Gagster

To be fair to MR, I don’t think their advert levels are really any higher than most commercial radio stations. It may have increased a bit, if only due the reduced audience level. Their pricing for airtime now must reflect the reduced audience, compared with what it perhaps was 5-10 years ago. So, to maintain overall revenue levels, they may be having to run more adverts overall (at reduced rates). If it does come to be that 3FM ends up with a bigger audience than Manx Radio, it will be “all bets off!”. That would be quite an achievement for 3FM. Oddly, the scenario stems more from Manx Radio’s decline rather than 3FM’s growth. But, come the day, 3FM will be shouting about it like never before - and good on ‘em.

Well, well, well. The downward trend continues for Manx Radio. But there’s more: MANX RADIO March 2023 - 30,000 June 2023 - 28,000 Sept 2023 - 26,000 Dec 2023 - 25,000 3FM March 2023 - 22,000 June 2023 - 23,000 Sept 2023 - 24,000 Dec 2023 - 25,000 The latest audience figures, released today, show Manx Radio down by 1000 and 3FM up by 1000. So, for the first time ever, these stations are neck and neck with audience. It doesn’t mean 1000 people have switched from Manx to 3FM, they could have retuned to anything. But overall, these are appalling results for Manx Radio. If the trend continues, with Manx Radio audience dropping a bit and 3FM increasing a bit, the survey results in 3 months time could make very interesting reading.

So, here is an alternative schedule… 5-7:30am Christy D 7:30-9:30am Sian Cowper or Beth Espey 9:30am-1pm Marc Tyley 1-2pm Mannin Line with John Moss 2-5:30pm Chris Williams 5:30pm Update with John Moss 6:30-8:30pm Chris Quirk This alternative schedule would utilise existing staff, including John Moss who is a capable and versatile current affairs expert but lost his daily Mandate show in 2019. We say goodbye to Ben Hartley, Alex Brindley, Andy Wint and Chris Kinley - sadly surplus to requirements in this new structure. In the case of the Head of Programmes (Brindley) and Programme Co-ordinator (Hartley), they’ve demonstrated that neither of them are up to the job as seen in the audience figures show. Greatest Hits with Chris Quirk could utilise the existing technology and be “voice-tracked”, he could easily do this alongside his full-time Social Media Content role. Would this be an outrageous overhaul that would frustrate listeners? Highly unlikely that many people would even notice as all the main parts are there - breakfast, mornings, Mannin Line and Update - just done in a more economical way. You could recruit a new Head of Programmes, somebody that knows what they’re doing, and still save money overall.

Again, no. Again, I’d want to look at the funding model. I’d want to find way to make improvement to the current process. Although I would put the Programme Controller out of work, as they are not performing at all well! You’ve spoken before about how your ‘Talking Heads’ had no producer. I agree with you that was a poor decision for a news and current affairs strand. So how can it now be right that 3-5pm has two presenters (Alex Brindley and Christy D?)? Does 7:30am-9:30am need two presenters (BBC local breakfasts have 1 presenter, 6-10am)?

£15 per person per year isn’t a lot, you’re right. But I would agree, given the choice of “jobs for the boys” and a plentitude of Manx Radio presenters OR something more worthy such as a homeless shelter etc then my preference would be similar to yours. Also, should 54,000 of those residents be paying for something that they’re not actually listening to? Don’t forget, the £1.2million is in addition to about another £1million+ in commercial revenues. So running costs of £2.2million are quite steep, for listenership that down 26,000 people. Audience decreasing from 47,000 in 2015 to 26,000 in 2023 is a 45% drop over 8 years. If you were running a restaurant that had seen a 45% drop in custom, despite pumping in more and more cash, would you keep investing money into it? Probably not. You most likely would have given up 4 years ago OR drastically changed business model.

You don’t need one, but does sound nice, though is an incredibly expensive way of doing things. But if you have a steady flow of public money coming then it’s easy to splash the cash. And a nice trip too, for Chris Sully, Alex Brindley and Christy D (as seen in the videos!). It does make things difficult when, further down the line, you plead poverty!

My point was the steady decline of Manx Radio’s audience. If 47,000 were listening in 2015 but 26,000 are listening now, it tells me that something is not right despite yearly increases to the subvention. With 47,000 listeners in 2015, Manx Radio was very much out performing 3FM. No doubt there. However, there looks to be a risk now that following the current trajectory Manx Radio’s audience could become smaller than 3FM’s. All the while seeking further increases to the subvention!

But also costs more! You mentioned in an earlier post that Manx Radio’s output is expensive to produce. In terms of choice, more and more people look to be choosing not to listen to Manx Radio. Agreed. It was just your post last night stated they had no further requirements beyond playing music. Yes, they are required to produce local news, that is accurate and legally compliant. And of course with no public funding. A package was done in 2009, and at least one more several years later. Further orchestra sessions have taken place in Manchester perhaps in more recent years. Agreed. The breakfast show these days is terrible, it’s neither one thing nor the other.

Ironically, as a full-time "Programme Controller" Alex Brindley is now also supported by the full-time "Programme Co-Ordinator" Ben Harley. With audience figures as they've been over last few years, both would have been sacked years ago if working at radio stations across. Looks to be very little in the way of accountability at Manx Radio. Even the 2019 re-vamp was driven forward via an external consultant on terrific rates, with travel and accommodation paid for. The question around why the BBC doesn't run a local station here is simple: Tynwald have always been open that they do not wish the BBC to do so, as they prefer to have (and fund) Manx Radio instead.

As Manx Radio has a much reduced audience than in some of your days, is there enough of a demand for such a service? 47,000 listeners in 2015, but now 26,000. I’ve made no suggestion that it should be closed, but think the business model needs adjusting. If audience drops to less than 20,000, for example, will the annual subvention keep rising further? Some ideas… Should the news team but run by the BBC, at their expense? The BBC has remit to cover the Isle of Man, and takes revenue via the TV License fee. Should the whole thing be run by the BBC? The BBC have previously estimated it would cost between £1.3 million and £1.7 million to run a station. Manx Radio currently costs £2.2 million. Could Manx Radio run with less presenters? BBC locals run with no more than 3 between 6am and 6pm weekdays. By my count, Manx Radio has at least 7 during the same period. Should some of the TV License fee be retained for the island? At least the proportion that would normally be assigned to local radio in the UK. Does Manx Radio need to keep revamping their on air “the nation’s station” jingles via using full on orchestras at Abbey Road? Re. Energy and 3FM, you are incorrect about their requirements. Over and above the playing of music, both are in fact required to provide local news as part of their broadcast licence agreements. I’m sure as a journalist you would have known that! If we’re looking at apples and oranges, if government funds the oranges but less and less people actually want them, why would government keep increasing the funding?

The latest RAJAR listening results were published today. Some observations for Manx Radio v 3FM make interesting reading. https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php Looking at the last three quarters… Manx Radio continues with a downward trend, while 3FM enjoys an upward trend. However, what jumps out the most is that the stations are getting closer to being equal, or even 3FM ending up with a larger audience: MANX RADIO March 2023 - 30,000 June 2023 - 28,000 Sept 2023 - 26,000 3FM March 2023 - 22,000 June 2023 - 23,000 Sept 2023 - 24,000 The question is of course, and you knew 20 seconds ago that I would ask: can the increasing subvention be justified if listenership is decreasing. For the year 2021/22, this subvention was £1,078,722, an increase from the previous year's total of £995,000 (an 8.4% increase). In 2015/16, the subvention was £875,000. In June 2015, RAJAR reported Manx Radio’s listening audience was 47,000. With a decreasing audience, commercial revenues will take a dip as airtime will not be as valuable as perhaps in times past. Will this trigger requests for even further increases in subvention levels in order to compensate for decreased revenue? Does government even take the listening figures into consideration? How can the Manx Radio business model work - with public funding increasing, while listening audience is decreasing? And with 3FM seemingly showing them up! We’re aware of the pitfalls of the RAJAR process, however this is the industry standard and Manx Radio offer no other alternatives - and were happy with it in the good old days when their audience was something to be proud of.

https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/politics/radio-tt-will-go-to-tender-550803 Did government announce the result of the tender process for the radio commentary, or did they just give it to Manx Radio (again)?

Some consideration should be given to find a better way in that case. Incredible that Olivier's family will now be receiving the news that he isn't in fact dead - but will have had absolute heartache for the last 4 days or so. If I recall correctly, one of the organisers first announcements at the time was that the race would be re-scheduled and details will be issued as soon as possible. Perhaps they should have focussed more on the riders they were dealing with rather than the TT schedule.

Incredible news just now... TT organisers of announced that they have mis-identified the sidecar rider that died on Saturday evening. It is in fact César Chanal that died, whereas Olivier Lavorel was airlifted to Noble's Hospital, and then flown to Aintree University Hospital.

No more racing today. Sounds like something awful has occurred.