radio northwick park

[Claire Knight]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-&-entertainment/bbc-angers-fans-of-the-idea-of-6-music-201003032520/

[CharlieB]

Let us not forget that commercial networks do not exist to entertain or stimulate their viewers or listeners. Their primary objective is to provide a return to their investors and secondarily a platform for their advertisers. As long as the resultant audience figures are sufficient to achieve the first of those aims, what does artistic merit or content matter?

You tell me - nearly all our members can discourse at length the previous evening's whatever-it-was 'reality' * show during the request hour.


* [oxymoron alert]

[adamglynn]

You tell me - nearly all our members can discourse at length the previous evening's whatever-it-was 'reality' show during the request hour.

I bloody well couldn't.

The previous day's Formula One or Top Gear on the other hand...

[Morwenna Cox]

I think its sad that the BBC feel that closing things down is the only way to save money. This the trap the public service always falls into - spend lots of money reseaching something/setting it up - then as soon as they feel the pinch they get rid of it, hense waisting all the set up costs.

With the big push for DAB radio before Christmas it seems they are getting rid of something that they really and truely set up ahead of the game. People are slowly but surely coming round to DAB radio now - esp as the technology gets a bit older and its now much cheaper to get a box. If they waited a year and shouted about it a bit more in between tv programmes, I'm sure the costs would come down soon. Or at least to cheaper than Radio 3!

Talking of DAB - or even fm - has RNP every looked into broadcasting via that medium? Esp with fm - even if just locally transmitted, people in the hospital without patientline boxes - or without working boxes (!) could tune in too? Just a thought!

[Ben Punter]

Talking of DAB - or even fm - has RNP every looked into broadcasting via that medium? Esp with fm - even if just locally transmitted, people in the hospital without patientline boxes - or without working boxes (!) could tune in too? Just a thought!

We used to be on MW.....
http://www.radionorthwickpark.org/2004/12/18/end-of-an-era/

Apparently, the main problem with "FM" for us is that Northwick Park is mostly concrete so FM would be usless you'd simply not be able to pick it up.

Im sure Ben H will be along shortly to explain it better.

[David Reece]

I think its sad that the BBC feel that closing things down is the only way to save money. This the trap the public service always falls into - spend lots of money reseaching something/setting it up - then as soon as they feel the pinch they get rid of it, hense waisting all the set up costs.

That's a good point Morwenna. I hadn't really thought about that.

[Ben Hart]

Here comes the BH comment. Please note that's BH not BS....

I think the BBC is excellent value for money. In general I believe their broadcasting standards are class leading, in the world arena not just in the UK. If you watch Sky or CNN for five minutes you will see what I mean.

A service that is free at the point of delivery, a bit like the NHS.

Anything that uses public money will always come under scrutiny and that's a good thing. Hopefully the BBC will not shy away from creating programs that other broadcasters won't do because of fear of offending their advertisers or not making enough revenue.

In terms of us broadcasting on "Freely Radiating FM or AM" unfortunately due to the location and construction of the hospital this is something that we can't do. The powers that be won't issue these licenses to broadcasters within the M25 or where the building is made substantially out of concrete. Both of these apply to us.

The theory behind these points is that within the M25 spectrum availability is highly congested and there isn't much space left for community broadcasters. In terms of building construction when they do offer these licenses they want to ensure that they are fully utilised. If the building is of concrete construction this can cause limitations to the broadcast and the broadcaster may not be able to fully utilise the terms of the licence.

We did used to have something called an LPAM long term RSL which stands for Low Power Amplitude Modulation, Restricted Service Licence. This was a system of about 60 loop antenna dotted around the hospital which allowed listeners using AM radios tuned to 945 to receive our output. The signal could be heard within about a 10 to 20 metre radius of each loop if you were lucky. Again the construction of the hospital didn't help as it's difficult to get these very low power signals through 1ft thick concrete reinforced walls.

[Joyanna Lovelock]

I liked BBC 6. I thought music and presenters were groovy! Especially when they called out 'chune'.

[adamglynn]

I liked BBC 6. I thought music and presenters were groovy! Especially when they called out 'chune'.

Are you sure you're not thinking of myself and Ruby on the request show? 'CHOOOON!'