'Delivering Quality First' (DQF) cuts

[french frank]

Or they might just want to get rid of new music .

I don't think they'll do that. My hunch is that new music doesn't get mentioned much because it doesn't quite fit the direction of the station now. As long as it's hidden up in the late-night schedule and doesn't upset the 'new' listeners down in the popular slots it'll be allowed to continue.

[Ariosto]

Since the BBC is now a commercial broadcaster with no committment to public broadcasting perhaps the answer would be to close down the Beeb altogether? That would save a bit of money.

But failing this and with R3 and music in mind, it is ridiculous to waste more money on the Proms. The Proms should be reduced to about 25 concerts - but make them all good ones - or even do away with them altogether and use the money to promote live music all year round - and improve standards.

R3 should get rid of all the crap programmes like breakfast and In Tune and also get rid of the overpaid "celebs" Like KD and others. Paying a couple of ordinary announcers would be peanuts and save a lot.

The money should be put into music - including new music - and performers - and not useless bigwigs like Roger Wright.

Radio 5 Live should be scrapped altogether - it's a waste of space.

I dare say I will be cancelling my licence fee again in a few months.

[Lateralthinking1]

Interesting ff. Of relevance here is the fact that Radio 1 abandoned its roadshows a few years ago. It must have been costly taking Smiley Miley and the gang everywhere from Bridlington to Barry Island to ruin peoples' holidays.

Back in the 1970s, there was also a lot of money spent on people like Noel Edmonds and Kid Jensen indulging in their love of motor racing. I have the photos as proof. How that was supposed to be entertainment - radio entertainment - goodness only knows. With charity from the establishment of that kind, no wonder Jensen became a Mason.

How on earth is the current budget for R1 £40.7m? What are they spending it on? Have they got some sort of coke deal going? It can't be alcohol because most of them are too young to drink.

[Chris Newman]

How on earth is the current budget for R1 £40.7m? What are they spending it on? Have they got some sort of coke deal going? It can't be alcohol because most of them are too young to drink.

Radio 1 is not famous these days for live broadcasting. Most of its output comes from playing records. It does not have six orchestras and a choir to pay (at least Radio 2 and the TV programmes can claim to use the BBCCO). If it does OB most of the music is records though I bet very little of that £40.7m goes to the Performing Rights. It goes to the DJs who pull in more for blathering than your average maestro on the rostrum.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

I wish there was a "Like" button on here, Chris. This'll do.

[mangerton]

Withdrawal of some medium wave. R4 longwave to be phased out - Agree. A natural development. [

Not sure about R4 longwave. I don't mean the programming, but three LF transmitters cover virtually the whole country. The day may yet come when for strategic reasons they may be required. These transmitters are also important for shipping. More information here:

http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/droitwich/

[RobertLeDiable]

Since the BBC is now a commercial broadcaster with no committment to public broadcasting perhaps the answer would be to close down the Beeb altogether? That would save a bit of money.

But failing this and with R3 and music in mind, it is ridiculous to waste more money on the Proms. The Proms should be reduced to about 25 concerts - but make them all good ones - or even do away with them altogether and use the money to promote live music all year round - and improve standards.

R3 should get rid of all the crap programmes like breakfast and In Tune and also get rid of the overpaid "celebs" Like KD and others. Paying a couple of ordinary announcers would be peanuts and save a lot.

The money should be put into music - including new music - and performers - and not useless bigwigs like Roger Wright.

Radio 5 Live should be scrapped altogether - it's a waste of space.

I dare say I will be cancelling my licence fee again in a few months.

O yes, just close it all down, including the totally worthless Proms, which nobody's interested in. And while we're at it close down stations like 5 Live which I don't listen to and which therefore by definition don't deserve a penny. It's fatuous nonsense like this that simply aids and abets those in our main governing party who would see absolutely no harm at all in closing it down and buying shares in that erudite and philanthropic pillar of our cultural life Classic FM.

Give me strength.

[teamsaint]

How unbelievably patronising.

No wonder many people think classical music is elitist and out of touch when posters here spout such ignorant codswallop.

I think you are confusing "patronising" and "Understanding".

Plus you have completely misunderstood my point.

But apart from that, not quite sure who it is you think I am patronising. radio 1 in general, and daytime in particular, has been producing a "Soma" effect for as long as anyone can remember. I should know, I have listened to it enough over the years.(I know, it shows !!)

We all need liberating from the dead hand of vacuous culture, and we are all(well a lot of us) on a journey to better understanding the world. good quality pop music (EG Radiohead) doesn't come into my definition of vacuous culture.

not really sure what your point about Classical music is about. There are elitist and out of touch people in classical music. Like there are in every walk of life.

[teamsaint]

seriously though, exactly how much should it cost to record a decent lunchtime concert, one already scheduled.
ought to make a reasonablycheap hours programming , I should have thought.

Or is the BBC over manning on these things?

[mercia]

ignorant as I am, I don't even understand how £5.7 million gets spent at Radio4Extra