting the man tell his story. Give him the Late Late Show.

Murph could do some Republic of Telly type ****e fairly well I reckon.

Ken Earley could be a host/contributer on a show like The View maybe.

ballsymchugh · 05-03-2013 07:03PM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

I love that it's been taken as certain that they only wanted the time change and had no backup plan whatsoever. We know sweet **** all so it's stupid to write them off as stupid or guarantee they had something sorted.

their own statement doesn't say much else.

heybaby · 05-03-2013 07:04PM

dulpit wrote: »

Newstalk has gone down the swanny.

Breakfast is poor.
Tom Dunne is a bore.
Lunchtime is okay, but News at One is better.
Moncrief is good.
Hook is poor.
OTB...?
Late night is all over the place.

And Newstalk is home to Global Village... :mad:

Some good points made here. Personally I think breakfast should finish at 9 and not ten, also the duties arent equally shared between presenters, the show is far too reliant on Chris who i find tends to spit out his words. Tom Dunne probably needs a sidekick like Darcy has in Mairead and will just to break the monotony of one voice.

I think jonathan healy is excellent.

Moncrieff does my head in with his constant stammering, and while the show has a wide range subject-wise, it is essentially him interviewing people about their books ...every day

Hook can be boorish and sermonising and I much prefer cooper anyway

Then there's what remains of OTB ...

Then you have splanc, the green room, coleman at large, davenport after dark all specialty shows, while certainly better than repeating Tom Dunnes show as they used to do from ten pm, I really dont listen religiously after ten to comment

The OTB lads leaving wont break newstalk but it wont help either, certainly it will erode listener loyalty and provide a challenge to the powers that be, I think they are really up against it. Newstalk had a few weak points in its schedule but now they have one more.

Evil_g · 05-03-2013 07:05PM

Dubh Geannain wrote: »

http://twishort.com/IGXcc

There's no way they'd have released such a statement if they didn't have something lined up already.

"Yeah we just walked out on an employer because they wouldn't give us a drive time slot, now we're looking for someone else to put us on air".

Has to be RTE.

Which won't be the same. They'll be forced to talk to Marty Morrissey.

I'll still probably listen to 10+ hours a week. Hell I might even buy a TV license.

And now I can properly enjoy watching another one of Denis O'Brien's investments go down the tubes.

Diabhal Beag · 05-03-2013 07:25PM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

their own statement doesn't say much else.

They're not letting anything out of the bag. Took a full day to hear anything from them and even then it's low profile.

omerin · 05-03-2013 07:30PM

John Giles and Graham Hunter on OOO now, no loyalty in radio broadcasting, no surprise there after Sam Smith got the bullet on TFM.

NT looking for a bit of showbiz from their next presenter and its rumoured it'll be Timmy Mac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0qBsQ34jSc

delta_bravo · 05-03-2013 07:37PM

omerin wrote: »

John Giles and Graham Hunter on OOO now, no loyalty in radio broadcasting, no surprise there after Sam Smith got the bullet on TFM.

This idea of loyalty is hilarious. Both men are freelance journalists. They get paid a fee for giving their opinion regardless of who is asking them. What you are suggesting is a person quits their job because someone else does. It makes no sense

Off The Ball Official Thread <Mod Note - Post #1, #533, #6651>

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