Thursday, February 04, 2010

Radio Dread

Apparently, the BBC are thinking about junking 6 Music, along with a number of other 'underperforming' digital radio stations.

The demise of 6 Music would put quite a significant hole in my radio listening life, and the prospect of the almost reverse Sophie's Choice-type scenario of auditioning the likes of Radios 1, 2 or Absolute as a permanent replacement fills me with dread.

I love 6 Music. It's sort of like what Radio 1 would be like if they ritually killed their playlist staff and put some kind of special detectors on the doors that kept out wankers. Clearly George Lamb found an open window somewhere.

All of this hooplah is based on no more than the simple fact that people apparently aren't really listening to digital radio, but the thing is... I think that they actually are, and in greater numbers than the current system of measuring would suggest.

You see, it's possible that the BBC has actually done its job of surfing the bleeding edge of new technology a bit too well, to the point where it has almost singlehandedly changed the way in which people consume radio and television.

I listen to a near ballbag-bursting amount of radio, but virtually every single second of it is via some kind of podcast or timeshifting service. iPlayer content and edited podcasts of shows are seemingly not registered under the ancient RAJAR system of compiling listening figures, which I believe still involves some kind of pen and notebook scenario, and possibly a special hat.

Consequently, were I charged with keeping track of my listening habits, none of it would count, so it would seem like I wasn't listening to any BBC radio at all. My TV viewing would likewise seem to be all but non-existent if catching up on shows via my computer was not counted. Factor in online-sourced watching/listening however, and the true picture of my virtual housebound status is revealed.

So what I'm saying to the BBC is - because I know you're reading this - before doing something you may regret, perhaps at least try to take into account the many and varied ways in which people might consume your digital output other than via listening live, because where I live in particular, getting a decent DAB signal is less likely than getting your watch back after giving it to a tramp to hold.

Therefore, even though I consider social networking and the like to be the work of the Devil, someone has set up a group supporting 6 Music, so therefore I would urge you - just this once - to brave the inevitable emo haircuts and general wankery of Facebook and join it. The link is over there --->

Also, for the truly adventurous, you may wish to start popularising the #Save6Music hash tag on the inexplicably popular Twitter. It didn't change Iran, but I'll think you'll agree that this is much more important.