A few observations....
RTE appear to feel the need to go head-to-head with Newstalk on some timings. Claire Byrne is a big loss, in my opinion. She will be a big draw on Newstalk. Starting "Today with David McCullagh" at 9:00 instead of 10:00 seems a deliberate attempt to avoid drift to Byrne's new program after "Morning Ireland".
As for McCullagh. He is a class political journalist and presenter. But, in the Jeremy Paxman "raised eyebrow" mould. Remains to be seen how he will deal with the broader magazine trivia of daytime radio.
Oliver Callan is now, arguably, the biggest thing on Irish radio. He in untouchable. (Listen back to his eviceration of Miriam O' Callaghan and Simon Harris on last Friday's "Callan's Kicks".) The new 10-12 slot is a no-brainer from RTE's point of view.
Liveline..............oh, dear!
Louise Duffy. No reflection on the presenter, but an hour of spinning discs on daytime talk-radio is an abuse of licence-payer's money, in my opinion. Documentary hour? Why not? There's little enough "built radio" on RTE. Too much cheap live radio.
Drivetime: Another show whose timing has been changed to match Newtalk. Still excellent radio, arguably better with the new team of presenters.
Inside Sport: Newstalk has shown with the excellent "Off the ball" that you need total anoraks with a profound knowledge of sport to make a non-commentary, let's-talk-sport program work. RTE's offering doesn't have this. The time slot seems too much like filling a gap.
Late Debate: With Cormac OhEadhra back in this slot we're treated to constant interruptions by the presenter, redering the "debate" part of the title utterly meaningless. Does he ever listen back to his shows and note the amount to time he talks versus his guests? Terrible radio. Pity.
D.
RTE appear to feel the need to go head-to-head with Newstalk on some timings. Claire Byrne is a big loss, in my opinion. She will be a big draw on Newstalk. Starting "Today with David McCullagh" at 9:00 instead of 10:00 seems a deliberate attempt to avoid drift to Byrne's new program after "Morning Ireland".
As for McCullagh. He is a class political journalist and presenter. But, in the Jeremy Paxman "raised eyebrow" mould. Remains to be seen how he will deal with the broader magazine trivia of daytime radio.
Oliver Callan is now, arguably, the biggest thing on Irish radio. He in untouchable. (Listen back to his eviceration of Miriam O' Callaghan and Simon Harris on last Friday's "Callan's Kicks".) The new 10-12 slot is a no-brainer from RTE's point of view.
Liveline..............oh, dear!
Louise Duffy. No reflection on the presenter, but an hour of spinning discs on daytime talk-radio is an abuse of licence-payer's money, in my opinion. Documentary hour? Why not? There's little enough "built radio" on RTE. Too much cheap live radio.
Drivetime: Another show whose timing has been changed to match Newtalk. Still excellent radio, arguably better with the new team of presenters.
Inside Sport: Newstalk has shown with the excellent "Off the ball" that you need total anoraks with a profound knowledge of sport to make a non-commentary, let's-talk-sport program work. RTE's offering doesn't have this. The time slot seems too much like filling a gap.
Late Debate: With Cormac OhEadhra back in this slot we're treated to constant interruptions by the presenter, redering the "debate" part of the title utterly meaningless. Does he ever listen back to his shows and note the amount to time he talks versus his guests? Terrible radio. Pity.
D.
