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Anger Over
Axing Of Scots DJs
Smooth Radio Glasgow has been criticised after axing six
Scottish DJs and increasing its use of programmes broadcast from London.
The Glasgow station has terminated the contracts of several presenters,
including Art Sutter, Alastair McDonald. Craig McMurdo, Alistair Alford,
Mike Marwick and Jackie Storrar.
One of the vacant slots has been filled by Tony Blackburn, whose weekend
breakfast show is now broadcast by Smooth Radio's network of six stations.
Shows presented by Mark Goodier and GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips also
feature on the Glasgow station's programme schedule.
The restructuring at Smooth Radio, owned by GMG Radio, is the
latest in a trend towards programming networked from London.
Norman Quirk, the former managing director of Saga 105.2 FM who left the
station around the time GMG Radio took over and rebranded it as Smooth
Radio, said the station's move towards networked programmes was
"disgraceful".
"It is very sad," he added. "The reason commercial radio started and was so
popular was because it was breaking away from the London-centric media.
"Pop music is international, there is nothing local about it, so the
interaction between the broadcaster and audience is where you get the local
input. Smooth Radio coming from London is not local radio.
"What we did at Saga was establish a station serving the needs and interests
of people in the west of Scotland. What we have with Smooth Radio is a
national station with local opt-outs. It is patronising to the audience."
23:23
August
12 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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The Witches Of
EastWick
The 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick is to be made into a
television series by US broadcaster ABC.
ABC's TV version of the movie will be written by Maggie Friedman, one of the
writers behind hit teen drama Dawson's Creek.
The new series is said to be a variation on the 1987 feature film, which was
based on the Updike novel about three women who turn to witchcraft after
their relationships fail.
22:14
August
12 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
Reader Comment
This is just another case of using the ITV method of
creating a national station. A merger here, a buyout there, a format switch
somewhere else...
Are Smooth FM and Smooth Radio the same organisation?
Deke.
...................................................................................................................
This is the way the wind is blowing right now. And a
credit crunch only sharpens organisations' desire to offer cuts. Ofcom seems
to enforce
service requirements on relatively new operations.
I understand that's why networking doesn't apply to Smooth
North East. It's ironic that new operations, some of which are fairly small
and thus most vulnerable, are those where the rule of law is being held like
the sword of Damocles above their heads. Meanwhile those run by operations
which seek to
introduce a national service through the back door are allowed to do what
they wish simply because the ink has presumably dried on the pledges they
made to get their franchises.
Perhaps Ofcom thinks the market will act as a barometer.
If non-local local stations lose audience share, they'll compensate by
reducing network content? Who can say?
Of course, the quality of network content isn't 'bad' as
such, it just isn't what is
written on the tin. If any of the presumptions I have made are wrong, then
I'm happy to invite correction.
boots
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Olympic Opening
Scenes Faked
Some of the scenes shown at the opening ceremony of the
Beijing Olympics on Friday were faked.
Viewers around the world saw a display in which 29 firework
"footprints" travelled across Beijing from south to north.
But a senior official from the Beijing organising committee (Bocog)
confirmed today that footage of the display had been produced before the big
night using digital technology.
This was provided to broadcasters for "convenience and theatrical effects",
according to Wang Wei, Bocog's executive vice-president.
"Because of poor visibility, some previously recorded footage may have been
used," he said at a daily press conference.
18:47
August
12 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan has told Radio Times the BBC has lost its
standing as the finest broadcaster in the world and that its bosses lack
"old-fashioned thoroughness and commitment".
In an interview to marking his 70th birthday, Wogan, host of Radio 2's
breakfast show, said that if he had tried to join the BBC today he probably
would not have got past the front door.
"When I sent my first tape to the head of gramophone programmes at the BBC,
I had made the fatal mistake of forgetting to rewind it to the start," he
said.
"Yet that gentleman took the time to wind it all the way back, and once he'd
listened to it, things went from there," Wogan added.
"I can tell you, if I was a young chap coming over from Ireland today, they
probably wouldn't even listen to my tape, let alone rewind it.
"Somehow, that old-fashioned thoroughness and commitment have disappeared. I
suppose no one has the time for it any more."
"When I started, people who worked for the BBC knew they weren't earning as
much as people in commercial television, but they did have the satisfaction
of knowing that they worked for one of the finest, if not the finest,
broadcasting organisation in the whole world," he said.
"I'm not sure they feel that any more, or at least that it means as much as
it used to."
Wogan said he no longer wanted to front Eurovision after the increase in
political voting which saw Russia win in Serbia this year after gaining the
votes of former Soviet states.
"I was considering giving up before Belgrade and now I have to say I'm very
doubtful about ever wanting to do Eurovision again," he added. "I've had so
much fun, but I think it's time for someone else to take over."
The BBC has made no comment.
17:00
August
12 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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US Police
Series Set For Return
Hawaii
Five-O is heading back to our TV screens, according to unconfirmed reports.
The classic police series - which originally aired from 1968 to 1980 - is
being brought right up to date.
According to US sources the new show will focus on the
fictional Hawaiian state police department.
In the original, the unit was headed by Steve McGarrett - played by Jack
Lord.
In the new series, his son Chris will be the top cop.
08:29
August
12 2008 - waveguide.co.uk
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