A BIT MORE ON GEORGE GALLOWAYS TALKSHOW DEPARTURE

[olddutch]

What do you think about George Galloways statement (below) on the demise of his Mother of All Talkshows on Talksport - and Radio Presenters with a point of view ?

“After a run of more than four years the highly popular radio show - The Mother of All Talkshows - has been killed off by the TalkSport management. I believe this is a business mistake, but then I don't run the radio station and such decisions are not mine to take. I will always be grateful to TalkSport for giving me the opportunity to launch the Mother of All Talkshows,”

“The show became something of a phenomenon. An audience of hundreds of thousands of people switched off their televisions or gave up going out, on Fridays and Saturdays between 10pm and 1am. These impressive listenership figures nonetheless under-stated the audience. For statistical reasons the Friday night show was counted in with Ian Collins Sunday to Thursday audience then averaged out. Anyone who has heard Collins show and heard the Friday night MOATS will understand how seriously that must have skewed the audience figures.”

“All in all the show became something of real importance to the people who listened and contributed, whether they agreed with its political thrust or not.” (Continued…)

[olddutch]

(Continuation) “It will be obvious that I consider its demise premature, and I am determined to try to keep it alive. It is unlikely that the TalkSport management will change their mind and re-instate the show - but you never know. They say they want me to stay at the station, but they have not said for what when or how. Other stations are interested but TalkSport's national platform is unique. The BBC doesn't allow presenters to have a point of view. For all its faults TalkSport was special in that, even if now all the points of view are of one particular kind. There is no-one left to speak up for the BA strikers, the Palestinians, or to speak out against the wars to mention just a few of the most obvious.” (Continued..)

[olddutch]

(Continuation) “That there IS an audience which either supports my views on these kind of issues, or that just wants to hear these views aired, is self-evident. So..
I'm going to launch an internet radio station. It will be called Rebel radio, it will host the Mother of All Talk Shows as well as other shows by me and other rebel voices, including radicals from other sides in politics. It will be free speech radio, beyond Ofcom and the kind of fate which killed off Top Cat on TalkSport. It will be controversial, funny, campaigning, informative, it will be Talk radio for thinking people. It will be radical and above all it will never ever be dull. In the beginning it will have to paid for by donations or by subscriptions or by both, we're working on that. If we can build and show a substantial audience, advertisers and sponsors may be attracted. But one way or another we will launch this rebel radio. The radio insurrection will begin soon. Stay tuned register your interest and be ready. Its just over the rainbow. And we are all going to get there, together.” (George Galloway MP)

[anotheoldgit]

olddutch or George Galloway if you are really him.

Continuing to run your show the way you did, it came as no surprise that they finally sacked you.

Although you would allow listeners who didn't agree with you on your show, they were constantly bullied, criticised and insulted, even those that text you, would have their spelling ridiculed, but then we have become accustomed to these "nasty left" tactics.

Using tactics such as these doesn't lead to a truly balanced and enjoyable debate, it only goes to surround the show's presenter with supporters of the presenters views.

Regarding Rebel radio, if this did become a reality and it did include radicals from other sides in politics, then I really think this would be a success, because at the moment one has only been allowed to hear one-sided views, such as yours.

[Mr Veritas]

I would rather not hear(or read) ANYTHING from the vile George Galloway.
I flush the toilet but he still sits at the bottom of the pan!

[olddutch]

AOG,

Calm down old fella, I’m just Olddutch - but are you Mr. Ward Minter ?

As I see it, to a degree your right, George Galloway did - sometimes - bully, criticise and insult and I am sorry if you were on the receiving end of this behaviour when he was agitated -by phone or text. I must say I did enjoy his show as intelligent, informative, opinionated and passionate - similar to the way I enjoy some of your right wing posts !

I similarly enjoyed Mike Dickin and Doctor David Starkeys talkshows on Talksport. Its largely the intelligence, information and passion of such presenters that I find engaging - not the political colour. With such presenters you don’t get a truly balanced debate but generally the debates are acceptably distorted and enjoyable.

Yes Gorgeous George/Top Cat has a gigantic ego but I will miss his show

Regarding your Rebel Radio view, I agree , that if this did take off and included radicals of every political colour then it would make for a really good show. Hope this post is not too one sided for you AOG !

[anotheoldgit]

Try Detol, kills 99.9%, but then oh dear, is he the 0 .1% ?

[Gromit]

I have never listened to the show, and maybe it had run its course. It sounds like the person who is most sad about its demise id George Galloway, who loves the sound of his own voice.

In the past, it would have been more important that an alternative voice had been taken off the air, but in the age of live streaming radio and YouTube, there are plenty of outlets for Mr Galloway.

He does seem to have a following, so I would not be surprised if another station takes him on.

[TTG]

The Ian Collins show is great. Talks a lot of sense and always seems to represent views of the MAJORITY in this country.

[anotheoldgit]

Steve.5

I have never been nasty to anyone, who hasn't first been nasty to me.

You only agree with Mr Galloway (as you politely called him) because his views imaged yours, just as you agree with free speech providing you that also agree with what is said.

The constant way you attack me ie, your last paragraph, is prime example of your one-sided attitude. There was no need for this at all.

[anotheoldgit]

TTG

Yes Ian Collins is not too bad, but he tends to be "up himself" a little.

Many phone-in and accuse him of being Right Wing others will accuse him of being Left-Wing, so I suppose he has an equal balance, but he is very careful not to offend the PC Brigade.

One thing about his show that really gets up my nose is "The Voice of Doom" oh! it goes on and on.

I notice Ash (the Producer) has now joined in again, I find him so funny, with his quips to the side. Although he was very vocal during James Whales days, he then went quiet for some reason, although he was still the Producer.

Anyone know the reason?

[anotheoldgit]

Steve.5

In reply, this time i won't sink down to your level, because you are now sinking that far, that I can no longer reach down to your level.

Enough to say, that before you tell people to "grow up", perhaps you yourself should give it a try.

[scraggy55]

I am so relieved! George Galloway was the reason I 'didnt' listen to Talksport on Fridays and Saturdays. What a know it all he is! His opinion was the only one that mattered and if you disagreed with him, you weren't on the radio very long!