Loss of localism

23Jan09

I think this is a bigger issue than what Caralis is doing when he fires announcers. Its a disgrace that we no longer get true local content on radio.

According to what you have written here, 2HD is broadcasting just 27.5 hours of true local content per week out of a potential 168 hours.

I assume its the same story around his whole network. The listeners and community are being treated with utter contempt.

If he was serious about providing quality local content I am sure he would see ratings rising and advertising share increasing rather than going down.

I heard that 2HD/NEWFM only get about 20% of the Newcastle radio revenue these days. Makes sense when only 16% of your broadcasting is actually talking to the local community.

Couldn’t agree more, someone has ripped the rug from under 2HD

Every time 2HD in Newcastle looks like it may be picking up a whirlwind seems to descend and leave it looking like New Orleans post Katrina.

2008 the place was going ok, the programming could have used a bit of a revamp but the local content was very popular with the older audience….Now tune in this year and you could be forgiven for thinking you were listening to 2SM.

It’s as though the station’s identity has been whisked away faster than a 50 on a sidewalk.

The decision to axe Richard King not only robbed the place of a popular talent but also 15 hours of local program content and local listener engagement …..Then ‘Buy Sell and Swap’ vanishes….. What’s next ? The only local listening which packs a punch and rates well is Luke Grant and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s planning to hightail it to a successful Sydney talk station for a few weekend shifts until something more permanent comes up… I doubt he wants to be around when he can count the overall ratings on one hand.

The guts have been ripped out of the place … Wasn’t the old slogan “2HD Your Station” ……with the Russian Roulette style programming I doubt even the employees know who’s station it is let alone the disappointed listeners.

I think you might find that the networked program from Sydney will stop on 2HD so that ‘Buy, Sell and Swap” can return, it’s appalling the lack of local content on 2HD and other stations around the Supernetwork however the blame shouldn’t just lie with Caralis and others at the Supernetwork but with those in the former Howard government who changed the radio laws a couple of years ago

Yes – local content is truly dead and buried on 2HD.

I guess 2HD listners will have to get used to hearing “Everlasting Love” played at least twice a day when the line from 2SM drops out. Surely they can change the song every now and then? It’s been the same for at least 3 years.

And another thing – I’m sure Richard King would be better on the Breakfast shift than the current presenter (Mr Insincerity).

The only way 2HD (or New FM) will ever improve is if Carilas sells up, which given his track record doesn’t appear likely any time soon.

(This is just my opinion)
Gone are the days of ‘good old radio’
you know when you could tune into your favorite station and feel like you are part of the team.
you had good music and an announcer that made you laugh or the announcer sounded like he was your best mate and were having a conversation with.
now if they don’t sound dull, they are smart asses that think their way of thinking is right or have big egos.
radio is about music, music is about living in the moment and feeling great about life family wherever the song and announcer takes you.
yes we have some great announcer out there still.
but to often you hear people say “you need to be touch skinned to be in radio.”
i think that statement yes is true but has some people have had a misinterpretion of that.
to much of the wrong sort of people are getting into the radio industry. i think some get into it thinking they are big hollywood stars and then come their big egos. it takes more than business skills to run a radio staion or be in radio, it take passion as well.something that somehow getts lost along the way.

it seems to me media hunter dont seem to like anyone at sandgates new/2hd

Carilas like most business owners is making cut backs due to the down turn in advertising on its network & all networks

you do make some great coments but as long as Mr Carilas has it dont be suprised what he will do.

Damok

I know it seems I am singling out 2HD/NEWFM for criticism but it is merely due to the fact the two stations are run so poorly and deliver such a substandard service to the community and advertisers.

I have worked at these two stations in years gone by and watch in dismay as they continue to shed staff and listeners.

To be honest, most points raised on this site regarding 2HD/NEWFM are just the obvious ones. I could easily dedicate a whole site to work conditions, OH&S issues, unfair dismissal cases and some of the Fawlty Tower like incidents and characters….but they aren’t really of relevance to the public. Programming issues are though.

Caralis isn’t just cutting back due to the current economic squeeze. He’s been cutting back since the day he bought the two stations, even during the greatest boom in history. Its just the way he runs his radio stations, strip them bare with no regard for broadcast quality or listener satisfaction.

Newcastle is being poorly served by radio. The underperformance of NEWFM/2HD has given KO/NX an unnatural dominance that sees them win around 80% of the revenue with exorbitant rates.

Caralis would make more money in this market by actually investing in talent and taking the time to build a strong format, than he will be cutting costs. There’s really not much left to cut.

“There’s really not much left to cut”.

Your last statement there is very true Craig. The Breakfast “show” is the last real local content left on 2HD.

damok
i am sorry but this has been going on for along time.
so we can’t really blame the economic squeeze for what is happening there.
New Fm was a great station to listen too.
Dave Gillies, Eggo and Blind Melon (who still works there) 2 out of three gone, all did well and for what?

It will be interesting to see if Carilas will still include HD and Newfm in the ratings survey should the numbers really start to fall. You would have thought they may have even added another announcer on the breakfast show but then that would have made the show to entertaining.

All this advice from a bunch of radio heavyweights for the poor folk at Sandgate. I know all the really high achievers come here with their advice for announcers and programmers. Give us a break. Really courageous to boo from the sidelines. HD is number 1 mornings and nights and a strong 3 sometimes 2 at breakfast and despite all you say what irritates you is that you cant shake them off up Charlestown way can you. Every so often that tired old duo of Mavis and Tanya get done by whatshisname at HD and Mavis goes MIA, no wait, he gets his revenge here amongst the heavyweights. What a joke…

Not sure whether Cols a heavy weight or a high achiever but what a statement regarding HD breakfast ratings a STRONG 3RD gee the advertisers would be climbing over themselves to buy air time and between 12noon and 7pm they dont rate. What a joke……………….

col,
we are listeners and we are giving it from a listeners point of view.
you know something the station needs to start taking in…oh but than again you don’t have many. my mistake!!!!!

hmmmm

seems to me after reading so many comments by disgruntled listeners that 2HD might cop a drop in next survey.

Thats what happens when you ignore the local community too much.

What a stupid thing to do in getting rid of Richard King and losing your local identity after 5pm 2HD.

What is even worse is the networking of the Mike Rabbitt program on Saturday which was Newcastles only local sports program and on Sundays what would of been 2HD’s ratings drawcard in Buy, Sell & Swap completely gone without any warning to 2HD’s listeners.

Bill Caralis needs to stop taking away our local programming on 2HD and all listeners should personally voice their objection in writing to the Station and the Newcastle Herald to put pressure on him to reinstate local programming immediately. It worked when Carter Edwards was taken off many years ago, the station was flooded with complaints and were left with no choice but to bring him back.

It will be terrible if the 2nd oldest Radio Station in Australia is continued to be butchered in this way for the people of Newcastle and the Hunter.

I flicked on to 2HD on Sunday morning to hear the words “Informing and Entertaining”..wow they got it wrong twice in 3 seconds…
And while we’re on the Caralis crap, what about St John and Meryls’ SAD attempt to sound like Steve & Kim..
one would think thast they would try to establish their own identity….

sad how media hunter for got to note how HD AND NEWFM raised money for the victoria fire appeal well done to you all at 2hd and new1053
someone at media hunter dont like you much at sandgate…

damok

To be fair, every man and his dog ran a fundraiser for the Bushfire Appeal. If NEW/2HD did a great job, they certainly haven’t told too many people about it. Certainly they weren’t the only media trying to raise money though.