Is There Hope For Radio And In Particular Speech Radio?

Will we see a return where it regains some of its importance? That some broadcasters around the world that have practically given up on anything more than offering a music format that is almost a copy of a competitor. That is more than a station of phone-ins but offers more Drama, Comedy and Entertainment?

That has enough money pumped into it so it can offer quality as well as quantity.

Perhaps, there is more than a glimmer of hope. And television that took away many of radio's listeners may be the very thing that will drive people back to the medium of radio and the creating of images in the mind.

Some of radio's best performers, writers, producers and ideas have moved into television from radio where they learned their craft and were allowed to grow.

However, an article appeared in The Radio Times listings magazine dated 21-27th October 2006. Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Two writers of some of the UK's most popular comedy drama's/comedies Shine On Harvey Moon, The New Statesman and Birds Of Feather and the biopic of British fascist leader Mosley have returned to writing for radio.

OK it was only one play for a weekday afternoon drama slot on BBC Radio 4 but its a start. They have plans for more. Isn't it good to see successful writers prepared to return to radio. Radio is still often the only way for many creative people to get into the business. I am always heartened when some performers are ready to return to radio even if they have a successful film or television career, its not for the money but because they love the medium.

Perhaps, the money that they earn from these other forms of the media actually allows them to go back to radio. In recent years some "Hollywood" stars have been prepared to come to the UK and record for the BBC. Some independent produced material does get onto radio in other countries but it is rare.

I suspect as Marks and Gran hint, the current obsession with reality programmes and the cost of television drama/comedy and I see the reduction in advertising revenue, all the competition of many channels chasing an ever dwindling audience who have many more outlets for their leisure time and money just maybe it could do radio a favour.

Who can forget the radio adaptations produced for or by NPR in America(I think)around 20 years ago based on the Star Wars films. More were probably planned but the budget of NPR was reduced making it impossible to continue. Some actors do try to keep audio drama alive, Leonard Nimmoy has and persuaded some very fine actors to join him.
If you check out some of the links on the side of my blog there are some of the early material that US Radio put out during the 30's, 40's and 50's. Allowing for the age and quality and how these recordings were mistreated and many have been lost please appreciate what remains whilst they are available.

Broadcasters smashed the transcription discs, some were stored badly and deteriorated or returned to the producers. Some have been lost by accident...a favourite of mine The Alice Faye and Phil Harris show has very dry and zany humour and one of the actors of the cast who had a long career in US Radio as a performer and producer, Elliott Lewis had copies at his home and they were destroyed with many other treasures in a fire at his home, another set had been kept by Faye and Harris and sdiscovered by their children with the idea of releasing them via a specialist lable that issues old radio programmes...but because they were stored in poor conditions, few if any could be saved and restored or the material transferred.

Thankfully, some people realised their worth at the time of broadcast and though probably a sackable offence took the discs home with them and because of such collectors so many of these wonderful brodcasts are available again to enjoy and as an historical document of what performers did and many reflect society of the time.

Yes, television was popular and like anything new obviously people wnated one and were amazed by being able to watch as well as listen but the reason television was so great when it started is because all these craftsmen of radio entertainment moved into television and took their fresh and inventive ideas across to the new medium. And instead of radio trying to offer some material as before, many gave up due to the fact that commercial sponsorship was reduced to such an extent, it was easier for many to go with phone-ins, news and record programmes. This is especially true in Australia, Canada and the USA.

What did we lose?

Perhaps, it is a case of what goes around, comes around and perhaps radio is coming back into his own. Perhaps, radio did not kill the radio star.

Here are other links where you can hear a series that once appeared on Radio Luxembourg, US Radio and for a time on the BBC and more.

OTR

Boxcar711 Podcasts

Harry's Podcasts

The listening figures have come out today and it appears that BBC local radio and the regional radio except for BBC Radio Wales has lost listners.

The previous quarter speech radio station LBC had a reduction in listeners but...things have improved.

LBC 97.3 has increased its listening hours by 23% in the quarter, and 11.8% over the past 12 months.

LBC 1152, Chrysalis's AM rolling news service, saw listening hours almost double in the quarter and increase by 21.5% year on year.