NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/alt/fan/pratchet/3142

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-18 | 2.8 KB

Xref: sparky alt.fan.pratchett:3142 alt.comedy.british:2387 uk.misc:396
Path: sparky!uunet!sun-barr!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!doc.ic.ac.uk!uknet!cam-cl!pavo.csi.cam.ac.uk!grebe.cl.cam.ac.uk!gdb15
From: [e-mail] (Guy Barry)
Newsgroups: alt.fan.pratchett,alt.comedy.british,uk.misc
Subject: Re: `Guards! Guards!' on BBC Radio
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 18 Nov 92 10:28:24 GMT
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (USENET news)
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Guy Barry)
Organization: U of Cambridge Computer Lab, UK
Lines: 38
Nntp-Posting-Host: grebe.cl.cam.ac.uk

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jane Hesketh) writes:
>
>BBC Radio 5 is medium wave only. It was set up to be for kids,
>and therefore on a frequency cheap tranny's could get. Only 1 frequency
>because the government is trying to stop the beeb from using multiple
>frequencies for the same transmission. It has rapidly been taken over
>as a sports frequency on the quiet, as far as I can see - most times
>I look to see if there's anything interesting on, it's commentary
>on some footie match/cricket match/rugby match/ blecch. I suppose
>some kids will like that.

You're mistaken about the intentions behind Radio 5.  As you say, the
Government wants to stop "simulcasting" -- transmission of the same
programmes on more than one waveband.  Radios 2, 3 and 4 all used to
be simulcast, but each would split frequencies at certain times to
carry alternative programmes: sport on Radio 2 MW, ball-by-ball
cricket on Radio 3 MW, and educational programmes on Radio 4 FM.
Radio 5 was set up (on Radio 2's old MW frequency) to carry a
combination of all these programmes, along with children's programmes.
(The BBC subsequently did a U-turn over the cricket and moved it to
Radio 3 FM.)  Thus it was intended as a "sport and education" network
from the outset.

What's happened recently is that the football Premier League has come
into existence and struck a deal with Sky Television whereby matches
are screened live on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings.  This
means that Radio 5's football coverage has expanded to five days a week
(two afternoons and three evenings), which is why it seems as though
the network is dominated by football at the moment.  Some children's
programmes have been displaced and moved to early evening slots.
The network controller claims that more children are listening at this
time anyway.

--
Guy Barry, University of Cambridge | Phone: [phone]
Computer Laboratory                | Fax: [phone]
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street  | JANET: [e-mail]
Cambridge CB2 3QG, England, UK     | Internet: [e-mail]