Is this patronising or not?

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/6fulqt9

So the BBC think that among Radio 4's 10m listeners there are too many white, Southern and elderly people.

I wonder if they also think that among Children's Radio 7's listeners there are too many child listeners or perhaps that among BBC's Radio Asian network there are too many Asian listeners?

Once again the growing obsession of trying to get certain groups interested in things they are not in the least interested in.

[sp1814]

Aqualung

Alternatively - there's a good chance that people actually like the BBC's output?

I mean - the tv and radio channels have quite a lot of loyal viewers/listeners!

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

You quoted radio 2 as a roaring success, because it had managed to attract the more younger listener.

Well that maybe but at what cost? Well I will tell you, there is now not one station left on the BBC that caters specifically for the elder listener.

Apart from the odd one hour programme late at night or on a Sunday afternoon, one cannot enjoy the music of yesteryear. After all it is mainly the elderly who are house bound if not bed bound , who would love to switch on their radios and listen to their type of music instead of this now wall to wall pop.

[pa___ul3]

to be fair that is an interesting point AOG, I'd always considered radio 4 as being that, but moreso where I live, BBC Radio Merseyside tends to keep our local older listeners happy.
I'm sure, then, that a radio station catering specifically for the over 70's, say, would be successful, but you'd have to then find DJ's with the knowledge of how to cater for such audiences.

[jackthehat]

Trying to attract a larger audience does not automatically mean that radio 4 will start broadcasting bhangra or rap music as a matter of course...........or have Benjamin Zephaniah take over Poetry Corner.

Long may it continue as it is..............and if the BBC can persuade more people outside of its current demographic to turn on, tune in and wear comfy slippers, then all to the good.

[Zeuhl]

Yet again Old Git demonstrates either an inability to read and understand english or a deliberate intention to misrepresent new stories.

The BBC/Mail did not say

<<there are too many white, Southern and elderly people>> listening to R4

They said <<too many of their listeners >> were such

It's an important difference - ratios and proportions rather than empiric numbers- that any intelligent person would understand.

I'm sure the BBC would be delighted if all their current listeners stayed - it's simply that other demographics are under represented.
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[Aqualung]

What does the BBC think of Radio 4's 10m loyal listeners? Too many are white, Southern and elderly

By Liz Thomas
Last updated at 1:49 PM on 9th February 2011

Well zooboy that above from The Mail reads << Too many are white, Southern and elderly>>

Have you started on the scrumpy already.

[DTCwordfan]

There is nothing wrong in challenging the 'established' as to Radio 4. The Beeb is right that it needs to be relevant to its audience and the audience itself evolves. The challenge is to ensure a gradual change and not a sudeen 90 degree turn as that will alienate its 'listeners.'

So yes to the stalwart programmes like Today, DI Discs and the Archers and yes to change around some of the weaker programmes.......I can't imagine a Settle or Barnard Castle version of the Archers though......Ee Oop (and I originate from the Lakes).

[Zeuhl]

No Aqualung

Go to the bottom of the class!!!

<<above from The Mail reads << Too many are white, Southern and elderly>>

Have you started on the scrumpy already.

No your quote actually said

<<What does the BBC think of Radio 4's 10m loyal listeners? Too many are white, Southern and elderly >>

The key words are <<think OF>> that is the context for <<TOO MANY>>

Too many of ... is different to having Too many

One is an issue of ratios and proportions and one refers to empiric numbers and excess.

You can fix <<too many of>> by adding others that are different
You can only fix <<too many>> by getting rid of some.

I don't know where you are - perhaps you speak a form of english different to those of us in the south east of england but I doubt it can be a factor of geography as i was brought up the North and did my English Degree in Manchester.
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