The BBC has rather more rivals now than it used to have and not only on television, with upstarts like Netflix and Amazon elbowing in but also as regards its radio broadcasts.
Of course upstarts have crossed the BBC's radio path before. I well recall Radio Caroline in 1964 broadcasting popular music from a ship moored from what was then just outside the UK territorial waters. Other 'pirate radio' stations followed and then naturally our European neighbours were quick to respond with Radio Luxembourg. Indeed there was pop song called I believe "Caroline" which celebrated the pirate broadcasting ship of the same name. These days I believe that there is an internet Radio Caroline though I have never listened to it.
Radio is still important to many including yours truly in C21. There are numerous UK national and local radio stations licensed to broadcast popular music but increasingly new more serious radio stations have commenced broadcasting on digital radio.
The Times news station is excellent and broadcasts interesting news early in the morning when BBC Radio 4 is concerned with farming today topics. The latter are excellent for farmers but tend to pass me by. BBC Radio 4 extra on the other hand seems to cater for those who like the BBC's brand of humour which like farming today tends to pass me by as well.
Recently I commenced listening to The Times new classical music station Radio Scala. Unlike BBC Radio 3, Radio Scala has advertisements - too many for my taste so I switched to the long running Classic FM which again is not a BBC station. Once more though there are advertisements but not as intrusive as those on Scala Radio; nonetheless the output is sometimes a little tame for me. BBC Radio 3 is therefore still ahead. Hopefully it will keep an eye out for rivals and keep up to speed.
YouTube is excellent for playing favourite classical, popular and folk music though its advertisements are a chore if like myself, paying for the privilege of listening ad-free is not on your page. The YouTube Last Night of the Proms is fun and uplifting for pandemic listening though maybe Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance is not politically correct these days.
Given the BBC's left wing bias it is unsurprising that a new right of centre Radio station is being mooted for commencing broadcasts later in the year though I believe Nigel Farage may be involved.
The politics of Nigel Farage are too right wing for me - so I am never satisfied.
No comments:
Post a Comment